First, tell me about how the nomination into the Ford Fan Hall of Fame got started?
Well, before the last home game in 2012, I got an email from Steelers Nation Unite telling me that I was one of 12 people to have attended every game that year. You had to check in with the Steelers app – like an “I’m here” thing, and they can track to see you went to the games.
Well, I had pneumonia but I had to go. They wanted us to go down on the field for a drawing -one of us would win a trip to the Super Bowl. I was sick – I wasn’t supposed to go out for more than 30 minutes, but I had a streak of 17 years – never missing a preseason, regular season or playoff game at Heinz Field. It was at 183 games. The last game I missed was at Three Rivers.
So what happens when you get down on the field?
It was below zero and we were all standing there, but I didn’t win. They gave us all a ball and said congratulations to us all. They talked to us and I told them I hadn’t missed a home game at Heinz Field ever. They said “What? Really?” They interviewed me right there on the spot – the Steelers media folks asked me some questions and put it up on their site. I didn’t think much about it then.
They called me back the next season and did an interview with me at my seat at Heinz Field. I told my story then of how I had to sell of almost every possession when I was in college to go to get my seat license – my car, clothes…For a few years I could only afford to go on my own.
Then it got even bigger?
Around Thanksgiving of 2018 I got a message on Facebook from someone at Ford saying they wanted to interview me about the streak. I kind of blew them off – I told them I had already been interviewed by the Steelers a couple of times. But they told me they really wanted to interview me – that it was for Ford not the Steelers. So they came the next day – and they pulled up in a semi-truck in my driveway. It was like a clown car with everyone coming out. They set up cameras all over my house, blacked out the windows… They told me the next day they’d come and shoot the interview. I was like – ‘What is going on? Why is this such a big deal?”
They flew in a film crew from L.A. and they were doing the interview when there was a knock at my door. When I opened the door it was Terry Bradshaw telling me he was here to nominate me for the Ford Hall of Fans – which is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame! I was shocked – of all the people to tell me – I loved Terry Bradshaw.
So what happened after?
Six of us were nominated and only three of us would get in. We all went to the Super Bowl and were treated just like the players who were nominated for the Hall of Fame. We waited for that knock on our door. I was down the hall from Alan Faneca and other guys.
David Baker knocked on my door the day they announced the winners and told me I got in – I was speechless.
The wild part was going to the lunches and being introduced to everyone and having the players all cheer and come up to us and congratulating us. Mel Blount invited me to their annual dinner and celebrity roast.
Any other players stand out to you that you had a chance to meet?
I’ll tell you Dermontti Dawson – I talked to him a long time. He is one of the nicest guys I ever met. Super nice. I think it was fun for the players who were retired from the game – they could sit back and relax and just chat with people.
Franco couldn’t get over my story. He asked how I could do it. He just couldn’t get over it. He thought it was so wild. I told him it was only about 10 games a year – just 10 days a year! He handed someone his camera and asked them to take a picture of the two of us. So Franco has a picture of us on his phone I don’t even have.
Kevin Greene – his wife called me over to get a picture with them too. It was crazy. And at the hotel bar I sat with Emmitt Smith and Darrell Green – they recognized me as the Steelers fan who was nominated so I got to sit and chat with them. Alan Faneca was there too with his family, He called over to me and asked if I made it in – I told him I’d get a knock on his door just like he and the other players would!
Why do you think you made the final three?
I think the story of the streak and me selling my life away and dedicating myself to going was a big thing. Also, I wasn’t a face painter or the guy to lead the rows in cheers. I was just a normal guy and they felt people would relate to that.
My story was just about a normal guy – I was a guy like 90% of the fanbase. Chicago had BearMan – he had that taxidermy bear head – he’d go to games in full gear with claws and fur and shoulder pads. He had a streak of 199 home games – mine was at 203 before Covid. And the other winner was the guy from Miami – DolphFan – he is always in the endzone seats.
What stands out to you from all of this experience?
The connections I made with former players – they truly treat you like someone special. Terry’s wife invited me to Terry’s show in Vegas. I went and hung out with them backstage and watched the show – that was a great trip. Every week I get calls – especially when the commercial comes on. And I still do events – I went to an autograph signing with Jeff Reed.
This year’s class got ripped off due to Covid – hopefully we can all double-down and celebrate together next year.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
