mesaSteeler
01-29-2009, 06:20 AM
Steelers taunt towel-trashing Titans
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090129/SPORTS01/901290371/1027/RSS0201
Pittsburgh players say they held up their end of rematch
By Jim Wyatt
THE TENNESSEAN
TAMPA, Fla. — To hear the Pittsburgh Steelers tell it, the Terrible Towel is as much a part of their tradition as the Immaculate Reception, Lynn Swann's juggling catch in Super Bowl X or any of the franchise's five world championships.
The yellow hand towel has been around for 33 years, in fact. It's become the best-known fan symbol of any team in sports. It's even in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And it's cherished throughout Steeler nation, of course.
So when the Titans stomped on the towel following a 31-14 win over the Steelers on Dec. 21 at LP Field, it created a stir that drew national attention.
A month later, with the Titans sitting at home and the Steelers preparing to play the Arizona Cardinals here in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers say the Titans got what they deserved.
"You see right now we got the last laugh,'' linebacker Larry Foote said. "That's what they get for trying to humiliate us and rub it in, for not showing any class. We wanted to play them again, but they couldn't hold up their end of the bargain. That's what they get for stomping on the towel. We're stepping on them right now.''
At least one Steeler wondered if the Titans had cursed themselves with the so-called despicable acts of a few.
Running back LenDale White and linebacker Keith Bulluck stomped on the towel in front of television cameras, while defensive end Jevon Kearse pretended to blow his nose into one. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher later called their actions "unnecessary."
The Steelers vowed revenge, but the Titans lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, preventing a rematch in the AFC Championship game.
"The Steeler gods are always with us, so you never know,'' cornerback Deshea Townsend said with a smile. "What I do know is what (the Titans) did that day was almost like taking a jersey and putting it on the ground after a win and stepping on it. You just don't do that. There is a proper way to play the game and a way that you act, and this team does not act like that. It's disrespectful.''
Said defensive tackle Casey Hampton: "When you are not used to winning, then you do stuff like that. We are kind of used to winning, so we win with class.''
James Bates, a photographer with the Latrobe (Pa.) Bulletin, attended media day with a Terrible Towel hat signed by past Steelers greats. He said the late Myron Cope, the team's beloved broadcaster, introduced the towel at a playoff game against the then-Baltimore Colts on Dec. 27, 1975.
Since then fans have waved it at every Steelers game, no matter where played. And its legend has grown. There are even instructions on the proper way to wave it.
The towel has done its part for charity. Before his death, Cope handed the Terrible Towel trademark to Allegheny Valley School, which provides care for developmentally disabled children and adults. Over the years, $1 million has been raised for the school.
"It's kind of a sacred symbol of Pittsburgh,'' Bates said. "So yeah, people weren't happy with the Titans for what they did. It was a fuss. It was kind of nasty to see them stepping on it.''
The Steelers need to get over it, White said this week.
"No way do I regret it. I would do it 100 times again. I'd do it tomorrow if we played them,'' he said. "They've made way too big a deal about of it. It's not like I dislike (Steelers Coach) Mike Tomlin or hate the city of Pittsburgh. It's football; that's it. Hey, if you get fired up by someone stepping on a towel, if that's what you need to boost you to go to the Super Bowl, then they should hope someone steps on their towels every year. I just don't get that.''
White also said the Titans would have welcomed a rematch. In the first meeting, Tennessee became the only team to put up more than 300 yards on Pittsburgh's defense this season.
"We beat them that day and we owned them, and there's no way around it. We dominated them that day,'' White said. "I wish we'd gotten to play them again. But Baltimore beat us and then they beat Baltimore, so all the credit goes to them. They're in the Super Bowl and they deserve to be there.''
So the rematch has been delayed until this fall, when the Titans visit Pittsburgh. For now the Steelers have a little Terrible Towel Super Bowl history on their side.
In 2005, Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh shined his cleats with a Terrible Towel during Cincinnati's 38-31 win over Pittsburgh. The Steelers then won eight straight games en route to capturing Super Bowl XL.
"The Terrible Towel, that's one of our trademarks. That's how people recognize the Steelers,'' linebacker James Farrior said. "We feel like it's a part of the team.
"I know it probably doesn't mean much to the guys outside of Pittsburgh, but it means a lot to us. As for the Titans, we definitely wanted to try and get some revenge on them. But it will have to wait.
"We've got a pretty big game to play this weekend.''
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090129/SPORTS01/901290371/1027/RSS0201
Pittsburgh players say they held up their end of rematch
By Jim Wyatt
THE TENNESSEAN
TAMPA, Fla. — To hear the Pittsburgh Steelers tell it, the Terrible Towel is as much a part of their tradition as the Immaculate Reception, Lynn Swann's juggling catch in Super Bowl X or any of the franchise's five world championships.
The yellow hand towel has been around for 33 years, in fact. It's become the best-known fan symbol of any team in sports. It's even in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And it's cherished throughout Steeler nation, of course.
So when the Titans stomped on the towel following a 31-14 win over the Steelers on Dec. 21 at LP Field, it created a stir that drew national attention.
A month later, with the Titans sitting at home and the Steelers preparing to play the Arizona Cardinals here in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers say the Titans got what they deserved.
"You see right now we got the last laugh,'' linebacker Larry Foote said. "That's what they get for trying to humiliate us and rub it in, for not showing any class. We wanted to play them again, but they couldn't hold up their end of the bargain. That's what they get for stomping on the towel. We're stepping on them right now.''
At least one Steeler wondered if the Titans had cursed themselves with the so-called despicable acts of a few.
Running back LenDale White and linebacker Keith Bulluck stomped on the towel in front of television cameras, while defensive end Jevon Kearse pretended to blow his nose into one. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher later called their actions "unnecessary."
The Steelers vowed revenge, but the Titans lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, preventing a rematch in the AFC Championship game.
"The Steeler gods are always with us, so you never know,'' cornerback Deshea Townsend said with a smile. "What I do know is what (the Titans) did that day was almost like taking a jersey and putting it on the ground after a win and stepping on it. You just don't do that. There is a proper way to play the game and a way that you act, and this team does not act like that. It's disrespectful.''
Said defensive tackle Casey Hampton: "When you are not used to winning, then you do stuff like that. We are kind of used to winning, so we win with class.''
James Bates, a photographer with the Latrobe (Pa.) Bulletin, attended media day with a Terrible Towel hat signed by past Steelers greats. He said the late Myron Cope, the team's beloved broadcaster, introduced the towel at a playoff game against the then-Baltimore Colts on Dec. 27, 1975.
Since then fans have waved it at every Steelers game, no matter where played. And its legend has grown. There are even instructions on the proper way to wave it.
The towel has done its part for charity. Before his death, Cope handed the Terrible Towel trademark to Allegheny Valley School, which provides care for developmentally disabled children and adults. Over the years, $1 million has been raised for the school.
"It's kind of a sacred symbol of Pittsburgh,'' Bates said. "So yeah, people weren't happy with the Titans for what they did. It was a fuss. It was kind of nasty to see them stepping on it.''
The Steelers need to get over it, White said this week.
"No way do I regret it. I would do it 100 times again. I'd do it tomorrow if we played them,'' he said. "They've made way too big a deal about of it. It's not like I dislike (Steelers Coach) Mike Tomlin or hate the city of Pittsburgh. It's football; that's it. Hey, if you get fired up by someone stepping on a towel, if that's what you need to boost you to go to the Super Bowl, then they should hope someone steps on their towels every year. I just don't get that.''
White also said the Titans would have welcomed a rematch. In the first meeting, Tennessee became the only team to put up more than 300 yards on Pittsburgh's defense this season.
"We beat them that day and we owned them, and there's no way around it. We dominated them that day,'' White said. "I wish we'd gotten to play them again. But Baltimore beat us and then they beat Baltimore, so all the credit goes to them. They're in the Super Bowl and they deserve to be there.''
So the rematch has been delayed until this fall, when the Titans visit Pittsburgh. For now the Steelers have a little Terrible Towel Super Bowl history on their side.
In 2005, Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh shined his cleats with a Terrible Towel during Cincinnati's 38-31 win over Pittsburgh. The Steelers then won eight straight games en route to capturing Super Bowl XL.
"The Terrible Towel, that's one of our trademarks. That's how people recognize the Steelers,'' linebacker James Farrior said. "We feel like it's a part of the team.
"I know it probably doesn't mean much to the guys outside of Pittsburgh, but it means a lot to us. As for the Titans, we definitely wanted to try and get some revenge on them. But it will have to wait.
"We've got a pretty big game to play this weekend.''