For Steelers, it was another Super decade

[Galax Steeler]

Just before the Steelers made Super Bowl history in Florida a year ago, safety Ryan Clark talked about how Pittsburgh's psyche is governed by football.

"The mood of the city is set by what we do. If we lose, Monday's a terrible day," he said.

By extension, if the Steelers lose so often that they miss the playoffs, it makes for a terrible, terrible winter. And was it mere coincidence that a new Ice Age arrived just as the Steelers dropped their fifth consecutive game and failed to score a touchdown in a loss to the Browns?

Like footballs, mood swings can take baffling bounces. One moment, somebody is renaming the place Sixburgh, and the next, a cousin in Cleveland is rubbing it in about sitting out the postseason. Gloom, despair and agony on us.

But fresh cuts aside, a look back at the first decade of a new millennium shows the Aughts were not all for naught. By any measure, it was the second-most super decade for a franchise that came into existence in 1933.

For starters, there were two more Lombardi Trophies under two different coaches for the first franchise to earn a six-pack; Heinz Field replaced Three Rivers Stadium as the epicenter of the Steelers Universe; the Rooneys remain in control of the Steelers after what was at times a painful restructuring. The decade also saw a new franchise record for most wins in a season; the youngest quarterback and youngest coach to win a Super Bowl; a No. 6 seed winning the NFL title; the longest run from scrimmage and the longest play in Super Bowl history; more Steelers in the Hall of Fame; a 75th anniversary season; and the passing of a beloved broadcaster.

On the other hand, there was the double disappointment of failing to make the playoffs after each super season. And there is no way to sugarcoat two bitter losses to the Patriots in AFC title games played at Heinz Field, among other playoff shortcomings.


Daniel M. Rooney, oldest son of founder Art, joined his father in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Tim and Wellington Mara of the New York Giants are the only other father/son team so enshrined.

While he retains the title of chairman emeritus, Dan is the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, which his ancestors left to find work in the mines and mills of southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Steelers are run by the oldest of his nine children -- Art Rooney II, a one-time ball boy who has served as team president since 2002.

Art and Dan met NFL guidelines that one owner must have a least a 30 percent stake in the club and that no owners be involved in casino gambling.

The process involved buying out some or all of the shares from four Rooney brothers. The McGinley family also retained some ownership.

When the deal closed Sept. 25, it ensured that a third generation of the Rooney family will serve as stewards.

"In many ways, we always felt the team belonged to the city of Pittsburgh, and we held it in trust for them," Dan Rooney wrote in his autobiography.

Still, there were changes at the top.

For the first time in nearly 57 years, Dan Rooney missed attending a Steelers game. His official duties precluded him from being at a home game with the Bengals the last weekend of September.

While Art II tends to keep a low profile, he already had made significant contributions to the franchise well before he became president. For one thing, he helped break a logjam at the state level to secure public funding for a new stadium. But the team's mission statement remains the same every year -- to win a championship.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10038/1033843-66.stm

[Edman]

With the Steelers, you gotta learn to take the good with the bad.

[steelpride12]

You can't win out every season and again this is a decade for the history books. Our Steelers are a successful franchise and I never worry that next decade or the following our Steelers won't win their 7th and 8th Rings and continue to make this city and fans proud!

[steelerdude15]

The Steelers are the greatest organization is NFL history. What the Rooneys have done for the NFL and the city of Pittsburgh, is so much and I don't think we'll ever be able to repay them... Well we have, we've sold out every home game since '72, we still use the Terrible Towel, etc. I'm proud to be a Pittsburgh fan for all the major league sports and as I've always have said, I'll be here through thick and thin.

[CanadianSteel]

Thanks for a great decade and here's to at least 2 more championships this coming decade as well.... Ben to get 4 and tie Terry...

[markymarc]

Originally Posted by Galax Steeler

Just before the Steelers made Super Bowl history in Florida a year ago, safety Ryan Clark talked about how Pittsburgh's psyche is governed by football.

"The mood of the city is set by what we do. If we lose, Monday's a terrible day," he said.

By extension, if the Steelers lose so often that they miss the playoffs, it makes for a terrible, terrible winter.

Ryan Clark nailed it. It is going to be a long off season, but this past decade has been amazing. We were the first to 6 and can now start working on #7.