Here we are at the final game of the season and also as Defending Superbowl
Champions, we will not have that golden opportunity to defend our Lombardi,
but watch as two other teams’ battle for it. I do not think this is what
we anticipated in pre-season, what a season it has been.
Again, what do the stats mean for this game? Nothing, so I am not going to
even refer to them in this season ending article, for what purpose would it
serve anyway, none.
If you were writing a book about this season, what would the title be? If you
were to sit down and try and figure out what went wrong, could you? If you had
the chance to erase this season and start over, would it be better or the same?
Is Coach Cowher leaving after this season? Will we find a suitable replacement
if he leaves? Will the Rooney's finally replace the cow pasture this off season?
Will the new HD Scoreboard be all that glitters? Will beer prices increase in
2007? Will Ben be back riding his pocket rocket in the spring? Will Fast Willie
get better as time passes? What about Ward and Holmes, a serious threat in 2007?
Will the city increase parking fees for Steeler Games in 2007? Will the Gateway
Clipper shuttle add nachos and cheese to their boat ride menu? Will Starbucks
finally have a kiosk in Heinz Field? Will the candy maker PEZ make a Steeler
Pez Dispenser?
Follow what I am getting at here with all the questions? Our season has been
one big question mark, the should have, could have and would have theory is
true to this season....... If we could have won that game in Oakland or we would
have won that game against the Broncos if we would have caught more passes and
ran the ball better and we should have protected Ben more during the first Raven
game in Baltimore. We need to face fact and that is that our season is over
and we will not be enjoying any playoff games, but having to endure watching
other teams play, not my idea of fun on a Sunday afternoon, you know. Also,
with the many questions that are lying on the table, it really is not worth
the effort to try and find the answers, what happened was for a reason unknown
to us and probably unknown to the Coaching Staff of the Steelers. It happened;
it is done and over with, let us pick ourselves up and shake off the dust and
move forward into next season, what ever that will hold should be better then
this season that is for sure!
Will our team be ready to play the Bengals in Ohio this Sunday? I would think
that pride runs pretty deep in their veins and that they would want to not only
win this game for prides sake, but also to ruin any chance that the Bengals
have at making the playoffs this season. Would it not be fitting to finish the
season on such a high note, beating the Bengals in their house and making them
have to sit at home watching the playoffs like we will be doing, personally
this would bring me such satisfaction ..... and a welcomed late Christmas present.
This game is so important to the Bengals that if they win, they should see some
post season play..... Come on Steelers; let's take this opportunity from them!
Onto our Amazing Coach, Bill Cowher...... What a great 15 years it has been,
granted there were plenty of bumps in the road but all in all, it has been outstanding.
A little time to reflect back over the years and think as to what he delivered
for us, 8 Divisional Titles, 6 AFC Championship Games, 2 Superbowls, 1 Superbowl
Ring and plenty of extremely competitive seasons .... What a great run he had
given us, right! Having to walk in the footsteps of Chuck Noll, was pretty huge
feet to step into, but he not only filled those shoes, but created an entirely
new set of prints to be filled eventually. Cowher was a good ol' hometown boy
that was filled with fire, desire, and the ability to get the team motivated
each and every game, we seen him run out onto the field and shove a photo in
the pocket of a referee, remember that one ? We seen him screaming on those
sidelines, spit flying out like a water fountain, we saw his chin become rather
large when he was fired up..... Coach Cowher got us that Superbowl Victory last
season by overcoming all the odds and it was the greatest postseason run ever
in the NFL!
Was this the crowning moment he was waiting for?
By no means has Bill Cowhers time here been wasted nor a failure, since 1992
to now, we have won more games then any other franchise, what more could we
ask for? Here are some other little tidbits that will bring a smile to you:
Coach Cowher is 52-23 All Time against our divisional opponents, he has been
105-1-1 when leading by 11 or more points which is the Best in the NFL, 5th
among all coaches winning the Divisional Title since 1970, has a better winning
percent than Chuck Noll, never had a team finish worse then 6-10.
Coach Cowher is Pittsburgh, he is what Steelers Football is all about, and
he did the City of Pittsburgh Proud and served us Fans well!
Will this be Coach Cowhers last game? As he stated early this week a decision
will come next week after the regular season ends.... We have a great thing
with Bill Cowher, he is among the Elite Coaches in the NFL, we had such a great
history written over the years between Noll and Cowher, it makes me worried
that if and when the time comes for Cowher to leave the next coach of this organization
will not be able to fill those huge footsteps and the crowd will let them know
it..... Just read in the paper today, the team captains want to promote from
within, this means that either Grimmy or Whisenhunt are the top candidates’
for the position, this is were I am going to start and have nightmares every
night and that what we know today as Steelers Football will be changed forever
..... Please Mr. Rooney, do not promote either of these gentleman for the Head
Coaches Position..... I highly doubt that you will ever find a replacement for
what Coach Cowher has given us......
So this final pre-season article is written with very mixed emotions, having
to sit on the sidelines and watch other teams in the playoffs, having to endure
such a painful season and most importantly, waiting for Coach Cowhers announcement
next week..... Hopefully as a team these guys will learn from this season and
make the required changes for it not to happen again, at least in the near future.....
This is not Steelers Football!
So, as I end this article I ask that hopefully we will see Bill Cowher back
on the sidelines next season, we will see our team get a little revenge this
Sunday in Bengal Land and we better see a fresh Steeler Team hungry for that
Lombardi next season!
PS. Thanks So Much Coach Cowher for your time and effort on bringing us a Lombardi
and for each and every year giving us an extremely competitive team, we as fans
would hate to see you go, but we will respect your decision. Best of luck in
the future and enjoy your time in retirement, you will never be forgotten........
Never!
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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