Franco Harris - RIP

MacNit

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Oct 12, 2021
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Stunning news.

Was super privileged to sit next to him watching the Auburn game in September…talked about the Immaculate Reception, Joe, the AFC Championship game in 1972 against Miami, and just life in general.

Devastating to lose such a great humanitarian, Steeler, and Penn State stalwart/warrior.
 

Bwifan

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Oct 12, 2021
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Stunned and sad to literally just hear this news. Great football player and better person. Fought for Joe's legacy non stop. RIP Franco may our Lord wrap his arms around you welcoming you home and give your family peace.
 

WSTLion87

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Oct 10, 2021
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Just rolled out of bed and am shocked and very saddened... My nephew texted me with the news... RIP Franco. He was my childhood idol along with Willie Stargell and Joe Paterno.
While I was too young to remember the "Immaculate Reception" my favorite Franco memory was during Super Bowl XIII when he was jawing with Cowboys showboat "Hollywood" Henderson after a play. The next play he ran for a touchdown and left Henderson in the dust! Franco was such a humble man and humanitarian. He did so much for the entire community of Pittsburgh and Penn State. Heaven is lucky to have him!
 

ODShowtime

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Nov 1, 2021
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Horrible news at any time, but especially three days before the 50th anniversary celebration of the Immaculate Reception. 🙁

He couldn't be allowed one more week to see his jersey retired? F all this. This sucks.

RIP to a real warrior on the field and off. I met him once and he was very gracious. My parents witnessed the IR. God bless his family.
 

84lion

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Oct 7, 2021
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Bummer. Great to see though that it made the lead story on the Atlanta morning news. My wife: "who's Franco Harris?" Me: explanation of the Immaculate Reception (which they thankfully showed in detail on the news) and the fact that he was a Penn Stater.

Huge, gigantic RIP. He will be missed.
 
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AvgUser

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Oct 7, 2021
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Damn. This one brings a tear to my eye.

I just started getting in to the Steelers and the entire NFL in ~1972. Franco was right there. He'd always been there.
I applaud him for standing up for JoePa. RIP, Franco.
 

PhillyBillyReprise

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Oct 29, 2021
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I saw the immaculate reception in my parent's basement. My brother was there. I remember that Oakland had scored and the announcer said that it was over for the Steelers. Then the immaculate reception. I said "in your face, announcer."

R. I. P. Franco
 

PSU Mike

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Oct 6, 2021
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Noooooooo! What a great guy - one in a million these days. R.I.P., Franco.

I hate this time of year. Tomorrow will be 20 years without Joe Strummer. One of my best friends died on Dec 28, 2013, with my grandfather going two days later on the 30th. And I lost my first Bengal cat Max way too young on Dec 31, 2002.
 
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Big_O

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Oct 12, 2021
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Hate the Stoolers, but I was a big fan of a few of their players. Franco was one of them along with the other Penn Stater Jack Ham. Hard to pick my most favorite between the two, except Franco’s huge support of JoePa puts him over the top for me. Also liked the undersized Jack Lambert who grew up about 45 minutes from me and played at Kent State when my cousin was attending school there.
 

Meat Lab

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Oct 25, 2021
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I was 9 years old with the entire family watching and cheering. We weren’t even Steeler fans. We were Penn State proud. I also remember asking my Pop what “Dobre Shunka” meant.

God bless you Franco. Say hi to my Pop when you see him.
 

ApexLion

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Nov 1, 2021
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Omg. I’m truly saddened. He was my player growing up. Too soon God but I know he is doing something important up there.

The Grand Experiment will live on due to Franco.
 

SouthHalls410

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Oct 27, 2021
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I’m so sad. I was one of the only little girls in my neighborhood running around pretending I was Franco. He has always been one of the faces of the Steelers. I feel like a big piece of my childhood died. May he rest in the Eternal peace of Our Lord.
 

bbrown

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Nov 1, 2021
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Omg. I’m truly saddened. He was my player growing up. Too soon God but I know he is doing something important up there.

The Grand Experiment will live on due to Franco.
Yea very sad. I just saw an interview with him and he looked pretty good.
There are a bunch of former Steelers in the "burgh" to celebrate the Immaculate reception and the Steelers retiring his jersey (only Joe Greene and Ernie Stautner have had theirs retired).
So very sad.
Also saw a recent interview with Mel Blount about the Immaculate Reception and holy cow that guy looks amazing. I think he's (Mel) is 73.
Roll on Franco's Italian Army.