Franco Harris - RIP

PSUJam

Heisman
Oct 7, 2021
11,802
21,478
113
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.
He's been all over social media the past few days doing the reception pose with fans. It's really bizarre timing. RIP 32
 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
40,278
28,940
113
 

FTLPSU

Senior
Aug 3, 2007
911
868
93
Is this true? Franco was just on the radio yesterday afternoon with Chris Russo talking about the Immaculate Reception.
Russo was just on ESPN talking about him and the Immaculate Reception...how great he was and what he meant and how the football craze for the NFL started in 70's etc. with him and the Reception etc...

Funny not one mention about his college alma later or anything like that.

The GREATS die young....he was definitely a GREAT one in many ways..

RIP Franco Harris 1950-2022 💪
 

DavidM

All-American
Aug 27, 2002
2,225
6,131
113
I'll keep this short. About ten years ago, after the Penn State Board of Trustees essentially betrayed the University in order to protect themselves and their likely legal vulnerabilities relating to the whole Sandusky mess, I organized (with Larry Schultz) a Rally for Resignations (aimed at the trustees), and I was able to contact Dana, Franco's loving wife. We worked together to get Franco as the highlight speaker, and he came and spoke before around a thousand or so Penn Staters on the Old Main lawn. The two of them and I had some further conversations when I decided to run for the BOT, and they were always totally class acts.

Franco was as devoted to Penn State as anyone who's ever lived, and the Penn State community today is much poorer than it was before his death. I salute Dana, and wish her some peace in her terrible loss. So many people wanted a piece of Franco for so much of his life, and I guess he just ran out of pieces to give.
 

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STL_Lion

Freshman
Jan 30, 2002
57
65
18
I was at the game for the famous play by Franco in 1972. He is my favorite Steeler and PSU player
Was in an Erie PA hotel room watching it on TV with 5 other fans, as the game was blacked out in the Pittsburgh immediate viewing area. I will always remember the parade of cars returning home driving down I79, celebrating the win by honking horns and sporting Steeler pennants.

Partial credit for the catch goes to Paterno, as Joe instructed his players to run to the ball. I believe in a recent interview that Jack Hamm did, Jack reiterated the run-to-the-ball hustle training mandated by Joe.

As a class of '73 PSU graduate, Franco will always be remembered by me for his on and off the field contributions to his team, his school, and mankind. RIP Franco.
 

fairgambit

All-American
Aug 20, 2010
2,187
6,449
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Death comes to us all, even legends, but that reality does not make this news any easier to take. I was fortunate to see the Immaculate Reception in person but I remember Franco more for his quiet dignity. He was a good and decent man who made the world a better place. May he rest in peace.

Franco and Frank Sinatra.

1972-frank-sinatra-franco-harrisjpg.jpg
 
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pap

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2004
7,210
4,849
113
This is stunning news this morning and we lost a true gentleman and class act . I had the good fortune to meet Franco at his HOF induction in Canton years ago ,and twice at Pen State games .Alway a classy person and he will be missed . To Nittany nation and Steelers nation , we have lost a legend . RIP Franco .
 

Roar More

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2021
561
1,214
93
I had two encounters with Franco Harris when we attended Penn State. Both illustrate what an unassuming person he was.

The first was at a keg party my roommates and I threw to raise some rent money. Franco showed up and spent most of his time sitting on the floor, playing with my kittens.

The other time involved my job as a night receptionist in a women's dormitory. It was a Friday night before a game and Franco came to see the woman he would eventually marry. Men had to sign in before being escorted upstairs by the person they were visiting. Franco did not use his name. This was probably because he should not have been out. It's comical that he thought nobody on campus would recognize him, but he didn't consider himself to be anyone special.

Pittsburgh and Nittany Nation will miss him and his big heart.
 

pap

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2004
7,210
4,849
113
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
It was Curt Gowdy doing the play by play that day . Big Raiders fan
 
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SurgeOne

Senior
Sep 3, 2005
524
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SurgeOne

Senior
Sep 3, 2005
524
813
93
I'll keep this short. About ten years ago, after the Penn State Board of Trustees essentially betrayed the University in order to protect themselves and their likely legal vulnerabilities relating to the whole Sandusky mess, I organized (with Larry Schultz) a Rally for Resignations (aimed at the trustees), and I was able to contact Dana, Franco's loving wife. We worked together to get Franco as the highlight speaker, and he came and spoke before around a thousand or so Penn Staters on the Old Main lawn. The two of them and I had some further conversations when I decided to run for the BOT, and they were always totally class acts.

Franco was as devoted to Penn State as anyone who's ever lived, and the Penn State community today is much poorer than it was before his death. I salute Dana, and wish her some peace in her terrible loss. So many people wanted a piece of Franco for so much of his life, and I guess he just ran out of pieces to give.
I was there! He is an all-time great Penn St’er