The 'Immaculate Reception' still lifts spirits
(19 Dec 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ++SNTV CLIENTS MAY USE++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 11 December 2022 1. Various of fans walking past the 'Immaculate Reception' plague and marker 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Buster Boots, Steelers fan: "We saw the greatest play in football history. It's it's amazing. Part of Pittsburgh." ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 15 December 2022 3. Exterior of the Heinz History Center 4. An 'Immaculate Reception' exhibit at the Heinz History Center showing a replay of the game ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 11 December 2022 5. SOUNDBITE (English) John Michael, Steelers fan: "It was late in the game we were losing. Terry Bradshaw went back to throw long pass, it hit off the defensive back Tatum in it bounced into Franco Harris's hands and he ran all the way for a score and we won the game." ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 23 December 1972 ++STILLS++ 6. Various of Franco Harris running in for a touchdown, the play now called the 'Immaculate Reception' ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 16 December 2022 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. Lou Vallone, retired Catholic priest, Diocese of Pittsburgh: "So for a very heavily Catholic area it was just at the natural when you wanted to blurt out some way of identifying that play come out with, the Immaculate Reception." ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 15 December 2022 8. Part of the Heinz History Center Immaculate reception exhibit 9. An original ticket from the 1972 Steelers vs. Raiders play off game 10. Steelers Super Bowl trophies 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Anne Madarasz, Director, Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center: "With this first playoff win in their history, it really signified a new era for the Steelers, when not only do they become four time Super Bowl champions, a dynasty in the 1970s, but it really is a time that signifies the beginning of a shift in identity from the city for the city of Pittsburgh, from a baseball town to a football town, but also from Steel City to the City of Champions." 12. Franco Harris' cleats 13. Various of the Franco Harris statue at the Heinz History Center ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 16 December 2022 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. Lou Vallone, retired Catholic priest, Diocese of Pittsburgh: "So it's a great, if you will, spiritual uplift to the entire area." ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 23 December 1972 ++STILL++ 15. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, after winning against the Oakland Raiders ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 15 December 2022 16. SOUNDBITE (English) Anne Madarasz, Director, Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center: "Well, the Immaculate Reception was chosen in 2019 as the greatest play in the first hundred years of the NFL. So it's got a real resonance in terms of just the moment and the event. And obviously, 50th anniversary is a major time for recognizing a historical achievement." ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 11 December 2022 17. Various of Pittsburgh tailgaters 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Steve Bland, Steelers fan: "As a matter of fact, everyone thought it was going to be an interception and boom, Franco just grabbed it right off the carpet and ran it in. It was an amazing thing. That's why it's immaculate, like a Hail Mary." 19. Tailgaters singing 20. Pittsburgh fans 21. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Wiley, Steelers fan: "The great hope. It's the great hope they can still win. What else is there?" STORYLINE: ___ Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
