A Toast to The Jaw

**** Sorry for the delay on this. All weekend, every time I sat down to write this, I started sobbing wildly. Needed to step back for a moment, dry the eyes, have some soup, and regain some composure.****

As brutal a season it was for the Beloved, and as evident it was that he was leaving all year, the sad reality finally set it on Friday when Bill Cowher officially announced his resignation.

Of course there were times of bitterness this season towards Cowher. You couldn't help but place part of the blame on the head coach for such a disaster. And he's had his share of critics in the Burgh because of his handful of AFC Championship losses. But ultimately, Cowher goes down as the one of the greatest HC's in the NFL over the past 20 years. Unless he comes back in 2 years, and pulls a Joe Gibbs, Cowher is a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Reaching the playoffs in 10 of his 15 years, the Stillers have been a picture of consistency under his reign, an accomplishment that rates even higher in today's cap structured NFL. Sure, he never had the run that Bill Belichek has had in New England with 3 Super Bowls. But consider the fact that Cowher has NEVER had a good QB during his 15 years (and that includes Big Ben, sorry Ben fans), yet Cowher's overall winning % is higher than that of Hall of Famer Chuck Noll's.

Throwing out all the numbers, Cowher was the type of coach that makes me proud to be a Steelers fan. A hard-nosed defense, a smash mouth running game, old school football - that's what I love about the game, and Cowher's teams always resembled that physical brand. I seriously doubt that I'd be as passionate about the Steelers if they played some bullshit chuck-and-duck, finesse style offense (i.e. the Colts, or the Rams from a few years back), and lacked a defensive presence.

The majority of Cowher's teams have all played with the same passion that the coach wore on his sleeve. His players loved playing for him. Anger or joy, there was no guesswork with Cowher's emotions. Football is a passionate game, and while his tenure had its share of disappointments, it was rare when his players lacked that passion.

While much of the talk about last year's Super Bowl was "winning one for the Bus", I felt all along that Cowher was more deserving of the 'win one for someone' thingy. I was out in Tempe for the last Steeler Super Bowl, and my most memorable image from that Neil O'Donnell give-a-way was that of Cowher hunched over in near-tear at the end of the game. Then telling one of his daughter's near the tunnel, "sometimes you win, sometimes you lose." I tear up every time I see that.

That time he shoved the photo down the ref's shirt. That Monday nighter when he looked like he wanted to punch the Jacksonville player running down the sideline. So many great memories.

So...here's to you Bill. It's been a great run, and you will be forever missed by this fan. I hope you enjoy your time with the fam in North Carolina, and best wishes in the future. I'd still love to sit down and watch a game with you someday. If you take over as the Head Coach in Miami, I will hate you.

btw...just for those outside of Pitt to get a glimpse into this city's passion for the Black & Gold, the picture above was taken on Friday at my local grocery store, Safrans in Sewickley. Pittsburgh is without a doubt, a Steeler town.