Ray Mernagh

‘BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP’ GAME AN EPIC BATTLE

by RAY MERNAGH

2001 was the year Heinz Field opened, rising from the ashes along the banks of the Ohio River. It was such an occurrence that lame-brains in some PR capacity convinced the city’s leaders to try and change the name of the area from the North Side to the North Shore. Forever leaving first-time visitors to wonder: Where’s the beach? Note to new residents/visitors: don’t ask for directions to the North Shore because you’re libel to be laughed at — I’ve seen it happen here in Greenfield — or find yourself in the parking lot of the Monroeville Mall.

Since that time there has been some monumental games played inside the generic-looking edifice that houses both the pride of Pittsburgh sports, the Stillers, and its coattails-riding nephew — Pitt football. The North Side has seen three AFC Championship games in those eight years, meaning at least three different times preliminary applications for second or third mortgages spiked in the city as the mighty Steeler Nation got busy, ready to travel to the Super Bowl should our hero’s prevail (it’s all about priorities Junior and Missy, besides, that’s what student loans are for).

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DISCONCERTING SIGNALS: PITT’S STULL PROVES HE’S CONSUMMATE LEADER

by RAY MERNAGH

Playing quarterback in the city of Pittsburgh can be tough, even on the great one’s. Terry Bradshaw received less-than-ideal treatment before becoming a four-time Super Bowl champion. Big Ben felt the lack of support and heard the calls for Charlie Batch to replace him — this after he’d won a Super Bowl and, oh yeah, had his face completely smashed by concrete in a motorcycle accident.

Tough crowd those Yinzers.

Growing up in Pittsburgh Bill Stull saw first-hand what this city does to QB’s who struggle. Stull watched as a strong-armed “athlete” the University of Colorado hit the ‘Burgh like a meteor shower. “Slash” aka Kordell Stewart, captivated the Steel City — and like Nuke LaLoosh in the seminal sports flick Bull Durham — announced his presence with authority. Slash did a little of everything — catching, throwing, and running for touchdowns in key situations.

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DISCONCERTING SIGNALS (RANKINGS ARE RIDICULOUS THIS EARLY)

by RAY MERNAGH

Before we get started let me give the referee of the Pitt @ NC State game props for supplying the title for NBE’s weekly football column going forward — his call of “disconcerting signals” made my ears perk right up and I scribbled it down before I could forget it. This penalty happens when the defense apparently yells/moves/does something that influences a false start by the offense. Which is funny because ranking college football teams before October 15th or so is sending disconcerting signals to fans everywhere (not to mention really screwing up the BCS chances of any team not rated at the beginning of the season).

Can anyone argue a legitimate reason for the early rankings when the fourth week of regular season play produces results that clearly disprove said rankings? We all understand rankings are subjective but come on, this is crazy (and it happens every year). It started Thursday night with #4 Ole Miss going down 16-10 to the Gamecocks of South Carolina. But Thursday was only the beginning, take a look at the “UPSETS” that followed on Saturday.

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