Steel Curtain players, GMs and Owner - please do not take offense to this, that's not the intention at all, just something I do for the team when we have a big game.....and I thought it would be fun to share it with you guys.
It was a warm, beautiful day today here in New Jersey as as I stood outside of the recently renovated Battalion Stadium. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the fans were having a blast tailgating in the parking lot. The fans seemed to have a new found inspiration for their beloved home team.
As the fans started to pour into the stadium, I spoke to a few of them and they were all very optimistic about today's game in spite of their recent loss to Minnesota, and last years beating from the Curtain. They felt this was the day they would see their team on top of the East.....but I'm sure the Steel Curtain had a different idea.
The Steel Curtain comes into today's game undefeated for the season and #1 in the East, and they had pretty much man-handled every team in their way along the coarse of the season. Last season they defeated the Battalion 23 - 12 in a game that was dominated by Pitt.. And from the looks of their season so far, it looked like it might be the same type of game this season.
The Battalion had also been experiencing a new level of success this season as they enetered this game with a 10 - 1 record, with their only loss coming from Minnesota 2 weeks earlier. The Battalion had established a forceful running game with Dash Hardin, Thurmann Thomas, and Jack Truman this season that has dominated most of their opponents. Tim Crusher has also found his groove this season racking up 15 TDs so far this season.
The crowd had finally started making their way into the stadium and finding their seats as the visitors took the field. Pitt was lead to the field behind QB Sam Howard as the fans expressed their dislike for the today's opponent.
Just as the last Pitt player reached the sideline, the crowd completely erupted as they could see the Battalion players through the darkness of the Home team tunnel......their new uniforms looked intimidating as they huddled in the tunnel, and you could just make out Tim Cusher and Rashad Clark in the darkness of the entrance way.
Just then Fireworks shot out from the sides of the tunnel as "We will rock you" blasted from the sound system and Tim and Rashad lead the team to the field as the noise level became deafening, the fans were on their feet and the entire stadium was shaking as the Battalion shot from the tunnel as if fired from a cannon. The team stood at midfield for a moment with Joe Blak and Jack Truman waving their hands in the air to hear even more from the fans. This was the most excitement I have ever heard come from this stadium since I started covering it.....these fans were pumped, this team was pumped, even I had to ask myself how Pitt was going to be able to hold this team down today.
The Battalion took to the sideline and the captains from both teams met at midfield - Mike DaDestroyer and Cotton McKnight represented the Battalion today. Pitt won the toss and elected to receive.
Christie's foot came in contact with the ball and drove it 74 yds and into the endzone for a touchback to start off the game.
Pitt took their opening drive 74 yds downfield, but had to sttele for a FG after this 3rd down diving tackle from Idrink Mythos -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6102088
The Battalion's first possession was a 3 and out, and was followed by another long drive by the Steel Curtain resulting in a James Morrison 3 yd TD run to put Pitt up by 10, and it was starting to look like the Battalion was in for a long game.
But, just as the fans had started to quiet down a little, Tim took the Batatlion on a 60 yd drive that finished with this 1 yd TD from Dash Hardin. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6103462
with the score 10 - 7 in favor of Pitt, the Steel Curtain once again put 7 more points on the board after a 2.5 yd TD pass to Nathan Morrison, making the score 17 - 7 in favor of Pitt.
The Battalion then mustered an impressive drive that stretched 55 yds and culminated in a 23 yd FG from Christie to bring the Battalion within 7. The drive was highlighted by this 20 yd pass from Tim to Slim Crusher -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6104229
The Battalion defense finally showed up on the Curtain's next drive as they forced them to a 3 and out.
Then Tim[ Crusher hit Slim Crusher on this incredible 81 yd TD pass that tied the game -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105223
The Battalion defense once again came up big as they held Pitt to another 3 and out after this big hit in the backfield from Plane Crash -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6106341
After this impressive punt return from Blazing Gun -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105727
The Battalion then put together another drive which led to a 48 yd FG from Christie to put the Battalion on top for the first time in the game. The drive was highlighted by this 22 yd pass to Andre Jett for 21.5 yds. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105841
The 2 teams then exchanged possessions a few times before the Battalion once again drove downfield in a drive that spanned 76 yds and was capped off by this TD pass to John Robison -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6107800
With the score 27 - 17 in favor of the Battalion, Pitt went on a 55 yd drive that culminated in a 27.5 yd FG from Downda Middle to bring Pitt within 7.
Both sides once again exchanged possessions until the Steel Curtain got the ball into Battalion territory on their last drive of the game. They marched down to the Battalion 41 yd line and looked like they might go in for the game tying TD. But with 1:10 remaining in the game, Idrink Mythos picked off a Sam Howard pass on the 30 yd line to seal the victory and put the Battalion on top of the East. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6108997
With the game in hand, the Battalion turned to Dash and Truman to run out the clock. And the Battalion were sitting atop of the BBB East for the first time in franchise history.....and the fans showed their appreciation with a thunderous applause that shook all of New Jersey.
As the last of the Battalion team exited into the Home tunnel, you could hear the familiar chant coming from within the tunnel - "The Battalion is on the loose, don't try to hide - just sit back, and enjoy the ride."
And with one last wave from Battalion ROT - DBrickashaw Smith, the Battalion disappeared into the tunnel.
It was a warm, beautiful day today here in New Jersey as as I stood outside of the recently renovated Battalion Stadium. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the fans were having a blast tailgating in the parking lot. The fans seemed to have a new found inspiration for their beloved home team.
As the fans started to pour into the stadium, I spoke to a few of them and they were all very optimistic about today's game in spite of their recent loss to Minnesota, and last years beating from the Curtain. They felt this was the day they would see their team on top of the East.....but I'm sure the Steel Curtain had a different idea.
The Steel Curtain comes into today's game undefeated for the season and #1 in the East, and they had pretty much man-handled every team in their way along the coarse of the season. Last season they defeated the Battalion 23 - 12 in a game that was dominated by Pitt.. And from the looks of their season so far, it looked like it might be the same type of game this season.
The Battalion had also been experiencing a new level of success this season as they enetered this game with a 10 - 1 record, with their only loss coming from Minnesota 2 weeks earlier. The Battalion had established a forceful running game with Dash Hardin, Thurmann Thomas, and Jack Truman this season that has dominated most of their opponents. Tim Crusher has also found his groove this season racking up 15 TDs so far this season.
The crowd had finally started making their way into the stadium and finding their seats as the visitors took the field. Pitt was lead to the field behind QB Sam Howard as the fans expressed their dislike for the today's opponent.
Just as the last Pitt player reached the sideline, the crowd completely erupted as they could see the Battalion players through the darkness of the Home team tunnel......their new uniforms looked intimidating as they huddled in the tunnel, and you could just make out Tim Cusher and Rashad Clark in the darkness of the entrance way.
Just then Fireworks shot out from the sides of the tunnel as "We will rock you" blasted from the sound system and Tim and Rashad lead the team to the field as the noise level became deafening, the fans were on their feet and the entire stadium was shaking as the Battalion shot from the tunnel as if fired from a cannon. The team stood at midfield for a moment with Joe Blak and Jack Truman waving their hands in the air to hear even more from the fans. This was the most excitement I have ever heard come from this stadium since I started covering it.....these fans were pumped, this team was pumped, even I had to ask myself how Pitt was going to be able to hold this team down today.
The Battalion took to the sideline and the captains from both teams met at midfield - Mike DaDestroyer and Cotton McKnight represented the Battalion today. Pitt won the toss and elected to receive.
Christie's foot came in contact with the ball and drove it 74 yds and into the endzone for a touchback to start off the game.
Pitt took their opening drive 74 yds downfield, but had to sttele for a FG after this 3rd down diving tackle from Idrink Mythos -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6102088
The Battalion's first possession was a 3 and out, and was followed by another long drive by the Steel Curtain resulting in a James Morrison 3 yd TD run to put Pitt up by 10, and it was starting to look like the Battalion was in for a long game.
But, just as the fans had started to quiet down a little, Tim took the Batatlion on a 60 yd drive that finished with this 1 yd TD from Dash Hardin. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6103462
with the score 10 - 7 in favor of Pitt, the Steel Curtain once again put 7 more points on the board after a 2.5 yd TD pass to Nathan Morrison, making the score 17 - 7 in favor of Pitt.
The Battalion then mustered an impressive drive that stretched 55 yds and culminated in a 23 yd FG from Christie to bring the Battalion within 7. The drive was highlighted by this 20 yd pass from Tim to Slim Crusher -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6104229
The Battalion defense finally showed up on the Curtain's next drive as they forced them to a 3 and out.
Then Tim[ Crusher hit Slim Crusher on this incredible 81 yd TD pass that tied the game -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105223
The Battalion defense once again came up big as they held Pitt to another 3 and out after this big hit in the backfield from Plane Crash -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6106341
After this impressive punt return from Blazing Gun -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105727
The Battalion then put together another drive which led to a 48 yd FG from Christie to put the Battalion on top for the first time in the game. The drive was highlighted by this 22 yd pass to Andre Jett for 21.5 yds. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6105841
The 2 teams then exchanged possessions a few times before the Battalion once again drove downfield in a drive that spanned 76 yds and was capped off by this TD pass to John Robison -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6107800
With the score 27 - 17 in favor of the Battalion, Pitt went on a 55 yd drive that culminated in a 27.5 yd FG from Downda Middle to bring Pitt within 7.
Both sides once again exchanged possessions until the Steel Curtain got the ball into Battalion territory on their last drive of the game. They marched down to the Battalion 41 yd line and looked like they might go in for the game tying TD. But with 1:10 remaining in the game, Idrink Mythos picked off a Sam Howard pass on the 30 yd line to seal the victory and put the Battalion on top of the East. -
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=94151&pbp_id=6108997
With the game in hand, the Battalion turned to Dash and Truman to run out the clock. And the Battalion were sitting atop of the BBB East for the first time in franchise history.....and the fans showed their appreciation with a thunderous applause that shook all of New Jersey.
As the last of the Battalion team exited into the Home tunnel, you could hear the familiar chant coming from within the tunnel - "The Battalion is on the loose, don't try to hide - just sit back, and enjoy the ride."
And with one last wave from Battalion ROT - DBrickashaw Smith, the Battalion disappeared into the tunnel.
