Steel Balls

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for Steeler Nation that day;
The score stood 24 a piece, with but one drive left to play,
And then when Chase Daniel got the first, and next play did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few fans watched TV in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only KC could get a field goal whack at that –
They’d put up even money, now, with KC playing flat.

But yards needed KC, 50 or more it would take,
And then Chase Daniel was a passing and the handoff was a fake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of KC getting off the mat.

But McCluster caught a spiral, to the wonderment of all,
And McGrath, the third tight end, held on to the next ball;
And when time out had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Chase Daniel near midfield and Steeler fans could now be heard.

Then from Steeler Nation throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
Now knocked opportunity and Charger fans just sat,
For KC kicker Succop, was about to end all that.

There was ease in KC’s manner as Chase Daniel stepped into place;
There was pride in KC’s bearing and a smile on Chase Daniel’s face.
And when, responding to opposing cheers, he lightly took the snap,
And 24 yards down the field Hemingway penned the final slap.

The Chargers defensemen were on him as he rumbled along the dirt;
And Steeler fans applauded as we wiped sweat upon our shirt.
Then while the writhing defense lined up for the next hit,
It was 1st and 10 for KC and, at the 31 yard line they did sit.

And now the leather-covered football no longer through the air,
And KC stood a-watching, we can kick it right from there.
But Knile Davis the runner ran twice and hardly sped-
And now third down we did see, “Wildcat” the announcer said.

From the benches, filled with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
What is this shouted someone off in Steeler land;
This player from KC has never thrown the football from his hand.

With a smile Andy Reid new that KC’s play had shown;
His running back was standing in the backfield all alone
He signaled to the center, and once more the football flew;
But KC they had done it, and the ref signaled first down too.

“Field Goal!” cried Steeler Nation, and echoes answered that;
And one sideline look of KC’s kicker, Steelers fans nervous sat.
They saw the three plays run as were told, the time running out,
And they knew that KC would set this up with one last final time-out.

The fear was gone from KC’s kicker, it is now all upon his feet;
He taps the ground now confidently with the toe of his right cleat.
And now the snapper snaps the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Succop’s blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining still;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts will fill,
And somewhere men are laughing, and children smiling bright;
But there is no joy in Steeler Nation — KC’s kicker was wide right.

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