“A quarterback, Sunshine, and being so proud of your (expletive deleted) football team.” A thread of remembrance and reverence 15 years later... https://twitter.com/pgh_sports_date/status/1194596723273932800

I’ve been blessed for 23 seasons (and counting) to spend fall Saturdays with Pitt football. So many players, coaches, bosses, co-workers, reporters and fans have given me an unforgettable experience...

I used to be the young guy at the table. No more. I’ve now unofficially been dubbed Pitt’s department historian (merely the result of winning the war of staff attrition). As such, I’m often asked, “What was your favorite game? Who’s your all-time favorite player?”

Picking favorites is hard. When I think of my Pitt football experiences, there really are too many to put in that “most favorite” category. But, inevitably, certain moments—and personalities—rise to the top of your memory bank.

So rather than call 2004 Pitt-ND my very favorite, I’ll instead put it in a catch-all catalogue of “Greatest Hits.” Kind of like songs on the Rolling Stones’ compilation “Hot Rocks.” For me, this is one of the best of the very best.

These days, when people talk about this game, the conversation tends to focus on the end. Or rather, *after* the end. The postgame interview on NBC. That really shortchanges a fabulous afternoon of football in a storied venue.

Another question I’m often asked: What was the greatest individual performance you’ve ever seen in person? Again, too many to put in prioritized order. But Tyler Palko’s 5 TD passes at Notre Dame are absolutely in that “all-time great” category.

Before I get into the game—and what happened after the game—let’s rewind to the preceding Monday. Coach Harris had his weekly press conference. We then made Tyler available for interviews. I can still see him surrounded by a circular wall of microphones & cameras.

PR people can be really antsy, nervous types. I’m no exception. Let’s avoid creating waves before a big national game, right? “Don’t give any bulletin board material. Praise the opponent.” This advice is dispensed ad nauseam before a player walks out on the interview plank.

Tyler and I always talked before interviews. But I never tried to stifle his personality. He was colorful, charismatic, interesting. Tyler was, and is, a great quote! That’s an asset, especially in a competitive media market like Pittsburgh.

Tyler was asked about playing on Notre Dame’s hallowed grounds. Would it be intimidating to face the Irish and their legendary mystique under the watchful gaze of Touchdown Jesus? His response: “That’s for the birds, bro.”

So much for staying off the bulletin board.

But Tyler played with that type of fearlessness the entire game. I’ll contend that’s why we won. He threw great fades to Greg Lee. He threaded a TD pass between multiple defenders to Derek Kinder. Our TEs, Erik Gill & Steve Buches, were heavily involved.

Walt called a great game that day. He remains, in my opinion, one of the most under-appreciated figures in Pitt history. And when play calls broke down, Tyler’s improvisational instincts took over.

We were down, 35-31, with under 7 minutes left. I was on the sideline at this point, pacing around. We had a critical 4th down and I remember Tyler scrambled trying to find an open receiver...

It looked like he was going to run for it but suddenly stopped. I remember I actually yelled, “GOOOO! RUN!” Just as the words came out of my mouth, Tyler flipped the ball to Marcus Furman. First down.

Tyler capped the drive with his 5th TD pass—this one to Erik Gill, who had more heroics in store before the game ended. The defender had his back to Tyler and he just dropped the ball over his shoulder, right into Erik’s hands. 38-35 Pitt.

Of course, the Irish die hard at home. We’ve learned that over the years, right? They kicked a field goal to tie it, but left more than a minute on the clock...

Over the years, I’ve heard our players talk about what the huddle was like on that last drive. What do the words—and the eyes—of your QB tell you? Tyler said, “You guys are going to remember this moment for the rest of your lives.”

That’s leadership, man. He instilled belief.

The 2004 team had guts. It wasn’t an overly talented bunch. But I’d take their toughness any day. That final minute in South Bend embodied their resolve. 80,000 people. NBC cameras. A now glowing Golden Dome in the distance.

“You'll remember this for the rest of your life.”

The play I remember most on that final drive was the first. Tyler threw to Erik on the sideline and for a moment a linebacker had his hands on it. But Erik ripped the ball away—remember what I said about toughness & resolve?—and rumbled down the field for like 40 yards.

You ever look at a steak on the grill and start to salivate, anticipating how great it will taste? That’s what it was like on the sideline. We began to taste victory. You sensed fear from the home crowd.

Players started coming up to kicker Josh Cummings, nicknamed “Sunshine” as he resembled that character from “Remember the Titans.” They were telling him to get ready, it was going to be his time. I’m thinking, “Leave this kid alone. There’s enough pressure already!”

But Josh really had a California cool about him. He was a really great, engaging kid who I enjoyed getting to know. He had that surfer dude mentality. Didn’t matter how big the wave was. “No worries,” Josh always used to say.

Anytime we are attempting a game-winning field goal, I try to stand behind that goal post. I don’t want to rely on the crowd or the official signal. I want to *know* as soon as the ball is airborne.

Snap, hold, kick. It was all true. Our first win in South Bend in 18 years.

So about that postgame interview.

When the clock hit zero I immediately found Walt, first to congratulate him and then steer him to NBC for the winning coach interview. Once that was done, I made sure to soak in the moment, then ran into the locker room behind our team.

Remember there was no Twitter in 2004. My phone was buzzing but that always happens after big wins. I’ll clear the messages once the press conference ended. I walked with Walt across the concourse not knowing that NBC had grabbed Tyler for immediate reaction on the win.

Back then, ND had both coaches visit the same press room. Walt was in front of a throng of national, ND & Pitt reporters. As he was talking, the PG’s Bob Smizik came up behind me & whispered, “Did you know Tyler used the ‘F’ word on TV?”

My head snapped around like a whip.

I said to Bob, “What are you talking about?” The PG called Bob to tell him. Speaking more to myself than Bob I said, “Isn’t there a TV delay, a dump button?” “Apparently not,” Bob replied.

He was going to ask Walt about it. I never prepped Coach because I didn’t even know.

Turns out, Walt was...surprised, but not shaken by it. “That shocks me,” he said at the podium when told about it. Walt prioritized discipline but he wasn’t going to chastise his QB until he knew more.

Plus, we just won at ND for the first time since the Reagan Administration.

I found Tyler in the locker room. “What happened?” But just like he had played all afternoon, Tyler attacked this head on, without hesitation, taking full responsibility. He led off his interviews with a heartfelt apology. He later would apologize to NBC’s broadcast team.

We boarded the team busses and I spent the ride to the airport relaying Tyler’s statement via cell phone to various media outlets. Again, Twitter didn’t exist. Our rapid response was done the old-fashioned way: person to person, voice to voice.

The following week I called every sports talk show in Pittsburgh to get Tyler a guest spot. They all took him without hesitation. In addition to being a helluva QB, Tyler was (and remains) a class act. I wanted to reinforce that fact.

Incredibly this brief postgame interview had a weeklong shelf life in the media. Howard Stern talked about it (and came to Tyler’s defense). It was a topic on PTI. But two occurrences several days later bumped it off the radar.

The Pistons & Pacers infamously had a Friday night brawl that spilled into the stands, the “Malice at the Palace.” Then, ABC ran a steamy Monday Night Football promo with Terrell Owens & Nicollette Sheridan of Desperate Housewives fame.

The outrage compass changed directions.

So that afternoon in South Bend—what happened on the field and away from the field—will always be memorable for me. And I can’t help but smile when I think back on it all.

And I am truly proud to call @tyler_palko a friend and Forever Panther.

(And he still has a prominent spot in my office!) #H2P