So Long, Coach

Photo by Peter Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bill Cowher made it official today, resigning as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers to spend more time with his family in North Carolina. It leaves the Steelers looking for a head coach for the first time since 1992 and only the second time since 1969. One of the many things I've always dug about the Steelers is their consistency...they've been owned by the same family since the beginning, their uniforms have been the same since forever, and they don't have a revolving door for their coaches. To illustrate Pittsburgh's unique situation, since I was born 35 years ago, the Colts have had fifteen coaches. The Browns have had twelve (and they were out of the league for three years). Even the Dolphins, who had Don Shula at the helm for 25 years before he retired in 1995, have had four since then, and are now looking for their fifth. The Steelers have had two.

How do I feel about it? I'm not sure...Cowher could be pretty bull-headed at times, sticking with things that clearly were no longer working. But as I kept telling other fans who were constantly calling for him to be fired...Who else is out there that would be any better? True, Cowher lost more truly huge games than he won...but the Steelers usually played between pretty good and completely amazing during the regular season, and made the playoffs almost every year. And they did finally break through and win that Super Bowl last February...I dunno, there aren't many teams whose fans have been treated to so many good times in the last dozen years. I'll take it.

So so long, Coach Cowher...we'll miss ya. And when you do undoubtedly come out of retirement in the next couple years to lead another team, at least have the decency to not have it be Dallas or Baltimore!