For Steelers, Perfect Storm For Bonding

By LEE JENKINS
The New York Times
Published: January 21, 2005

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20 - When the power on their television sets went out and the batteries in their portable DVD players died and the signals on their two-way pagers faded, there was nothing left to do but talk to one another.

Some champions are born in training camp and others in the free-agent signing period, but around Pittsburgh, there is a theory that these Steelers were formed in the Westin Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 25. That night, as Hurricane Jeanne blew through South Florida, the Steelers formed the largest huddle in the N.F.L. Four months later, they can still feel the wind at their backs.

At the time, Pittsburgh was 1-1 and coming off a 6-10 season with no quarterback and no identity. As if the status of the Steelers was not precarious enough, they flew into South Florida as most of the people in the region were flying out. They were scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 26, but no one knew when the game would start, or if it would be played at all.

In the early evening of Sept. 25, players chatted on their cellphones and watched movies on their portable DVD players and typed on their two-ways. But as darkness fell and batteries died, they could hear the wind whistling outside and see the palm fronds falling off the trees, and some players started to cower in their hotel rooms. That is about the time the lights went out.

Players came together because they were scared, they were bored and they couldn't see. The few Steelers who had packed flashlights instantly became the most popular members of the team, and their rooms quickly turned into gathering places. When a few too many 300-pounders crammed inside, some players spilled out into the hallways on the eighth and ninth floors.

Steelers from the heartland sought out Steelers from Florida and asked in the mellowest way possible if they were all going to make it out O.K. The Floridians assured their teammates that hurricanes were nothing new and the area was fully equipped for the most severe storms.

Perhaps they were not aware that this particular hurricane was stronger than anything they had ever experienced.

"I told them everything was going to be cool," said safety Chris Hope, who went to Florida State. "But I wasn't so sure."

Pittsburgh receiver Antwaan Randle El, who is from Illinois and went to Indiana, said: "All of the Florida guys were saying they had been through it before and it was no big deal. I didn't really believe them."

In order to take his mind off the tempest, Randle El flipped open his cellphone and started playing a computerized game of Scrabble. A few Steelers wandered over and asked if they could join him. Randle El decided to change games to something more team oriented, "Family Feud."

The weather was keeping everyone from leaving the hotel and anyone from entering. Family members were not able to call with last-minute ticket requests. Even the most ardent fans stayed away from the lobby. The team hotel, at least for one night, actually belonged to the team.

Before long, there were clusters of Steelers spread around the property - cornerbacks with offensive lineman, kickers with wide receivers. Some of them said they talked seriously with teammates for the first time. They told stories about their families, about their favorite high school football games, about lessons the N.F.L. had taught them. Veteran players cautioned rookies to take care of their bodies, watch their money, enjoy every Sunday.

As cornerback DeShea Townsend surveyed the scene in one of the hallways and saw million-dollar athletes sitting on the carpet with their backs pressed to the wall, he was reminded of his freshman dorm at Alabama, and plopped happily on the floor.

"For a lot of guys, it was the first time that we listened to our teammates' views on serious issues, the first time that younger guys listened to the older guys talk about the game," Townsend said.

"We shared our personal experiences and got to know each other as people. When you're in the pros, guys usually just go home right after practice and don't hang out too much. But that night, it was just like college, like we were back in the dorms after class."

When word spread that Sunday afternoon's game was being moved to Sunday night, the team curfew was pushed back, and the slumber party raged past 1 a.m. Coach Bill Cowher started a game of flashlight tag in the lobby. Randle El loaded more games on his cellphone. No one could go to sleep, and no one really wanted to.

"It was a big moment in our season," guard Alan Faneca said. "To come out of that situation like we did, when guys didn't know what to expect and didn't know each other real well, it was significant."

The Steelers have not lost since. The next day, they pounded Miami to start a 15-game winning streak that they will carry into the American Football Conference championship game against New England on Sunday.

Pittsburgh is not the most athletic or the most talented team in the league, but the Steelers believe the toughness and togetherness that was forged during the storm in September will carry them through.

At a turbulent moment in last week's playoff game against the Jets, Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter gathered his team and screamed: "They can't break us. They can't break us. Because we're tight." His rallying cry exhorted the Steelers to a comeback victory.

"We went through something as a group," Randle El said. "That night in Florida was scary, but at the same time, it was really cool. A lot has happened since then, and we look back on it all the time."

As he spoke, Randle El flung a rubber ball into a group of teammates on the other side of the locker room, and then busted up laughing. When he turned away, the ball came right back at him, and he laughed just as hard. The rubber ball has become a new source of entertainment as Pittsburgh prepares for the Patriots and a game-time temperature of 10 degrees Sunday.
The Steelers have already demonstrated that they do not seem to mind some inclement weather. They were built from the storm, for the storm.