Haggans
and Hampton: Co-Recipients of the Hard Hat Ward (Game #1 vs. Oakland)
Stiller LB Clark Haggans and Nose Tackle Casey Hampton are
the co-winners of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller
player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel
workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.� This award does not necessarily mean you dominated the stats, but
just played tough & hard and epitomize the traditions of Western PA
football.
Hampton is deserving of this award, not for his game stats
but for his grit.� The nose tackle is an
unheralded position and rarely reaps the benefits or laudatory remarks for
above standard play.� A good nose tackle
makes the linebackers look good.��
Champions excel when nobody is really watching them.� So true for Casey.� He only recorded one tackle and one assist but his presence on
the field brought back Pittsburgh to a defensively tough team.� He was disruptive and all over the
field.� Going back to the days of the
�Steel Curtain�, Hampton played like the anchor should.� He was extremely quick for a man of 6-1 and
325 pounds.� Pressuring the QB is
something we�ve been yelling for.�
Hampton did just that and is to be commended.� The Raiders� Washington was completely outclassed yesterday
afternoon.
Clark Haggans got the start at left outside LB, his first in
the NFL.� Tackle wise Foote had a better
game but Haggans led the way with five tackles, two sacks and two forced
fumbles.� His play was dominant as well
and some of his efforts won�t show up on NFL.Com�s statistic sheet.� His disruptive play was something we�ve been
looking for at LOLB for years.� Haggans
ran crisp routes to the QB and disrupted Gannon, which is crucial to a dink and
dump QB.� Haggans showed his grit and
quickness by running to the opposite side of the field to crush Fargas for a
one-yard gain.� Keep in mind that this
was also Haggans� first game of the year after sitting out the pre-season with
an injury and he was questioned by many as to how quick he would be back in the
saddle.
This week�s Hard Hat co-winners are a tribute to Stiller football.� This was a tough call to determine the winner, which is why we�ve decided to go with co-winners.� Much appreciation to the board readers and your recommendations certainly carry some weight on our decisions.� Our fan poll clearly picks Haggans, but Hampton is also worthy by his hustle and audacity.
We also considered at Foote and Staley.� Hines is always a Hard Hat consideration but
we felt that Haggans and Hampton deserved the first Hard Hat award of the
2004-05 season.� Stiller fans need to be
pleased when we have five players that a case could have be made, awarded the
HH to one of them individually.
Kudos to Clark and Casey for winning the weekly Hard
Hat Award.� Wear the Hard Hat
proudly, men !!
Winners:
Week 1, @ OAK: Casey Hampton and Clark Haggans