Hard Hat Award (Game #15, vs. Balt)

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Hard Hat Award (Game #15, vs. Balt)

Stiller LB James Harrison is the winner 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.

With starting LOLB Clark Haggans injured, the reserve LB from Kent St. got the start versus Balt.� In a tilt featuring linebackers Joey Porter, James Farrior, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Hartwell, Jamie Harrison made the most noise, terrorizing the Ratbird offense the entire afternoon.� As noted in the postgame analysis, perhaps Harrison was seething mad at Billick over being cut this summer and thus decided to take out his anger on the Ravens.�

Whatever the case, Harrison was like an angry junkyard dawg.� He caused a flush of Boller in the 2d series, a portent of things to come.� Late in the 1st quarter, he beat Big Orlando Brown and then smacked Boller as the QB was releasing a pass, which caused a lil' bloop pass that Joey Porter INT'd just a few yards away from Boller.� In the 2Q, Harrison held up his own at the point of attack, which caused Jamaal to turn around and head west, and Harrison hauled him down for an 8-yard loss.� Two plays later, Harrison forced another flush of Boller, and also drew a holding flag on Dinkins.� Late in the 2Q, Harrison literally bullrushed, in true Hard Hat form, the much bigger Brown, causing yet another flush.� On the Ravens last-gasp drive in the 4Q, Harrison forced a throw-away on another good bulrush against The Big O.� The next play, Harrison made the defensive play of the game, vaulting over RB Chester Taylor and batting down a Boller 4th-down pass attempt to seal the win.� This is precisely the way the linebacker position is supposed to be played, with malice, hatred, and intensity.� No woofing and prancing; just lots of in-your-face nastiness, the way Hard Hat, Stiller football is meant to be played.�

Kudos to Harrison for winning the weekly Hard Hat Award.� Wear the Hard Hat proudly, Jamie!�

Past 2004 Winners:

Week 1, vs. Oak: Casey Hampton and Clark Haggans

Week 2, @ Balt: No one

Week 3, vs. Miami:� Chris Hope

Week 4, vs. Cinci:� Ben Roth and Troy Pola

Week 5, vs. Clev: Ben Roethlisberger

Week 6, @ Dallas:� James Farrior

Week 7, vs. New England:� Joey Porter

Week 8, vs. Phil: James Farrior

Week 9, @ Clev:� James Harrison

Week 10, @ Cinci: Jerome Bettis

Week 11, vs. Wash:� Antwaan Randle El

Week 12, @ Jax: Ben Roethlisberger

Week 13, vs. NYJ: James Farrior

Week 14, vs. NYG: Antwaan Randle El

(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Justin Strzelczyk, who epitomized the very nature of The Hard Hat, by placing "73" on the Hard Hat each week during the season.)�