Franco Harris: Lesson from Joe Paterno made 'Immaculate Reception' happen

A day before his death, Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris explained how a lesson from former Penn State Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno helped make "The Immaculate Reception" a reality. 

"When the ball is in the air, I tell myself, 'Go to the ball. Go to the ball,'" Harris told Chris Russo about the historic play during a Tuesday appearance on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "That’s what Joe preached to us all, all four years at Penn State. Always go to the ball. And when he threw that ball, automatically, my mind said, 'Go to the ball.'

"And so, I start taking some steps to the ball, and I remember nothing after that. Which is — it blows my mind that I have no visual, no recollection, no memory of anything until I’m stiff-arming Jimmy Warren going into the end zone." 

Word broke Wednesday morning that Harris died suddenly overnight at the age of 72. As noted by the Associated Press (h/t NFL), his passing occurred two days before the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception" and three days before Pittsburgh was to retire Harris' No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of Saturday's prime-time contest between the 6-8 Las Vegas Raiders and 6-8 Steelers. 

"It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe Franco Harris' impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates, the City of Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a brief statement. "From his rookie season, which included the 'Immaculate Reception,' through the next 50 years, Franco brought joy to people on and off the field. He never stopped giving back in so many ways. He touched so many, and he was loved by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Dana, his son Dok, and his extended family at this difficult time."

Per Sports-Reference, Harris rushed for 2,002 yards and 24 touchdowns on 380 carries during his Penn State career that ended after the 1971 season. The Steelers made the eventual Hall of Famer the 13th overall pick of the 1972 NFL Draft.