Not many teams ever reach the place where they are considered the best at what they do. And even fewer are believed to be the best ever. Yet that’s what the Pittsburgh Passion achieved on July 26, and they got the hardware to prove it.
The Pittsburgh Passion defeated the Houston Energy, 41-7, to win their second national championship at District Three Stadium in Rock Hill, S.C.
For decades sports have played an intricate role in the Pittsburgh community. Sports is a vital piece of the dynamic-the family unit is centered around and great defense is always in the forefront.
It was the Pittsburgh Passion defense that set the championship tone by forcing five turnovers, including three first-half interceptions, and the special teams recovered two onside kicks.
Team Captain cornerback Michelle Brevard-Peters intercepted a pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to begin the Passion scoring explosion.
“Houston Energy is a great running team and our pre-game goals was to stop the run and force them to pass,” said Brevard-Peters, Owner of Genuine Pub Bar, on Sandy Creek Rd, near Monroeville. “I was surprise when the quarterback challenged me. I back pedaled and read her eyes and I was able to get a great jump on the football.”
Brevard-Peters, a retired surgical technologist, wears the same number and plays the same way as Troy Polamalu. Was again voted onto the Pro Bowl team. Will she retire after a 10-year career and 2 national championships?
“Yes its official and I’m hanging up my jersey and retiring,” said Brevard-Peters. “Plus, it’s softball season and that’s my best sport.”
The team owners are Teresa Conn and Franco Harris but the best running back on the field was Ciare Chic.
Chic ran for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns and she rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season.
People who know her well say she’s a natural. Her God-given physical gifts are incredible, but the real key to her success has been her self-discipline. She works and prepares-day in and day out-unlike anyone else in the league.
Her background has prepared her for greatness on the gridiron. She was a track All-American at West Virginia University and still holds her area high schools 100 and 200-meter records.
“That’s how we do it in Rand (West Virginia). Randy Moss and his brother Eric Moss both are from my hometown,” said Chic. Randy Moss is a good family friend. He used to come to the house all the time.”
Chic said she plans on taking a year off from football because she is marrying former professional boxing champion Verquan “The Show” Kimbrough and she wants to also concentrate on making the Olympic team.
The Passion enjoyed a perfect undefeated season and got on a roll. They were like a downhill snowball, adding momentum and victories each step of the way. And according to legendary head coach Harvey Smith Jr., the snowball didn’t stop until they won the championship.
“It is so hard to win any championship and anytime you win one you really appreciate it and this was a national championship,” said Smith, West Virginia University and Gateway High School Hall of Famer. “This is the end of the coaching road for me. I am going out on top. Time to work on my bucket list. I still have two more kids playing ball. I have a son who will be a senior in high school and plays slot receiver at a Quad A school and I have another son who is in 8th grade and I’m looking forward to following their career.”
Pittsburgh Passion’s Pro Bowl quarterback Lisa Horton was named the game’s MVP and she is also retiring.
With Smith, Horton, Brevard-Peters, Chic and several others hanging up their jerseys and coaching whistle. What will be the future of the team?
Owner Teresa Conn is the keeper of the Passion flame, and Conn is always prepared. She will not allow the flame to burn out, or even flicker.
Horton the iconic quarterback who, for 12 record-setting years, was the face of the franchise. How do you replace a legend?
“Lisa Horton is like the Peyton Manning or Tom Brady of Women’s football,” said coach Smith. “The Passion has a good young quarterback waiting in the wings. She is very athletic like Horton and she played wide-receiver for us this year and backup quarterback.”
There is no game, no more worlds for the Passion to conquer next week. But there is next season and another bit of history to confront them. Life without Lisa Horton.
There is no new thing under the sun, according to Ecclesiastes, but as football fans, we’d be better off had we been told, “there is not now, nor will there ever be, anything like the 2014 Pittsburgh Passion.
Without Horton, Brevard-Peters, Smith and Chic the teams owners of Conn and Harris just might need an Immaculate Reception just to make the playoffs in 2015.
