�� "77"
Hard
Hat Award (Game #9, vs. Clev.)
Stiller WR Hines Ward and QB Charlie Batch are the co-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.
Ward had a big day, leading the Stillers offense with 8 catches
for 124 yards and a TD.� In gritty, Hard
Hat fashion, he snared a clutch, fingertip grab on 3rd & 3 for a huge 1st
down.� He also made a clutch grab at the
goal line near the end of the 1st half, which fully appeared to be a TD.� Ward got up to celebrate, but had the headiness
to realize that not only was the ref not ruling a TD, but also that the clock
was winding down.� Had that been a Chad
Johnson or TO, they'd have been off dancing and frolicking, but Hard Hatter Hines
had the presence of mind to scamper to the LOS, where Charlie Batch plunged into
the EZ just before halftime.� Ward also
set the Stillers franchise record for career receptions, breaking John
Stallworth's career mark.��
Batch had a gritty, productive 1st half of football versus
the Browns, going 13 of 19 and leading the team to a 17-7 halftime lead.� At the half, it was discovered that Batch
had broken his hand late in the half, but in true Hard Hat fashion, he gutted
it out and kept on playing, and it was his headiness and savvy to quickly gather
the offense after Ward's goal-line reception, get them lined up, and then call
his own number for a huge TD with just 6 seconds to spare in the half.� With Ben Roth out, the offense needed a
clutch performance, and Batch did just that.�
Kudos to Ward and Batch for winning the weekly Hard
Hat Award.� Wear the Hard Hat
proudly, fellas!�
Past 2005 Hard Hat Winners:
Week 1, vs. Tenn: Willie Parker
Week 2, @ Hou: Troy Polamalu
Week 3, vs. NE: Clark Haggans
Week 4, @ SD: Troy Polamalu
Week 5, vs. Jax: Heath Miller and Ike Taylor
Week 6, @ Cinci: Hines Ward and Ike Taylor
Week 7, vs. Balt.: Andre Frazier
Week 8, @ GB: Duce Staley
(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Steve Courson this
season by placing "77" in the Hard Hat Award article each week.� Courson, as most of you certainly recall,
was the ultimate Hard Hat kind of player.� Tough.�
Dependable.� Versatile.� )�