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Sunday, December 17, 2000

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

There were many memories and a lot of emotions rifling through Hank Poteat yesterday. And none of them had to do with the final game at Three Rivers Stadium, though it was on his mind. Poteat, a rookie cornerback, played across town at the University of Pittsburgh, so he was aware of what the 30-year-old stadium meant to the Steelers, to the city, even to some of his teammates.

	Hank Poteat breaks free from the grasp of the Raiders' Sam Shade and heads to the end zone. (Peter Diana, Post-Gazette)

"It was a special moment for the Pittsburgh Steelers," Poteat said.

It was even more so for Poteat.

His 53-yard punt return for a touchdown had turned around a 3-3 game and sucked the desire from the Washington Redskins on a day when the Steelers would go on to a 24-3 victory that kept alive their flickering playoff hopes. And it was satisfying because Poteat had been so close to breaking a return on so many other occasions this season. Finally, with one sidestep of a desperate diving attempt by Redskins safety Sam Shade at the 10-yard line, he was able to do so. It was the Steelers' first punt return for a touchdown since Andre Hastings' 72-yard return at Houston on Sept. 10, 1995.

"He's had a bunch of opportunities," said special teams coach Jay Hayes. "We needed to get him all the way to the end zone."

For the record, Poteat made it there with 3:35 remaining in the first half and gave the Steelers a 10-3 lead. Along the way, he received blocks from linebacker Mike Vrabel, rookie linebacker Donnel Thompson and safety Nakia Codie. As far as the Redskins were concerned, it was as though the postgame celebration had started a few hours early. They rolled over like a dog begging for a soup bone.

"That was the turning point," Coach Bill Cowher said.

Poteat was glad to oblige, glad he could deliver on a promise to his grandmother, and glad he could dedicate his first NFL touchdown to high school friend and teammate, Mike Davenport, who played in the same backfield with Poteat at Harrisburg High School. Poteat said he learned the other day that Davenport had died.

"He was a great player," Poteat said, speaking in soft tones. "I wanted to do that for him and all the people in Harrisburg. I had a lot to play for."

He also wanted to make good on his promise to his grandmother, Mildred Johnson, who lives in Philadelphia. Poteat talked to her Friday night on the phone, and she told her grandson that all the people at work were teasing her, wanting to know when Poteat was finally going to score on a return.

"She brought up that she wanted me to run back a punt return for her," Poteat said. "She said a lot of people at her job are teasing her that I came up short a couple times and I told her, don't worry about it, I'm going to run one back for her."

This is how it happened:

The Steelers had set up a middle return, meaning the players would try to seal their blocks to the outside and create a gap up the middle of the field. Poteat fielded the ball at his 47, between the left hash and yardage numbers, and immediately cut to the right, past Redskins tight end Joe Zelenka and safety Matt Stevens. That immediately put him in open space, in the middle of the field, where he was able to elude a diving Champ Bailey.

"That's what we try to do when we have them backed up like that," Hayes said. "It gives him a chance to see the field."

Then Poteat got a block from Thompson, who sealed Redskins linebacker Greg Jones. At about the Washington 15, he faked and cut inside punter Tommy Barnhardt. From there, Poteat faced one last obstacle -- Shade, who was closing on the rookie at the 10.

"That's what's been hurting me this year," Poteat said. "I get tripped up."

Not this time. Poteat slipped Shade's tackle and pranced into the end zone.

"He's run out of gas a couple times," Thompson said of Poteat, a third-round draft choice. "This time, he got out of that tackle. It really turned the game around."

On this day, following that score, Poteat provided one more emotional moment. When he came to the sideline, he ran over to the stands and handed the ball to his father, Major. Then the two embraced.

"It was a rainy day, I was appreciative of him being out there," Poteat said. "Soon as I made the return I saw him coming down the steps, so I went right over there and gave him the ball."