Last stop, everyone off

Number 36 Jerome Bettis, 5-11 255 pounds. Born on February 16, 1972 in Detroit, Mi. Known better, and more affectionately as “The Bus.” In 1993 the Los Angeles Rams selected Bettis in the first round of the NFL draft with the 10th overall pick. It seemed as though Chuck Knox and Jerome Bettis were a match made in heaven, with a sensational rookie campaign. In 1993 “Bus” rushed for 1,429 yards and ran in seven touchdowns, averaging an astounding 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught 26 passes for 244 yards. Jerome continued his excellence, but after only three seasons he moved onto Pittsburgh where his legacy really began. Bettis has been the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers for ten seasons now, and this storybook is about to culminate in a fairytale ending. Jerome Bettis will never play football again after Sundays Super bowl, and going out after a hall of fame career in his hometown in the biggest game of his life is a stage you couldn’t have written.
Bettis redefined power running and to say he has a nose for the end zone would be a gross understatement. In the 97-98 season Bettis rushed for 1,665 yards seven TD’s and averaged an absurd 111.0 yards per game. He has had eight 1,000 yard campaigns in his 14 seasons. “Bus” has played in 192 regular season games and carried the football 3,479 times for 13,662 yards. He has run for 91 touchdowns, caught 3 touchdown passes, and he has thrown 3 TD passes. Bettis has caught 200 passes for 1,449 yards averaging 7.2 yards per catch. Despite all of these carries, and catches “Bus” has only lost a meager 22 fumbles.
How to drive the Bus: In his career Bettis has run wide right 183 times for 808 yards and 3 TD’s with a 4.4 yard average. He has run right 705 times for 2,636 yards, and 26 TD’s with a 3.7-yard average. He ran up the middle 1,282 times for 4,792 yards, and 39 TD’s with a 3.7-yard average. He has scampered left 756 times for 2,868 yards, and 13 TD’s with a 3.8-yard average. He has skipped it out wide left 258 times for 1,132 yards, and 3 TD’s with a 4.4-yard average. Bettis has carried the football 1,448 times for 5,780 yards and 35 scores when his team has been ahead. Jerome has 4.0 yards per carry average with the lead. It’s no great surprise that late in ball games when the opposition is tired is when Bettis punishes his opponents with that big agile frame of his.
Into the garage: Jerome Bettis has scored 30 touchdowns on first and goal situations, 20 on second and goal, 13 on third and goal, and 6 on fourth and goal. I haven’t seen a player who was so money from the goal line, since the late Walter Payton.
Not only can “Bus” play football, but also he is an outstanding human being as well, a credit to the city of Pittsburgh as well as to the Steelers organization. I remember seeing Jerome being interviewed on ESPN several years ago, Bettis was in his office at his home in Pittsburgh. Letters, drawings, and bobble head dolls all of which had been sent to him by children and his fans surrounded Jerome. It’s an image, and conversations I wont soon forget, a very big man, with a very big heart, wearing that great larger than life smile on his face. The next image I want to see is Jerome Bettis in the end zone, in super bowl 40, doing what he does best. Winning, and playing brilliantly.