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A Super Thanks To Dan Rooney

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By STEVE OTTO

sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

Dan Rooney is in town this week, along with what might be the most successful professional football franchise in recent years.

That his Steelers are in Tampa to play in the Super Bowl at all is largely because of Rooney. In fact, that there is even an NFL franchise here in the Big Guava goes back to a decision he helped make 35 years ago.

In the early '70s the move to secure a franchise was well under way. Tampa Stadium had been built, exhibition games had drawn credible crowds and the question really was more "when" than "if" we would land a team.

Not that "when" wasn't a huge question. Other cities were out to land teams and the word was the National Football League likely was going to award only two franchises in its next round of expansion.

"We had formed a task force," says Leonard Levy. Leonard is the better looking of the Levy twins, although brother George claims he is the more athletic and probably a little sharper. Both have given countless hours to their community but it was Leonard who was leading the charge for the NFL franchise.

"There were seven or eight cities really in contention," he remembers. "I think we did our homework better and had the right answers when the NFL checked us out." The NFL in this instance largely was represented by Dan Rooney.

All In The Family
Family dynasties don't always pan out. Even with the smarts, without the passion and drive of an idea, the sons and daughters of the dream don't always understand what to do with their legacies. In this instance, it only has gotten better.
Art Rooney was the founder of the Steelers. He was called "The Chief" and legend has it the Steelers came about when Rooney cleared $250,000 on a good day at the horse track. The truth is he paid a $2,300 franchise fee after state laws prohibiting Sunday games were repealed.

Rooney had five sons and all had shares in the team, but in 1975 it was Dan who was appointed team president. After the death of The Chief in 1988, Dan Rooney became the outright owner of the team. In recent years much of that power has gone to his son, Art Rooney II.

But it was Dan Rooney the small Tampa task force went to see when it was looking for a team.

"We needed a team in that part of Florida," Rooney recalled the other day. "We were also determined to put one somewhere in the Northwest. Tampa and Seattle had the stadiums and they were ready. And Leonard Levy was one of those people who would not leave me alone."

Word From Above

The word came, first from league Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who let it slip to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who in turn passed it to Tampa Tribune sports editor Tom McEwen, who told Levy and those gathered at the Drake Hotel in New York. "It was one of those moments you never forget," Leonard says.

And so the Bucs were born in all their creamsicle orange splendor, as were the Seattle Seahawks.

Rooney, however, would not be rid of Levy. The Tampa crowd, flush with success after a few years, figured we were ready to host a Super Bowl. Back came Levy and another task force. "I told Leonard you weren't big enough for a Super Bowl," Rooney says. Once again the Tampa people had done their homework, Rooney agreed and the 1984 game in Tampa was such a success that we now are hosting our fourth.

Tonight is the annual commissioner's party. I'm guessing if Rooney and the Levys are there, Rooney will do his best to stay on the other side of the room. Who knows what Tampa might want next.

For more Steve Otto hit keyword "Otto Graphs' For more Steve Otto hit keyword "Otto Graphs'

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