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Dirt and Kirk:
A Short(ish) Tribute
by Jon Pasterick (5/28/01)

I know that most fans are focusing on the upcoming season at this point, as well they should be. And especially Steelers fans, for good reason. We are coming into the new decade with a new stadium that sports new grass (thank God), a new offensive coordinator, and an old quarterback that has at least shown signs of having newfound confidence in his abilities. Couple that with a new set of young players through the draft and Mr. Rooney's new discovery of an industry term known as "free agency," and there is promise for the upcoming season.

However, before I head full force into the next season, I just want to take a second to look back on two guys that the team will not have on the roster next year - Dermontti Dawson and Levon Kirkland. I'm not about to eulogize these guys, because neither one is dead and one is still playing. And let me be blunt first of all when I say that the Steelers did the right thing in both cases by letting these guys go. But let's face it - they gave the Steelers the best ten years of their respective careers, and they did it with dignity and class. So often you find ways of rationalizing the behavior of players on the teams that you root for. Ravens fans have to rationalize how they can root fervently for Ray Lewis. Redskins fans had to rationalize how they could root for Deion Sanders. Never once did I feel the need to have to do that with Dirt and Kirk. They were warriors on the field and solid citizens off of it. The one story I always think about came from a friend of mine that went to UNC. He had friends that were at Clemson the same time as Kirk, and who knew him. So often I get the impression that professional athletes put their nice guys faces on when addressing the public, but that behind close doors, they are different people. When I asked my friend what his friends thought of Kirk, they said he was about the nicest person they had ever met. My friend (who is not a Steelers fan and has no allegiance to Kirk to speak of) mentioned how his friends would go out to the bars, get all drunk, then call Kirk around closing time, who would then come to pick them up and bring them home.

I think that the thing that I'll remember most about both of them is their agility for their size, and there are two plays that always stick out in my mind that exemplified that in them. When I think of Kirk, I think of a Monday night game at Three Rivers against the Bills in 1994. The Steelers ended up whipping the Bills (as usual back then), but the highlight play for me in a game full of highlight plays for the Steelers, was when Jim Kelly dropped back and threw a pass 35 yards downfield to Thurman Thomas. Who's covering Thomas step-for-step, down to the goal line? Kirk, who then sprawls out, gets completely horizontal, all 270 pounds of him, and intercepts a ball thrown directly over his head. Not to bust on Plax or Troy too much, but I strongly doubt either of those guys would've made that grab.

When I think of Dirt, I think of the 1997 playoffs. That season was Dirt's real chance to shine, because he had a mobile quarterback that demanded so much out of offensive linemen by way of getting downfield and really being versatile and mobile themselves. In the 1997 AFC championship, the Steelers first score came on a bootleg in which Kordell faked left and broke right. The entire team was to fake left, yet Dirt was to release and pull right. It worked to perfection, and the one thing I remember is Kordell dashing down the right side of the field with Dermontti five yards ahead of him, fifteen yards downfield, keeping stride with Kordell while mashing everything in his path (it should be noted that Kirk, all 270 pounds of him, had interceptions in both the AFC semis and finals that year).

As I said, this upcoming year should be an exciting one. Being from the Baltimore region, I can't wait to see the Steelers rock the Ravens' world this year. (remember who the last team to beat the Ravens last year was? That's right, the Steelers.) But I'd be remiss if I didn't give one last nod to two guys that made the last 10 years something else for Steelers fans. Their replacements will have large shoes to fill both in their on-field and off-field performances.

Jon Pasterick

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Fan Comments & Responses The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the top). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!

Submitted by McMillen & Wife Great, great article, Jon. Can't resist adding my two cents about these guys. To me, Kirkland's shining moment was Super Bowl XXX, even in the midst of a disappointing loss. Had O'Donnell not given that one away, I think Kirkland would've been Super Bowl MVP, hands down. His effort was magnificent. Greg Lloyd was the team leader and got all the press in those days, deservedly so, but it was Kirkland who led the defense that day. He was the key to shutting down Emmitt Smith, who had a miserable afternoon, and I'll never forget Kirk's diving sack of Troy Aikman near midfield late in the game. He just flew over the center like Super Man and got just enough of Troy Boy to trip him up. The play forced a punt and gave the Steelers the ball back and a chance to win on that final fatefull drive. Man, so close. When it comes to Dawson, I don't necessarily have any specific plays that stand out. I guess I'd have to say ALL of 'em, because until very recently, he was just ALWAYS in there. I don't even remember him missing any games before '99 to be honest with you. I'm sure he probably did, but I can't think of 'em. His consistant excellence was peerless. Lastly, I grudgingly agree with you their time had come. Be that as it may, it's still hard to let go. It's gonna be mighty strange to see Kirkland in a Seahawks uniform. Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife

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