FRANCO HARRIS RIP

Retired Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris watches the action versus the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field, September 7, 2006. The Steelers won 28-17. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Franco Harris RIP. We woke up to the sad news that Hall of Famer Franco Harris passed away at the age of 72. Ironically, this week is the 50th anniversary of the greatest play of his career during the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty with his Immaculate Reception. Sadly, his great play is scheduled to be honored in multiple ways this week and he will miss it all.

First of all, the NFL Network will debut "A Football Life" about Franco on Friday night...the actual anniversary of his miraculous catch. The Immaculate Reception has been voted as the greatest play in NFL history.

In addition to that, the Steelers are scheduled to honor him by retiring his jersey number against the Raiders, of all teams, Saturday night/Christmas Eve on National TV. This was all planned in advance and he was scheduled to be there. It will be a shame that he won't be there to enjoy it all.

However, we will honor his memory with Franco Harris Trivia during Wiki-Pete-ia on the Shemon and Sheppard Show on ESPN Southwest Florida.

And GOOD NEWS! Our phones are back for the first time since Hurricane Ian!

In case you are not fortunate enough to be lucky caller number nine at 239-337-ESPN, then you are in luck! Play at home and dazzle your family! Stump your co-workers with useless knowledge! Amaze your friends with your newfound intelligence! Below are the actual questions AND ANSWERS heard during Wiki-Pete-ia on our show.

Franco Harris RIP .

Good Luck!

-Craig Shemon

1. WHAT TEAM WAS THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION AGAINST?

A: RAIDERS

2. WHO WAS THE KEY DEFENDER WHO DEFLECTED THE BALL ON THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION?

A: JACK TATUM

3. WHERE DID FRANCO HARRIS GO TO COLLEGE?

A: PENN STATE

4. AT PSU HE WAS PRIMARILY A BLOCKING BACK FOR WHAT RB?

A: LYDELL MITCHELL

5. WHAT WAR HERO SHARED THE BACKFIELD AS A FB WITH FRANCO HARRIS IN PITTSBURGH?

A: ROCKY BLEIER

6. WHERE DID FRANCO HARRIS FINISH HIS CAREER?

A: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

7. FRANCO'S NUMBER 32 WILL BE RETIRED BY THE STEELERS THIS WEEKEND. ONLY TWO OTHER STEELERS HAVE HAD THEIR JERSEYS OFFICIALLY RETIRED. NAME THEM?

A: ERNIE STAUTNER 70 AND JOE GREENE 75

8. WHO WAS THE INTENDED RECEIVER FOR THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION?

A: JOHN FRENCHY FUQUA

9. FRANCO'S ITALIAN/AMERICAN FAN CLUB WAS KNOWN AS "FRANCO'S ITALIAN ARMY." WHAT CROONER WAS KNOWN AS THE ARMY'S BRIGADIER GENERAL?

A: FRANK SINATRA

10. FRANCO HARRIS IS THE NFL'S 15TH ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER WITH 12,120 YARDS. WHEN HE RETIRED, HE WAS THIRD ALL-TIME BEHIND WHO?

A: WALTER PAYTON AND JIM BROWN

Pittsburgh Steelers raiders

Craig ShemonEditor

Craig Shemon has been hosting afternoons on ESPN Southwest Florida since 2017. Prior to that he was a nationally syndicated host in Los Angeles at FOX Sports Radio and in Houston at Yahoo! Sports Radio. Along the way Craig did play-by-play for the NFL on FOX, NFL Europe, Big Ten Network, and The Citadel Radio Network. Craig is a native Detroiter and Indiana University graduate. He has been known to proudly display his Detroit and IU fandom on the air. Craig likes to write about athletes, create quizzes, and covers big sports headlines.