by 1989 Season Week 1
“Bud’s First Game”
Final Score Cleveland 51 Pittsburgh 0
When Coach Schottenheimer left Cleveland after the 1988 season, je would be leaving behind some very big shoes to fill, the question was, who would fill them? Schottenheimer had the led the resurgence of the Browns after bringing them to the playoffs four straight season. Would they turn to someone already on the staff, or look outside the franchise for someone with prior head coaching experience. Marty, had been the full time head coach for four seasons, leading them to the playoffs each season.
It was a strange move for Modell to make, but it was made even stranger when he looked to someone who made his name while working for the enemy to become the new head coach.
Without Marty at the helm, the Browns would need to succeed him with someone who could handle the talent on the team but also the ego of the owner. The fact that the team had been to the playoffs four years in a row and had one of the league’s best offensive attacks would help make it a lucrative employment opportunity for any established coach looking to get back into the league, or any top notch assistant looking to make a name for himself.
The solution for head coach came from the most unusual of places as it was a man who made his name as being one of the most important assistant coaches of the Browns hated divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The new head coach of the Browns would now be Leon Carson, or as everyone knew him, “Bud”.
The Bud Carson era of the Browns would begin on Sept 10, 1989 from the steel city of Pittsburgh. Carson was in the same city in which he had seen his best success in the NFL as the defensive coordinator of the vaunted steel curtain. It was at Three Rivers Stadium in front of a packed house of Steelers fans.
The Steelers were led that year by quarterback Bubby Brister, who the games television announcer Joe Namath was quoted on the broadcast as saying, “Brister all set to make things happen today”. Bristers main receiving threats were rookie receiver Derek Hill and Louis Lipps. In the backfield with Brister was rookie running back Tim Worley and veteran fullback and resident loud mouth Meril Hoge. However, despite the boast of Namath in the booth, the only thing that Brister was able to “make happen”, was turnovers and bad plays as the Browns crushed the Steelers from the opening snap!
The Browns came out like a house of fire to impress their new head coach and help him take home a victory against his ex team, and their hated rivals. The defensive scheme of Carson paid immediate dividends when linebacker Clay Mathews took a fumble in for a touchdown and gave the Browns the early 7 – 0 lead.
After a Matt Bahr field goal made it 10 – 0, the defense scored again when this time it was linebacker David Grayson taking another fumble in for a touchdown. At the end of the first quarter it was Cleveland 17, Pittsburgh 0, with both touchdowns being scored by the Browns hungry defense. Despite the boast of Namath of the unproven Brister, it was the Browns defense that was truly making things happen that day.
The scoring spree for the Browns continued in the second quarter when Matt Bahr booted another field goal, this from 20 yards and put the Browns up 20 – 0. They captured their first offensive score when Tim Manoa rumbled in the end zone from three yards out later in the quarter. Matt Bahr capped off the first half scoring with a successful 30 yard field goal to send the Browns into the locker room at halftime up 30 – 0.
The Browns continued to pour on the scoring in the second half as they opened up the third quarter with another Tim Manoa touchdown rumble. This one from two yards out and put the Browns even further ahead by a score of 37 – 0. The defense wasn’t done scoring yet either, as moments later it was David Grayson scoring his second touchdown of the game, this time it was a 14 yard interception return. At the end of three quarters it was the Browns dominating the Steelers 44 – 0. The Browns would tack on one more touchdown with a Mike Oliphant 21 yard touchdown rushing strike.
When the blood bath was done, it was the Cleveland Browns 51 and the Pittsburgh Steelers 0. It was one of the biggest opening day blowouts in NFL history. Kosar didn’t have to do too much as he had short fields to work on all day because of the incredible defensive play. He threw for 207 yards, including a 51 yard strike to Webster Slaughter to set up one of the touchdowns.
The newly minted three headed rushing attack did not do anything to overly impress, but they did get the job done when needed. The rookie Eric Metcalf had a modest 28 yards on 10 carries. Mike Oliphant who was only seeing increased playing time because of the Kevin Mack imprisonment, ran for 48 yards on 6 carries, including the 21 yard touchdown strike. Tim Manoa rushed the ball 9 times for only 20 yards, but did score twice from within the five yard line. Matt Bahr would have to ice down his foot on the plane ride home as he kicked six extra points and three field goals for a total of 13 points.
As for Bubby Brister, the man who Namath claimed would, “really make things happen,” went a meager 10 for 22 passing with only 84 yards. Brister compounded those weak numbers with three interceptions and six sacks. The Browns defense had dominated in the opening week, and put the rest of the AFC on notice! It was also the worst home loss of legendary Pittsburgh head coach Chuck Noll’s long coaching career.
