Mayor Names Today "Pittsburgh Passion Day" For Football Team

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Very few teams in Pittsburgh, or anywhere, for that matter, have dominated their opponents quite like the Pittsburgh Passion.

The women's football team was rarely challenged as it rolled through an undefeated season and playoffs, before winning a closely fought final against the western champs from Utah. It was the Passion's second consecutive Independent Women's Football League Championship.

One by one, coaches and players received commendations from Mayor Bill Peduto and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, as fans applauded in Courthouse Square.

"Today, Aug.24, 2015 is 'Pittsburgh Passion Day' in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County," the mayor proclaimed.

Teresa Conn is both owner and coach of a team that has won 22 games in a row over the past two seasons. She says the Passion is made up of many different professions, and, "A lot of different age levels. We've got 18 to 40 something. Some are just out of college, and others are getting ready for retirement."

Injuries were inevitable as the season wore on.

"That's part of being a football player," the owner/coach says. You wrap it up and play the game, then you heal in the off-season."

She says the players' bond has gotten stronger, year by year, on a team that began play in 2002.

"Knowing that you can only play for so many years, some girls are getting ready to start their 14th season. They know when they're finished. So with that emotion, I think everyone wanted to send them out on top. And when you play for somebody else, I think it makes is a lot more gratifying."

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