The Terrible Towel is an idea created by Myron Cope, a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers (an American football team). Needing a way to excite the fans during a 1975 playoff football game against the Baltimore Colts, Cope urged fans to take yellow dish towels to the game and wave them throughout. Some Steelers players were unenthusiastic (notably linebacker Andy Russell who told Cope they weren't "a gimmick team"). Nevertheless, the stands were filled with yellow towels that day, and the Steelers always seemed to complete terrific plays when the towels were waving. The Steelers won that game 28-10, and Russell himself scored a defensive touchdown.
The Steelers introduced gold towels with the words "Myron Cope's Terrible Towel" in black on them just in time for Super Bowl X. The Steelers went on to win against the Dallas Cowboys.
Today, there are many other types of Terrible Towels for sale, such as golf towels, black towels, beach towels, and towels with the Steelers logo on them. In addition, fans of many other college and NFL teams have begun waving towels in their teams colors.
A Terrible Towel is framed on a wall of the United States Navy submarine Pittsburgh.
In 1996 Cope gave the rights to Myron Cope's Official Terrible Towel to the Allegheny Valley School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The school provides care for more than 900 people with mental retardation and physical disabilities. Proceeds from the Terrible Towel have helped raise more than $2.2 million for the school.
On October 31, 2005, a special Terrible Towel was created to honor Cope for his 35 years as a Steelers broadcaster and was waved prior to the Monday Night Football game between the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. A limited edition of 35,000 were made, all with familiar "Cope-isms" like "Yoi!".
In the days leading up to Super Bowl XL in 2006, Terrible Towels became more popular than ever with many Pittsburgh stores running out of them, including the special commemorative towel shown on the right. When the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XL, Coach Bill Cowher was handed a towel, which he held during the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In honor of the Steelers' 75 anniversary in 2007, there are Terrible Towels available for sale with the commemorative 75th anniversary logo.
Following Myron Cope's death on February 27, 2008 Pittsburgh residents hung Terrible Towels from their homes and cars to mourn his loss, many attempting to simulate the Terrible Towel flying at half-mast.
