On Wednesday, when former Pittsburgh Steelers announcer Myron Cope arrived at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter, hopefully in addition to waving a Terrible Towel, answered once and for all a question that has lingered since Dec. 23, 1972:

Was Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" legal under a National Football League rule in effect at the time? Was the last player to touch the ball before Harris caught the deflected pass Steeler John "Frenchy" Fuqua or Oakland Raider safety Jack Tatum, who collided with Fuqua just as the ball arrived?

Game officials ruled that the ball had bounced off Tatum, making Harris' catch legal. Fuqua, remaining coy about what NFL Films has chosen as the greatest play of all time, has said he will never tell.

Hopefully Cope now is privy to a ruling from the highest officials.

It always will be considered ironic that Cope, who will remain a symbol of Steelers football as a result of his 35 years in the broadcast booth, was not on the air during that amazing, albeit controversial, play — indeed, Cope's biggest regret. Cope had gone down to the field to grab guests for his postgame show after what seemingly would be the last play of the Steelers' season.

Prior to Harris' catch and touchdown, the Black and Gold were losing 7-6, with just over 20 seconds to play.

Fans can only imagine how Cope's screechy voice would have reacted to the incredible chain of events that resulted in the Steelers' first playoff win in the history of the franchise. That game would become the springboard for the Steelers greatness that would follow, although the Steelers lost to the Miami Dolphins the following weekend, helping to pave the way for the Dolphins' — and the NFL's — only perfect season.

But Cope's unique broadcast voice — and the dedication to the Steelers that it inspired — was only one thing for which he will be remembered. Cope's spirit will always be present, wherever Steelers football is played, as long as there are Terrible Towels, the good-luck charm he introduced in the mid-1970s.

It is said that the towel is the best-known fan symbol of any major professional sports team. Better than that, sale of the towels has raised millions of dollars for charity.

"You were part of the team," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney told Cope in 2005. "The Terrible Towel many times got us over the goal line."

The Steelers' radio broadcast booth has not been the same since Cope's retirement in 2004, nor has the team attempted to recreate the special kind of enthusiam for which Cope always will be remembered.

Longtime Pittsburgh Pirates fans hold a similar view about Bob Prince, whose special talents in the Bucs' broadcast booth never will be duplicated in the Steel City.

Cope was the man behind the Terrible Towel but he was anything but terrible. Not only was he a great announcer, he also was a dedicated, compassionate man who understood the challenging circumstances that many people face in their daily lives.

The enthusiasm, excitement, victory and joy he imparted to his many listeners helped to lighten, at least for awhile each weekend, the burdens that many might have been experiencing prior to kickoff.

It would seem then that Steelers fans can feel comfortable that, whether or not Cope on Wednesday learned the answer to the "Immaculate Question," the Pearly Gates nevertheless opened for him.

There is confidence in the hearts of many that his induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2005 was destined to be just a steppingstone to the further greatness, peace and joy that he presumably now is experiencing.