First off, what have you been up to since you’re playing days?
It’s been interesting. I have an electrical business now. I’m blessed to have four sons – all athletes. So I get to carry on my love of football through them. My first is graduating college – it’s exciting to see my first kid graduate.
I also have a non-profit I started with Raheem Orr called “More Than Sport”. We help kids with things like financial literacy, character building… Between football and the non-profit I’m always around the sport.
It was rough after football though. To lose the love of your life and get in legal trouble like I did – you see people fall off sometimes and not come back – but I knew I had to get back up.
What helped you to bounce back from the legal issues?
My children – I got full custody of them and I had to fill that father role instantly. That was the biggest motivator for me. Letting them see that you can fall – we all fall – but that you have to get back up.
I also had a hell of a support team. My parents – my dad is a retired electrician – and by best friend in Pittsburgh. They stood behind me and didn’t judge me. At 42 now, I can’t imagine relating to things like I had to then. Being that young, you don’t experience life as a big-time high school football player. At that point life and football have nothing in common.
How have you used those experiences as you coached yours and other kids?
I did it on my own. I didn’t look for guidance due to my own life lessons. I felt like I had been through things others couldn’t understand at the time. Now I can help my kids see who I am. I was the number three running back coming out of high school – when you get to that point you can be hard-headed to messages. I felt like there was nothing they could tell me since they didn’t go through what I went through.
I took an offer to coach my kids in Pop Warner football in Lower Marion. I didn’t trust the coaches to give my sons what they needed. It’s a blessing to be out there now. It started with me coaching my sons but now it’s transferred on to other kids. They didn’t win a championship since 1984 before I got there. We just won one last season. It’s amazing to see them achieve things they never thought they could achieve.
Did you find yourself using lessons from other coaches and players in the way you coached your kids and others?
I adopted a lot more from the speed and strength coaches I had. Like Buddy Morris – he was the biggest mentor I had. And Coach Kennedy at Ohio State – he coached us on speed and Coach Morris on strength. It helped having those two – combining their knowledge to pass on to kids.
I know at Pitt you moved from running back to linebacker after having success at running back – then you transferred. What was behind those moves?
It’s funny – I don’t hesitate when I say that many of us didn’t like Walt Harris. I’d say 80% of us! I got in trouble as a Freshman – I wasn’t drunk but got a DUI because I had a drink and drove and was only 18. Walt punished me- that’s why you saw those other running backs get more time then. I went and played linebacker after that – to get away from Walt. I liked the defensive coordinator and knew once Hayes and Moore left I would start at linebacker. But, my love for running the ball overwhelmed things.
In 2003 I was supposed to transfer to NC State but I didn’t want to sit for a year. Another Pitt player transferred to IUP – I went there and played for Frank Cignetti -God bless him. The had a phenomenal offensive line and used me like a cowbell. They had Shady McCoy’s brother LeRon at wide receiver there too. We sent four guys to the NFL that year.
Once you got to the NFL, did you have anyone that helped mentor you in New York or Pittsburgh?
No – that was one of my biggest downfalls. Even if there was one I wasn’t good at taking advice then. I didn’t like Tiki Barber so I didn’t listen to him. Carry his pads across the field? No! I wasn’t that guy. Rodney Moore was probably the closest to a mentor of those guys there.
How about Pittsburgh and how after New York did you end up there?
I was frustrated after draft day. I broke my leg my Senior year but felt I was still a top back – but playing at IUP was a downer for teams. Pittsburgh knew me personally but New York called me first and I was impatient. I probably should have waited but I took the New York offer when they called and signed with them right away.
After I was cut by New York Pittsburgh called and told me they knew all about me from playing at Pitt and IUP. They knew about my troubles – they told me they wanted to send me to NFL Europe to get in football shape. I went and played in Hamburg and balled out. That’s when they started calling me “Baby Bus”. I weighed 252 pounds. But when I came home I was childish and immature. I smoked pot and tested positive – that’s why the Steelers released me.
Any good memories or bonds from your time in Pittsburgh?
My best friends were in Pittsburgh – at Pitt I stayed with them, not the players. Those were the guys that have stood beside me my whole life. The team comradery at Pitt was amazing – Lousaka Polite was my biggest mentor at Pitt – he and I are still close. He’s a great guy.
Being around guys like Ben, Troy and Plaxico when I was so young… When you’re 18 and you see Steelers players pull up in their cars to the facility next to you…if that doesn’t motivate you I don’t know what will. I don’t know any other schools who share a facility like that with an NFL team.
Any good memories with the Steelers you can share?
I think hanging out with Ryan Clark – he was so down to earth and genuine. He, Troy…they were so genuine. You wanted to play with guys like that. And Bill Cowher – I never saw a coach do conditioning with the players like he did after practice. I’d have done anything for him – he was a great coach.
The personalities there were amazing. James Harrison was one of the funniest guys – and scariest – at the same time. He’s say something and you’d think he was being so serious – then he’d just smile. He did that to everyone.
Any advice you’d give to kids following the same path today as you did?
Don’t waste your time on things that don’t matter. Focus on the things that matter. Women, drinking, smoking … they will be there when football is over. Stay focused. We used to say “Do it the Larry way.” You never saw Larry Fitzgerald party, drink, smoke or even play video games. And look at him today.