RB Foster: “When Bill came in, the first thing he did was unify the team. From the outside, you don’t see or understand it. We were a divided team.”
LB Barnes: “Bill Cowher was former player, and you can tell he was a player’s coach. You knew where you stood with him, and I appreciated that. He had a lot of energy and he kept everyone loose. That made you better. “
K Reed: “Cowher was very easy to play for despite his sideline antics and “chin” at times…he is a great man…I’m blessed that he and Mr. Rooney gave me an initial opportunity…that’s where it all started.”
OL Duffy: “Coach Cowher stressed the importance of coming to work with the right attitude and believing in the program which has worked even though we are having a down year.”
S Carter: “The mindset of Cowher was huge. In 2004 when I got there he asked me what I thought my opponents were going to do – what routes they were going to run and what to expect. No one ever asked me that before.”
LB Kirkland: “A lot of times when I talk to players, I remind them about Cowher’s words: “Never get too high with the highs and never get too low with the lows.”
LB Kurpeikis: “Cowher, linebacker coach Archer, and the special teams coach Hayes – they didn’t care how you got there – just what you could do there.”
TE Ofodile: “Coach Cowher set for the team based on seeing them up close in joint practices and pre-season games. I really liked the attitude of those teams.”
CB Walker: “Cowher trusted his coaches to do it for the player.”
WR Edwards: “Coach Cowher was a great coach. When you first get in the NFL you think you know everything. As a coach you deal with all those different personalities all across the team – even to the practice squad. “
OL Essex: “Cowher asked if I was ready to be a Steeler and I said “Hell yeah!” That was one of my top ten memories of all time.”
OL Brooks: “I remember when we played New England when they had that winning streak going. Right before half time Reed kicks a 46-yard field goal, but I clutched my fist and they called me for offsides. Reed missed the field goal afterwards. When I saw there were only a couple of seconds left before the half I ran to the locker room before Cowher saw me. But he saw me running and chased after me. Hampton, Hines, Porter were all in his way as he was running up the steps after me – he almost knocked those guys down chasing me. He was yelling at me when he caught up to me “You’re wrong”” he was yelling and cussing me out. Hines and Casey were laughing as he cussed me out. It didn’t seem funny then, but now… I still remember days later Casey and those guys laughing at me, telling me that Cowher almost knocked them down the steps chasing me!”
OL Starks: “Bill Cowher got on the phone and asked me two questions – “Did I like cold weather and did I like to run the ball?” I said “Yes!” He said, “Congratulations. You’re a Steeler!”
S Codie: “Coach Cowher made sure defensive players and offensive players lockers were by each other and not separate.”
RB Huntley: “On of my big things was to always be straight up with the kids. To not beat around the bush. Bill Cowher never did that either. He always told you straight up exactly the way it was.”
OL Searcy: “I was comforted by what Cowher said. We were going to be a tough team, he said….In hindsight I can’t say I wish I stayed – I had a great time in Jacksonville, but I loved playing for Pittsburgh and Bill Cowher.”
DL Bailey: “Cowher let the craziness go – he embraced it. “
LS Gammon: “You have to give Coach Cowher credit. He weeded out the guys that didn’t fit and brought in real leaders, like Kevin Greene. We worked hard and efficiently. We didn’t work too long or too short. Coach Cowher was upfront with us that different players got treated differently.”
LB Holmes: “Cowher had the hard-nosed attitude. Whether it was a good or bad play, he just wanted you to get the job done.”
WR Shaw: “Cowher was great at allowing some leeway for fun – to take a moment to allow guys to laugh then let players self-police themselves afterwards.“
LB Wallacr: “The things Cowher did and taught – not getting too high with the highs and too low with the lows. To take advantage of opportunities. I instill this with the kids and in my own daily life.”
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
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