First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL and USFL?
Well, I’m a retired teacher. I also coached the past few years as an assistant at Youngstown State. I was a volunteer working with the wide receivers and special teams guys. And I also worked as an assistant to Mike Tomczak too.
You broke a number of receiving records at Youngstown State and decided to go to Pittsburgh afterwards as an undrafted free agent. Why Pittsburgh?
A few teams called with interest. Cliff Stoudt was in Pittsburgh and he was the Youngstown State quarterback when I was a freshman. He and I were good friends and stayed in touch.
I think he mentioned me to the Steelers’ scouts. Once they called I knew that gave me the best opportunity to be able to compete for a job. I dropped everything and went to Pittsburgh and stayed with Cliff. We worked out every day – it helped give me an idea of what to expect in camp.
Did any of the other guys help you as well once you got to camp?
Without a doubt, all of the wide receivers helped. Lynn Swann and John Stallworth definitely were big. I don’t think either was worried about losing their jobs! I learned a lot from both – and Lynn was very friendly. Even after I was done, I met him years later at a golf event in Akron and he was very friendly.
How did they help you most?
The biggest thing they showed me was you had to be intelligent – you couldn’t make mistakes. Coming from a small college, I had very little experience with press coverage. So getting off of the line of scrimmage and getting into routes was tough at first. They helped me with that too.
That first year I was the last cut. But midway through the season they called me back after they had some injuries. The following year the same thing happened- I was the last cut. So I sat out a year after a short time in Cincinnati then got a chance with the Maulers.
How would you describe yourself as a receiver?
Looking at how I’d compare myself nowadays, I was more of a Wes Welker, Edelman type of guy. A slot receiver who caught the ball. I didn’t drop too many passes – especially with the Steelers. I ran good routes and once I learned how to get off the line of scrimmage that helped me too.
Any fun memories of that time in Pittsburgh?
I remember staying over in Houston once after a Monday Night game. We spent time there at Gillies – all just hanging out together. That was my first experience doing something like that. We all just hung out and had a pretty good time. John Banaszak was one of the really nice guys then – Matt Bahr too.
I know you were close with Cliff. How did he take the heat fans gave him when he stepped in after Terry Bradshaw retired? Some unfair expectations?
Cliff was as big of a prankster as anybody – he was always joking around. And he was very confident in himself. I don’t think it bothered him – I don’t think he ever expected to be the next Terry Bradshaw and to have that limelight. But he did have big beliefs in himself. I think that’s why he went to Birmingham and the USFL and got that big contract.
And you soon went to the USFL as well – with the Maulers. What drove that decision for you?
Well, DeBartolo’s involvement was a big factor. I knew a lot of people that were connected to him. Some of them talked to me and I said sure, I’d give it a try.
How was that season wit the Maulers – what went wrong as the team struggled?
It was a little bit different than the NFL. We practiced at a high school facility. Talent-wise, we had some really talented people. Dealing with depth though is the biggest thing. Once you get into that overall talent question versus the NFL, it’s a step down.
I thought the league was pretty good. They had Jim Kelly and Steve Young. But we were an expansion team in our first year, and were trying to put it all together. We had depth issues and were playing teams that had been there one-to-two years already. They fired our head coach in the middle of the season too – they had some big expectations I think.
But we were one-year and out. The league folded. The didn’t tell us anything – that was just it. No heads up.
As a coach now, any lessons you take away from your experiences in the two leagues?
Chuck Noll was one of the best coaches anyone could play for. Tom Moore was my receivers coach. The imprint he left on the NFL was impressive. I didn’t see that coming at the time!
Swann and Stallworth – I can’t say enough good things about them. Cris Collinsworth too. When I was in Cincinnati I learned a lot from him as well. Just like with Lynn and John, Cris helped me to understand how to beat press coverage. I try to pass on all of that to the kids I coach now.
All in all the Steelers organization especially was first class. They treated me extremely well. I have no regrets. They gave me a fair chance. That’s all anyone can ask for.
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