Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, as a legendary coach for Bethune-Cookman, tell me a little about how you entered into coaching and how influenced how you coached?

I never did any coaching before I got the job in 1961. I got the offer after I hurt my knee in Pittsburgh – I told them I’d give it a try after the coach that was there for fifteen years had to quit. He got sick and had to give up coaching, so I called just at the right time.

The president of the university was my high school coach. He knew of me but didn’t know what kind of athlete I was, I didn’t know either!

They had no athletic director, no coaches… I told them I’d take all of that. They had no players returning. so it was a kind of rough. Continue reading “Exclusive with Jack “Cy” McClairen, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1955-1960″

First, let us know how is CFL going – is the goal to get back to the NFL?

Yeah, I’m trying to get back to the NFL. I’m hoping for one more time in the NFL. If not, I can make a career up here.  Heck, the crime rate is only 5% up here so I’d be safer at least!

How has the CFL helped your career?

Well it’s given me more film to show other teams. I only had one year of film to show from the NFL. So that definitely helps. They can see I’m still a playmaker, doing what I’ve done all my life. And it definitely should help people who claim I’m a troublemaker see that I’ve never had problems here and to prove that I’m not a problem for anyone.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Chris Rainey, Steelers Running Back, 2012-2013”

First, can you let readers know what you’re doing with yourself since the NFL?

Ultimately I got into real estate and have been for seventeen years now. Along the way I built homes and was a sports agent for a couple of years until I settled on real estate.

How hard was that transition from football to a post football career?

I have to say I thought it would be an easy transition.  I was a walk-on in college. No college recruited me. I was the last player drafted out of VMI and the only one since the 70’s.  My dream was to fly for the Navy at first but I had a desire to play in the NFL too. The decision to play football wasn’t easy. I had to give up my flying slot in the Navy to play in the NFL. By the time I retired I was thirty-one and couldn’t go do that after that.

I tried a couple of things. I saw my peers nine years into their careers and felt behind the eight-ball. When you’re thirty-one you feel old! Continue reading “Exclusive with Mark Stock, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1989”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Just now, for the last year or so, i started the John L. Williams Foundation. Just got it off the ground and working on it now.

Basically, I’m working to help those in nursing homes, and it’s hard. Most of them are elderly in their ending stages. It’s harder to go in and be there. I had older parents who passed away and were in a nursing home. So I see the need. And it’s not just helping elderly in homes. It’s also about helping them in the community and working with groups like Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Fullback John L. Williams, 1994-1995”

First, tell us a bit about your new job in Cleveland.

Well, I’m happy to be their new special teams coordinator. I’m looking forward to that. It’s a situation where there was mutual interest and an opportunity for me to get back to the AFC North.

Any odd feelings about playing for a team you once considered a big rival?

That’s the way it is in coaching. I’m an Alabama alum but when I coached against Alabama I coached to win the game and had mutual respect for everyone I played. You couldn’t find a more loyal Alabama alum but I always wanted to win.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Amos Jones, Steelers Assistant/Special Teams Coach, 2007-2012”

First – let us know what you’ve been ding with yourself since your time in the NFL?

I’m not doing much these days. I’m pretty much a family dude. Raising kids. I don’t know what else I’m doing besides picking up kids…taking care of my kids. My life is kind of boring right now. I’ve been away from the hustle of every day sports, taking it easy.

How hard was the adjustment for you?

It’s tough trying to find something to do with myself. I started a business but it was a major catastrophe! I really don’t have other skills. I didn’t finish my degree so I’m not sure what to be doing with myself now. I have a lot of issues from playing – I just thank God I still have my sense about me. Not like some players.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers DL Kendrick Clancy, 2000-2004”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time coaching in the NFL ?

Well, I’m retired, I’m seventy-nine years old and am back in my hometown of Canton, Ohio where I grew up and went to school. I have three children and ten grandchildren and lots of activities to go to. Birthday parties, seemingly every other weekend, games… It’s great watching them grow up and play. It’s a full time job and I love it.

Let’s start with your hire in Pittsburgh as the offensive line coach. How did that happen? What did Noll say to you?

I was very fortunate to be hired by the Steelers. Noll was looking for an offensive line coach and I was an offensive line coach for years. I talked with Chuck through Dick Haley at first. He quizzed me on offensive line play. I had great mentors at Bowling Green where I coached and played before – great coaches there. So I had great respect for offensive line play.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers OL Coach Ron Blackledge, 1982-1991”

First, can you let us know us know what you’re next steps are in your coaching/post-NFL career?

I left a really good job at the NFL Network as an analyst to give something back to young players as a coach. These milliennials players are a different kind of player and have a different kind of need. I’ve coached for five or more years now and I am trying to get deeper into giving back to others what was given to me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Rod Woodson, 1987-1996”

Joel Steed: “Coach Mitchell – he was just incredible. He should be up for a head coaching job. He really understood the pressure. The  moment of now.”

Casey Hampton: “Coach Mitchell treated everyone the same at first. He was a great coach. Once you proved yourself he’d treat you a certain way then. He treated everyone differently and was very tough, but he was always fair.”

Aaron Smith: “It’s funny. As a rookie I hated Mitch. I couldn’t stand him. I thought he despised me and I despised him. Then the next year the Steelers drafted another defensive lineman and I saw how hard he was on him. I realized then it wasn’t about me.

I know now he’s a wonderful man. As a rookie you don’t know or see him for who he is. He sees in you what you don’t see in yourself. You think he’s just picking on you. But as a rookie you don’t know what you don’t know.

Continue reading “Former Steelers Discuss Coach John Mitchell:”

First, can you let us know a little about your path post-NFL?

I worked for my former coach at Notre Dame, Bob McBride after the NFL. He had a trucking company and I was the salesperson for the Midwest section of the country. They hauled steel out of Chicago. A couple of years later I got homesick and my family called me to tell me my mother was ill, so I moved back home to Natick.

I entered my family’s painting business and was involved in that for a few years then opened up my own restaurant. A drive-in.

So you were busy! Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?

It wasn’t that hard at all. We didn’t make the money then that the players make today. They make four or five million a year then have to find a job somewhere to keep up their lifestyle. That is much more difficult than it was in my day. I made $17,00 a year. My first contract was $10,000  a year.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Frank Varrichione, Steelers OT, 1955-1960”