pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 144 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Pete Gonzalez, Pitt Quarterback, 1993-1997, Steelers Quarterback, 1997-1998

First, can you tell readers about Blitzx – what the product line is and how it got started?

The entire purpose of Blitz X Performance Instruments is to provide, Medical Doctors and chiropractors with medical technology that help them assess and treat patients better. The technology must be able to generate a significant profit for the medical business as well!

We currently offer the Yolo Curve LipoLaser. This technology allows a physician to address unwanted fat area on a patient. Non invasive fat spot reduction!! Great technology.

Continue reading “Pete Gonzalez, Pitt Quarterback, 1993-1997, Steelers Quarterback, 1997-1998”

Bob Adams, Steelers Tight End, 1969-1971

You’ve been a teacher and have also been involved in the Church of Scientology since the NFL. Can you describe what coaching and playing lessons from your time in the NFL have influenced your work in those areas, and how so?”

I taught in the secondary schools (Jr. High and high school) in Pittsburgh and California for three off-seasons. In fact in the spring of 72 Preston Pearson and I taught at a “continuation high school” for boys who went to our school or they went to juvenile jail. We gave them two rough and tough PE classes and they were very well behaved. They were also exhausted.

I went back to grad school for two off seasons for my Masters and teacher’s credential at the University of the Pacific. But Scientology helped me the most and gave me tools to get along better in life and particularly in my professions and relationships and I was better able to handle stress that accompanies pro sports and life in general.

Continue reading “Bob Adams, Steelers Tight End, 1969-1971”

Gene Mingo, Steelers Kicker, 1969-1970

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

I have done many things since I retired from the NFL – I’m helping people with alcohol and drug addictions as a counselor and doing interventions. When time permits traveling, bowling, going to baseball games and basketball games and visiting my grandchildren.

You started your career with the AFL’s Broncos in 1960 and actually scored the first ever points in Mile High Stadium (18 yard field goal). What brought you to the AFL and was a football career something you expected to realize for yourself?

No, my first love was baseball – my uncle played in the old negro league and taught me how to be a catcher. I could throw you out from on second base without coming out of my catchers stance. What brought me to the AFL was my wanting to play some kind of sport. I wrote a letter to the Denver Broncos and they signed me to a contract for $6,500.00.

Continue reading “Gene Mingo, Steelers Kicker, 1969-1970”

Buddy Aydelette, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL and how you got involved in this line of work?

During my USFL years I got into medical sales – I worked with a company in the offseason. Once my playing days were officially over a pharmaceutical company approached me and asked me to work for them. I worked with them for about four years.

I was then offered a job at a local hospital marketing their outpatient physical therapy services and have been with that hospital (that has merged with another system) for nearly 18 years.

Continue reading “Buddy Aydelette, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987”

Chuck Sanders, Steelers Running Back, 1986-1987

First, can you let readers know about Fever beverages and your Pittsburgh restaurant, the Savoy. How did you get the idea for both and where did the desire come from to get into the food and beverage industry?

Fever started off as an investment but turned into a passion for me. Biz Markie is an old friend of mine and when he told me about it. I was very interested. It’s a healthy alternative to Red Bull – I’m the largest investor in Fever now. It did great in Miami so we brought it to Pittsburgh and it’s doing great.

The Savoy – I always wanted to start a high-end restaurant here – I thought Pittsburgh would enjoy it. May 5th is actually our one-year anniversary. I’m just really excited to see the diversity that comes in every day. Pittsburgh isn’t a racially divided city – it’s just separated by bridges and communities but one race. To see the different people come in from different ilks is exciting to me.

Continue reading “Chuck Sanders, Steelers Running Back, 1986-1987”

Jim Boyle, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987-1988

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your NFL days – and how you got involved in your post-NFL career?

Since I last played football I have taught school in the Cincinnati Public School system for five years before changing my career to the City of Cincinnati’s Recreation Department. I have been doing this now for sixteen years. I am a Service Area Coordinator for the city and I run a recreation center in one of our inner city’s neighborhoods.

Working with inner city kids has been and always will be my drive in life.

Continue reading “Jim Boyle, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987-1988”

Tom Myslinski, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1996-1997, 2000

First, can you give readers a quick rundown of your coaching career since your time as a player in the NFL?

I completed my Masters at Pitt in Exercise Physiology, and then worked five years for the Cleveland Browns (two as an assistant, three as head strength and conditioning coach). I also worked four years in the NCAA at Robert Morris, Memphis, and North Carolina.

As of January 27^th of this year, I was named the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Continue reading “Tom Myslinski, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1996-1997, 2000”

Derek Schooley, RMU Hockey Coach

Derek Schooley, RMU Hockey Coach:

First, can you let readers know a bit about your coaching career – how you got started in coaching?

When I was playing my coach in junior hockey, Frank Serratore always mentioned to me that I would be a good coach as I had a good amount of hockey sense, so I started coaching in the NAHL junior hockey league in Chicago right after my playing career.

Later that year, I had an opportunity to go to Cornell as a third assistant coach and then the following year we moved to Colorado Springs where I worked at the Air Force Academy, where I was then able to work for my former junior coach in Frank Serratore. After five years there as the top assistant, I was fortunate to get the Head Coaching job at RMU.

What coaches and coaching lessons have influenced you most in your career so far, and how so?

As I mentioned before, the Head Coach at Air Force, Frank Serratore has been a major influence in my coaching career. I learned so much from him about how to treat your assistant coaches, how to be yourself and numerous life lessons that can be applied daily.

I was working with future leaders in our military and they also taught me so much about work ethic, sacrifice and how to conduct yourself as people away from the ice.

The program has continued to improve over the past few seasons – what do you attribute this to and where do you see the hockey program in the next few years?

We have very good people in our program and they have a tremendous work ethic. They have a desire to continue to improve this program and they have a vested interest in making the program better every year. We graduate ten seniors this year so our goal will be to continue getting better every year even with a young team.

We don’t ever want to rebuild. We want to reload.

You have have 10 seniors graduating this year. How difficult was the last-minute loss to Niagara in the playoffs for you and them especially?

This class is the all time winningest class in program over a four-year period. They are a great group that have experienced numerous highs and lows. They are great friends and get along so well. We will miss this group for what they bring in work ethic, determination and character.

We are very proud to call these ten alumni of the program and I know they will be successful in whatever they choose to do.

How do you replace that senior leadership and play next season?

It will be a challenge. We will need the returning players to step up and take over this team as leaders. The returners have been a group that has been behind a great group of leaders. We will be excited to see some of the younger guys step out of their shadow and embrace a leadership role.

We are expecting numerous players to take on the leadership of this team that haven’t had the opportunity to be “leaders.” Everyone who returns has leadership qualities and it is time for them to step up.

How difficult has it been recruiting players to play in the Pittsburgh area and how do you overcome those obstacles?

It isn’t that difficult to recruit players to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a wonderful city and a great area to live in. The city is growing in reputation, and there is so much to do. It is becoming a “Hockey Town” and Pittsburgh is a major selling point of our recruiting. It has the feel of a small town with numerous big city attractions.

We have had numerous Pittsburgh natives play for our program, and we would like to keep this “best” local players at home in Pittsburgh. The sport is growing here and Robert Morris lets good players have a Division I opportunity (only DI program in Pittsburgh area) while still staying close enough to home that family and supporters can continue to cheer for them.

Do the Pittsburgh Penguins get involved at all in the program? Either way, how has their success helped your program?

The Penguins have been great to our program. We play games at Consol Energy Center with their support. We are co-hosting the Frozen Four in 2013, and the staff has been great in dealing with this large event.

The Penguins are about growing hockey and having them on board with our program is a big benefit. I can’t thank the Pens enough for everything they have done for us and hockey in the area. The Lemieux and Crosby eras have had a big effect on local hockey and hopefully someday, we will have the first born and raised RMU alum playing for the Penguins or in the NHL.

Tell readers how important nationally-ranked goalie Brooks Ostergard has been to the program?

Brooks has been very good for our program. He came in as a third goalie walk on and took the starting job as freshman. He was national player of the week when we swept #1 Miami and has been an all-league goalie.

He leaves here as the best goalie in program history not only through his stats but through his accomplishments.

What’s the key to taking the next big step for the program?

Our goal every year is to get to the NCAA Tournament and we will not rest until we achieve that goal. We have been close twice (losing in overtime twice in our league championship game).

We have to continue to work to get then best players here. We have to get them bigger, stronger and faster. We have to improve every year. That goal drives our program, and we will continue to work until we get there.

What have been some of your best memories to date as Robert Morris’ head coach, and what makes them so?

We have had many big wins against ranked opponents. We beat #2 Notre Dame, #8 Boston University and swept #1 Miami. Those are all great memories and they are all signature program wins but my favorite memory was winning our first game as a program in 2004. We were a group of freshman and a first-year head coach that went on the road to beat an established program. Nobody was expecting us to win any games that year but to win our first was exciting and put us on the map in our first game.

Any last thoughts for readers?

College hockey is a great game. It is fast, exciting and competitive. The players “sell out” every game and nothing is left in their tank. Our sport is growing in popularity and attendance wise every year, but I am not sure everyone out there knows that future NHL players are playing at the Island Sports Center daily.

We have had numerous NHL players play on opposing teams and we have a few alumni that are close to making it on the big stage. Come out and watch us play–you will be hooked on college hockey and our product. Go Colonials!

E. Lee North, Author, Battling the Indians, Panthers & Nittany Lions: Washington & Jefferson College’s Century of Football, 1890-1990

E. Lee North:

First, can you tell readers a bit about your writing career and how you got started as an author? What about your time at Washington & Jefferson influenced your writing career, and how?

Well, I have said it was W & J that got me into writing, as I was editor of The Red and Black for a couple of years and did a lot of work on our old Alumni Bulletin. But not too long ago I found my diary for the year 1941; I was a senior at Bay Shore, LI, NY High School.

Why, I do not know, but I recorded just about everything from January 1st into September, 1941. That was one of the most critical years in US history — along with 1776, 1861, 1929, and 2001. Author House published the diary a few months ago as “The 1941 Diary of a Deaf Long Island Teenager.” But there is no question that the work at W & J propelled me ahead into the literary world.

Your new book “Battling the Indians, Panthers & Nittany Lions: Washington & Jefferson College’s Century of Football, 1890-1990” covers W&J’s football history – what inspired you to write this book and what are some lessons/stories about the program you were most anxious to get across to readers?

I was lucky to enroll at W & J, particularly since I was brought up in New York. My Dad, Lt. Col. Edward L. North, fought in both world wars but moved from civil engineering to management at Wheeling Steel in 1942–before he re-joined the Army for WW II..

W & J was close by, so I visited, and was accepted. I not only learned of some of the Presidents’ athletic and educational super-stars, I met some, particularly Wilbur F. “Pete” Henry, our athletic director. Although he was an all-time All-American football player, at W & J and in the pros, he was one of the most unassuming gentlemen I ever met. I had to put a whole chapter on Pete in “Battling” to tell his story.

Many may not realize how many modern day connections there are between this small school and today’s NFL. Roger Goodell, Dan Rooney, Dan Rooney Jr. all attended W&J, as did Green Bay’s former offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. How did W&J end up having such an impact?

Going back to W & J’s early football years, despite an enrollment of under 500 students (and we were all-men til 1970), the Presidents competed with Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, and many other top gridiron elevens. I think Coach Bob Folwell (1912 to 1915) was one of the finest football coaches ever, anywhere.

After graduating from Penn, where he was a star and football captain, he started coaching at Lafayette in 1908. As did W & J, Lafayette took on the grid powers. Coach Folwell led them (1908-11) to a 22-4-1 record and they were ranked with the top teams. Enter W & J’s great Graduate Manager Robert Murphy: he heard the rumors that Coach Folwell was not happy with the situation at Lafayette.

Somehow Manager Murphy convinced Folwell to switch to W & J. In his four years at Jay (1912 through 1915) , Folwell’s teams won 35, lost four, and tied three. But did they play anybody good? Well as examples, they beat Pitt three times in four games, and won two and tied one in three games with West Virginia.

Folwell went on to coach at Penn and Navy, and coached the NY Giants first football team in 1925. Health problems forced him out of football in the 1920s. Noted football statistician Tex Noel lists Folwell as one of the top five college coaches.

How did you go about researching this book – who helped and were you able to work with any of the people you wrote about in the book?

I received help from dozens of people in doing the Hundred-Year history… since we contacted every team W & J ever played (still extant), we managed to include inside information on many of the stars W & J played against.

From the W & J side, I have to salute then-Pres. Howard Burnett, Athletic Director Paul Reardon, and publicists Ed Marotta and Susan Isola. And Coack John Luckhardt provided tremendous help (see Ch. 17 and 18. I did list more than one hundred helpers in Appendix I (“Acknowledgments.”) BTW, I searched through many athletic histories in libraries, and believe ours has the most comprehensive index of all.

What were some of the biggest surprises you came across as you researched the book?

To be honest, it was one surprise after another, all the way from W & J’s season of 1890 thru most of the 1930s. How could this little college compete — and beat — so many great football teams? I think it was a combination of western Pennsylvania athletes; people who dedicated themselves to the Red and Black; and especially – Grad Manager Robert Murphy, so dedicated he mortgaged his house to get the funds to take his family to his own Rose Bowl game.

How can readers purchase the book?

Contact the Book Store, W & J College, 60 So. Lincoln St., Washington, PA 15301. Also, the publisher, Daring Books, Canton, OH. And it’s listed on the internet outlets.

There were dozens of NFL players from this small school that played in the 20’s and 30’s – why was this the case and who were some of the most notable players from that era?

Again, I think it was dedicated people— the coaches and administrators, who sought out and trained W & J’s football players. And the fact that western PA has always been a fertile ground for football talent.

Our most noted gridders would include Pete Henry, Clark Shrontz, John Spiegel (led nation in scoring in 1913), Britt Patterson, Bill Inglis, Forrest “Jap” Douds (blocked THREE punts in a West Virginia game), Burlieigh Cruikshank, Bill Amos, Russ Goodwin, Scrubby McCreight, Charles “Pruner” West, and — maybe the best of them all — Hal “Swede” Ericksen, played 1919-22 including the Rose Bowl.

Alas, there are really a hundred W & J players who could be added to the list, please see our Chapter 19, wherein we list the best players by position and list our top opponent players.

You were the Publicity Director at Washington & Jefferson for a while as well. What are some of the interesting experiences you had in that role?

There were many, but I’ll just mention four—

1/ that trip to Forbes Field and the press box with Pete Henry;

2/ W & J put forth plans for perhaps the first “green” study in the country. Our office got a lot of publicity out of it. It was to be an environmental program and would be funded mostly by the state. Plans were approved by the state legislature… BUT our Board of Trustees turned it down! I was a bit disappointed, but in retrospect, believe the Board did the right thing, they did not want the state to start running our school.

3/ President Jim Case asked me one day if I’d go to Pittsburgh with him to a Board meeting. Of course I agreed. It was in a nice old hotel as I recall, with one of those long oval tables. Purpose of the meeting was I believe for President Case to defend his “overspending.” Case was adamant in explaining “G D it, we have to go ahead, we cannot go back,” and more words to that effect. I was a bit of a 24-year-old neophyte, but I worried that Case would be gone. He soon was.

4/ Invited to speak at a youth affair, I walked up stairs to the meeting behind Honus Wagner, the Pirates’ Hall Of Fame shortstop. I’d heard that he was quite bow-legged. It was true, I could see people up ahead while looking up through Honus’s legs. What an honor!

Are you a Yankees fan as a New Yorker now? I know you are a big Pirates fan after living in Western PA for a while.What are your thoughts on the Pirates today – do you see real progress being made?

No, no, I am not a Yank fan, that was only in my teen years. Since I went to W & J and Pennsylvania, I’ve been for the Pirates. Loved those “Lumber Company” (Stargell and all) signs we used to see by the airport. Recent years have been terrible for the Bucs, but there’s always a next year. I do think they’ll improve a lot this year.

Any new books on the horizon?

Mentioned the new 1941 Diary above. In addition, I’m working on a wolf book. My “EYES THAT HAUNT” novel was published a few years ago, It’s a story of a man saving a wolf from a trap, and the wolf later returning the favor. We’ve gotten some nice reviews, but the best was from W & J President Tori Haring-Smith: “Thanks for your wonderful book, Eyes That Haunt.

As you may know, I am an animal lover, and the relationship between Trapper and Kai-No [our wolf] is beautifully drawn.”

In response to your question, I’m working on a sequel to “”EYES”… they’re shooting the wolves from airplanes and helicopters in Alaska, and I’m hoping my Trapper and his little wolf pack can put an end to it.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I hope they can find a copy of “Battling” — it’s in some libraries and last I knew, the College has more for sale.

Thanks, Pittsburgh Sports Daily, for having me.

Pat Cavanaugh, Pitt Basketball

Pat Cavanaugh:

First, can you let readers know about Crons – how the idea got started and how the business has grown over the past few years?

The Crons Brand is a mentality performance brand that focuses on the mentality part of performance. Crons stands for “Come Ready or Never Start” and it’s about outworking the competition, proving people wrong, practice and preparation.

We have four divisions of the brand: Team Sports, Retail, Nutritional Products and our Goal Setting programs.

What lessons and experiences as a player helped influence the way you approach your business?

Most importantly, defining roles of each person on the team and making sure everyone knows how each role contributes to the success of the team. Dealing with the ups and downs of sports clearly has allowed me the experience to be more even keeled through the success and adversity opportunities in the business world.

You received scholarships to play for mid-major colleges to play for them, but turned them all down to play for Pitt as a walk-on. What drove that decision and were you at all concerned about it not working out?

I was motivated to play against the best and to strive toward my ultimate athletic goal of playing professional sports. I felt and was confident that if I had the opportunity at Pitt, I would be able to hold my own and be successful.

It proved to be the right decision for me. Pitt’s a great institution with a strong athletic heritage.

You were named team captain for two straight years. How was the decision made to do so and what do you think drove that decision?

Team captains were selected by the players which was even more rewarding. Players don’t need coaches or anyone else to know who they can count on to come through especially in crunch time…players know that on every team.

Who were some of the biggest characters on those Pitt teams you played for and what made them so? Any examples?

There were many. Jerome Lane was probably the most athletic guy I played with. He once blocked Brian Shorter’s shot and Brian against the backboard in a scrimmage one summer. It was unbelievable…not as much as Jerome breaking the backboard but it has always stuck with me.

Demetreus Gore, Curtis Aiken, Charles Smith, they all are great guys…characters but great guys. I always said that Charles Smith is so tight with his money I think he still has his First Communion money.

Who helped you most as a player – both on and off the court?

My Dad – he was outstanding in identifying areas to improve and then developing drills to make those strengths. His mental insight was invaluable with my time at Pitt.

Both of those Pitt teams you captained were top 10 teams. What made those teams so special?

Each year I was at Pitt was special. My freshman year Pitt had not won big in a while so it was the year the expectations met the results in terms of wins and losses…and from that point we developed such a high standard for Pitt Basketball it really helped take the program to the next level.

Despite the high rankings – the team did struggled in the NCAA Tournament to realize the expectations some had for it. What do you think was behind those struggles?

At the end of the day, we did not take care of the little things and in tournament time, those things will eventually catch up with you.

So many times you see in the tournament, talent doesn’t always win but who executes better.

Do you see your squads as having laid the foundation for the success Pitt has had since? How so?

Well, there were numerous previous Pitt teams who had won 20+ games over the years. I always felt a sense of responsibility to get Pitt back to its best years and then take it to a new level. I think all the guys on the teams I played with were so competitive they hated to lose and that helped carry us for the most part to many more wins than losses.

Tell us about your experiences in professional basketball. Who did you try out with and what were the takeaways from your experience with NBA teams?

After Pitt, Doug Moe with the Nuggets gave me an opportunity to workout as a free agent. Jerome Lane helped get that set-up because he believed I could play and he really went to bat for me with the coaches. I’ll always be thankful for Jerome for that.

Then, I went to Calgary in the world league for a spring. After that, the 76er’s picked me up to play with them in the NBA summer league and I played a game against the Timberwolves and then the Orlando Magic gave me a chance to join their team during pre-camp workouts when Brian Hill was the coach.

Again, Scott Skiles was another guy who went to the coaches for me but they ended up going with a guard who had been in the league. Although, I had a handful of offers to play overseas, I turned them down.

What do you make of the job Dixon has done as coach – and what do you think have been the causes of the struggles this season?

I said from the beginning when people weren’t sure of Jamie I had a good feeling about him and he’s done a remarkable job…not just int wins and losses but in his approach to the program, players and the university. He’s a model coach and even though I joke he took Orlando Antigua from me, I still like him.

I haven’t seen enough of the team to really comment on this year’s challenges but I’m confident Jamie will get it turned around next season.

What are your best memories of your time at Pitt, and why?

One of my favorite memories is winning our first Big East Tournament game my freshman year…it helped open up the door to set higher expectations in New York. I always look back and smile my sophomore year going into Syracuse the last game of the season for winner take all where we won the Big East Championship in front of 32,000+ people. It was a great team effort.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Look for our Crons uniforms on UNC-Asheville as they play at 3:10 PM Thursday vs. Syracuse.