pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 39 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive with Justin Zackal, Game-Day Statistician (Steelers)

First, tell me a bit about your “day job.”

I worked in communications and PR for higher ed – as a sports information director when I got started. In 2011 I transitioned and worked at Waynesboro then Westminster College, then to Slippery Rock where I am now. Now I work mostly on the web content and the alumni magazine.

After I worked in the sports information director role, I wanted to keep working on some of the athletics stuff, so I kept working as a Steelers’ statistician. There’s nothing like doing that, especially if you’re working a 9-5 job as well.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Israel Raybon, 1996

First, let me know what you are doing with yourself now?

I’m in the car business now – I started about seven years ago. I was with Homeland Security when my buddy told me that he thought I’d be great as a car salesman. I told him no way – I was used to carrying a gun and badge – no way I was going to go sell cars.

But my buddy had me visit him at the dealership and it got so busy there I ended up helping him sell three cars, The next day the manager called me and I thought he was going to tell me to stop hanging out at the dealership. But he asked if I would like to sell cars and told me I could double my current salary.

I had some vacation time so he asked me to come in then and sell during that time to see how it goes. I sold a bunch of cars and enjoyed it. I love working with people and really love it.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Kyle Friend, 2017

First, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since our playing days?

I work for Stryker now, selling joint replacements as a sales rep. Mostly knee and hip replacements. When I was done playing I shot my resume out to companies in Philly and Pittsburgh and got a job in Pittsburgh – that’s how I stayed out here.

And as a former offensive lineman, I can tell you I’ll probably need one when I’m older. That’s the nature of being an offensive lineman. Your knees and hips get shot.

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Exclusive with Steelers Public Relations Specialist Ryan Scarpino, 2010-2017

First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself now?

I’m working at Carnegie Mellon University now on their communications and marketing team. My job is to tell the stories of alumni, students and staff and promote the university’s endeavors.

I started here last June and love it here. Carnegie Mellon has always been at the forefront of innovation and research – artificial intelligence, space-related work, robotics, business, fine arts…. It’s been great hopping on this moving train!

When I left football I went into local government and that was a complete 180 degree turn. I’ve found a happy medium in academia.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Rob McGovern, 1991

First, tell me about your post-NFL career and how you got started – it’s a fascinating career?

I knew even in college that I wanted to pursue a legal career. After the NFL I went to law school at Fordham.

After law school I became a prosecutor with the Manhattan D.A.’s office. I always had a childhood dream of serving in the military as well. So, I joined the Army Reserves in ’97 – I planned to do a few years in the reserve to feel like I did what I wanted to do for the military. Then 9-11 happened.

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Exclusive with Maulers Defensive Back Arnold Tarpley III

First, what’s been the offseason plan for you so far?

I’ve been training consistently since the Hub last year – that was the last big event I did. I wake up at four a.m. every day and train from 4:45 to 7:30 or so every day except weekends. I have a life insurance business during the day.

How did you get involved with the USFL? Were you surprised the Maulers drafted you?

My agent told me about the USFL in November. The details slowly rolled out and I submitted my name and they told me I qualified fore the draft. The rest is history.

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Exclusive with Maulers Defensive Tackle Olive Sagapolu

First, can you talk about what brought you to the USFL?

I just wanted an opportunity to play. For the most part I was waiting on and off again for calls from NFL teams and this was a guaranteed opportunity to play and put some good tape out there of my play.

Were you surprised the Maulers took you?

I didn’t have any contact with them before the draft. New Orleans was really the only team that contacted me – they texted me a couple of times. I’m grateful to the Maulers for picking me up. It was a surprise though to be taken by them.

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Exclusive with Dick Modzelewski, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1955

First, I know it’s been a while since you played, but let me know what has been going on lately with you?

Well, when I retired from the NFL I moved to North Carolina. But recently my body has broken down. My back and leg have gone out. I moved now to Ohio and live with my daughter in her condo. I have trouble walking and have been here the past three-to-four years.

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Exclusive with Maulers Linebacker Defensive Back Prince Robinson

First of all, what brought you to the USFL – why did you choose to play in the league?

In actually tried out for the IFL too – I heard of the USFL and did my application – I did it twice actually because I got not feedback from them until the week before the draft. I felt like I had no chance though to get drafted. But now I’m here.

Did you talk to the staff about your role there yet? I know you were a playmaker at corner at Tarleton but also played receiver before – and were a standout return man on special teams.

I had a brief conversation with them. They said they loved my film – that I stood out a lot on film. I think any ballhawk skills stood out to them – how aggressive I played. I think that stood out the most and that they think that can be a big help for the team.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Charles Davenport, 1992-1994

First, can you let me know what you got into after football?

After I left Pittsburgh I finally finished my undergraduate degree at NC State. While I was there I became a Graduate Assistant under Coach Keane. That was his last season there and when he left I moved over to the Wolfpack Club to handle fundraising for a year. I enjoyed it but I missed working with kids. I loved working with the donors but I felt I had more to give to kids.

So after that I started coaching high school football, then took that experience to go work in the mental health field in 2002-2003 working with at-risk boys. I saw a lot of them as a coach and really wanted to work more to help them. I opened up two group homes afterwards, which was a different kind of coaching, helping them with life skills.

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