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First, how is it being back on the West Coast at Oregon – miss the snow?

I’m a West Coast guy. I was born and raised in L.A. I was at SMU and worked my way up to the Pac 12. I always wanted to come back especially for an opportunity like this.

I wanted to talk to you about that opportunity – but first, who were some of the mentors that shaped the way you coached?

Dante Scarnecchia in New England – the way he went about coaching the game. The discipline he imposed and the regimen and routine. He was a former military guy – a former Marine – he pushed routine and regimen – he believed that in order to do something right you had to do it over and over to get it right every day.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Adrian Klemm, 2019-2021”

First, what does the offseason look like for you?

The plan is to take a little time off – maybe six to eight weeks – depending on how my body feels. Then start again. I want to work on getting stronger and on my muscular endurance so I can kick at 100% the whole season. It’s a long season starting with OTA’s and camp so I really want to work on my endurance.

I’m working with a kicking coach in Atlanta – he’s the one who taught me how to kick, just to clean up a few things.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Kicker Sam Sloman”

First, what are your offseason plans?

I’m just taking a month or so off after the season is over to let my body recover from the season. I’ll go and train in Florida after that with Mo Wells and Jordan Bush at Brandon Marshall’s facility “The House of Athletes.” I’ll work on strength and speed training there and get ready for OTAs.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Cody White”

First, tell me about your job at Auburn and how you got started in that work?

Right now I’m the Director of Facilities at Auburn – I manage the basketball arena’s day-to-day operations. I make sure all necessary repairs are done and it’s kept up-to-date. I also coordinate all of the events -we have volleyball and gymnastics in the arena and rent it out for weddings, parties, banquets….that sort of thing.

So a football guy manages a basketball arena? How does that happen?

Well, I came back to Auburn in ’97 to work on campus. In 2013 the new coaching staff came in and brought in their own guys. But I worked for the school on the administrative side, not for the coaches, so I was able to stay. The guy who used to manage the arena passed away – that’s when they approached me to run the arena since I knew the school. I was happy to do it.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Ben Thomas, 1988”

First, can you let me know what you started doing after your time in football?

I went to work and got my degree after I was done playing. I got my Masters and coached for one year at Prairie View A&M but I didn’t like that much.

I went back home to Corpus Christi and worked for the school district there in administration. I started up a program to work with drop outs. I also had a food service business on the side but that got too big. Real big. So I got out of that and opened up a few IHOPS and got tired of that after a while.

Now my wife and I have our own smaller business. I’m real close to the church and raised five kids. All five have graduated from schools and work around the country. I’ve been blessed.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Bobby Smith, 1966”

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

Since I’ve been out of football, I got involved in investment banking, helping small to mid-sized companies go public. I’ve also done some coaching for my son’s little league team. He’s 16 now – so I’m also enjoying being a dad.

We’re all dealing with Corona – my wife is a speech pathologist and she and my son are online a lot right now doing virtual learning. So I’m helping out all I can with that too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Defensive Lineman Kenny Davidson, 1990-1993”

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

I’m an underwriter now for the mortgage industry. I’ve been doing that pretty much since I’ve been out of football. My first few years I was in loan processing and then dabbled as a loan officer before getting into underwriting.

I also coached high school football at a local high school here from 2008 to 2018. I was the offensive coordinator and worked with the wide receivers and quarterbacks there at Channel Islands High School. In fact one of my players, Jeremiah Valoaga, made it to the NFL

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Ricky Martin, 1981”

First, let me know what you’ve been up to since retirement – I know Hidden Meadow Retreat is a big focus.

Yeah. The retreat was always a big focus since I thought about what I would do post-football. In 2017 my wife and I started praying and asking God how to use us. I knew football was a means to an end – it wouldn’t last forever. When football ended I didn’t just want to sit around and be a consumer. I wanted to give back in a unique way.

I thought about it – reflected and prayed on it. I realized after speaking to pastors and Christian leaders that they were getting burned out. There are so many incredible people doing great things but they weren’t getting enough support.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Vance McDonald, 2017-2020”