First, let me know what you’ve been doing since your time playing pro football?
Well, I’ve worked for 35 years in the financial services industry. I started with Smith Barney and it’s now Morgan Stanley – but I’ve been sitting in the same seat. I’m fortunate – life has bene good to me.
Was the post-football adjustment difficult?
It’s funny – when you first reached out, I thought – who wants to talk to me about playing 50 years ago! I started thinking back to myself – I didn’t accomplish all that I hoped in the NFL. I was converted to a strong safety my rookie year then came back and ended up playing outside linebacker for the Eagles before they cut me too. But looking back, I think maybe God did me a favor. I look at some of those guys now who played a long time, and I see all of their medical issues from playing the game.
It was tough at first – you have goals you set out and then you have to reset them. That takes a while to find out what you want to do next and now you’re behind other people in their careers. But, it ended well for me. It’s been good.
Looking back – were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers – how did you find out?
I was just hoping to get drafted and play. I welcomed the opportunity and enjoyed it at the time. They had no pro days then and it lasted, what, 16 rounds? But it was a whole new life – a new opportunity to play at a professional level.
I don’t remember if I was surprised or not, but I found out via Western Union! Back then the dorms had one phone for 100 people – and there weren’t any cellphones!
You were a quarterback in college, correct? How hard was that transition to safety?
I was – I played linebacker my junior year then they moved me to quarterback my Senior year. But when I was drafted I projected as a strong safety. That was the position I was best suited to compete for. Unfortunately I was cut that rookie season in September and I went straight after that to the National Guard. Three weeks later I was on active duty. The following year after I completed my service I went back and tried again. I was a 1A free agent – I could actually have been drafted again!
What helped you to make the team that following season?
I had a year of experience behind me I guess – that helped a little bit. I got hurt that year and actually missed the first six games, but played the rest of the season until I got cut again the next season. I think sometimes you see good players that get cut – it’s just the valuation of the coaches. Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time.
There were some people in Pittsburgh associated with Villanova – Dan Laughlin was a defensive coach – coached me in Vilianova and then in Pittsburgh – he coached at Pittsburgh Central Catholic too. He did help me.
Did anyone help mentor you as a young player?
It’s tough – it was a new position and new team and level of football. I was just trying to get acclimated. We were all close but all were trying like hell to make the team.
The coaches were excellent – you could talk to anybody about anything if you wanted to. We were all in the same boat – but I don’t think there was any one person that helped the most.
What was the reason for the transition to safety and how did you go about trying to adapt?
Back at the time I was a linebacker in college – I transitioned to quarterback and didn’t change my weight. I was versatile and athletic enough to be in-between. But I wasn’t fast enough to be a corner and not good enough to be an NFL quarterback, So there you go – they felt safety was the right place for me.
Then strong safeties covered backs out of the backfield and tight ends. But teams were moving to multiple wide receivers and that meant I had to be put on man-to-man coverage instead of zone. And for me – that didn’t work!
When I went to the Eagles I put on some weight and played outside linebacker and lasted there for about three years.
Any memories stand out most to you of Pittsburgh?
I was around so many good guys – those weren’t the good years so it was hard to make closer connections but they were good people – good personalities.
I’ll always remember at St. Vincent, the nuns carrying pails of water up the hill to water the tomato plants and making ice cream for the players – and serving us meals. It was certainly different! It was a heck of a thing – eye-opening for me. It was a different time.
That was early in Chuck Noll’s time as a head coach as well – what impression did he make on you?
He was very specific on how he was running things. He was thorough – we all knew exactly what to do in every situation, He was a stickler for details – for knowing what your responsibilities were and for doing them correctly. Very detailed-oriented. It certainly set the stage for big things.
What do you think of the NFL today – still watch it? Loyalties to either Pennsylvania team?
It’s certainly different – faster and more wide-open. I enjoy watching it but if I miss games I don’t mind it. I have great memories but it was different then, Then everybody had to work in the offseason too. I am happy though I got to play for two Pennsylvania teams – no real loyalty to either one!
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