Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 84 – More than 2,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff PLUS interviews with Pittsburgh actors, musicians, authors and more

Exclusive: Troy Witt, Director of Marketing, PLB Sports & Entertainment

First, tell me how you and the company got started in this business!

It started with my boss, CEO Ty Ballou – he had an extensive career in the food industry – first with Jolly Rancher as an executive then took over Clark Candy, if you remember who they were. After the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in the 90’s the got permission to license the Penguins logo on on the candy bars and they sold like crazy.

After that, he saw he was on to something and launched a peanut butter brand with Jaromir Jagr and that sold well. After that he launched Geronimo Salsa and worked with Mario Lemieux on some things.

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Exclusive with Former Browns Safety Earl Little

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

Really, just raising my kids. I have two older daughters and a son – so just being a father.

How difficult was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

There are some gray areas. No bad thoughts or anything but I’m dealing with some concussion issues I can; get much into. My family keeps me going – I don’t have any big plans but I’m happy with my family life now.

I was born and raised in the inner city of Miami – it was one of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. I had two brothers who were in and out of jail and watched aunts and uncles shooting drugs. Literally watching them. I’m not trying to say it was brutal, but I saw things a kid shouldn’t have to see in my own family. Those things helped me to say I would mold myself into a better person than what I saw. I had cousins in the NFL Hall of Fame – it was a sports family. And in our neighborhood – that’s what you had- sports and family. There were good things there too – it takes a village to raise kids in that environment and I had that for me. I guess the bad stuff gets the glory when people talk about the inner city but there was good there too.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Jordan Todman, 2015

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

Now, I’m taking time off, trying to give back by training kids – helping them improve their football skills. People in the neighborhood asked me for help, so I work with them on seven-on-sevens , that sort of thing. I also got involved in the insurance world, selling insurance.

So insurance and training. Unless a phone call happens to come, I’m done with football. I put in seven years – I still feel like I have something left but I can only control what I can control and I’m happy with what I’m doing.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Jordan Todman, 2015”

Exclusive: Matt Lupi of the Philadelphia Sports Station Network

First, do you think last week’s win makes a big difference for the Eagles confidence as they head into the Steelers game this weekend?

Absolutely. Watching Carson Wentz for five years now, he thrives on confidence. The first three weeks he was brutal. But seeing guys like Fulgham getting involved and getting back into a groove definitely helps him.

Now, I wouldn’t say it makes them overly confident. It was one win and against a beat-up 49ers team, so you take it with a grain of salt. But it definitely helps.

Continue reading “Exclusive: Matt Lupi of the Philadelphia Sports Station Network”

Exclusive with Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation

First – the Eagles are obviously very banged up. What worries you most about the shape they are in right now?

I think the offensive line is the biggest worry. They will likely be staring four backups on the offensive line, depending on how Lane Johnson is doing. He’s been in and out of the lineup with a nagging ankle injury.

They have a rookie fourth round pick playing right tackle and Matt Pryor at right guard who they don’t like but have to play. They signed a veteran guard – Jamon Brown – off of the Bears practice squad so maybe we see him. They have an All-Pro center but he’s banged up, and at left tackle they are playing a guy who started his first game ever – not just NFL – first ever football game – last week. He played pretty well versus the 49’ers, but he played a game of football until 2018.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation”

Exclusive with former Steelers Wide Receiver Tim Baker, 2001

First, can you let us know what you’re doing with yourself now and how you got started in it?

I never expected to be doing what I am doing now – my career evolved over time. I’m the general manger and vice president of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort here in Colorado. Its part of the Vail Resorts family of 37 resorts around the world. I grew up skiing – so now I get to enjoy doing what I did growing up.

How did you get involved in that as a Texas guy?

I was placed on IR my last year in San Diego – a guy I knew worked at Vail Resorts and I followed him there in the mid-2000’s..

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Wide Receiver Tim Baker, 2001”

Exclusive with former Steelers Tight Ends Coach Pat Hodgson, 1992-1995

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

I’m basically retired now. I’m in Athens, Georgia living in a golfing community – we have 27 holes here and I can drive for an hour-and-a-half and never leave the community, It’s a university town – I’m trying to get back to my roots. I went to school here as did my kids.

As a retired guy, everybody loves me here because they can get me to work for free! I help raise money for charities. We do golf tournaments to raise money for kids and I also coached high school for a couple of years for free and work with the kids of some of our friends too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Tight Ends Coach Pat Hodgson, 1992-1995”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Nosetackle (1987)/Current Duquesne DC David Opfar

First, can you talk about how you got into coaching?

Well. it was purely by accident. I think that’s the case wth a lot of people. I never thought I’d be a coach – I just wanted to continue doing the thing I loved since I was a child.

My last year playing football was in the Arena League and was 30 years old. Pat Monroe – an old Penn State teammate- called me and asked what I was going to do next, and I told him I had no idea- my plane just landed and I hadn’t even thought about it yet. He asked if I would consider coaching with him at Duquesne High School. I said yes and ended up coaching for a year as their defensive coordinator. I had the same rush from the game that I had when I played, but I didn’t wake up the next morning all beat up like when I played.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Nosetackle (1987)/Current Duquesne DC David Opfar”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Harvey Clayton, 1983-1986

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

I’ve been working in the school system as an educator – the dean of discipline inn school. I was interested originally in law enforcement, but I got involved in substitute after football, and my friend told me if I wanted to get more involved I should take classes – so I did and got certified as a teacher.

The FBI was my first love, but I got involved in teaching. I never thought about teaching at first, but I started to like it after I got involved, and the rest is history!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Harvey Clayton, 1983-1986”

Exclusive with former Steelers running Back Jack Call, 1959

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

Pittsburgh was my last stop in the NFL. I was hospitalized six weeks into the seasons at Mercy Hospital and that ended my season and career. After I was out of the hospital I drove back home to Cortlad, New York. I didn’t know what I was going to do next.

What happened – how did the injury occur?

We were playing the Cardinals in Chicago – at Soldier Field. Remember – I’m 85 years old – an old old timer! I was returning a kick – it was a center return – and I cut towards the sideline. I planted my left leg and turned up field, and at the same time someone came at me at full speed and hit my leg. I tore the muscle – it just burst. The doctor told me that if I got hit there again could end up crippled for life.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers running Back Jack Call, 1959”