Tag: Steelers

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since football and about your work as a Christian motivational speaker, Minister and police chaplain?

I have been very busy as I am presently the lead Chaplain for the city of Burnsville and Bloomington Police Departments. I have been a police Chaplain for eight years and have been an associate pastor at a Bloomington church for the past fifteen years.  Before that I worked for our National Denomination (Church of God – Cleveland, Tenn)  as a speaker for the Dept of Lay Ministries.  I served in that capacity for twenty-two years.

How much did you religious beliefs/faith affect you as a player – and how? Were these beliefs as strong for you then as they are now?

Unfortunately, all this positive effort came after my football career, so if my teammates have a little difficulty taking all this in, I understand as I would not have been a likely candidate for the Lord’s work during my days in Pittsburgh.

Continue reading “John Campbell, Steelers Linebacker, 1965-1969”

First, can you tell readers about your coaching career?

I’m the defensive line coach at North Carolina State – I love it. I love coaching these young men and being able to use my experience getting to the NFL to help teach these kids.

They played spectacularly – we beat number seven ranked Clemson and the they just played great!

What are some of the lessons from the coaches you played under that you use in your coaching today?

Chuck Noll always taught us to keep it simple and I really believe in that. It wasn’t just him. I played under some legendary coaches like Marv Levy, Joe Gibbs…they are all legendary dudes.

I picked up bits and pieces from all of them – but they all really kept the game simple. Nothing real intricate – see the ball, get the ball.

How do your players buy in to that philosophy?

They love it. Great players can play no matter what. But marginal players – you have to keep it simple. That’s my belief – and was Noll’s as well. He taught me paralysis from analysis. It was the first time I ever heard of that expression. No thinking and playing fast.

Who helped you as a rookie free agent in Pittsburgh?

My locker mate Larry Brown schooled me up a lot. Especially in my interview process. I had some pretty good success early as a player and Larry would listen to me do interviews. He said I had to learn to tell them a lot but don’t tell them nothing. That was important to hear as I handled the media.

My making the team was the result of going against him in practice. He had his days and I had mine.

Tunch Ilkin also did once Larry left. We went at each other every day. It was fitting he was an undersized offensive lineman. I was an undersized, under-rated guy too.

Tell us more about how you got past your free agent status and relative inexperience to make it in the NFL.

You have to go back to where I grew up in Norfolk, New Jersey. I didn’t come from a lot. I had no desire to play football early in my career. I played one year in high school and that was it. No Pop Warner…nothing.

I knew I couldn’t live like that – I knew what I had to do. I went to Northeastern and took advantage of my time there.

How did the Steelers discover you?

We were playing New Hampshire at Northeastern. The scouts came to see a linebacker that played for New Hampshire and I had a good game. Bill Nunn was there and saw me and took my number and told me to keep in touch with him.  A couple of weeks later he invited me to go to Boston College to run the 40 with the Boston College players.

Were there other scouts watching you?

N0t many teams saw me. Bill Nunn had a good reputation and Seattle, Dallas and Kansas City scouted me a little. But not many teams were watching a guy from Northeastern.

Who were the guys that kept the team loose when you were in Pittsburgh?

Tunch Ilkin will say I was the comedian. Bradshaw was too – he did off the wall things. Dumb things. He was a goofy dude.

What kinds of things did you guys do?

We’d put stuff in guys’ shoes ands make fun of each other. It was all in fun.

How were the coaches with all of the kidding around?

Oh, the coaches never come on the locker room except on game day!  Once I was established they knew they could count on me to get things done. When we put on pads we knew what we had to do to get it done.

Continue reading “Keith Willis, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1982-1991”

First, can you let readers know what you are doing now in your post-football playing days?    

I consider myself “semi” retired, but my partners think I’m “fully” retired.

Our private equity business, Laurel Mountain Partners, (run by my two superb partners, Jeff Kendall and Don Rea), operates Liberty Tire Recycling and are invested in other companies.  When I’m in Pittsburgh, which is seldom (I spend a lot of time in Colorado and biking/hiking overseas), I do go to the office every day and find myself busy with charitable efforts and some business meetings.

Continue reading “Andy Russell, Steelers Linebacker, 1963-1976”

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me tonight Dick. First, Can you let readers know what you’re doing with yourself these days?

Not too much. Since I retired, I’m playing more golf -maybe one or two times a week, and fly-fishing when I can when the weather holds out. I’m also working on the yard and spending time with my seven grandkids.

I travel one to two times a year with my wife as well.

I also like to take in a couple Penn State games a year – my daughter and her friends tailgate there so I like to join them when I can. I didn’t get to take in many Penn State games when I was coaching….

Continue reading “Dick Hoak, Steelers Running Back 1961-1970, Steelers Coach 1972-2007”

First, what are you doing with yourself these days Bobby?

Well, I’m 72 years old, so not too much (laughs). I help my brother in law who’s on the industrial business – cleans up tanks for other companies, that kind of thing. I do that two and a half days a week – otherwise I’m fishing or staying at the house.

Continue reading “Bobby Walden, Steelers Punter, 1968-1977”

First, can you tell readers about your motivational speaking business –how you got involved with this and what specifically it entails?

I saw a need for guidance for male youths.

I got involved when many of my close friends and family were always asking for my advice with their sons. I was asked to speak for a company which led to speaking to schools and juvenile detention centers. I feel if I can reach one person through my story then I did a great part in serving. We all have a purpose to serve in one way or another and I found my purpose.

Continue reading “Bam Morris, Steelers Running Back, 1984-1985”

First, can you tell readers how you got started in coaching and what you love most about the job?

I guess I always knew that eventually I would get into coaching.

When the USFL first started I interviewed with Rollie Dotsch and the Birmingham Stallions but I wasn’t ready to make the transition.  I always felt that I would coach at the high school level but I wanted to wait until my children were out of school.  I met John Luckhardt and everything changed.  He asked if I could help his your defensive linemen at W&J.

Continue reading “John Banaszak, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1974-1981”

Continue reading “Walter Abercrombie, Steelers Running Back, 1982-1987”