Who was Buddy Parker. Here are some stories from former Steelers on Buddy:
Pete Brewster: “Brown and Parker were both teachers of the game. It’s funny. When I was traded to Cleveland I thought I was on the team. I didn’t realize I still had to make the team!”
Frank Varrichione: “Parker – he changed everything. He slowed practices down. We’d do more walk-throughs and less hitting. It was a big welcome for players. He was tough and demanded perfection. But he took it much easier on us.
When Parker got there in ’56, on his first day he looked at this huge blocking sled we had to use, made out of real heavy lumber. It took seven guys to move it with their shoulders. The first thing Parker said was, he wanted seven of us to push the sled way off the field. He never wanted to see it again.”
Jimmy Orr: “Buddy Parker was an excellent coach as well. He watched a lot of film. I remember when we played the Giants they had a defensive lineman that wouldn’t let anyone get to the outside of him. So Parker told us we wouldn’t try – we’d either run inside or go the other way. He had a good understanding of defenses and put good gameplans together. We just weren’t the best team in the league…”
Bill Kisher: “I liked him, but boy he was so superstitious. Lots of superstitions – but he was a great guy.”
Lou Cordileone: “Buddy Parker was a great guy. We used to get together every Friday night. Stautner and Layne rented a house outside of Pittsburgh and would have seven or eight guys over and we’d play poker until four of five am”
Don Sutherin: “When we flew back to Pittsburgh after the game, Parker put the whole team on waivers, except for a few of the better players. I think that was the first time that ever happened. He pulled them back shortly after, but I think five guys got cut because of that game. We should have won that game.”
Darrell Dess: “Buddy was alright. You never got to know him that well. He was a difficult guy to get to know. He didn’t play favorites – well, except for Bobby Layne.”
Theron Sapp: “Parker was tough. He didn’t say a whole lot. He did like to take a short drink now and then.”
Bob Sherman: “He was brilliant – when he talked football it hit home – he was such a smart football person.
He was also quiet – he wasn’t an outgoing person. I don’t think we were terrible then – we were good, just not that good. Our quarterback situation was tough – Ed Nelson was a second-year guy. We did almost beat Green Bay – we were ahead at halftime but we just didn’t have enough firepower.”
Chuck Logan: “Buddy Parker was a very knowledgeable football coach. My one memory of Buddy is seeing him on the ground (Thanksgiving weekend) with three or four irate Steeler fans trying to push a St. Louis Cardinal pennant in his face while pummeling him. The fans were disappointed in having lost to the Cardinals at home. They were probably steel workers, having paid $15 for their ticket, and having too many Iron City’s to drink.
I felt terrible for Buddy and none of the fans were coming to his rescue.”
Lou Michaels: “Buddy was full of intensity. He told me I would be his right defensive end and kicker right away. With Parker, all you had to do was win. Nothing counted except winning. If you lost, you walked on egg shells. We also never practiced on Friday the 13th. Buddy was just very superstitious.
He threw so many coats and shirts in the garbage. He was a coach you wanted to play for – he wanted to win and that’s what you wanted in a coach. No matter what anyone says, it’s no fun if you are losing.”
Clendon Thomas: “Parker was a brilliant coach. We were always well prepared for our opponents and could make changes during a game on the fly as needed. Parker gave us the opportunity to win and that’s all we could ask for. “
Ken Kortas: “Buddy Parker…I loved him. I said I like this guy the moment I got there.”
“Red” Mack: “Buddy was an introvert and very superstitious. In ’62 we won six games in a row. He never changed his clothes during that time – didn’t wash them once. When we were in Detroit, we were staying at a hotel that had a thirteenth floor – so he made us change hotels.”
Jim Bradshaw: “Buddy Parker was a great coach. He just had trouble controlling his emotions. He was a real master when it came to offenses and defenses, he just couldn’t stand to lose.
I remember playing in Yankee Stadium the final game of the season versus the Giants. We win, we go to the championship game. Well, of course we lost. Buddy went crazy. I remember he cut off his necktie on the airplane he was so mad at losing.”
Larry Krutko: “Parker was exceptionally minded as a football coach. He studied film a lot – one time I remember we were all watching film and, I forget the team, but the quarterback ran a quarterback sneak. We weren’t sure if it was an accident or designed play, but Parker said “Look at that! Next week you’ll see every team doing that!” Sure enough, he was right!”
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
