zulater
06-17-2014, 02:13 PM
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Former Steelers coach Chuck Noll was remembered Tuesday during a funeral mass for transforming Pittsburgh into the City of Champions, and giving it hope — and something to cheer for — during a time of economic upheaval in the region.
With several dozen of Noll's former players sitting side by side at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sitting with them, Bishop David A. Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh called it a sad “but very special moment in the history of the city” that it could pay tribute again to Noll.
Noll, the only coach to win four Super Bowls, died of natural causes Friday night at his Sewickley home. He was 82, and had been out of coaching for 23 years — or exactly how many years he coached the Steelers during the greatest period of success in their 81-year history.
Zubik invoked the name of another multiple Super Bowl-winning coach, Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, in paying tribute to Noll. Just as Lombardi taught his running backs to run to daylight, Zubik said Noll showed the Steelers the light — and the way to win — after their first 36 years were filled mostly with losing.
Zubik said “our dear coach Chuck … challenged so many to do the same.”
Many of those players Noll challenged to excel were in attendance, as were Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who hired Noll in 1969 and team president Art Rooney II, a former ball boy for Noll. In addition to Goodell and NFL senior vice president Greg Aiello, the Jaguars and the Titans were among the NFL teams represented.
“If I had not been coached by Chuck Noll, that probably would not have fared very well for me,” said Hall of Famer Joe Greene, the first player drafted by Noll. “There's not a day goes by — not many days — that I don't reflect back on Charles Henry Noll.”
Titans tight ends coach Mike Mularkey, a former Steelers player and assistant coach and the former Buffalo Bills head coach, said he shares Noll's philosophies and concepts with his players daily. His meeting room is filled with some of Noll's slogans.
“My tight ends know coach Noll very well,” Mularkey said.
Among the other former players attending were Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount, Merril Hoge, J.T. Thomas, John Banaszak, Louis Lipps, John Stallworth, Mike Wagner, Andy Russell, Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley and Dick Hoak. Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who feuded at times with Noll during and after his career, did not attend.
Current Steelers players Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey and Ike Taylor attended in advance of the team's minicamp in the afternoon. Coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Kevin Colbert and offensive coordinator Todd Haley also attended.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6293719-74/steelers-former-noll#ixzz34vPwVJfC
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
I'm glad Franco was there. I know he never quite forgave Noll for the callous "Franco Who?" remark that set in motion Franco ending his career with the Seahawks. But obviously he proved he can rise to the situation and put petty differences aside in a time like this.
Of course Bradshaw not being there comes as no surprise. He was in town for a one man show on Friday at Meadows Casino. But he couldn't even be bothered to make a statement for the press that night.
Bradshaw was a great qb, but he was and remains a petulant punk of a human being imho.
Missing the Chiefs funeral strike 1
Having Vern Lundquist as his presenter for the Hall of Fame, strike 2.
Missing Noll's funeral, you're out!
Former Steelers coach Chuck Noll was remembered Tuesday during a funeral mass for transforming Pittsburgh into the City of Champions, and giving it hope — and something to cheer for — during a time of economic upheaval in the region.
With several dozen of Noll's former players sitting side by side at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sitting with them, Bishop David A. Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh called it a sad “but very special moment in the history of the city” that it could pay tribute again to Noll.
Noll, the only coach to win four Super Bowls, died of natural causes Friday night at his Sewickley home. He was 82, and had been out of coaching for 23 years — or exactly how many years he coached the Steelers during the greatest period of success in their 81-year history.
Zubik invoked the name of another multiple Super Bowl-winning coach, Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, in paying tribute to Noll. Just as Lombardi taught his running backs to run to daylight, Zubik said Noll showed the Steelers the light — and the way to win — after their first 36 years were filled mostly with losing.
Zubik said “our dear coach Chuck … challenged so many to do the same.”
Many of those players Noll challenged to excel were in attendance, as were Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who hired Noll in 1969 and team president Art Rooney II, a former ball boy for Noll. In addition to Goodell and NFL senior vice president Greg Aiello, the Jaguars and the Titans were among the NFL teams represented.
“If I had not been coached by Chuck Noll, that probably would not have fared very well for me,” said Hall of Famer Joe Greene, the first player drafted by Noll. “There's not a day goes by — not many days — that I don't reflect back on Charles Henry Noll.”
Titans tight ends coach Mike Mularkey, a former Steelers player and assistant coach and the former Buffalo Bills head coach, said he shares Noll's philosophies and concepts with his players daily. His meeting room is filled with some of Noll's slogans.
“My tight ends know coach Noll very well,” Mularkey said.
Among the other former players attending were Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount, Merril Hoge, J.T. Thomas, John Banaszak, Louis Lipps, John Stallworth, Mike Wagner, Andy Russell, Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley and Dick Hoak. Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who feuded at times with Noll during and after his career, did not attend.
Current Steelers players Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey and Ike Taylor attended in advance of the team's minicamp in the afternoon. Coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Kevin Colbert and offensive coordinator Todd Haley also attended.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6293719-74/steelers-former-noll#ixzz34vPwVJfC
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
I'm glad Franco was there. I know he never quite forgave Noll for the callous "Franco Who?" remark that set in motion Franco ending his career with the Seahawks. But obviously he proved he can rise to the situation and put petty differences aside in a time like this.
Of course Bradshaw not being there comes as no surprise. He was in town for a one man show on Friday at Meadows Casino. But he couldn't even be bothered to make a statement for the press that night.
Bradshaw was a great qb, but he was and remains a petulant punk of a human being imho.
Missing the Chiefs funeral strike 1
Having Vern Lundquist as his presenter for the Hall of Fame, strike 2.
Missing Noll's funeral, you're out!