A Steelers Depot daily segment. A quick hit of some Pittsburgh Steelers-related stories that may not require a complete article, but nuggets worth mentioning and passing on to you guys.
Your Depot After Dark for June 23.
COACH HONORED
George Novak, who built a powerhouse high school program and NFL pipeline just outside of Pittsburgh, received the first Bill Priatko Award on Monday.
Former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert presented the plaque to Novak, who coached at Woodland Hills High School for three decades and won six Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) titles.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Jason Taylor, Rob Gronkowski, Steve Breaston, and former Steelers safety Ryan Mundy are among the future NFL players Novak coached before retiring in 2016.
“We’re all more proud of the kids that we coach and their successes over the years,” Novak said after accepting the award, which recognizes strong character, integrity, and commitment to football and community. “One of the best things I get is Father’s Day. Several of my ex-players called me and thanked me.”
Priatko, 94, is the oldest living Steeler and, for years, has gathered coaches who are among the most accomplished in WPIAL history. This year’s group, which again met at Asti’s Steakhouse at Grandview Golf Club outside of Pittsburgh, has collectively won more than 60 WPIAL titles. It included Jim Render, the WPIAL’s all-time winningest coach, and Bill Cherpak, who has won a record 10 WPIAL titles.
Former Steelers QB and Pittsburgh-area native Charlie Batch spoke at the event. Past speakers have included Franco Harris, Dick LeBeau, and Brett Keisel. Colbert is a regular attendee, and he and the coaches created the award last year to honor Priatko, who, after his playing days, served as a college and high school athletic director.
TOUGH CALL
Dan Matsook won over 100 games and a state title while building Rochester High School into a powerhouse. One of his hardest in-game decisions came after he had stopped coaching and moved into administration.
Matsook was the superintendent of Central Valley School District in Beaver County when the Steelers played the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. Around 11 PM/ET, he wondered whether he should institute a two-hour delay the following day, since so many kids would be staying up late.
He called superintendents at neighboring school districts, but none planned on a delay. Matsook went ahead with it—and heard about it the next day.
“I got so many calls from parents. ‘You think football is the only thing important around here!’” he said with a laugh.
The Steelers delivered a happy ending thanks to Santonio Holmes’ toe-tapping catch, and Matsook could loosely claim that football wasn’t the only reason for the two-hour delay.
“There were some flurries the next day,” he said.
Matsook and his brother, Gene, who succeeded him as Rochester High School’s football coach, won more than 300 games, seven WPIAL titles, and three state championships between them.
TRAINING CAMP MEMORY
Former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert is no longer a training camp fixture at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. He retired nearly four years ago after more than two decades as a Steelers executive and helping the team win two Super Bowls.
He told Steelers Depot that what he misses most about camp are the times he watched Chuck Noll Field when it was empty and let his imagination run wild.
“I think the cool thing at night when you sit on the Bill Nunn bench, and you look down on that field, and you think about all the great players that ran around that field,” Colbert said.
The Steelers return to Saint Vincent on July 28 for the start of training camp.
