Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1030409
S E A S O N previous year, knew his career was over. "That was the end of my dance," he said years later. "A whole lifetime was over." Slowed by injuries, Saul's career went nowhere after 1967. He played sporadi- cally for the Steelers in 1968 and then spent a year with both New Orleans and Detroit before retiring in 1971. Saul died in 2006, leaving behind a legacy that included being one of the first players to be associated with the Line- backer U tradition. His position coach at Penn State was Dan Radakovich, a former Lion linebacker who became the team's first official linebackers coach in 1958. Radakovich actually was drafted by the Eagles in 1957 (17th round, 194th overall), was in their pre- season camp and played in some exhi- bition games before being cut. He also became a friend of mine back then, and a few years ago I helped him write his autobiography, in which he described how he became the "father of Line- backer U." Radakovich, who also coached Ham at Penn State, is part of the Steelers-Nit- tany Lions connection, too. He was Pittsburgh's defensive line coach in 1971, left for two years, and then returned as the Steelers' offensive line coach from 1974 to '77 before leaving again in '78 with two Super Bowl championships added to his resume. Then there is Darren Perry with his own unique tie to the Steelers. The 1991 All-America defensive back is the only Penn State player aside from Hoak to play for the Steelers (1992-98) after being drafted by them (eighth round) and then return as an assistant coach (2003-06). One also cannot leave out the Bradley brothers, Jim and Tom, who played for Penn State in the 1970s. Jim has been the Steelers' orthopedic surgeon for 28 years. Tom, Penn State's longtime de- fensive coordinator, became an assistant coach this season. Surely, there will be more Penn State football players wearing the black and gold in the future, and I can hardly wait. I'm already waving my Terrible Towel and cheering, "We are… Penn State!" ■ No. 74 in Lou Prato's book Autographed copies available via louprato@comcast.net or through Lou Prato & Associates at 814-954-5171 Price: $14.95 plus shipping, handling and tax where applicable Also available with autograph: Lou's book We Are Penn State: The Remarkable Journey of the 2012 Nittany Lions Price: $19.95 plus shipping and tax where applicable