Blue White Illustrated

November 2012

Penn State Sports Magazine

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STAFF MEETING Penn State's coaches gather on campus prior to the 1960 season for a group photo. Clockwise from top left: Sever Toretti, Joe Paterno, Dan Radakovich, J.T. White, Rip Engle, Earl Bruce, Frank Patrick and Jim O'Hora. give you $100." I said, "Okay, I'll do it." And that was the beginning of how, years later, I became known as the Fa- ther of Linebacker U. My first linebackers that spring were center Steve Garban and offensive guard Charlie Ruslavage, both of whom had been my backups at center-line- backer on the 1956 team. They were now the starters in 1958 and Steve would soon become the captain of the team. At the end of the 20 days of spring practice, both Steve and Charlie were looking good, and I was offered $2,600, technically as a graduate as- sistant, to coach the linebackers through the '58 season. The money would pay for my first year of graduate school in business, but I turned it down when the Washington Redskins called and I decided to give pro football another shot. Penn State Athletic Communications MEETING CHUCK DRAZENOVICH In early July, I flew out to the Redskins' training camp at Occidental College, near Pasadena, California. The Redskins were training there because their first preseason game was against the Los Angeles Rams in the Los Angeles Times Charity game. ... The person I met in camp who had the biggest influence on me as a linebacker coach was a fellow Penn Stater, Chuck Drazenovich, who

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