June 11, 2026 • 25 mins
Álvaro Martín y Arturo Carlos conversaron con Dermontti Dawson durante la Final Nacional del Torneo de Flag Football 2026 en la Ciudad de México. La leyenda de los Steelers habló sobre el talento que descubrió en el torneo, la pasión con la que se vive este deporte en México y las razones por las que considera que el flag football está creciendo a gran velocidad en el país. Además, compartió sus impresiones sobre el presente y futuro de los Steelers rumbo a la pretemporada y la temporada regular 2026 de la NFL.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Estos podcast to Sorelo Spitsburg Steelers and the podcast of
Vilo Spittsburg Steelers podcast in Maculeotin. Yeah, Turo Carlos.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
MM. We're back in Mexico. Vermonty Dawson is back in Mexico,
and we have a lot to talk about when it
comes to how many visits is made to the the country.
And we're actually at the dec De Monterrey Santa Fe campus,
which is a lovely, lovely facility, probably the envy of
many high schools in the US. And of course you
(00:47):
have here both the college team play and also the
high school team. And if those of you who don't
know more known as the Monterey Institute of Technology mi
T is Mexico's mi i T, or you can say
that one in Cambridge is the US is Mexican Tech.
But they're the powerhouse in football and so they win
championship just about every year. The few pro pros that
(01:09):
end up leaving the circuit here in Mexico and not
in the States probably came from Teemorey and they've set
up these satellites even though they from money in Mexico
City have three different campuses, right and now they have
a high school here too, so it's an empire and
we're in the beautiful facilities and we're hosting a flag
football tournament which is mixed boys and girls are playing together.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Tamil and Spanderland. It's the podcast in.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
The Damos La Magnito de lo ca show Pittsburgh Steelers,
Connel Flag and a Lutimo mess El, Monterrey and Toluca
listening to Tornados yaqui a loz el Canfernado, there's the
Tornado Gone keeps, the republic A Mexicana y galanaos porquet and.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
The Presencia.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Podcasts quantaali Mexico Representato Pittsburgh. You've lost count? How many
times have you been in Mexico as a player in
the in that in that at that preseason game, and
since you've lost count, how many would you guess?
Speaker 5 (02:08):
I would say five to six times. Yeah, that have
been here because when they started the American Bow, I
think in nineteen ninety six, I think it was we
played here and then yeah, I think it was the
World Bow in ninety six. I think I was here
in two thousand and then here with the Steelers, you know,
doing some other stuff. Some of the camps and combines. Uh,
(02:29):
in Monterey and in Mexico City.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
In I was telling Scot Hillo, people, what motivates you
to race your hand to say, Hey, if you want
to go to Mexico, I'm ready.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Well, because I love Mexico City and I love Mexico
in general, and I love the culture, the music, the food,
you know, the people. I mean, it's just just a
phenomenal place to visit. And uh, I'm decided. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
that was great last night. You know, being able to
be in the ring with the wrestlers and meet them
beforehand before the matches and so that that was pretty special.
(03:09):
And you know, just the arena itself, man, just the
electricity in the arena and how passionate the fans are.
Just like football, Hey, just like wrestling. You have your
fanatics and they were electrified last night.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Now that you weren't talking about the American Bowl in
two thousand, what are you which are your memories about
that game, the environment and everything.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
That you've got here as a Pittsburgh Steelers as a
player but in a foreign country.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Well, just the following that the Steelers had when we
played in Mexico City, and it's just phenomenal. How many
fans are here in Mexico City. I think over what
seven and a half million fans in the country Mexico. Okay, okay,
but in the country of Mexico, you know, one point
seven point something million fans. Okay, Yeah, but it's just
amazing just to see the turnout of all the black
(03:56):
and gold in the stadium, and it almost makes it
was like a home game basically.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
So that's that's what's more exciting to me. The fan base.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Just to put it in perspective, there are about eighteen
million fans in the US that are steel fans. Steelers
nation in the US is about eighteen million. There's about
eight year. That means that if you join the countries together,
one out of three are here. One out of three
in North America are here in Mexico City at New Mexico.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Man, it is it really is.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Now. Let me go back to we've had these conversations
win their month. The monk is the accidents. He kill
big tables. When you were young, you told me you
just started football as a junior in high school.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
Yes, yeah, why.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Why explain why you came in so late? How that
had that happen.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Well, you know, I didn't. I really I didn't like
football that well. And I was more track and field
at that point, going into middle school, so I was
always middle school was my thing was and track and field.
So my ninth grade year, one of the coaches, coach Ashcraft,
asked me to go out. So I went out and
(05:18):
I was a tight end. But I didn't attend many practices,
so I didn't even really get a chance to really play.
And I played tight end. I think I was number
eighty five. So I said, you know what, I just
don't think football for me. So going into high school.
Once I graduated high school, I started wrestling my tenth
grade year and running track my tenth grade year. And
then I had Steve Parker who was our high school
(05:40):
football coach. He had just been hired the season previously.
So he came up to me when I was coming
out of biology class and said, son, He put his
hands on my shoulder, says, son, where have you been
on my life? He said you need to be playing
football because he knew I was on a track team
and a wrestling team, and at that time I only
weighed like one hundred and eighty five pounds. You know,
I was playing. I was doing heavyweight, so one eighty
(06:04):
five and over is heavyweight. So I was training in
the gym and he saw me how athletic I was
and in track and field practicing with the track team.
So my junior year, I decided to go out and
I stopped. I said, well, I did wrestle and then
I played football and I played for left tackle, left tackle,
left tackle, and I was probably just as fast as
(06:25):
you know. The running backs and stuff we had and
very athletic and uh, long story short. We had two guys,
Mark Logan Cornell Burbage. We had another guy, Kermits Sykes,
who went to Vanderbilt for track scholarship and football. We
had a few other guys to go to Division two
schools and Mark Cornell myself. We all took scholarships at
(06:45):
the University.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Of Kentucky because they But but how did you get
found out?
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Well, when a coach was there from the University of
Kentucky and Tennessee as well, Coach Parker said, hey, you
need to look at this guy because he's a pretty
good athlete.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
He came to see a running back on a quarterback
and a quarterback.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yes, and we had a defense back, Kermit Sykes, who
was he was a big time track guy as well.
And so I was saying when he said, you need
to look at this guy, and uh, long story short,
then I started having all these letters come to my house.
Uh and then coaches visits and uh so it was
kind of phenomenal, just kind of all happened. It happened
(07:20):
so rapid.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Historian l s the COMPETI Correy, Cortas, Damples and Practiro.
You know, well go to Americano. He said, Chaco, don't
told me that. You look convinced and prepare. Yeah, raise
(07:48):
the talent along the kentuky I would al Korovac and
second Cordor. Ye missed, my coach, you know, convinced you,
lady Kentucky a eighteen tactics give him. But that's the
first part of the story. Yes, there's a second part
of the story. You come to the Steelers as a guard.
(08:11):
Mike Webster was the center at the time.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Yes, my rookie year.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Tell us what happened then?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Well, you know, in during the All Star Games, you
know I played, I played, I played a little center,
a little guard. Uh, well, I played guard initially at
the University of Kentucky, and then they I played center
as well for the scout team to give them a look.
So doing the All Star Games, they had me play
center against some of the best defensive tackles at the
Senior Bowl and I did pretty well. So come my
(08:37):
rookie season, when I was drafted at Pittsburgh in the
second round, Chuck Lanza was drafted in the third round,
and so my rookie year, I started a guard after
the fourth game of the season and then finished that
season out. My my rookie season out. Then my second year,
I was coming down the hallway right before mini camp
(08:59):
and then No called me in the office. Chuck No, Yeah, yeah,
I was walking down the hallway from coming into the
stadium go into the locker room. He called me into
his office and he said, you know, GERMANI he's I
want to uh switch you to the center, and I
want you and Chuck Lanza to fight it out. And
Chuck originally was going to be the starter. Wants Mike
left to go to Kansas City in eighty nine. Big
(09:20):
Shoes to field, Big Shoes to Field. And so ultimately
I won the position. And you know the rest is
kind of history the way it all turned.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Out exactly, does Intres Parker and Prepa know and Pittsford
Cambiero and Rumbo sua al punto King El.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I mean, and.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
It's the way.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Rmanti he is doing the Salida trampa thermante revolution NFL
qu possible.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
And you you changed the position when you were in
a center position, snapping and pulling out. I was talking
to to I tell him I ran in astonished about that.
I played the whole oldline, but never Cook at a
center because it was so hard to snap and then block.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And you did it everything when you go to you.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Went to the Steelers, well, you know when when Chuck Noll, well,
when Chuck ended up retiring, and then Bill care Bill
Cower came in. In ninety two. Ron Arheart was a
coordinator from the Giants. So I think we were in
training camp and we always prepared the first Monday of
training camp. We always prepared for the first season game.
So we started to put uh, you know, uh content
(10:48):
and plays in for uh the opening game. So I
think we were playing Philly and Ronni and those guys
started to see Philly playing this gap defense and kind
of staggering the linebackers. And then during the preseason games
they ended up seeing that, you know, the offensive line
we're having a problem of getting up to the second
levels and the linebackers were all over the place making
(11:10):
tackles and not allowing the back to gain any yardage.
So he said, man, he's we got to find a
way to you know, be able to do this. So
I told Ron, I said, Ron, I said, you know,
I'm fast enough and I can snap the ball, you know,
direct the backside of the offensive line, front side of
the offensive line which way to go with a false
(11:30):
call or a live call, and we'll practice that, you know,
doing the course of the week. And so we started
to practice that in practice in training camp to just
to make sure it was gonna you know, sink out
and be the right right call. So we started doing
that in training camp and then and then Ron called
me into the office he said, you know, Doss, he said,
(11:51):
I like this, So, you know, we started to implement it,
and then after that we even started to even expand
it a little bit more for some of the other plays.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
So how widespread was that practice in the NFL? How
often we you see a center pull out.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Well, you didn't see it very often, you know, sometimes
counter traps, you know, a center well, no counter traps,
not even the center even pools, so you really don't
see it, you know, unless he's blocking back. But other
than that, you don't see him. Actually a pool from
the center position and take somebody else's responsibility or have
the responsibility or.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Have the.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Wherewithal to either pull outside and let you kind of
let you do your own thing, you know, based on
the defense, as long as it doesn't you know, compromise
the integrity of the play, right, So we started to
do that and incorporate that into the offense, and we
got to the point where we would have these toss
crack plays where I could pool even from the backside,
(12:46):
or I could step up, let everybody pass go down
the line of scrimmage, make sure I don't go past
the line of scrimmage and don't go downfield. But you know,
still it was so successful because I was athletic right
that I was able to do it and pull it off.
And so we that was just part of our offense
because it causes problems.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
For defenses, you know, so they're not even thinking that
could have.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
No no, no, so and and I know that. I
remember when Delton Hall and and uh some of the
defensive backs when we did the toss cracks on third
down and I decided, okay, well I'm gonna pull from
the backside and I'm gonna be the lead blocker. And
then they see me coming out there full speed and
they're like, oh, okay, well what's going on now? You
know he's the center. Yeah, it was heye out here,
(13:28):
so you know. But it just became part of the
culture in Pittsburgh, you know, in our in our offense, I.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Was telling their Monty yesterday. You were there. They talked
the Lati greet Humphreys case through the see the case, bro,
bro no when you see they want King said cases.
People who are gett looks, I mean not video, but
I'm there made their Monty thos. Yes, people, can you say?
(13:55):
It's actually in the videos they're turning it back to
do with that monthly and it's well, let's go back
a little bit to black football. When I see this
and we're seeing this beautiful field behind us and the
kids playing and the parents, by the way, have a ball.
When I see that, I just kind of hit myself
on the foret and go why did they do that
twenty years ago? Oh? I know, I know. What are
(14:15):
your thoughts about just black football, both in the States,
in Mexico and even worldwide now that it's going to
be an Olympic sports.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
Well, it's amazing how how exponentially is it's grown here
in Mexico City, I mean Mexico in general. Yeah, the US,
you know, because American football is our sport. Soccer is
Mexico sport. But it's growing and I think, you know,
with the international games and NFL teams playing here in
Mexico and abroad, it's going to make you know, kids
(14:42):
are going to be more interested in American football and
they want to learn at an earlier age as well.
And I think it's imperative for countries to incorporate American
football into their sports, and it's it's going to continue
to grow. You can't you can't stop it.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
You're an athlete. You're not a professional scout or you're
an athlete. You know what an athlete does or cannot do.
As you watch these boys and girls play, you told
me you've spotted a.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Few that have some Yeah, there's there's a few quarterbacks
in a in a running back. Another guy down here
in the older section of the flag football finals, and
there are two pretty good athletes. I mean, the one
quarterback has got a pretty pretty nice arm. And then
one guy who's the receiver. I don't know exactly what
position he plays, but he's he's a pretty good.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Athlete.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
And here on the younger section too, you know there's
some pretty good athletes as well, both female and male.
You know, it's amazing just the talent level that's here.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
That's just let coach, it's the news and basketball, football,
American etcetera. And as the flat so much as basis
al Mogain look per Monthy. I was talking with Moncloa,
(16:10):
same coach. He told me, like, all of the guys
are on druck and field, all of them. I'm playing football,
basketballsketball and many other sports by sports.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, multi sport with that they have the skills to
run and catch or pass.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Or whatever they need, agility everything.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
And I always tell kids, young kids, I said, you know,
I just don't specialize in one sport. You have to
play all sports because you become a better athlete, you
understand the game a little bit better. You know, you
understand what it takes athletically mentally on the field, uh,
when you compete in different sports, because each sports, uh,
you know, have different things that you need to learn
(16:48):
in order to be good. And I think when you
combine all those together and you play in these sports,
then you have a better sense of what makes me
a better athlete overall. You know, as far as training,
you know, and skill level as well.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You know what you need.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
So I think I think it's imperative that kids do
multiple sports instead of just, you know, just settling for
one sport.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
A young a young boy a month because hey, Pocabo,
probably the quarterback man mondn pass, a young boy approached
you said hey, I'm gonna tell you all the time.
By the way, my quarterback throw me the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
What was your response, Well, I told him, I said, hey,
you in the quarterback need to get together. And I said, yeah,
every time that you have a route that you're a
potential first first receiver, I said, hey, you need to
tell the quarterback I'm open if you're open. But I said,
you in the quarterback need to just talk about it.
And I said, hey, if he throws you the ball
and you catch it. Then he begins to believe in you.
(17:42):
And uh, and I really don't know whether or not
he's telling me the truth or not, but I'm sure
he's probably not. Probably is, you know, but still, uh,
you know, still you got to get that chemistry with
the quarterback, you know, and that relationship with the quarterback.
So I told him, I said, hey, you in the quarterback,
you work it out. Just talk about it. And I said,
if he throws you the ball, you better catch it.
That's the only way to create trust. Absolutely, Yes, I
(18:09):
have a question for you. We've asked this question and
it's pet project.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Boss. You hear, Kevin Colbert, you hear oh, Mark con
I'm sure you heard Chuck Noll in the day build Coward.
He's a Steeler. They know who's gonna fit the culture,
fit the playing style from just looking at a few things.
Instantly talk to him. He's a Steeler. What is a Steeler?
(18:37):
What traits? And these are different players, different positions, but
what are things that Hey, if you don't you don't
have this, you're not gonna be a good fit in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Guys that go out and do their job, they don't complain,
they're hard workers, blue collar workers, the mentality of Pittsburgh,
and uh, you know, you know that you're gonna get
you know that they're gonna be able to get it done,
you know, and and they have that mentality that they
don't quit.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You get defeated, step back up, do it again. You know.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
I think it just got to grind at it, you know,
and you gotta be just have a certain mindset.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
There's no they know, there's no such thing, as I
said back, It's only opportunity.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That's right, That's right. Yeah, and then you just come
back and let's do it again.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
I might see it again, Okay, political, I can i
podcast in a level respect to our linear fencia.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You can look at Kepienza or Montie.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
I'll respect to this stack and those minimum these days
for outs and as for talistas, the stalini of fenciva,
what do you see in this whole lene that is
coming for the twenty twenty six Because the team has
invested in draft picks top no, you see it tackles.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Everywhere, but they don't.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
It doesn't look like a good fit now because you
don't know where you're gonna play.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But well, yes, well what do you see that is coming.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Well, so I'm really not for sure, you know, and
it's really hard to kind of protect how how how
you know the offensive line is gonna perform. But they've
been you know, it's been musical chairs. They've been moving
guys around, you know, so I don't think we really
have a right tackle just yet. We have felt Donald
but okay, may end up on the left. Yeah, I
know they're switching, so I don't know they they've settled.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
The drafted okay, yeah, yeah, but just see just saw
that good playing pretty well. Yeah, at the end of
the season, is like who is gonna be your left doackle?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And actually Dylan Cook and the ota is playing right tackle?
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Yeah, okay, okay, well, hey, we'll find out once they
get it settled and who wins what position? And I
guess if they feel comfortable with that, you know, with coaches, so.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Coaches problem to have many options to try to fit
it up.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
I know, I know, but I don't know. I really
don't know the answer, to tell you truth. Let me
ask the question a little differently.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Perhaps they talk about offensive linemen literally standing in the
same positions when they even sit down on the bench.
The left tackles to the left of the left guard.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
That's very well, that's very well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Always said, yeah, the idea of continuity. These are professional athletes.
They're paid to do a lot of things. They're prepared
to a lot of things. Somebody can get injured, miss
it play. You got to step in to do whatever
you have so they can do a lot of different things.
What about the value of continuity? Is that really?
Speaker 5 (21:12):
So? It is? I mean, it's true. It's true because
I mean, you know what the guy is gonna do.
If you play with a guy so long, you know,
for year after year or just a season, you know, consecutively,
you know what he's gonna do. You know what he
can do, what he can't do. You know, if you
need to help a guy on the inside, if we
have a slide protection or just watch his inside. You know,
if I'm uncovered as a center and vice versa, you know,
(21:34):
come tackle if your guard. You know, if if a
tackle has a weakness for inside move, you know, be
there to kind of give them security every once in
a while. So continuity is it's key for offensive line play.
So when you have a guy who goes out it,
it throws off the whole continuity of you know, the
whole line of line play. So that continuity is imperative
(21:57):
to have.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
So whatever we have, we better sell them down into
positions and start working on Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yeah, so they start together, so they start to develop
that continuity. And you know, and like you said, when
we sit on the bench during the preseason game or practice,
it's always you know, center, right guard, right tackle, left
left guard, left tackle, because we got to talk to.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
One another, so in the same sequence you would on
the field.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Yeah, on the same filter. That way, you have a
visual because we're at the same position sitting on the bench.
So you know, you can just point it out. You know, hey,
you got you got, you gotta take this guy, gotta
do this project, my inside, you know, whatever.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
The case may be, that is not come on.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
That is like a puzzle of ten thousand pieces. Now
when you're opening the box. Yeah, where I'm gonna be get?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Where do I start?
Speaker 5 (22:45):
It's a it's a puzzle.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Now, it's a puzzle. Let me ask you this other question.
I always ask the athletes the same question. There are
seasons you walk in and you do pre season, and
you do the training camp, and you walk out thinking
this is the year, and all of a sudden it
doesn't turn out to be that. No, And then there
are years that you look around and you're like, I
don't know about this year, and it turns out that, hey,
we did much better than I thought.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Oh yeah, How does that work?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Is it injury? Is it always somebody goes down and
the year goes up in flames? Is it just chemistry?
How does that work?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
You know, I really don't know, to tell you the truth,
be honest with you, I have no clue because I've
looked at us as you know, when I was playing
with the Steelers, where I felt we had a pretty
good squad, and then things kind of faltered a little bit,
and then we had better squads or less of a squad,
you know, and not as talented. But and then we
had some success. But you know, sometimes I think it's
(23:35):
a combination of chemistry and just luck. Sometimes, you know,
I really don't know the answer.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
There's no formula. No, there is no formula.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
That's why it's not science.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
That is true. That it's been a pleasure. I can't.
I hope and I'm pretty sure that if and when
Pittsford plays in Mexico. You're gonna be here. Well, I
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I hope so sen in time a time.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
We don't know, but you're always more than welcome.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
You well, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Affreciate I would say something else. You know what I'm
gonna say in Spanish. You that's where the cats said,
you're taking form medeo device. Yeah that Claudum. Get that claudum.
We come from from Mexico. I mean, I mean represent
we gotta se.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Espanel dermanty. How's your Spanish? You you wanted to work
for it because something big is coming.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Oh well, hey I may have to do my dual
lingo a little bit more, but I still have my
translator as a backup. So I'm good.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Well, you know, Luca leaving now and yeah, yeah you
have your first steps.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
You got it, you got it here. I appreciate you
guys having me on the podcast. Thank you very much,
appreciate you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
It's the Way podcast look Spitsbrook Stealers and the podcast
of Ciel Delos Pittsburg Steelers nor with the subscriberte All
podcast of Isil delos, Pittsburg Steelers, Herno's TuS Commentarios and
(25:11):
Romanos Steelers podcast con Albaro Martin Yea two Ro Carlos
Estos podcast to Sorelo Spitsburg Steelers and the podcast of
Vilo Spittsburg Steelers podcast in Maculeotin. Yeah, Turo Carlos.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
MM. We're back in Mexico. Vermonty Dawson is back in Mexico,
and we have a lot to talk about when it
comes to how many visits is made to the the country.
And we're actually at the dec De Monterrey Santa Fe campus,
which is a lovely, lovely facility, probably the envy of
many high schools in the US. And of course you
(00:47):
have here both the college team play and also the
high school team. And if those of you who don't
know more known as the Monterey Institute of Technology mi
T is Mexico's mi i T, or you can say
that one in Cambridge is the US is Mexican Tech.
But they're the powerhouse in football and so they win
championship just about every year. The few pro pros that
(01:09):
end up leaving the circuit here in Mexico and not
in the States probably came from Teemorey and they've set
up these satellites even though they from money in Mexico
City have three different campuses, right and now they have
a high school here too, so it's an empire and
we're in the beautiful facilities and we're hosting a flag
football tournament which is mixed boys and girls are playing together.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Tamil and Spanderland. It's the podcast in.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
The Damos La Magnito de lo ca show Pittsburgh Steelers,
Connel Flag and a Lutimo mess El, Monterrey and Toluca
listening to Tornados yaqui a loz el Canfernado, there's the
Tornado Gone keeps, the republic A Mexicana y galanaos porquet and.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
The Presencia.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Podcasts quantaali Mexico Representato Pittsburgh. You've lost count? How many
times have you been in Mexico as a player in
the in that in that at that preseason game, and
since you've lost count, how many would you guess?
Speaker 5 (02:08):
I would say five to six times. Yeah, that have
been here because when they started the American Bow, I
think in nineteen ninety six, I think it was we
played here and then yeah, I think it was the
World Bow in ninety six. I think I was here
in two thousand and then here with the Steelers, you know,
doing some other stuff. Some of the camps and combines. Uh,
(02:29):
in Monterey and in Mexico City.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
In I was telling Scot Hillo, people, what motivates you
to race your hand to say, Hey, if you want
to go to Mexico, I'm ready.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Well, because I love Mexico City and I love Mexico
in general, and I love the culture, the music, the food,
you know, the people. I mean, it's just just a
phenomenal place to visit. And uh, I'm decided. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
that was great last night. You know, being able to
be in the ring with the wrestlers and meet them
beforehand before the matches and so that that was pretty special.
(03:09):
And you know, just the arena itself, man, just the
electricity in the arena and how passionate the fans are.
Just like football, Hey, just like wrestling. You have your
fanatics and they were electrified last night.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Now that you weren't talking about the American Bowl in
two thousand, what are you which are your memories about
that game, the environment and everything.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
That you've got here as a Pittsburgh Steelers as a
player but in a foreign country.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Well, just the following that the Steelers had when we
played in Mexico City, and it's just phenomenal. How many
fans are here in Mexico City. I think over what
seven and a half million fans in the country Mexico. Okay, okay,
but in the country of Mexico, you know, one point
seven point something million fans. Okay, Yeah, but it's just
amazing just to see the turnout of all the black
(03:56):
and gold in the stadium, and it almost makes it
was like a home game basically.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
So that's that's what's more exciting to me. The fan base.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Just to put it in perspective, there are about eighteen
million fans in the US that are steel fans. Steelers
nation in the US is about eighteen million. There's about
eight year. That means that if you join the countries together,
one out of three are here. One out of three
in North America are here in Mexico City at New Mexico.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Man, it is it really is.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Now. Let me go back to we've had these conversations
win their month. The monk is the accidents. He kill
big tables. When you were young, you told me you
just started football as a junior in high school.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
Yes, yeah, why.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Why explain why you came in so late? How that
had that happen.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Well, you know, I didn't. I really I didn't like
football that well. And I was more track and field
at that point, going into middle school, so I was
always middle school was my thing was and track and field.
So my ninth grade year, one of the coaches, coach Ashcraft,
asked me to go out. So I went out and
(05:18):
I was a tight end. But I didn't attend many practices,
so I didn't even really get a chance to really play.
And I played tight end. I think I was number
eighty five. So I said, you know what, I just
don't think football for me. So going into high school.
Once I graduated high school, I started wrestling my tenth
grade year and running track my tenth grade year. And
then I had Steve Parker who was our high school
(05:40):
football coach. He had just been hired the season previously.
So he came up to me when I was coming
out of biology class and said, son, He put his
hands on my shoulder, says, son, where have you been
on my life? He said you need to be playing
football because he knew I was on a track team
and a wrestling team, and at that time I only
weighed like one hundred and eighty five pounds. You know,
I was playing. I was doing heavyweight, so one eighty
(06:04):
five and over is heavyweight. So I was training in
the gym and he saw me how athletic I was
and in track and field practicing with the track team.
So my junior year, I decided to go out and
I stopped. I said, well, I did wrestle and then
I played football and I played for left tackle, left tackle,
left tackle, and I was probably just as fast as
(06:25):
you know. The running backs and stuff we had and
very athletic and uh, long story short. We had two guys,
Mark Logan Cornell Burbage. We had another guy, Kermits Sykes,
who went to Vanderbilt for track scholarship and football. We
had a few other guys to go to Division two
schools and Mark Cornell myself. We all took scholarships at
(06:45):
the University.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Of Kentucky because they But but how did you get
found out?
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Well, when a coach was there from the University of
Kentucky and Tennessee as well, Coach Parker said, hey, you
need to look at this guy because he's a pretty
good athlete.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
He came to see a running back on a quarterback
and a quarterback.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yes, and we had a defense back, Kermit Sykes, who
was he was a big time track guy as well.
And so I was saying when he said, you need
to look at this guy, and uh, long story short,
then I started having all these letters come to my house.
Uh and then coaches visits and uh so it was
kind of phenomenal, just kind of all happened. It happened
(07:20):
so rapid.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Historian l s the COMPETI Correy, Cortas, Damples and Practiro.
You know, well go to Americano. He said, Chaco, don't
told me that. You look convinced and prepare. Yeah, raise
(07:48):
the talent along the kentuky I would al Korovac and
second Cordor. Ye missed, my coach, you know, convinced you,
lady Kentucky a eighteen tactics give him. But that's the
first part of the story. Yes, there's a second part
of the story. You come to the Steelers as a guard.
(08:11):
Mike Webster was the center at the time.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Yes, my rookie year.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Tell us what happened then?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Well, you know, in during the All Star Games, you
know I played, I played, I played a little center,
a little guard. Uh, well, I played guard initially at
the University of Kentucky, and then they I played center
as well for the scout team to give them a look.
So doing the All Star Games, they had me play
center against some of the best defensive tackles at the
Senior Bowl and I did pretty well. So come my
(08:37):
rookie season, when I was drafted at Pittsburgh in the
second round, Chuck Lanza was drafted in the third round,
and so my rookie year, I started a guard after
the fourth game of the season and then finished that
season out. My my rookie season out. Then my second year,
I was coming down the hallway right before mini camp
(08:59):
and then No called me in the office. Chuck No, Yeah, yeah,
I was walking down the hallway from coming into the
stadium go into the locker room. He called me into
his office and he said, you know, GERMANI he's I
want to uh switch you to the center, and I
want you and Chuck Lanza to fight it out. And
Chuck originally was going to be the starter. Wants Mike
left to go to Kansas City in eighty nine. Big
(09:20):
Shoes to field, Big Shoes to Field. And so ultimately
I won the position. And you know the rest is
kind of history the way it all turned.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Out exactly, does Intres Parker and Prepa know and Pittsford
Cambiero and Rumbo sua al punto King El.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I mean, and.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
It's the way.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Rmanti he is doing the Salida trampa thermante revolution NFL
qu possible.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
And you you changed the position when you were in
a center position, snapping and pulling out. I was talking
to to I tell him I ran in astonished about that.
I played the whole oldline, but never Cook at a
center because it was so hard to snap and then block.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And you did it everything when you go to you.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Went to the Steelers, well, you know when when Chuck Noll, well,
when Chuck ended up retiring, and then Bill care Bill
Cower came in. In ninety two. Ron Arheart was a
coordinator from the Giants. So I think we were in
training camp and we always prepared the first Monday of
training camp. We always prepared for the first season game.
So we started to put uh, you know, uh content
(10:48):
and plays in for uh the opening game. So I
think we were playing Philly and Ronni and those guys
started to see Philly playing this gap defense and kind
of staggering the linebackers. And then during the preseason games
they ended up seeing that, you know, the offensive line
we're having a problem of getting up to the second
levels and the linebackers were all over the place making
(11:10):
tackles and not allowing the back to gain any yardage.
So he said, man, he's we got to find a
way to you know, be able to do this. So
I told Ron, I said, Ron, I said, you know,
I'm fast enough and I can snap the ball, you know,
direct the backside of the offensive line, front side of
the offensive line which way to go with a false
(11:30):
call or a live call, and we'll practice that, you know,
doing the course of the week. And so we started
to practice that in practice in training camp to just
to make sure it was gonna you know, sink out
and be the right right call. So we started doing
that in training camp and then and then Ron called
me into the office he said, you know, Doss, he said,
(11:51):
I like this, So, you know, we started to implement it,
and then after that we even started to even expand
it a little bit more for some of the other plays.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
So how widespread was that practice in the NFL? How
often we you see a center pull out.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Well, you didn't see it very often, you know, sometimes
counter traps, you know, a center well, no counter traps,
not even the center even pools, so you really don't
see it, you know, unless he's blocking back. But other
than that, you don't see him. Actually a pool from
the center position and take somebody else's responsibility or have
the responsibility or.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Have the.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Wherewithal to either pull outside and let you kind of
let you do your own thing, you know, based on
the defense, as long as it doesn't you know, compromise
the integrity of the play, right, So we started to
do that and incorporate that into the offense, and we
got to the point where we would have these toss
crack plays where I could pool even from the backside,
(12:46):
or I could step up, let everybody pass go down
the line of scrimmage, make sure I don't go past
the line of scrimmage and don't go downfield. But you know,
still it was so successful because I was athletic right
that I was able to do it and pull it off.
And so we that was just part of our offense
because it causes problems.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
For defenses, you know, so they're not even thinking that
could have.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
No no, no, so and and I know that. I
remember when Delton Hall and and uh some of the
defensive backs when we did the toss cracks on third
down and I decided, okay, well I'm gonna pull from
the backside and I'm gonna be the lead blocker. And
then they see me coming out there full speed and
they're like, oh, okay, well what's going on now? You
know he's the center. Yeah, it was heye out here,
(13:28):
so you know. But it just became part of the
culture in Pittsburgh, you know, in our in our offense, I.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Was telling their Monty yesterday. You were there. They talked
the Lati greet Humphreys case through the see the case, bro,
bro no when you see they want King said cases.
People who are gett looks, I mean not video, but
I'm there made their Monty thos. Yes, people, can you say?
(13:55):
It's actually in the videos they're turning it back to
do with that monthly and it's well, let's go back
a little bit to black football. When I see this
and we're seeing this beautiful field behind us and the
kids playing and the parents, by the way, have a ball.
When I see that, I just kind of hit myself
on the foret and go why did they do that
twenty years ago? Oh? I know, I know. What are
(14:15):
your thoughts about just black football, both in the States,
in Mexico and even worldwide now that it's going to
be an Olympic sports.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
Well, it's amazing how how exponentially is it's grown here
in Mexico City, I mean Mexico in general. Yeah, the US,
you know, because American football is our sport. Soccer is
Mexico sport. But it's growing and I think, you know,
with the international games and NFL teams playing here in
Mexico and abroad, it's going to make you know, kids
(14:42):
are going to be more interested in American football and
they want to learn at an earlier age as well.
And I think it's imperative for countries to incorporate American
football into their sports, and it's it's going to continue
to grow. You can't you can't stop it.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
You're an athlete. You're not a professional scout or you're
an athlete. You know what an athlete does or cannot do.
As you watch these boys and girls play, you told
me you've spotted a.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Few that have some Yeah, there's there's a few quarterbacks
in a in a running back. Another guy down here
in the older section of the flag football finals, and
there are two pretty good athletes. I mean, the one
quarterback has got a pretty pretty nice arm. And then
one guy who's the receiver. I don't know exactly what
position he plays, but he's he's a pretty good.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Athlete.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
And here on the younger section too, you know there's
some pretty good athletes as well, both female and male.
You know, it's amazing just the talent level that's here.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
That's just let coach, it's the news and basketball, football,
American etcetera. And as the flat so much as basis
al Mogain look per Monthy. I was talking with Moncloa,
(16:10):
same coach. He told me, like, all of the guys
are on druck and field, all of them. I'm playing football,
basketballsketball and many other sports by sports.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, multi sport with that they have the skills to
run and catch or pass.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Or whatever they need, agility everything.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
And I always tell kids, young kids, I said, you know,
I just don't specialize in one sport. You have to
play all sports because you become a better athlete, you
understand the game a little bit better. You know, you
understand what it takes athletically mentally on the field, uh,
when you compete in different sports, because each sports, uh,
you know, have different things that you need to learn
(16:48):
in order to be good. And I think when you
combine all those together and you play in these sports,
then you have a better sense of what makes me
a better athlete overall. You know, as far as training,
you know, and skill level as well.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You know what you need.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
So I think I think it's imperative that kids do
multiple sports instead of just, you know, just settling for
one sport.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
A young a young boy a month because hey, Pocabo,
probably the quarterback man mondn pass, a young boy approached
you said hey, I'm gonna tell you all the time.
By the way, my quarterback throw me the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
What was your response, Well, I told him, I said, hey,
you in the quarterback need to get together. And I said, yeah,
every time that you have a route that you're a
potential first first receiver, I said, hey, you need to
tell the quarterback I'm open if you're open. But I said,
you in the quarterback need to just talk about it.
And I said, hey, if he throws you the ball
and you catch it. Then he begins to believe in you.
(17:42):
And uh, and I really don't know whether or not
he's telling me the truth or not, but I'm sure
he's probably not. Probably is, you know, but still, uh,
you know, still you got to get that chemistry with
the quarterback, you know, and that relationship with the quarterback.
So I told him, I said, hey, you in the quarterback,
you work it out. Just talk about it. And I said,
if he throws you the ball, you better catch it.
That's the only way to create trust. Absolutely, Yes, I
(18:09):
have a question for you. We've asked this question and
it's pet project.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Boss. You hear, Kevin Colbert, you hear oh, Mark con
I'm sure you heard Chuck Noll in the day build Coward.
He's a Steeler. They know who's gonna fit the culture,
fit the playing style from just looking at a few things.
Instantly talk to him. He's a Steeler. What is a Steeler?
(18:37):
What traits? And these are different players, different positions, but
what are things that Hey, if you don't you don't
have this, you're not gonna be a good fit in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Guys that go out and do their job, they don't complain,
they're hard workers, blue collar workers, the mentality of Pittsburgh,
and uh, you know, you know that you're gonna get
you know that they're gonna be able to get it done,
you know, and and they have that mentality that they
don't quit.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You get defeated, step back up, do it again. You know.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
I think it just got to grind at it, you know,
and you gotta be just have a certain mindset.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
There's no they know, there's no such thing, as I
said back, It's only opportunity.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That's right, That's right. Yeah, and then you just come
back and let's do it again.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
I might see it again, Okay, political, I can i
podcast in a level respect to our linear fencia.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You can look at Kepienza or Montie.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
I'll respect to this stack and those minimum these days
for outs and as for talistas, the stalini of fenciva,
what do you see in this whole lene that is
coming for the twenty twenty six Because the team has
invested in draft picks top no, you see it tackles.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Everywhere, but they don't.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
It doesn't look like a good fit now because you
don't know where you're gonna play.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But well, yes, well what do you see that is coming.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Well, so I'm really not for sure, you know, and
it's really hard to kind of protect how how how
you know the offensive line is gonna perform. But they've
been you know, it's been musical chairs. They've been moving
guys around, you know, so I don't think we really
have a right tackle just yet. We have felt Donald
but okay, may end up on the left. Yeah, I
know they're switching, so I don't know they they've settled.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
The drafted okay, yeah, yeah, but just see just saw
that good playing pretty well. Yeah, at the end of
the season, is like who is gonna be your left doackle?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And actually Dylan Cook and the ota is playing right tackle?
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Yeah, okay, okay, well, hey, we'll find out once they
get it settled and who wins what position? And I
guess if they feel comfortable with that, you know, with coaches, so.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Coaches problem to have many options to try to fit
it up.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
I know, I know, but I don't know. I really
don't know the answer, to tell you truth. Let me
ask the question a little differently.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Perhaps they talk about offensive linemen literally standing in the
same positions when they even sit down on the bench.
The left tackles to the left of the left guard.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
That's very well, that's very well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Always said, yeah, the idea of continuity. These are professional athletes.
They're paid to do a lot of things. They're prepared
to a lot of things. Somebody can get injured, miss
it play. You got to step in to do whatever
you have so they can do a lot of different things.
What about the value of continuity? Is that really?
Speaker 5 (21:12):
So? It is? I mean, it's true. It's true because
I mean, you know what the guy is gonna do.
If you play with a guy so long, you know,
for year after year or just a season, you know, consecutively,
you know what he's gonna do. You know what he
can do, what he can't do. You know, if you
need to help a guy on the inside, if we
have a slide protection or just watch his inside. You know,
if I'm uncovered as a center and vice versa, you know,
(21:34):
come tackle if your guard. You know, if if a
tackle has a weakness for inside move, you know, be
there to kind of give them security every once in
a while. So continuity is it's key for offensive line play.
So when you have a guy who goes out it,
it throws off the whole continuity of you know, the
whole line of line play. So that continuity is imperative
(21:57):
to have.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
So whatever we have, we better sell them down into
positions and start working on Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yeah, so they start together, so they start to develop
that continuity. And you know, and like you said, when
we sit on the bench during the preseason game or practice,
it's always you know, center, right guard, right tackle, left
left guard, left tackle, because we got to talk to.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
One another, so in the same sequence you would on
the field.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Yeah, on the same filter. That way, you have a
visual because we're at the same position sitting on the bench.
So you know, you can just point it out. You know, hey,
you got you got, you gotta take this guy, gotta
do this project, my inside, you know, whatever.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
The case may be, that is not come on.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
That is like a puzzle of ten thousand pieces. Now
when you're opening the box. Yeah, where I'm gonna be get?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Where do I start?
Speaker 5 (22:45):
It's a it's a puzzle.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Now, it's a puzzle. Let me ask you this other question.
I always ask the athletes the same question. There are
seasons you walk in and you do pre season, and
you do the training camp, and you walk out thinking
this is the year, and all of a sudden it
doesn't turn out to be that. No, And then there
are years that you look around and you're like, I
don't know about this year, and it turns out that, hey,
we did much better than I thought.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Oh yeah, How does that work?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Is it injury? Is it always somebody goes down and
the year goes up in flames? Is it just chemistry?
How does that work?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
You know, I really don't know, to tell you the truth,
be honest with you, I have no clue because I've
looked at us as you know, when I was playing
with the Steelers, where I felt we had a pretty
good squad, and then things kind of faltered a little bit,
and then we had better squads or less of a squad,
you know, and not as talented. But and then we
had some success. But you know, sometimes I think it's
(23:35):
a combination of chemistry and just luck. Sometimes, you know,
I really don't know the answer.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
There's no formula. No, there is no formula.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
No.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
That's why it's not science.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
That is true. That it's been a pleasure. I can't.
I hope and I'm pretty sure that if and when
Pittsford plays in Mexico. You're gonna be here. Well, I
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I hope so sen in time a time.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
We don't know, but you're always more than welcome.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
You well, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Affreciate I would say something else. You know what I'm
gonna say in Spanish. You that's where the cats said,
you're taking form medeo device. Yeah that Claudum. Get that claudum.
We come from from Mexico. I mean, I mean represent
we gotta se.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Espanel dermanty. How's your Spanish? You you wanted to work
for it because something big is coming.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Oh well, hey I may have to do my dual
lingo a little bit more, but I still have my
translator as a backup. So I'm good.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Well, you know, Luca leaving now and yeah, yeah you
have your first steps.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
You got it, you got it here. I appreciate you
guys having me on the podcast. Thank you very much,
appreciate you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
It's the Way podcast look Spitsbrook Stealers and the podcast
of Ciel Delos Pittsburg Steelers nor with the subscriberte All
podcast of Isil delos, Pittsburg Steelers, Herno's TuS Commentarios and
(25:11):
Romanos Steelers podcast con Albaro Martin Yea two Ro Carlos
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com