Schottenheimer gets royal treatment from Cowher, Hall

MEADOW LANDS – Bill Cowher was nearing the end of his playing career in the National Football League when Marty Schottenheimer called with a job offer.
Cowher, who was in his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles after three with Schottenheimer in Cleveland, was intrigued.
“He asked me how much I was making,” Cowher recalled. “I told him $125,000. He told me he had a job that would pay me half as much money with twice as many hours.”
How could Cowher refuse?
Most know the rest of the story. Cowher went on to a coaching career that landed him in Pittsburgh for 15 years. As head coach of Pittsburgh, the Steelers won eight division titles and made 10 playoff appearances. Cowher led the Steelers to the Super Bowl twice, winning once.
And, oh yeah, Cowher made a lot more money than that first year in Cleveland.
Cowher, a Carlynton High School graduate, and Schottenheimer, a Fort Cherry graduate, were together again Friday evening at the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.
Cowher served as guest speaker and Schottenheimer was part of the induction class and the two gave emotional speeches in front of a record attendance of 470 guests for the event.
Schottenheimer joined Ray Kemp, another Fort Cherry graduate who played football at Pitt; Ed Malinowski, a Chartiers-Houston graduate who played football for the Naval Academy; Andy Migyanko, a standout wrestler at Trinity who competed at West Virginia; Frank Mosier, a Trinity graduate and two-time NAIA wrestling champion from Moorhead State; Leon Pagac, a Centerville High School graduate who played nearly two decades of professional football; Brian Pelkey, a Washington graduate who played football at Kent State; Dan Petrola, director of the Brownson House for more than three decades; Albert Sabol, a Beth-Center graduate who played football for the Coast Guard Academy; Ron Skiles, an Ellsworth High School graduate who played on the PGA tour; Joe Throckmorton, a standout wrestler and coach at Waynesburg High School; Chad Williamson, a Trinity graduate who played football at Lafayette College; and Mark Wise, a multi-sport athlete at Wash High before moving on to Penn State for football.
The 1961 Fort Cherry High School basketball that won the state title was honored as the Team of Yesteryear.
Schottenheimer coached the Cleveland Browns to two AFC championship games and the Kansas City Chiefs to another. His hiring of Cowher marked the second time in history a legendary Steelers coach came from Cleveland. Chuck Noll was a guard for the Browns from 1953-59.
“Bill is such a unique individual,” said Schottenheimer. “He has shown you how to do things the right way. We both look back and see the fulfillment of our goals. One step at a time. One day at a time. Bill Cowher is one of a kind. It’s been a terrific journey.”
In 21 years as an NFL head coach, Schottenheimer won 200 regular season games and 5 out of 18 in the postseason. In his career, Schottenheimer was head coach of the Browns, Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He did not have a losing season until the 15th year of his head coaching career. His overall record was 200-126-1 (.613).
“Marty Schottenheimer was a teacher. He inspired you and defined leadership with how he treated people,” Cowher said. “You always remember people who give you a chance. There was another man we lost recently – Dan Rooney – who also gave me a chance.”
Schottenheimer’s brother Kurt, who coached 10 seasons in the NFL, was with Marty on this day. Marty Schottenheimer is being treated for early-onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“He was an influence for us at an early age,” said Kurt Schottenheimer. “He was into sports and we just followed along. We went from sport to sport to sport. He was so committed to whatever it might be, academic or athletic. Every day was a new education.”