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ARTICLE HEAD COACH BILL COWHER
Art Rooney, II: Good afternoon. First, I just want
to say thanks to Bill for 15 great years. I certainly have enjoyed working with
him and we have had a lot of success. It has been a great ride. I also want to
say thanks to Bill and Kaye for having their family be part of ours. We really
enjoyed having their children grow up with us, and my children. It has been a
great ride. It has been wonderful and we wish Bill all the best as he moves on
and moves forward. Now my dad would like to say a few words and make a
presentation. Dan Rooney: Art really took everything I was
going to say. Bill was the first coach that we hired that was younger than me.
That is really something. Fifteen years has really been good. I don't know if
you remember this, but when we had a press conference to announce that he was
going to be the coach, they were talking about Coach Noll being here for 20
years or so and I said he was going to be 13 years. So he beat me by two. It
really has been special and I want to thank Bill for his contributions to the
Steelers. It really has made it special. As Art said I really have enjoyed his
family, Kaye and seeing his daughters to grow up to be fine young ladies. His
youngest daughter, Lindsay, was just a baby when he came and now she is a high
school girl and really is doing well. Bill, what I want to say is that after the
Super Bowl, you gave me the trophy. I wish you would accept this trophy from us
for the great contribution that you have given to us. Bill Cowher: Art (Rooney II) and Dan (Rooney),
thank you. Thank you for having this. I want to thank you guys for being here.
After careful and deliberate consideration, I've decided to resign today. I've
given it a lot of thought, and I believe it's in the best interests of our
family and myself at this time. I'm proud of all we've accomplished here in the
15 years I've been the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born and raised
here. My parents live here. My brothers live here. And more importantly, my
parents have been able to watch our three children grow up. That's special.
That's special. Coaching in the National Football League and winning a Super
Bowl are the lifelong dreams of mine, and to be able to do that and realize that
in the city that I was born and raised in, this Crafton boy lived a dream. You
know how special that is to me. There are a lot of people I need to thank, and
I'm going to do that. First, to Marty Schottenheimer. I played for Marty, and
he's the only guy I ever was an assistant coach under. He opened the door for
me. For that, I will always be grateful. Who's to say when you see a player
whether he can coach. There are no guarantees. Marty believed in me, and for
that I will always remember and be grateful. And to Dan Rooney, for taking the
chance on me 15 years ago. The gratitude and respect and complete admiration, I
cannot express in words. He's a very special man. Thank you. And I want to thank
all the players and coaches who have contributed to all the success we've
enjoyed over the 15 years. There have been so many of them. I had an opportunity
this year to sit with the players and talk with the coaches, and there have been
so many down through the years that I want to thank. To the support staff, my
secretary Mia has been with me for 12 years, like a right-hand man; to the
doctors, to Jim Bradley and Tony Yates; to the trainers, John Norwig and his
staff. This truly is not accomplished – what we've done – without the work of a
lot of people pulling in the same direction. I've been so fortunate and blessed
to have those types of people as a part of this team. And to Kevin Colbert, who
officially today assumes the No. 1 ranking in racquetball, even though the class
has gone down … Kevin, you gave me a second wind, and your support and
friendship will always mean a lot to me. And to the fans. To the Steelers fans
in You said recently that you weren't
burned out. Is the family element of this the motivating factor in this
decision? I am not burned out. I just think
there comes a time in your life, I am healthy, I am happy, I have been
fortunate, you have to prioritize things and right now I think they have made a
lot of sacrifices for me and for me to sit back and to be able to be there for
them while they are where they are in their life, it is a pretty small one for
them. I am looking forward to it, I really am. It is the right
time. Do you foresee yourself coaching
next year? Right now, I can foresee myself
doing is spending time with my family and working on a golf game that needs a
lot of work. So, no. How seriously did you consider
retiring after the Super Bowl? Did
you consider it at all? I don't think so, not really. Things
happened too fast. You don't have enough time. After the Super Bowl, I think we
came in and we had a meeting the next day talking about free agency. So I don't
think so. I think you think about it, my wife and I talked about it, but it
wasn't anything seriously. You don't have enough time to think about it. I have
tried to be very open with Art in all of our conversations and with Mr. Rooney.
I am here today to be honest with you because my feelings haven't changed the
last couple days and I know the process the process that exists today and I know
this weekend would allow them an opportunity to talk to some candidates and if I
waited until Monday, they would have lost the weekend. I have too much respect
and appreciation for what they have done for me to not be honest with them, to
be honest with myself. Like I said, it is just the right thing to do for me and
my family at this time. Did winning the Super Bowl put that
into perspective? Yes, it has been a heck of a journey
now. You always heard me say it is not about the destination, it is about the
journey. I wouldn't change anything. There has been a lot of disappointment, a
lot of joy, a lot of relationships and memories that I will cherish for a
lifetime. As I walk out this door, those are things that people can never take
away from me. It has been a privilege to be a part of the National Football
League, it is a privilege for everyone to be part of. There will people that
will come after you and there are people that were here before you. I think
people have to respect that. I know that I have. The National Football League
has been good to the Cowher family. Will you get back into coaching? If
so, how long do you think you will be out? There is no timetable. I say this to
you, the only thing I am looking forward to is spending time with my family, and
I am really looking forward to that. Being in a world that has been so
regimented and scheduled where four or five months out of the year every day is
scheduled for you, to have the ability to sit back at my age and to be able to
spend time with family and be a big part of their lives again really excites
me. Did any of your players try to talk
you out of it? I don't think anyone really tried to
talk to me out of it. I think when I explained to them what I was thinking and
where I was leaning, I think they understood it. I think it is hard not to
understand that. I am just very appreciative of the sacrifices that the players
have made, the sacrifices that the assistant coaches have made, and their
families. It is a fishbowl that we live in. I don't think people understand that
unless you live it. What is the most difficult thing
about leaving this team? The city, the organization, the
players. I love the game. I will be a great fan of the game. I love to compete
on Sundays, love the challenges that come with putting a football team together
and getting guys to buy into unselfishness, that is not always easy to do. I
think while you miss that, I have a great appreciation for that. I don't think
that I am going to miss it as much as some people think I am going to. I will
watch it, I am big fan now. At the same time, I am a fan with my
family. Did you take the advice of another
coach that has been in your circumstance that left and came back to see how it
was for them? No, I really haven't. I talked a lot
with my wife through the course of this. She has been tremendously supportive.
As far as this past year, it was not a distraction. We have a very strong
relationship and it was totally my choice but it has been a choice that is time.
It is time to spend, for me at this point, with her, with my family. There is no
one that can tell you what you should do with your life. I am very respectful of
other people's decisions and choices they have to make because I think everyone
is subjective. I think you have to understand it is an individual choice and I
am very respectful of individual choices. How would you characterize your
emotions right now? I am an emotional guy. I am never
going to lose that. I get mad when I lose an 18-hole match or if I lose to Kevin
(Colbert), which is like once a year. It bothers me. I have a passion for life
and sometimes in life you have to prioritize and re-prioritize. I have been very
blessed and fortunate. This wasn't just done by me. It was done by hard work by
a lot of people, players, organizations, staff, the support of my wife and the
kids, they have given me the balance. I still remember in 1994, the first AFC
Championship loss we had. Meagan and Lauren were at the game. We came home and Lindsay came to the
door and she had a hula skirt on.
She was so happy because she knew that we lost the AFC Championship game
and we got to go to Hawaii. She
didn't want to go to Miami or to the Super Bowl, she wanted to go to Hawaii, she
had never been there. That is
perspective. That is balance. That is what these guys have given
me. I never brought this job home
and I have never brought home to this job.
The only way you can do that is if you have a pretty good partner, and I
have a pretty good partner. Can you talk about when you were
given contract extensions after tough seasons? I was laughing when I told Art this
the other day. My last two extensions came off non-playoff years. The one time I
win the Super Bowl I don't even sign an extension. It hasn't been about money
for me. It has been about working for good people. I've been very blessed. I
know these are good people. The relationship I have with Dan Rooney, we talk
everyday and 75 percent of the time it's non-football. He's been like a friend,
like a father. He's a very special man. I never got to know The Chief (Art
Rooney Sr.) but the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
Can you address the speculation that
this decision was about money? I really don't want to get into the
details of the process. I'm here today to say that this decision is what is
right for me and my family at this time. I am so appreciative of my time here
and the people that I've had the opportunity to work with.
Will you look into doing TV or some
other occupation outside of coaching? I don't know. I know we're getting a
dog this spring. My wife informed me of that one. I don't know how that will
affect the dynamics of our house. I really don't know at this time. I don't have
preconceived thoughts. There's something pretty refreshing about that. I really
can't answer that right now. I say that sincerely and with a lot of
excitement. Can you tell us about doing things
your way as you said in your first press conference? I thought I was a little arrogant in
that first press conference to be honest with you. I told Kaye that last night.
I said, 'Who does this guy think he is?' I've learned a lot and grown a lot as a
person, as a father, as a father and as a coach. The one thing I will say is
that you never stop growing. Don't ever take yourself too seriously and just
respect the game. The humility starts at the top of this organization and it's
made me a better person because of it. I came here 15 years ago and as I leave
here today, I leave here a better person. For that I have a lot of gratitude.
Do you recall much about your first
game against Yeah, the fake punt, a reverse on
third down. I guess you always remember your first and remember your last. I
will remember both. They're both wins, which is a good
thing. How soon will you leave for
How daunting was it to replace Noll
and how much contact have you had with him? I said before that when I had an
opportunity to follow Chuck Noll, I was coming to a team that knew how to work,
knew how to prepare, knew how to win. I thought it was a good thing. You don't
even try to compare yourself to a man like Chuck Noll and I didn't come close to
doing the things that he did. No one will. He was one of a kind. You can't even
put yourself in that shadow. I was very fortunate to walk into that. We didn't
have a lot of interaction. I think it was good. It's important when you step
into that chair you have to do it your way. You have to be yourself. There's no
blue print to being a head coach. There's no manual that says, 'Problem three,
player comes in, he's unselfish, doesn't like his contract, here's what to do.'
You have to be yourself. Every situation is different. Players are very
perceptive. Coaches are very perceptive. As long as you're true to your heart
and try to do things the right way, respect the game, respect the fact that not
everybody is like you, there will be tough times but in the long run you'll have
a chance to be successful. Did you talk to Noll after the Super
Bowl or about this decision? No. Besides the Super Bowl, what are you
most proud of in your 15 years? Home playoff games. I don't think
anyone had more home playoff games in the 15 years that I've been here. I say
that because of having kids and experiencing black-and-gold day. Seeing them
dressed up when I go out to work and they're like, 'Daddy, can you get me a
Hines Ward shirt', or, 'I want to get a Jerome Bettis shirt.' Then they ask, 'Do
you think they're going to be here for a long time?' They don't want to get a
shirt and the guys gone the next year. I probably remember the home playoff
games because of what it does for the city. We've had some disappointments and I
feel bad about that. We've had some home disappointments, the
AF Any one play call really standout in
your head? Probably the fake punt in the first
game. People don't realize that John Guy was the special teams coach. I told him
I wanted to run the fake punt if it was ever inside the 50 (-yard line). It was
third down-and-seven and Neil (O'Donnell) got sacked for 15 yards. We were on
our own 45. I was wondering what happened on the protection and where did the
guy come from. I looked over at John and said, 'You're not running that fake
punt, are you?' He said, 'You told me to run it.' I said, 'Oh my God. At this
point just let it go.' It was 21-0. We ran the fake punt. If I had time to think
about it like I do today, I wouldn't have run it. I think about the specifics of
that call. The Super Bowl games, the Championship Games, I remember all very
vividly. The biggest thing is the relationships that I've had with all the
players that have come through here, the coaches. These are the guys you live
with, you work with. You spend more time with them than your family during the
season. The sacrifices that these people have made. People don't understand that
when you lose, nobody takes it harder than the people that have put in the hours
that we've put in. No one wants to get it done more so than us. It's our life.
People hopefully will appreciate that. How hard will it be to be on the
sideline with the Steelers on the other side? I couldn't even think about that
right now to be honest with you. The only sideline I'll be sitting on is up in
the stands and watching my kids play basketball in the next couple of years. I'm
looking forward to that. Why did the players play so hard for
you? It's still a game where all you ask
people to do is have a passion for it. You're going to make mistakes and things
are going to happen that is hard to explain. The one thing you can control is
how you respond to those things. That becomes a lot more defining than any set
of circumstances. Our football team to a lot of degree, this year, did that.
Having already had that ring on the finger and what motivates you? It was the
pride. It's the character. This is a good football team. Somebody is going to
have an opportunity to coach a bunch of good players. That doesn't guarantee
wins. It doesn't guarantee bumps along the way. That's going to happen. There is
a lot of stability that is here now and will always be here. It's a special
place and a great opportunity for somebody. Were you always up-front with
players or did it evolve? It evolved. My wife will be the
first one to tell you that she would tell me when she thought there were things
that I needed to be better job of doing. I needed that. She was right. Like I've
said before, I've grown. I've grown as a person. I think I've grown as a coach
through experiences and things that you would have done differently. It does
take time and it's about having the right perspective and being honest with
players. That's the one thing I would say from the very beginning. Players come
in to see you. They ask you the hard questions and they expect the hard answers.
I've learned a lot through the years. I tried to tell players where they stood
whether they like it or not. Players respect that. They want structure. They
want pushed, contrary to what people think. When they're out there playing,
they're not thinking about how much money they make. They're very proud to do
the things that they did as kids. I don't think you should lose sight of that.
We all want structure and want to be pushed and pulled aside. We all need a kick
in the butt and a pat on the back. That's the thing I've always tried to do.
I'll be the first one to tell you when you're wrong and I'll be the first one to
tell you when you did it right. I thought that was always very
important. Do you have any advice for the guy
who replaces you? It's not about me. It's about them
and doing it their way. There's no blueprint. There's no manual. There are a lot
of really good coaches out there. I've been fortunate and blessed. That's a
reflection of a lot of hard work, the support staff, consistent coaches and
players. There are a lot of good coaches out there. They'll get a good one
here. Would you give Dan or Art a
recommendation if they ask? I'll be here next week. I've never
been one to lack an opinion. There are a lot of good candidates and these guys
know what they're doing. I'll help any way I can. Have you not said the word
"retirement" for a reason? It's an age thing. That makes me
sound old. I'm resigning and I'm excited about the future. It's the right thing
for me and my family at this time. I'm excited about that.
Are you going to meet with the
players? I've met with the players already.
I'm not going to ask them to come back. We had a good talk.
I want to thank you guys in the
media. We've had 15 years and we've had many situations. I had an opportunity to
talk to a few guys. You've been very understanding. I want to thank you guys. I
really enjoyed Tuesday (press conferences). I really didn't mind the Tuesdays
with you guys. I understood your tough questions at times. I want you to know
how much I respect and appreciate you being fair with me. I respect you guys and
thank for the interaction we've had through the 15 years. Thank
you.
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