From the article: The men he molded embraced at Saint Paul Cathedral. They clutched programs featuring a picture of a vibrant Noll wearing a polo shirt, shorts and the closest he ever came to a smile while at work. Each vowed to carry on the lessons Noll imparted from his first day of coaching to his waning days. Steelers President Art Rooney II and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene were among the pallbearers, a responsibility Greene wished he could have avoided but one he ultimately welcomed as a final gift from the coach who changed his life. It meant Chuck was thinking of me, Greene said, and thats special. Noll and Greene will be forever entwined in Steelers history. Noll was a rookie head coach in 1969 when he selected the massive but somewhat unknown Greene in the first round of the NFL draft. It was a pick met with skepticism but one that changed the course of the organization and Greenes life. If he hadnt chosen me, maybe I wouldnt have been a Pittsburgh Steeler, Greene said. Maybe I wouldnt have had the opportunity to be coached by Chuck Noll. And that probably would not have fared very well for me.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:10:10 +0000
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