Posted on 12/14/2018 7:51:30 PM PST by massmike
When Bill Fralic was an eighth-grader in the Penn Hills school district, he worked at a local golf course over the summer. It was there that he first met Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill.
“What college do you play for?” Sherrill asked the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Fralic.
Fralic told him he was going into the ninth grade. Needless to say, Sherrill had his No. 1 recruiting target for the recruiting class of 1981, and he would not be disappointed as he followed Fralic throughout his storied scholastic career.
Fralic, who went on to become an All-American lineman at Pitt and an All-Pro during his nine-year NFL career, died of cancer Thursday. He was 56.
“Bill Fralic was not only an all-time player at the University of Pittsburgh, but also an all-time human being,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “His generosity, support and concern for others was unmatched. For as hulking a figure as he was, Billy was even larger in his kindness and passion for others. He leaves a wonderful legacy that goes well beyond football at Pitt, Penn Hills and all of Western Pennsylvania. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife, Susan, and all of his loved ones.”
The Falcons used the No. 2 overall selection in the 1985 draft to select Fralic. He was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a four-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL’s 1980s all-decade team. He played for the Falcons from 1985-1992 and played for the Lions in 1993 before retiring.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
RIP
Condolences to family and friends of Bill Fralic.
Amazing player, great man. RIP.
“I was a substitute teacher when Billy was in middle school,” said Neil Gordon, the former head coach at Penn Hills who was an assistant coach when Fralic played. “When he sat in his desk, the legs of the desk didn’t hit the ground. They had to get a desk from the high school for him. He wasn’t the cut-up Adonis at the time, but he was a giant. Everything about him was big.”
and
Last week, Fralic covered the Penn Hills football team’s hotel costs for an early arrival into Hershey for the PIAA 5A championship.
Wow, hadn’t even heard he was sick. Bill Fralic was a great player and when you heard him talk you felt like he was a great man as well. The stories in this article confirms it. He protected Danny Marino for a number of years at Pitt, RIP Bill. You went way too early....
RIP.
Hail to Bill Fralic! R.I.P.
Hail to Pitt!
I remember when he was part of WrestleMania. He played at a time when linemen had much more athletic bodies not the sumo wrestling physiques one sees today. He played at around 280 lbs. which would be considered underweight in today’s football.
Fantastic player, great human being, died too young.
I watched him as a high school player and anyone could see his gifts and work ethic were unmatched.
RIP
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