PART TWO ‘I JUST WANT TO PLAY’ Jeff Butya fulfilled a lifelong dream by earning a spot on the Penn State PART OF THE TEAM Butya, 30, football team in 1980. But as he soon discovered, making the team relished his time with the Lions was only the first of many challenges | BY LOU PRATO and was thrilled to practice along - side scholarship players like Kirk “The more I thought about it, I was coverage unit, he was thrilled. But it Despite his size, limited athletic ability and inexperience in high even happy it happened because he would be the last time he would play Bowman (57), knew my name,” Butya added. “I that season. He dressed for two more Greg Gattuso school, Jeff Butya of Montour High School won a spot on Penn State’s couldn’t believe that. He knew my home games, against Syracuse on (70), Gregg Garri - name.” Homecoming and Pitt in the tradition - 1980 team as a walk-on. Butya’s story is similar to the inspira - Butya remembers immediately going al regular-season finale. He also went ty (9) and Vyto out and winning the first running test to Morgantown for the West Virginia Kab (85). Fans tional tale of the most famous walk-on in college football, Notre of fall practice, a test in which players game because Paterno’s policy was to may also recall Dame’s Rudy Ruettiger. Part one of this series showed how Butya were required to run two half-miles take walk-ons from the Pittsburgh area within a specified time limit. It was the to games at West Virginia and Pitt. No. 22 from the dreamed of playing football for Penn State and what he did to be test made famous the year before Butya’s dream year climaxed when opposing team, a when Matt Millen refused to do it and he was on the traveling squad for the guy by the name accepted as a walk-on. Part two describes what happened once was stripped of his captaincy. “I was Fiesta Bowl game against Ohio State in great shape,” Butya said. The next on Dec. 26. He was disappointed he of Doug Flutie. he made the roster and the determination and perseverance he day, when he had to run the 40-yard didn’t get on the field, but with 4:40 left sprint 10 times back and forth, Butya in the game and Penn State winning, Photo courtesy of Jeff Butya showed to get on the field and achieve his dream. passed the test but could barely keep 31-7, NBC showed about 10 seconds up with some of the linemen, struggling of the happy Penn State bench. At the thing he had planned since his fresh - over again,” he said. “I had all those on their side [of the field]. We would go kept churning his legs, kept trying to to achieve a 5.5. forefront of a bunch of celebrating play - man year at Beaver. practices, got to play in the spring against the first-team defense. When get that extra yard. He drove them Butya went through the rugged pre - ers – including such starters as Walk - “I had saved one freshman course, game, ate at the training table in the you get into the season, you get into crazy. They were always mad at him hen Jeff Butya reported to no with his players, the head coach season practices sessions – “One of the er Lee Ashley, Mike Meade and Sean Marketing 122, so they couldn’t force spring and fall preseason, and played a groove. And every week, no matter and would flip him around like a top. Penn State for preseason yelled at Butya because he had violat - best times of my life,” he called the ex - Farrell – was Butya, the nonplaying me to graduate because it was a core in more games. I was really part of it, who we played – Colgate, Cincinnati, It was like the old WWF. They were on practice in 1980, his room - ed a cardinal Paterno rule. perience – and when Penn State walk-on, with a big smile on his face requirement for my business degree,” now. This was my second time around. Boston College, Pitt, Maryland – I the other side of the field [from where mate wasn’t any third- or “We were sitting in the locker room opened the season against Colgate on mugging for the camera with his fore - Butya, an accounting major, said with I knew what to expect, what was go - would always be the running back on the offense was]. But in between a play, fourth-stringer but starting and I’m up front and wearing an Sept. 6, 1980, Jeff Butya achieved his finger up in the air. a devilish laugh. “I wanted to save that ing on. It’s really fun now.” those teams. I was Joe Morris [of Syra - we’d gaze over and you’d see Booty fly - guard Mike Munchak, who Oakland A’s baseball cap,” Butya re - dream. Despite how happy he had been course in case I made the team and Here is where Butya’s interpretation cuse]. I was Mike Rozier [of Nebraska]. ing through the air like a top.” would one day be induct - called. “Joe came walking through the “You can’t imagine what it’s like when throughout the 1980 season, Butya could come back and play another sea - of “fun” differs vastly from that of his I was Marcus Allen [of USC]. I would One day at the training table, Penn ed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. room, and he sees me. Then, in his you’re getting dressed in that locker was downhearted he had not been on W son.” teammates, coaches and Notre Dame’s be those running backs in running State’s starting tailback Curt Warner Was this just another stroke of luck or high-pitched, squeaky voice, Paterno room, when everyone’s getting serious the field more, and it looked like his The coaches didn’t have to allow Rudy. It can be summed up in what those plays preparing the defense for asked Butya why he took all that pun - part of Butya’s destiny in eventually yelled, ‘Hey, Butya. Get that hat off. No for game day,” he said, still mar - dream of playing for Penn State had Butya back on the team, but it was an became known in 1980 and 1981 as the upcoming week.” ishment. “I don’t mean to sound cyn - becoming Penn State’s Rudy? hats on in the house.’ I thought, ‘Oh veling at the experience. “There’s no come to an end. After two years at the easy decision. “He loved being out there Butya’s “Bloody Tuesday.” Ganter said it is common for defen - ical but typically, you really don’t pay On the first day of practice, as the my god, I’m in the doghouse.’ The oth - talking, and you’re listening to the [soft] Beaver campus and two years at Uni - and being part of it so much and he “Every Tuesday was my game day,” sive starters to ask the scout team to much attention to the guys on the for - players were waiting at 7 a.m. to take er guys were all laughing.” They music and everyone’s serious. And versity Park, the coaches and his didn’t want it to end,” assistant coach Butya explained with a twinkle in his go easy. “The guys have a tendency to eign team,” Warner recalled recently. the mandatory running tests, there weren’t just laughing at Butya but at then you run out of that tunnel and see football teammates expected that Fran Ganter said. “He was just a eye. “For three hours, I’d be over try and intimidate the scout team, “They’re in a different world. But Jeff was another moment that seemed themselves, too, for many of them had the fans and you hear all that cheer - Butya, a senior, would be graduating likeable kid, the type of guy you want - there on the defensive field with the [of - telling them, ‘Don’t go so hard’ and was a running back, and I could relate preordained by the mythic Penn State already been reprimanded by Paterno ing. It is unbelievable.” that spring. However, like a sly card ed to have on your team.” fensive] scout team. I spent more ‘Don’t make me look bad,’ ” Ganter to him. And then I used to watch him, football gods. In a short scene often re - for the same offense. Welcome to the And when Butya went onto the field shark in a high-stakes poker game, Butya was overjoyed to be back with time with the defensive coaches be - said. “Booty never would let up like and that defense was not very nice to peated over the decades by Joe Pater - club, walk-on! late in the game as part of the kickoff Butya had a trick up his sleeve – some - the team. “It was the same thing all cause the offense would be preparing most guys. He would go all out. He him.

28 DECEMBER 2, 2010 www.BluEwhitEonlinE.CoM www.BluEwhitEonlinE.CoM DECEMBER 2, 2010 29 “So we’re sitting around the table and wear that uniform, and he really traveled to Miami when the Lions with some others at the cafeteria, did a great job for us. And, yeah, I’d were No. 1 and watched as his beloved and I don’t remember whether it was agree, he’s our Rudy.” team was upset by the Hurricanes, 17- 1980 or 1981, but Jeff’s got a Band- What truly thrusts Butya’s story 14, on a rainy, windy Halloween day, Aid on his chin and he just looks beat. into the legendary realm of Rudy and then watched in Beaver Stadium I didn’t know him well at the time but Ruettiger is Penn State’s 1981 season. two weeks later when Bear Bryant be - I’m looking at him and thinking, ‘We’re Paterno has often said this team was came the winningest coach in college all out here paying our dues, and this more talented than the 1982 team that football with Alabama’s stunning 31- guy is paying to go to school, too.’ I said PENN STATE won the national championship the fol - 16 victory. Though disappointed that to him, ‘Why are you out here? If I was PROUD Butya, lowing year with many of the same he had not played since Cincinnati, he in your shoes, I wouldn’t be out here center, is co- players. It was a historic season in was even more hurt by those two de - doing this.’ And he says, ‘Curt, because many ways, and Butya was an integral feats. I love Penn State football.’ I said, owner of the All- and inspirational part of it. “That was my team and my team - ‘Butya, you’re a better man than I am.’ Star Sports Bar Before playing a game, the schedule mates,” Butya said, “and we all took From that time on, I paid more atten - & Grille in Robin - was rated by the NCAA as the second- it pretty hard. We knew we lost any tion to what he was doing and respect - toughest in the country, including the chance for a national championship. ed him for that. He never quit. He nev - son Township, first regular-season game ever against And just thinking about what it would er let up. And you could depend on Pa. His estab - Alabama, the first game since 1926 have been like for me to have been on him.” lishment is a against Notre Dame, and other difficult a national championship team is un - Booty laughs as he remembers those games at Miami, Nebraska and Pitt. believable. Wouldn’t that have been two years of practice. Linebacker Chet hub of activity But the Lions seemed up to the chal - something?” Parlavecchio, one of the most aggres - for area alums, lenge, and after winning their first six After those disheartening defeats, the sive and fiery players of the Paterno era including Tim games they were No. 1 in the polls. 1981 team redeemed itself with that and co-captain of the 1981 team, In the opening game against Cincin - stunning 48-14 victory over then-No. was the ringleader of the gang that King, left, presi - nati, Butya can be clearly seen on the 1 Pitt and later a 26-10 victory over hammered Butya Tuesday after Tues - dent of the kickoff team in the videotape of the USC in the first Fiesta Bowl played on day and other days whenever they Greater Pitts - game. All five kickoffs in the first half New Year’s Day. Although he was a lit - could. were out of the end zone. In the first tle disappointed he did not get on the “Every time he carried the ball, I burgh Alumni kickoff of the second half, Butya fights field in either game, Butya did man - would hit him, whether it was late, ear - Chapter, and off a block at the Cincinnati 12-yard age to get on national television one ly or just near the ball,” Parlavecchio Laura Kunig, line but just misses tackling the return more time at Pitt Stadium. When recalled as he laughed about it, too. man who scoots to the 23. On the sec - linebacker Matt Bradley intercepted “Sometimes it was so obviously late or the chapter’s ond kickoff of the half, Butya is Dan Marino with 8:46 left, a turnover dirty or whatever. I did that for two treasurer. nowhere in sight. “That’s when I saw that virtually clinched the victory, years.” Beaver Stadium from my back,” he Butya is seen running up to Bradley Photo courtesy of Tim King “Chet always wanted to clobber me,” said. After the Lions score their final on the sideline and congratulating him. Butya laughed. “I drove him nuts. He touchdown with 2:48 left in the game, Rudy Ruettiger could only dream of is a good guy but he could hit me. And Paterno, but the coach said the team enough is enough,’ and I never would apologize, man. It’s over.’ He swore and Butya takes on two blockers but still all that national television exposure. Walker Lee Ashley, Rich D’Amico and would have to vote on allowing him to answer,” said Parlavecchio, who out - said, ‘For God’s sake, finally,’ and tackles the return man at the 23-yard Amazingly, Butya also is seen twice Leo Wisniewski, too. They used to return. The team held a meeting in the weighed Butya by 60 pounds and was everybody started laughing on the line with a teammate joining him an in the 1981 Penn State highlights pound me away. But the thing is, I locker room without Parlavecchio, six inches taller. “But it just went on field because everybody knew deep in - instant later. video. “I was in the highlight tape near would always get up smiling. I enjoyed and when it was over he asked D’Am - and on and on. And he wouldn’t say side what it was all about. Then, on the next-to-the-last play of the opening, running towards a bunch it. I was like a Weeble [toy]. You remem - ico how the vote went. anything. He would just get up. He “We turned out to be good friends. the game, Ganter sent in Butya to run of players on the field after our pre- ber in jingle ‘Weebles wobble but they “Rich said everyone voted for me to would just continue working hard. We’ve seen each other or been in con - the ball. “The play was 43-Right-ISO,” game warmups and jumping into don’t fall down’? I would never get return except that guy over there, and “One day in my senior year [of tact over the years and we laugh Butya said with excitement, “and I them,” Butya said with pride. “And knocked out. They could never put me he pointed to Jeff Butya,” Parlavecchio 1981], in one of the last practices I ever about it all the time. Jeff was really a gained 2 yards over right guard.” then after the Fiesta Bowl, when Curt out, no matter what. My back was like recalled. “I didn’t know Jeff Butya from had as a Penn State football player, we tough kid. There were some vicious hits That’s what he remembers, but in [Warner] and Joe [Paterno] are getting a golf course with all the divots in it, anyone else. Rich said he voiced some were in the old Greenberg, getting and he would never say anything, ex - telling and retelling stories over the awards, the camera pulls back and I’m but I never missed a day of practice, sort of opinion about if I was a walk- ready for Southern Cal [in the Fiesta cept sometimes he would look at me years, the truth of what happens is of - shaking hands with [starting defensive ever.” on nobody would care and there Bowl]. Jeff just went to the flat and and say, ‘Weebles wobble but they ten lost in the joy and exaggeration of back] Paul Langford.” Available only through: It wasn’t that Parlavecchio was a cru - would be no vote. Being a young kid, someone threw him the ball and I ri - don’t fall down.’ And I would stare at our feats. As the game video showed, Butya has two more distinct mem - el, sadistic madman who simply dis - I was aggravated. I was happy to be fled him. Bam! And he got up and goes, him and say, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I’m Butya took the handoff, ran to his left ories of that 1981 season. Lou Prato & Associates liked walk-ons. He had a grudge back but it stayed in the back of my ‘That’s it. That’s it. I’ve had enough. I putting him through living hell and and was tackled by three Cincinnati “When we were preparing for the Fi - against this particular walk-on. In the mind. From that day on for over two can’t take it anymore. Come on you he’s telling me about Weebles. I would - players for a 2-yard loss. But the play esta Bowl, I didn’t have a place to stay [email protected] preseason of 1980, Parlavecchio quit years, I made him wish he had voted sonuvabitch.’ And he had his hands up n’t have put up with it. I would have never appeared in the final statistics because I was kicked out of my dorm 814.692.7577 the team when he wasn’t getting the other way. ready to fight. And I just started waited until the guy was getting out of of the game because of a 5-yard room, and Eddie DeChellis let me stay enough playing time, but after a few “I even had guys like Leo Wisniews - laughing. I looked at him and walked the shower and smashed his head with penalty against the Lions for illegal pro - with him,” Butya said. DeChellis re - days he realized how dumb and irra - ki and Sean Farrell and Mike Munchak up and gave him the biggest hug in the a bat. But Jeff was one of those guys cedure. members Butya sleeping on his apart - GOING FAST – ONLY A FEW LEFT! tional he had been. He apologized to tell me ‘to leave it alone, forget it, world. And I said, ‘I’m sorry, Jeff. I who were just proud to be on the team Butya dressed for the rest of the ment floor for about a month. “He’d home games but did not play against come home at night and be up early No update currently planned Temple, Boston College, West Vir - Historian Lou Prato is the author of many books about Penn State sports. His latest book is “Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Penn State Football History.” ginia, Alabama and Notre Dame. He SEE BUTYA PAGE 36

30 DECEMBER 2, 2010 www.BluEwhitEonlinE.CoM www.BluEwhitEonlinE.CoM DECEMBER 2, 2010 31