The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2006 Ralph Conrad Gained confidence through football, at Pitt By NEIL RUDEL friendship with Fazio the most. "He accepted me and treated me ike Ditka, the NFL and University of Pittsburgh better than anybody on that line as a legend, felt he had a lot in common with for - sophomore," Conrad said. Mmer Panther teammate Ralph Conrad. It was always important to Conrad to Ditka grew up in Aliquippa, and Conrad came feel comfortable. In Little League and in from Altoona. Both were known, particularly in the the early baseball years, he never found a 1950s and '60s, as tough, blue-collar towns comfort zone enjoyed by many of his where resolve counted almost as friends like Jim Rose, Norman Hatfield and much as talent. Howard Mills. "He was a good man," Ditka "There were some kids down said. "He was like the rest of us. there I ran around with that He played the game hard. We were good in baseball, and I grew up with the same was kind of a Johnny come background, just like my lately," Conrad said. "It was dad taught me, he kind of a source of frustration." was taught the Conrad said he had "a same things – to little depth perception problem" have a strong with his vision, and when it work ethic and came time for neighborhood give your all every baseball games in his days day. It was a pleasure growing up in Juniata, playing with him." "they'd get picked, and I Foge Fazio, another wouldn't. I guess I grew famous Panther alumnus, up with an inferiority played alongside Conrad in complex." 1960. Fazio was a senior when Football, Conrad cracked the starting line - though, was a dif - up as a sophomore. ferent story. Across Fazio will be on hand to present the street from Conrad for induction into the Blair Conrad's home was County Sports Hall of Fame. a field that his dad, "I remember the first time I met Bernard, would often mow so Ralph," Fazio said. "I was already the kids could play. there, and the coach was giving me "Everybody loved him," Conrad prospects to show around the sights. I said of his dad. liked him right off the bat. He had a Conrad called his dad, a railroader, great smile and I took him under my and grandfather, Ralph Rollo, "the two wing. Anyplace we went, he came finest men I've ever known." along." Conrad more than held his own in the Like Ditka, Fazio quickly recog - physical sports, and he went out for foot - nized and appreciated Conrad's ball at Keith Junior High – only he didn't tell toughness. Fazio started at center, his parents. and Conrad played guard. On "They didn't want me to play," defense, Fazio was a linebacker, and he said. "I signed my own papers. The first Conrad played nose tackle. time they knew I was playing is when I "We had a lot of drill time togeth - brought my dirty clothes to get washed." er," Fazio said. "He was a tough guy, His parents gave their blessing, and Conrad's and he was a smart player. You career began to unfold. He made his mark at didn't have to worry about telling Keith and began to dress varsity as a junior var - him what his assignments were. sity player. He became an accomplished player, We had a lot of good relation - as a center and linebacker, and wrestler ships both on and off the field." Ralph found a home on the Pitt (Conrad later wrestled Ditka for Pitt's inter-fra - Conrad appreciates his line early in his Panther career. ternity title; he lost, 5-2, but was the only oppo -

-31- The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2006 nent Ditka didn't pin). "It just seemed like I took to the contact sports," he said. Conrad played for Earl Strohm at Altoona. "I liked Earl, and Earl liked me," he said. Ron Rickens, a former guard at Michigan State, joined the Mountain Lions' staff shortly after Conrad's senior season in 1958. Rickens said Conrad was at the forefront of a wave of Division I players including John Kerns, Howard Keys, Lou Glashauser, Jim Curry, Geech Gutshall and Ed Flanagan. "Earl felt Ralph and Ron Nicewonger were two one of the better guards they had at Altoona," Rickens said. "That's the era when things started to turn Ralph wrestled Mike Ditka for the inter-fraternity title at Pitt. around for Altoona football." Conrad never projected him - and Syracuse. Paper in St. Louis, said he's "thrilled" self to the collegiate level and "We were respectable," he about his Hall of Fame induction. was somewhat stunned when said. "It was a lot of fun. It was "I'm overwhelmed," he said. "I recruiters came calling. smash-mouth football and it was can't tell you how proud I am to "It always seemed like I made a point of pride because it was so be selected." the first team, but in my mind, it tough. We went all over and was a fluke," he said. "It never played the toughest teams in the dawned on me I was good country." enough. I think the biggest reason The Panthers' old-school men - I went to Pitt is they started talking tality, Conrad felt, may have hurt to me so early. It was before my them at times. Conrad played for senior year, and I was so flabber - John Michelosen, who was men - gasted. I wasn't thinking about tored by the great Jock going to college at that time, and Sutherland. I was just blown away a major col - "We'd go to camp for three lege team would be interested." weeks and hit, hit, hit and the Conrad got more offers as the scrimmages were so tough and year went on, but he felt a loyalty we'd get so many guys hurt by to Pitt. His parents and younger the time we opened the sea - brothers Dave and Michael could son," he said. "Then after each see him play. game, on Mondays, we'd Conrad started on the fresh - have a big scrimmage with men team and then as a sopho - the guys that didn't play in more found himself pressed into the game, and they'd beat action in an early-season game the daylights out of each Conrad at the Los Angeles Coliseum other. It hampered our oppor - against UCLA following an injury tunities to have a good sea - to a starter. son." bio "I was so frozen, I never left my Even Fazio admitted, three-point stance on the first "sometimes even on Friday, we'd play," he said. "After that, I was go after it. You couldn't wait for Sport: Football. fine." the games to start." Hometown: Altoona. Conrad started the next eight At 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, games. He was hurt in the third Conrad was undersized for an College: Pittsburgh. game in ‘61 then regained his NFL linemen. Hall of Fame achievement: Ralph two-way starting position as a sen - "I was actually pretty small for was a two-year, two-way starter at ior. During Conrad's three-year run the Pitt," he said. Pitt on the offensive and defen - at Pitt, the Panthers went a com - Conrad, who coached sive lines. bined 12-15-3 and beat the likes briefly at Altoona and then at Current residence: Wildwood, MO of Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, Miami Uniontown before joining Scott

-32-