Stoudt: Chuck Noll was difference

The former YSU standout said the Steelers won because of the coach.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Athletes seek that special moment in a game when their senses are as sharp as a razor and every play is executed perfectly.
Cliff Stoudt, a Youngstown State quarterback from 1973-76, remembers that moment.
It came early in his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he completed 12-of-17 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns -- in one half.
After that performance, Stoudt expressed his satisfaction to then-Steelers coach Chuck Noll and received an unexpected response.
"Why don't you just quit, then?" Stoudt remembers Noll saying, "because if you think you've arrived in the game of football, someone else is going to move into your position."
Thankful for Noll
When Stoudt reflects on the positive influences in his football career, Noll is at the forefront of his thoughts.
"There's a fine line we have to walk between wanting to be the best and wanting all the accolades that come with success," said Stoudt during the Curbstone Coaches 37th annual Hall of Fame Recognition Banquet on Sunday at Mr. Anthony's.
"Chuck kept our feet on the ground."
As the back-up to Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw for six seasons, Stoudt won two Super Bowls (XIII and XIV) with the Steelers. He became the starter in 1983 and led Pittsburgh to a 10-6 record.
"Why was Pittsburgh so good?" Stoudt asked. "Because Chuck Noll was the most unbelievable coach you could ask to have. He challenged us to be better than we thought we could be."
In addition to his Steelers' career, Stoudt played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, and the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL.
YSU career
But Youngstown was where his career took off. Stoudt came into the program with coach Rey Dempsey in 1973, and they developed a smooth relationship.
"I'm thankful year after year for Rey Dempsey, who was like a father to me," Stoudt said. "He nurtured me and brought me along."
Dempsey, however, left Youngstown State after two seasons and was replaced by Bill Narduzzi, with whom Stoudt admits to having a tenuous relationship.
"He told me I was no longer the quarterback, but a throwing halfback," Stoudt recalled. "I had trouble dealing with that, but looking back on it after all these years, it may have been the best thing that happened to me professionally."
Why?
"Because I was not afraid to run the football," he said. "That was always a big weapon for me in pro football."
As a football player at Oberlin High, Stoudt wasn't heavily recruited. He did consider Baldwin-Wallace College, but backed off after learning the coach's son was the starting quarterback.
"It would be frustrating for me to be the back-up quarterback to a 5-foot-8 guy who probably wasn't going to amount to anything in football anyhow," Stoudt said.
"Anybody know what ever happened to Jim Tressel?"
richesson@vindy.com