Saturday, June 30, 2007
The third-year head coach
visited the area for his owner’s fundraiser.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — The San Francisco 49ers, who dominated the National Football League in the 1980s and early 1990s, had fallen on some hard times in recent years.
That was until team owners Denise DeBartolo York and John York brought Mike Nolan in as the 49ers new head coach.
Nolan, who was in the area this weekend taking part in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. Memorial Scholarship Foundation dinner and golf outing, is beginning his third season as the head coach.
The 49ers had another good NFL draft this year and the prospects just keep getting better for the franchise.
“Actually our last three drafts have been very good,” said York. “Ever since we brought in Mike, he and Scot McClolughan [vice president of player personnel] have worked very closely on the draft.”
“Mike would explain to Scot just what he needed in the way of players and Scot would follow that advice at the draft. They worked very well together,” York added.
Pleased with draft
Nolan also was very pleased with the draft.
“We’re obviously very pleased with the draft, and right now it might look like a very good draft, but it takes a few years to really find out how good it was,” Nolan said.
“Our goal was to move up in that first round for the second year in a row, but we had some help and luck in that decision,” he added. “Somebody was looking over us and we just hope they continue to look over us.”
Nolan is also looking for a breakout season from his third-year quarterback Alex Smith, who was the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2005.
“Alex has just continue to get better,” Nolan said. “He had 11 interceptions and just one TD his first year. Last year he had 16 TDs and 16 interceptions and this year we are looking for him to have an even better season.”
“He’s not a hot-and-cold guy, he’s a very steady guy, real bright and very hard working,” Nolan said. “The thing that really stood out before the draft was his consistency.”
Third trip to valley
Nolan is making his third appearance at the DeBartolo Scholarship Dinner and Golf Outing and he’s happy to be part of it.
“It’s a great thing for this community and it’s a great thing for guys like me and the others who come from out of state and get to give back a little to help this event be successful,” he added.
“The golfing part of this event is not why I’m here. I’m a horrible golfer, but just being out there with the guys and taking part and banging a few balls around it just an outstanding day and I enjoy being here,” he added.
York indicated that the 49ers are still in negotiations to build a new stadium in the Santa Clara area.
“Every meeting that we’ve had with them has been a positive one,” York said. “We still haven’t discussed the big one yet, but we are working hard toward that goal in the near future.”
“Santa Clara has been the home for the 49ers for over 20 years and it will be a great place for the new stadium, especially with all of the access roads coming in and out of the area along with the parking.”
“It’s like it was made for us 20 years ago and we’re just not recognizing it,” he said.
Scholarships to area youths
The Scholarship Foundation, which just last month presented eight $5,000 scholarships to area graduates, means a lot to York.
“I think that it means a lot more to Denise, but it means a great deal to the entire family because it was dedicated to her father and his beliefs,” he said. “Not only was it named for her father, but also for what he believed in that with an education anyone can succeed.
“I read recently in a business magazine that three things that CEO’s don’t focus enough on are the future, the community and business relationships.
“I probably don’t focus enough on the future, but I’ve strongly believed in focusing on the community and our business relationships.” he concluded.