Glory Days

February 1, 2009 at 12:10a.m.

Jerry Olsavsky and Michael Zordich

Former NFL players Jerry Olsavsky (Pittsburgh) and Michael Zordich (Arizona) share their opinion on Super Bowl XLIII. For the complete story, read the story by Tom Williams in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com Sunday.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

For five seasons, Chaney High graduate Michael Zordich played strong safety with the Phoenix Cardinals.

“Five losing seasons,” Zordich recalls.

For nine seasons, Chaney graduate Jerry Olsavsky played inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During those years, the Steelers played in 11 postseason games including three AFC Championship Games at Three Rivers Stadium and one Super Bowl.

Jerry Olsavsky and Michael Zordich

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Tonight in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, the Steelers and Cardinals will battle in Super Bowl XLIII.

If the Steelers win, they will become the first NFL franchise to win six Vince Lombardi trophies.

If the Cardinals win, it will be the franchise’s first championship since 1947 when the team called Chicago home. In between were 28 seasons in St. Louis and 21 in Arizona, with four playoff appearances from 1948-2007.

To Zordich whose 12-year NFL career included two seasons with the New York Jets and five with the Philadelphia Eagles, credit is due to owner Bill Bidwill for turning control over to his son.

“Where they are from then to now is a huge, huge turnaround. They’ve made a lot of changes in the front office,” Zordich said. “Michael Bidwell is now the president. He brought in a young group of guys, talent people. They understand how the business is run today.

“He brings a lot more energy to the whole operation and it’s trickling down on to the field.”

To Olsavsky, the Steelers’ consistency under owner Dan Rooney is why the team is competing in its third Super Bowl in 14 seasons.

“When you see Mr. Rooney, it’s just like you’re seeing a neighbor,” Olsavsky said. “Pittsburgh is a very special place; it’s very neighborhood-oriented.”

Reflecting on his years as a Steeler (1989-97), Olsavsky said, “I think a lot of people viewed me as just the guy next door. I was not some superstar first-round pick, I was just a guy who could play football and I just happened to play for the Steelers.

“It really had a hometown feeling to it. It’s ironic that I spent 18 years in Youngstown growing up and the next 18 years in Pittsburgh,” said Olsavsky who played college football for the University of Pittsburgh. “I really consider that my second home.

“And the love they have for the Steelers is second to none.”

Few would dare argue that point. Just like three years ago when the Super Bowl XL crowd at Detroit’s Ford Field was estimated to be about 80 percent Steelers fans, tonight’s crowd in Tampa will be dominated by Black and Gold towel wavers.

Olsavsky remembers early in his career “going to LA. We were 0-2 but there were 15,000 Steeler fans in Anaheim. We lost like 28-0 and still they were waving their towels. I was like ‘this is crazy.’

“I think people realize now what the Steeler Nation is about,” Olsavsky said. “It’s a great thing and I consider myself lucky to be part of it.”

In 1994, Zordich left the Cardinals for the Eagles and played in several postseason games before retiring after the 1998 season.

Olsavsky’s final season in Pittsburgh was 1997. He spent a season with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring.

Olsavsky played in Super XXX when the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 27-17, in Tempe, Ariz.

He remembers how things take longer to happen on Super Bowl Sunday.

“When the flyover happens with the jets, after that you’re kind of waiting for the next dog-and-pony show to come down the aisle.

“After the planes fly over, they clear the field and you’re sitting there and then ‘oh now, it’s us.’

“It’s the same feeling you get at Fitch or YSU or Ipes Field when you’re a little kid,” Olsavsky said of gametime. “It’s like, ‘OK, they’re waiting to see us.’ It’s the same thing you’ve lived as long as you’ve played football. It’s the same game I grew up playing in Youngstown. But it is quite a show.”

Following their long NFL careers, Zordich and Olsavsky returned to the Mahoning Valley. Zordich is president of a Pittsburgh company, Wright Industries, while Olsavsky is an assistant coach for Youngstown State.

Both agree that either team can win tonight.

Zordich said the Cardinals offense is loaded, citing quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and running backs Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower.

“They have a whole bunch of talent on the offensive side and defensively, they aren’t giving up too much,” said Zordich of the postseason wins over the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Eagles. “If they can stop [Steelers running back] Willie Parker and keep [quarterback] Ben [Roethlisberger] inside the tackles, I think they have a great shot at winning the game.

“For sentimental reasons, I’ll be rooting for the Cardinals.”

Olsavsky agrees that “Arizona is a very talented team. They have good coaches. They have a good organization and they’re heading in the right direction.

“Once you get that leadership and it all comes together, it really works to your benefit,” Olsavsky said.

“There are a lot of connections to Pittsburgh on that team,” said Olsavsky, referring to head coach Ken Whisenhunt (former Steelers offensive coordinator) and offensive line coach Russ Grimm (former Steelers coach). Both were candidates to replace Bill Cowher two years ago, but the Rooney family hired Mike Tomlin.

Olsavsky also mentioned Cardinals middle linebacker Gerald Hayes and Fitzgerald who played for his alma mater.

That said, Olsavsky likes the Steelers chances.

“Of course, I’m prejudiced,” Olsavsky said. “To go with a baseball analogy, they’re strong up the middle — good nose tackle [Casey Hampton], a great safety [Troy Polamalu] and a great quarterback.”

Zordich believes that Roethlisberger’s performance will be key.

“If Ben starts moving around, he creates a lot of things outside the pocket,” Zordich said.

Olsavsky didn’t argue.

“When Ben gets out of there, you don’t know what’s going to happen. They have enough weapons. ... They have that speed,” Olsavsky said.

“You can say that they have been lucky that Ben has been able to do these things, but that’s why they picked him,” Olsavsky said. “He’s a big, strong, athletic guy who doesn’t get nervous in the pocket.”

williams@vindy.com