Mike Tomlin Finally Getting Some Respect
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By DERON SNYDER
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got straight A’s at Denbigh High School in Newport News, Va., and he competed deep into statewide academic competitions. But he never let his football teammates know about his book smarts because he wanted to be viewed as a tough guy, not some soft brainiac.
Now, even as he’s on the verge of a second Super Bowl title in his fourth season as coach, some folks are still a little slow on the uptake regarding his brilliance.
“I think the first couple of years, people had an excuse here and an excuse there for why they didn’t want to give him any respect,” Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke recently told reporters. “The guy has proved that he is a winner. Three of his four years, he has taken us to the playoffs, and two of his four, taken us to the Super Bowl. So you’ve got to give the guy credit.”
You would think so. But something besides Tomlin’s aptitude has always gotten more attention, whether it’s been his inexperience, his age, his race or the team or franchise he was blessed with.
