LeBeau a step closer

Friday, August 28, 2009

By JEFF GATES
Press Contributor

LATROBE, Pa. — Nice guys can finish first.

This has been quite a summer for Dick LeBeau.

In late June, LeBeau was honored at his alma mater — London High School — with a gala dinner to name a field house in his honor. He also received a high school football athlete’s highest possible accolade — he had his jersey number retired.

Just days before that event, LeBeau found out that he was chosen to be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame where he had shined on the collegiate gridiron — Ohio State University. The official ceremony for that honor will take place next month.

On Tuesday, London’s Legend of the Fall took his first giant step toward the place that would give him the top honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the National Football League fraternity. The call came that LeBeau was being named a finalist by the Seniors Committee for possible induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.

Before LeBeau and his Pittsburgh Steelers comrades took the field for practice Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin gathered his squad together as he always does. But this time it was to break the news that the Super Bowl Champions’ beloved defensive coordinator was inching closer to the hallowed halls in Canton.

"I thought to myself, ‘Did I hear what I thought I heard," said LeBeau of his thoughts when Tomlin made the announcement. "It was quite a day — quite a surprise."

A surprise to LeBeau, but a long-day coming for those who have admired the work of the player and coach — now starting his second half-century in the NFL.

The recognition serves as some sense of long overdue validation for LeBeau’s outstanding 14-year playing career — all as a cornerback with the Detroit Lions. His 62 interceptions still ranks seventh in NFL history. Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Ken Riley is the only player with more career interceptions than LeBeau that has yet to be enshrined in Canton.

"It’s such a great honor just to get to this point," LeBeau said. "My playing record is what it is, and I’m proud of it."

In addition to the 62 interceptions, LeBeau was known as a hard hitter and (not surprisingly) a coach on the field. His commitment to excellence is further exemplified by the record 170-plus consecutive games he started as a cornerback.

To be looked at as a nominee by the Seniors Committee, a player must have concluded his playing career at least 25 years prior to consideration. The Seniors Committee is made up of nine members of the overall selection committee. LeBeau and former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little were tops on a list that was reduced down to 17 finalists. LeBeau said he and Little have exchanged voice mail messages, but he looks forward to the time he can speak directly with the man he calls "a tremendous player."

LeBeau and Little now automatically join a yet-to-be-determined list of 15 modern-day finalists. Then, on February 6, 2010, the announcement will be made of who will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame on August 7, 2010. The selectors can pick up to two senior members and five modern-day members. With fellow NFL legends Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith sure to appear on the ballot in their first years of eligibility, it would be a great time for LeBeau to take his place among the game’s all-time elite.

"I’ve been very blessed," LeBeau said. "My mom was very pleased, of course."

LeBeau was referring to the reaction of his biggest fan — his mother Beulah. It has been chronicled how the defensive guru calls Beulah each night — keeping tabs on the happenings in London through conversations with her and his brother Bob.

LeBeau has always considered himself a small-town boy who has just gotten up to go to work every morning.

"That’s why it’s pretty hard to believe," LeBeau said of this London boy on the verge of NFL immortality. "It’s something I never thought would happen."

While there has been support for LeBeau for years, it became more prevalent during last season as he celebrated year number 50 as part of the NFL as either a player or a coach. It has became a topic of conversation each time the Steelers are on television, but it has really caught fire since Hall of Famer John Madden touted LeBeau’s candidacy during the Super Bowl broadcast last February, and when Rod Woodson made a case for his former mentor during his own Hall of Fame acceptance speech earlier this month.

"I know I have so many friends," LeBeau said of Madden, Woodson, as well as many others who have flooded the Hall of Fame with letters and newspaper articles on his behalf. "I could never be able to thank them all for their help."

So it will be a waiting game for LeBeau, his hometown, and his admirers across the NFL as it gets closer to see if nominee turns to enshrinee.

"I’m overwhelmed," LeBeau said. "I guess we’ll see what happens in a few months."