Once again, a big thanks to Keith for keeping the posts going while I was in rehab away. I’m still trying to get back up to speed and read everything I missed. To try to add some thoughts and more info on the Curtis Martin post. There were a bunch of Curtis Martin stories back in January 2005 when the Steelers and Jets were meeting in the playoffs. He was very honest in the interview talking about his whole attitude about football and playing when it came to college. It was a way out.

“My mom didn’t want me out on the streets,” Martin recalled. “Too many of us were getting killed. I feel like I could have been dead so many times. I feel so blessed and grateful that [bad] things never panned out for me.”

Hackett and assistant Sal Sunseri wooed Martin, sold his mother on a Pitt education, landed the prize recruit. “I listened to them and the whole time I’m thinking in my mind, ‘They don’t know, I don’t even care.’ I was horrible in college. I didn’t want to play. I just didn’t want to look stupid [frittering away] the scholarship.”

Reading between the lines, I think it also lends a little insight into why he was so loyal to Parcells, why he followed him from the Patriots to the Jets. Parcells was a coach that reached Martin and made him realize so much more of his potential. Not to mention made him that much more aware of how his football career could give him the chance to pursue his other interests as well.
The points made in the comments about Majors helping his career are also accurate. That 251 yards he rushed against versus Texas in ’94 is 8th all-time for Pitt rushers in a game.

Finally, Martin seemed to be just part of a string of injury-crossed rushers for Pitt. Adam “Sky” Walker, Curvin “Swervin'” Richards, Martin and Billy West all had what looked to be great potential careers derailed by injuries. In fact, Martin’s injury in 1994 was what paved the way for West that season (1358 yards). Richards bolted early for the draft after some minor injuries and some family issues needing the money.