Thomas Jefferson great recalls memorable tryout with Steelers

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, January 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

Gary Gomolak is a big-time name in Thomas Jefferson football lore.

Considered one of the best players in team history as a 6-foot-3, 197-pound tight end/safety, Gomolak was one of the most heavily recruited athletes at TJ.

Gomolak received offers from Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, South Carolina, a majority of the ACC schools (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina State, Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke), a few Ivy League schools and the Naval Academy.

A two-sport standout in high school from 1971-74 and a Dapper Dan Roundball Classic participant, Gomolak also landed basketball offers from the likes of WVU, LaSalle, Lafayette, Marist, Ohio and Bucknell.

“And quite a few of the smaller local colleges, like Robert Morris, Carnegie Mellon and Washington & Jefferson, offered basketball (scholarships),” Gomolak said, “but most of them knew I had already signed a letter of intent to play football.”

Gomolak was tall and had good size for both football and basketball.

“I liked basketball and thought hard about it since basketball is a little less grueling on your body,” he said. “My uncle used to take me to a lot of games. I used to go down to the Civic Arena every night to watch the WPIAL playoffs.

“But the coaches told me I probably had a better potential future in football.”

It became a no-brainer for Gomolak. He signed with Virginia.

“I fell in love with UVA and the atmosphere there as soon as I saw it,” he said. “My parents always pushed me to get a good education along with playing football, and UVA was and still is an excellent academic institution.”

Gomolak annually added 10 pounds of muscle with the Cavaliers and built himself up to 245 pounds by the time he graduated.

That drew the interest of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who signed the TJ product in 1980 and offered a tryout. The Steelers, under legendary coach Chuck Noll, had just defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

“The Steelers called me the day of the draft and asked if I would be interested in signing as a free agent,” said Gomolak, who joined the team as a 6-3, 255-pound tight end. “Even though it may have not been the best football decision, I did not even consider any other free agent offers. I just wanted to play for my hometown team.

“How many rookies are going to make a team of Hall of Famers that just won their fourth Super Bowl?”

Gomolak flew to Pittsburgh courtesy of the Steelers. One of his first experiences was watching a Pirates game while at a dinner meeting with Dick Haley, the director of player personnel, in the Three Rivers Club at Three Rivers Stadium.

“I then met with coach Noll, who worked me out, and was introduced to Art Rooney Sr.,” Gomolak said. “They offered me a free agent contract, which I had an agent go over and I signed shortly after.

“The Steelers gave me a parking pass inside Three Rivers and I could go into the stadium any time to work out. I would work out with Sam Davis and Jack Ham, then go watch the Pirates — like Wille Stargell and Dave Parker — take batting practice on the days of home games.

After rookie camp, Gomolak was invited to Saint Vincent for his free agent tryout.

“It was such a great experience getting to be on the same field with all the Steeler greats that I watched and cheered for during their four Super Bowls,” Gomolak, 66, said. “Jon Kolb and Mike Webster took me under their wing prior to camp and I worked out with them four days a week at the old Red Bull Inn on Route 19 in Washington, Pa. Lou Curinga, the owner, built a gym underneath the restaurant and let the local Steelers work out there.”

“Kolby and Webby were so strong. They were great examples and taught me a lot. One time at Mike Webster’s house, they were showing me how to pass block. When I later took my shirt off to shower, I had bruises on my chest from them being so strong and hitting me so hard. Webby also showed me how to long snap as a way of making the roster.”

Unfortunately, Gomolak’s professional football chapter did not have a feel-good ending. He pulled a hamstring in camp after a hit in a scrimmage. It did not heal quickly, which severely limited Gomolak’s practice time. He eventually was waived.

The following year, the TJ graduate received offers to try out for the Washington Redskins and the USFL Philadelphia Stars.

“But I had started a good full-time engineering job and did not pursue it,” he said. ”I worked for Westinghouse as an engineer for several years before joining a federal agency.”

Gomolak earned all-conference, all-district and all-WPIAL honors in football and basketball at TJ and was an all-state selection in football.

He broke school records for interceptions in a season, touchdown receptions in a season and career interceptions. He still ranks among the team leaders in career interceptions (13) and interceptions in a season (10).

Gomolak will be inducted into the West Jefferson Hills School District Hall of Fame in March.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson