Courson Turned His Life Around

Courson: "There is no better feeling than teaching someone and helping someone better live their lives."

By Joe Bendel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, November 11, 2005

Former Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood used to look down from his locker and marvel at the massive kid from Gettysburg in camouflage fatigues. Then, he'd blurt out his usual comment.

"I think Steve Courson's in the room, but we can't see him," Greenwood said Thursday, releasing a soft chuckle.

Greenwood reminisced about his former teammate, an offensive lineman with the Steelers from 1978-83, after learning of Courson's death.

Courson, 50, was killed yesterday afternoon when a dead tree he was clearing from his property in Fayette County fell on him. State police said Courson, of Henry Clay Township, near Farmington, was using a chain saw to cut down the tree when it struck him and his dog.

The dog, which police think Courson may have been trying to save, was taken to a veterinarian.
Police said the tree, which they described as 44 feet tall with a circumference of 5 feet, was dead but still standing. Courson had been working alone, and his body was discovered by a neighbor shortly before 1 p.m.

A statement released by Steelers President Art Rooney II read: "We are saddened to learn of the sudden and untimely death of Steve Courson. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time.

"Steve was an integral member of our last two Super Bowl Championship teams, and returned to the Pittsburgh area after he retired from football."

Courson's former linemate, broadcaster Tunch Ilkin, was at Steelers practice on the South Side when he learned of the tragedy.

Courson became the ninth Steeler teammate of Ilkin's to suffer an untimely death, joining offensive linemen Mike Webster, Dan Turk, Tyrone McGriff, Justin Strzelczyk and Terry Long; linebacker David Little, quarterback David Woodley and defensive lineman Steve Furness.

"I don't even know what to say -- it's hard," Ilkin said. "I guess it really shows the brevity of life. And our lives are like a puff of smoke."

Courson, who was traded to Tampa Bay after the 1983 season and retired two years later, seemed to squeeze every bit of life out of that puff, which included: legendary feats of strength on and off the field; playing on two Super Bowl teams; telling Sports Illustrated in a controversial and candid interview in 1985 that he had used steroids; writing a book about his steroid use titled, "False Glory," in 1991; suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy; waiting for a heart transplant, then getting himself off the transplant list by losing weight and living a healthier life.

He'd been working as a wellness, health and fitness consultant in recent years. Courson also spoke an estimated 100 times a year to youngsters about healthy alternatives to steroids, while also making an impact on the NFL's steroid policies.

Ilkin had seen the many sides of Courson -- some good and some not so good.

"Steve almost died (in 1988)," Ilkin said. "He was lying in the hospital, and I was thinking he doesn't look good. But through diet and exercise he came back to health and was doing great. Matter of fact, at this stage of life, he looked fantastic.

"He got real trim. He was into the whole corporate health kick. He wanted to impact others."
During his days with the Steelers, Courson not only was known for his ability to bench press 500 pounds and dead lift 800, but also for his love of history, notably World War II and the Civil War.

"I remember going to his house in the middle of the afternoon, and he was watching reruns of 'The World at War,' " Ilkin said. "He was like a walking encyclopedia of the major battles."
Hence, the camouflage fatigues.

"Oh, yeah, he also had a camouflaged car," Greenwood said. "Steve was an interesting guy, no question. He was one of the original body builder-looking players. He was, as they say today, 'ripped' with muscle. And, he was a great guy."

Courson was an undersized defensive lineman in college at South Carolina when he began using steroids.

Courson, who for a time was an assistant coach at Trinity High School in Washington, Pa., filed a federal lawsuit in 1997 against the National Football League retirement board, claiming the pension board unfairly denied him full disability benefits.

He said that abuse of alcohol and anabolic steroids was rampant among professional football players and that both damaged his heart, putting him on a transplant list for a time. The lawsuit was dismissed by several federal courts.

Courson testified in 1989 as an expert witness in U.S. Senate judiciary hearings investigating steroid use in the NFL. He testified again in April at a House of Representatives hearing on the same subject.

But most of his time was spent warning young people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
"I never thought that I would live to see the age of 50," Courson said last month in a talk to students at the Kittanning Area Middle School in Armstrong County.

"It was easy giving up drugs and alcohol because I knew if I didn't, I was going to die. Life is a lot better when you live it with a clear head."

Courson told the students his fame as a football player was meaningless unless he used it for good.

"Football is insignificant in comparison to what is important in life. There is no better feeling than teaching someone and helping someone better live their lives."

Staff writer Michael Hasch contributed to this report.

Joe Bendel can be reached at joecbendel@aol.com or (412) 320-7811.