LaRod: Robert Morris is a winner by hiring former Johnstown Trojan and Pitt Panther



… most of all, he has always been a class act 

When they first joined the Northeast Conference in football, the Robert Morris University Colonials of Coach Joe Walton dominated it. From 1996 through the 2000 season, the Colonials won five consecutive conference titles.

They also won in 2010 when they earned their first and only trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2010, eventually losing to North Dakota State.

However, they have fallen on tough times. In current Coach John Banaszak's three year tenure, the Colonials are just 6-25, 3-13 in the Northeast Conference

The team took one positive step toward restoring that tradition last week with the hiring of former Johnstowner LaRod Stephens-Howling, a veteran of five years in the NFL who also played running back and kick returner for the Pitt Panthers.

LaRod will coach the running backs and will join a familiar face in developing the offense. Mike Miller is the offensive coordinator at RMU, and he coached the Arizona Cardinals when LaRod was a player there.

Banaszak is happy to have the successful player on his staff. "Having LaRod fill the running backs coaching position, I think we have added a vital piece to our coaching staff in a guy that has an awful lot of experience at all levels," said Banaszak. "His experience in the NFL for five seasons is a definite plus for us and gives our running backs a chance to understand what it takes to be the best they can be."

Pro career

A seventh-round pick by the Cardinals in 2009, Stephens-Howling distinguished himself as an outstanding kick returner. He led the league in kick returns in 2010 when he recorded 1,548 return yards, including a 102-yard return against the Oakland Raiders. He finished his NFL career with 164 returns for 4,092 yards and three touchdowns.

He carried the ball for 670 yards and five touchdowns and caught 58 passes for 545 yards and three touchdowns.

He signed a contract to play with the Steelers in 2013, but tore his ACL in the first game of the season. That ended his career.

Pitt

Stephens-Howling led the Pitt Panthers in rushing in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, eventually ending up with 1,959 yards on 429 carries and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 454 yards, and he averaged 22.8 yards per kickoff return.

High School Career

As a player for the Greater Johnstown High School Trojans, LaRod became arguably the best running back to ever come out of the area. In three seasons, he rushed for 4,597 yards and 57 touchdowns, averaging 8.9 yards per carry.

That broke a 29-year-old record held by Artrell Hawkins Sr.

Stephens-Howling earned first-team AP Class AAA all-state honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

In his junior season, LaRod broke another of Hawkins' records, this time the single-season rushing record. He rushed for 2,226 yards that season.

Most important, a class act

I can still remember the first time that I saw LaRod play in high school. He appeared to be trapped as all 22 players converged on the line of scrimmage, and LaRod was nowhere to be seen.

But, the whistle had not sounded.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, LaRod was sprinting down the field for a touchdown. Still have no idea how he did that, but it was a beauty to behold.

However, what I will never forget was my first interview with him. It was over the phone, and what I remember so vividly is how polite he was. "Yes, sir. No, sir. Could you please, sir?"

I later realized that was how he was, just a good young man, a class act.

That will be so important on the recruiting trail when he has to bring in quality athletes to Robert Morris. That is what they need to get back on the winning track, and he can help them a great deal in that area -- and in coaching.

He spent the last year as a grad assistant at Pitt, and one of his duties was talking with recruits. As a former Pitt and NFL player, he had credibility. That will be the case at RMU.

Indeed, Robert Morris has hired a winner, but they will be the eventually winner with LaRod.

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