THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603090130
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE monumental when you consider he never intended to play professional football:
An 11-year starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers in some of their greatest seasons;
Most valuable player on the 1981 Pittsburgh team by a vote of the players;
Five-times All-Pro safety;
Played in four Super Bowls in which his team won;
Career interception leader for Pittsburgh;
Chosen on the Steelers All-Time team;
Selected on the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl team.
Donnie Shell, headlining the Portsmouth Sports Club's 50th anniversary jamboree Wednesday at Holiday Inn-Portside, said he expected to become a teacher and coach when he began his athletic career in high school.
``My thoughts were still the same when I played football at South Carolina State University,'' said Shell, now director of player relations for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. ``I got my bachelor of science degree in physical education with a minor in biology. And then I got my masters degree in guidance and counseling.
``I went to college to be a teacher and a coach.
``But the seeds of encouragement to play professional football were planted in me by my high school coach. So I thought I would give it a try.
``I was not drafted by anybody in the NFL.
``I was a free agent when a free agent meant you were not good enough to play in the NFL.
``Houston, Pittsburgh and Denver offered me an opportunity to play. I chose Pittsburgh. My first three years were not very outstanding. I did become the special team captain. In my fourth year I started and I didn't come out of the starting lineup for the next 11 years.
``But let me offer this advice to high school athletes. You need your college degree. The average (career) of a pro football player is just 3 1/2 years.
``You must be prepared for life after football.''
Shell currently is helping Carolina players make such preparations. His job includes providing the Panthers with programs for career internships, continuing education, financial education and family assistance.
``These all are programs that are designed to help the players succeed following their on-field football careers,'' said Shell, who turned down six job opportunities with other NFL teams before accepting this position with the Panthers.
Shell retired as a player in 1987.
``I'll always have a lot of wonderful memories for a guy who never expected to play pro football,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Benn Griffin, above left, introduces the Sportsman of the Year,
Larry Piland, at the Jamboree. Piland was cited for his
contributions to youth baseball in the Churchland area.
Churchland's Carl Rhodes, at left, was High School Coach of the
Year, and Norfolk State's James Roe, at right, was College Player of
the Year.
by CNB