“30 years ago. 30 years ago, my life was over. At least that’s what I thought.”
Alvin Mack, All-American linebacker for the ESU Timberwolves in the early 1990s left a game against Iowa with his knee bent back 45 degrees in the wrong direction. His career and likely first round NFL draft ambitions were gone in an instant.
“I went to a really dark place for a long time. My mom tried really hard to keep me straight, but it was Coach Winters that I owe my life to”. Sam Winters was the head coach of the Timberwolves during the 80s and 90s, the program's heyday.
“Coach kept coming to see me; kept trying to get me back to a better place. My whole life was football; I blew off school and never thought about what I was going to do if I didn’t make it to the NFL. He fought for me though; he got the school to let me come back, he helped me get counseling, and tutoring, and ten years later I finally earned a degree.”
The program fell into mediocrity during that decade; drugs, cover-ups, recruiting scandals. Coach Winters took the blame for most of it, tarnishing his reputation, but it was the 1990s; and so many schools were doing it.
“My mom passed away a few years after that. I had always promised to give her everything when I turned pro; a house, a better life. I never got to do that; but she was so proud that she got to see me graduate.”
“After that, I guess I could have gone my own way; but my way was always the gridiron.
I started working around the team; helping guys with their workouts, nutrition, and yes even helping with their studies (who would have thought that back in my day).”
“The school, the program, coach Winters, they were always so good to me. They gave me a chance to join the coaching staff. Special teams, linebackers, and finally defensive coordinator. Last year, Coach Winters got pretty sick; and had to leave before the season ended. I filled in for a few games and we finished with a couple of wins; nearly got back to a bowl.”
“Sam passed away in March; and the school named me head coach. It’s been a bittersweet experience, losing Sam and the realizing of a dream. We tried to focus on the program, like he always would have wanted. We had one of our strongest recruiting classes in decades. We’ve been slowly trying to build back something over the last 15 years; show that the program can still matter. Now, maybe we can realize our potential. For Sam, for those young athletes, and for those of us that dreamed of greatness, but had to realize it in a new way.”
Mack and the Timberwolves will start their season on August 24, 2024 against New York state rivals Syracuse at Wolf Den Stadium. “I’ve invited a few of my old teammates back for opening day, try to capture the magic of those good ol’ days."
Alvin Mack, All-American linebacker for the ESU Timberwolves in the early 1990s left a game against Iowa with his knee bent back 45 degrees in the wrong direction. His career and likely first round NFL draft ambitions were gone in an instant.
“I went to a really dark place for a long time. My mom tried really hard to keep me straight, but it was Coach Winters that I owe my life to”. Sam Winters was the head coach of the Timberwolves during the 80s and 90s, the program's heyday.
“Coach kept coming to see me; kept trying to get me back to a better place. My whole life was football; I blew off school and never thought about what I was going to do if I didn’t make it to the NFL. He fought for me though; he got the school to let me come back, he helped me get counseling, and tutoring, and ten years later I finally earned a degree.”
The program fell into mediocrity during that decade; drugs, cover-ups, recruiting scandals. Coach Winters took the blame for most of it, tarnishing his reputation, but it was the 1990s; and so many schools were doing it.
“My mom passed away a few years after that. I had always promised to give her everything when I turned pro; a house, a better life. I never got to do that; but she was so proud that she got to see me graduate.”
“After that, I guess I could have gone my own way; but my way was always the gridiron.
I started working around the team; helping guys with their workouts, nutrition, and yes even helping with their studies (who would have thought that back in my day).”
“The school, the program, coach Winters, they were always so good to me. They gave me a chance to join the coaching staff. Special teams, linebackers, and finally defensive coordinator. Last year, Coach Winters got pretty sick; and had to leave before the season ended. I filled in for a few games and we finished with a couple of wins; nearly got back to a bowl.”
“Sam passed away in March; and the school named me head coach. It’s been a bittersweet experience, losing Sam and the realizing of a dream. We tried to focus on the program, like he always would have wanted. We had one of our strongest recruiting classes in decades. We’ve been slowly trying to build back something over the last 15 years; show that the program can still matter. Now, maybe we can realize our potential. For Sam, for those young athletes, and for those of us that dreamed of greatness, but had to realize it in a new way.”
Mack and the Timberwolves will start their season on August 24, 2024 against New York state rivals Syracuse at Wolf Den Stadium. “I’ve invited a few of my old teammates back for opening day, try to capture the magic of those good ol’ days."
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