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In a profession and a league characterized by instability Dick Hoak, football team Pittsburgh Steelers lifer and a 33-year coaching veteran, never has found a good reason to leave Pittsburgh. He was born in Jeannette, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh and a neighboring town to Greensburg, where he has lived in the same split-level house since 1972. He prefers to spend most of his free time at home, where he enjoys playing with his four grandsons. Hoak bridged the one-year gap between his playing and coaching careers at Wheeling Catholic High, where he was the football coach and a physical education teacher. INSETS: Back in the day . . .;Survivors.

The article comments on the performance of several quarterbacks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is stated that Dan Marino got an immediate boost as a rookie, and went to the Super Bowl. Joe Montana won the Super Bowl four times. It is stated that Johnny Unitas was a field general in the days when quarterbacks called their own plays; and he had a mastery in football.

The article presents the comments of several sports personnel on sports in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marc-Andre Fleury of the hockey team Pittsburgh Penguins says that he loves the support from the fans in the city. Hines Ward of the football team Pittsburgh Steelers says that the city supports its sports teams, whether they win, lose, or draw. Ryan Doumit of the baseball team Pittsburgh Pirates says that the city's motto should be "The City of Champions."

College football player Khiawatha Downey, a 6 foot 4 inches, 332-pound guard from Division 11 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is a unique prospect for two reasons. Downey's unique characteristic is his medical condition. In January 2000, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although he never has experienced any of the disease's symptoms, the MS label might knock him off the draft boards of some teams. The most painful thing for Downey is the side effects from the weekly injections of Avonex, the prescription drug he takes for MS.