One of the biggest names in Thomas Jefferson football history is Gary Gomolak.
At TJ, one of the most sought-after athletes was Gomolak, a 6-foot-3, 197-pound tight end/safety who is regarded as one of the best players in team history.
In addition to most ACC institutions (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina State, Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke), Gomolak also received offers from Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, South Carolina, a few Ivy League schools, and the Naval Academy.
In addition to being a Dapper Dan Roundball Classic competitor and a two-sport standout in high school from 1971–1974, Gomolak received basketball offers from schools like Bucknell, WVU, LaSalle, Lafayette, Marist, Ohio, and Marist.
And a number of the smaller area colleges—like Washington & Jefferson, Robert Morris, and Carnegie Mellon—offered basketball scholarships as well, but the majority of them were aware that Gomolak had already committed to play football.
Gomolak was a tall, athletic man who could play basketball and football.
He remarked, “I liked basketball and gave it some serious thought because it’s a little less taxing on the body.” “I used to go to a lot of games with my uncle. Every night, I used to watch the WPIAL playoffs at the Civic Arena.
“However, the coaches advised me that I might have a better future in football.”
For Gomolak, it became an obvious decision. He joined the Virginians.
“I fell in love with UVA and the atmosphere there as soon as I saw it,” he said. “My parents always pushed me to get a good education along with playing football, and UVA was and still is an excellent academic institution.”
Gomolak annually added 10 pounds of muscle with the Cavaliers and built himself up to 245 pounds by the time he graduated.
That drew the interest of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who signed the TJ product in 1980 and offered a tryout. The Steelers, under legendary coach Chuck Noll, had just defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.
“The Steelers called me the day of the draft and asked if I would be interested in signing as a free agent,” said Gomolak, who joined the team as a 6-3, 255-pound tight end. “Even though it may have not been the best football decision, I did not even consider any other free agent offers. I just wanted to play for my hometown team.
“How many rookies are going to make a team of Hall of Famers that just won their fourth Super Bowl?”
Gomolak flew to Pittsburgh courtesy of the Steelers. One of his first experiences was watching a Pirates game while at a dinner meeting with Dick Haley, the director of player personnel, in the Three Rivers Club at Three Rivers Stadium.
“I then met with coach Noll, who worked me out, and was introduced to Art Rooney Sr.,” Gomolak said. “They offered me a free agent contract, which I had an agent go over and I signed shortly after.
“The Steelers gave me a parking pass inside Three Rivers and I could go into the stadium any time to work out. I would work out with Sam Davis and Jack Ham, then go watch the Pirates — like Wille Stargell and Dave Parker — take battingaa
Unfortunately, Gomolak’s professional football chapter did not have a feel-good ending. He pulled a hamstring in camp after a hit in a scrimmage. It did not heal quickly, which severely limited Gomolak’s practice time. He eventually was waived.
The following year, the TJ graduate received offers to try out for the Washington Redskins and the USFL Philadelphia Stars.
“But I had started a good full-time engineering job and did not pursue it,” he said. ”I worked for Westinghouse as an engineer for several years before joining a federal agency.”
Gomolak earned all-conference, all-district and all-WPIAL honors in football and basketball at TJ and was an all-state selection in football.
He broke school records for interceptions in a season, touchdown receptions in a season and career interceptions. He still ranks among the team leaders in career interceptions (13) and interceptions in a season (10).
Gomolak will be inducted into the West Jefferson Hills School District Hall of Fame in March.
practice on the days of home games.
After rookie camp, Gomolak was invited to Saint Vincent for his free agent tryout.
“It was such a great experience getting to be on the same field with all the Steeler greats that I watched and cheered for during their four Super Bowls,” Gomolak, 66, said. “Jon Kolb and Mike Webster took me under their wing prior to camp and I worked out with them four days a week at the old Red Bull Inn on Route 19 in Washingtona, Pa. Lou Curinga, the owner, built a gym underneath the restaurant and let the local Steelers work out there.”
“Kolby and Webby were so strong. They were great examples and taught me a lot. One time at Mike Webster’s house, they were showing me how to pass block. When I later took my shirt off to shower, I had bruises on my chest from them being so strong and hitting me so hard. Webby also showed me how to long snap as a way of making the roster.”
