Charleroi renames stadium in honor of Myron Pottios
Holly Tonini
Myron Pottios, former Charleroi graduate and former NFL player, celebrates the unveiling of the new statue Friday night as the field was renamed in his honor.
Myron Pottios is joined on the field by teammates and cheerleaders who shared the field with him while they were all in high school at Charleroi before Friday's game.
Charleroi graduate and former NFL player Myron Pottios unveils the new couger statue outside the newly-named Myron Pottios Stadium.
A new statue and plaque sit at the entrance of the newly-named Myron Pottios Stadium in Charleroi.
Holly Tonini
Myron Pottios speaks during the dedication of the Charleroi High School football field in his name at Charleroi on Sept. 2, 2016. Pottios was one of three members of the same family from Van Voorhis, along with younger brother Mickey Bitsko and older brother Ray Pottios, who all turned out to be remarkable athletes.
Myron Pottios has come along way from being a kid growing up in Charleroi to having the district’s football stadium named after him Friday night.
“There is no way to ever envision something like this happening,” he said. “For a guy to have family, teammates, and friends be here makes it so special, and I am lucky to be the guy.”
An all-state athlete at Charleroi along with Ulice Payne and Jim Chacko, Pottios went to Notre Dame after his high school graduation and played 13 seasons in the NFL between the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins.
Where did Pottios learn to work hard?
“As a kid, I always had a great work ethic,” he said. “Most of the people in the Valley were first generation and my dad worked in a coal mine.
“Everyone you knew was working and you never had an excuse to do this or that.”
The official dedication took place an hour before the game at the main entrance to the stadium and then a formal on-field presentation with his high school teammates took place just before the contest started.
All of the current Cougars went over to congratulate Pottios and to speak with his teammates.
Pottios shared the difference between players today and from his era.
“There are so many more factors now than when I played 60 years ago,” he said. “They are bigger, stronger and better athletes overall.
“Back then we had ability but did not lift weights because it was a bad thing to do, but now, they lift in middle school and high school.”
What advice did Pottios give the current players, from a legendary Cougar to today’s version?
“If you want it bad enough, it is there,” he said. “You just have to pay the price.”
Pottios said that he had family in from all over the country.
“My niece decided that we would have a family reunion,” he said while laughing. “We have almost with almost 80 relatives and friends here.”