Bill Fralic, who set new standards of greatness for offensive linemen during his accomplished career at the University of Pittsburgh, passed away on Thursday following a battle with cancer. He was 56 years old.
Fralic was a four-year fixture on Pitt's punishing offensive lines from 1981-84. He was a three-time first team All-American, including unanimous status as a junior and senior. Fralic became the first offensive lineman to twice finish in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy balloting, placing sixth in 1984 and eighth in 1983.
Fralic's collegiate career led to the phrase "Pancake Block" being added to the football lexicon. Pitt publicists used "Pancakes" as a statistical barometer for each time Fralic put an opposing defensive lineman on his back.
His positional coach at Pitt, the late Joe Moore, was one of the nation's most highly respected teachers of offensive line play. Said Moore of his star offensive tackle: "Bill Fralic is the best. If you can find somebody better, bring him to me. I've been privileged to coach some good ones here, but none better than Bill Fralic. Those kind only pass through once."
The second player taken overall in the 1985 NFL Draft, Fralic went on to an exceptional pro career from 1985-93, playing eight years with the Atlanta Falcons and his final season with the Detroit Lions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and was a two-time All-Pro. Fralic additionally was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.”
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Far too young.
2. Bill Fralic G Pitt Atlanta 4PB 2 AP
3. Ray Childress DE/DT Texas A&M Houston 5PB 1AP
4. Chris Doleman DE Pitt Minn HOF 8PB 2AP
5. Duane Bickett OLB USC Ind 1PB
6. Lomas Brown T Florida Detroit 7PB 1AP
7. Ken Ruettgers T USC GB 11 yrs starter
And that doesn’t include first rounders Al Toon, Jim Lachey, Jerry Rice, Jerry Gray, William Perry ect.
I agree..RIP
Here he is with Atlanta. BTW, in retrospect, how badass were those 80's Falcons uniforms?
Wrestlemania 2 Battle Royal appearance!
He spent a great deal of time advocating against steroid use after he retired and tried to plead to the NFL ownership to clean the game up:
“You’ve got to do something about steroids. They’re a huge problem in this league,” he also told former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at the time.
Fralic said that at the time, 75 percent of lineman, tight ends, and linebackers in the league used steroids, according to the Post-Gazette.
He spent a great deal of time advocating against steroid use after he retired and tried to plead to the NFL ownership to clean the game up:
Quote:
In a 1990 Sports Illustrated story, “We can clean it up,” detailed Fralic’s steroid use, describing the weight room culture in college and in the NFL. “Everybody else is doing them,” he said, reported the Post-Gazette. “If I want to be a player, I’ve got to do them.”
“You’ve got to do something about steroids. They’re a huge problem in this league,” he also told former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at the time.
Fralic said that at the time, 75 percent of lineman, tight ends, and linebackers in the league used steroids, according to the Post-Gazette.
Any idea what type of cancer he had? Couldn't find it. Outside of prostate cancer its hard to imagine there is a link.
Ryan said he was lined up opposite Fralic, and tried to put a swim move on him. Fralic put him on the ground almost instantly, then held Ryan down with one hand, while "asking the center if he needed any help".