spent two years in the minor leagues as a shortstop at the same time he played defensive back at the University of Cincinnati.

It was while at Cincinnati that he earned an internship at St. Xavier under legendary coach Steve Rasso to assist with the defensive backs. Specht, at the time an overachieving 5-9, 180-pound all-league safety and running back, said he knew nothing about Meyer, then 21.

Photo by Wayne Littmer

Steve Specht

That didn't last long.

"It was obvious right away he was a very intense guy," Specht said.

The first week of practice in a conditioning and pursuit drill, the ball was thrown to a receiver, who would sprint down the field. Defensive backs were supposed to take an angle and try to tag the receiver.

Meyer made sure the DBs werethey need tough love. They need all sorts of love and they'll always get it here."

The '85 Bombers got a lot of energy from many young coaches, said Sabatalo, who was 28 at the time.

Like Meyer, 1985 would be his last season at St. Xavier. He took over the head coaching job at Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), where he was named the state's Division I Coach of the Year in 1989.

The following season Sabatalo left football to pursue a successful career in the transportation and delivery business. He is the president of Planes Companies and he applied all his football knowledge to the business world.

Courtesy photo

John Sabatalo

He and Meyer still stay in contact and the two along with Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell had dinner a