California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

He was drafted out of high school to play baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He wanted to play baseball, but his parents convinced him that college was the way to go. So, he came to California University of Pennsylvania to play football, not baseball. Now, Sam Mannery is being inducted in the Athletic Hall of Fame as a result of his college football career.

Mannery wrestled and played basketball, football and baseball during his years at German Township Senior High. He said that he was an all-around athlete. He was a star quarterback at German Township who earned two All-Tri County awards and made the Dream Team in 1987.

Before he graduated in 1987, Mannery was contacted by West Virginia University, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Iowa, Florida State, Pitt and other Division I schools to play football. He knew that at many of those school he would be redshirted for his freshman season. Mannery also looked at the schools that had prominent quarterbacks already, and he knew that he wouldn’t be able to get much playing time at those universities. So, he weighed his options and decided to come to Cal.
“The main reason why I chose Cal was because of a coach named Charles Colborn. He had come to talk to me. The main thing that sold me was basically his appearance, how he presented himself and how professional he was. The topper was that he told me I could start my freshman year and I could be the quarterback. He came on a Monday, and I told him to bring the papers on Wednesday to sign,” Mannery said.

“Also, I got a full scholarship to play down here, so that played a part in my decision. It was a great situation for me. I was sort of close to home. Even though I wanted to go away, the opportunity of playing quarterback and starting my freshman year really convinced me to go to Cal,” he continued.

Mannery is the only quarterback in Vulcan history to start all four years. In 1987, he was the PSAC-West Rookie of the Year. From his sophomore season son, he made first-team All-PSAC. In 1988 he was an Associated Press All-American, and in 1990 he was an Associated Press All-American, and in 1990 he was the PSAC-West and ECAC Player of the Year.
Some of Mannery’s accomplishments still rank among the top in the record books. When he finished his career, he had 9,125 offensive yards, which at the time was the most in the history of NCAA Division II football. That total remained number one in the PSAC books until this past season and is still second. Some of his other records include: ranking fourth in the PSAC in passing yards, second in attempts, third in completions and fifth in touchdown passes.

“We had a real good offense during my junior and senior years. That is where all of my yardage and records came from. But, records are made to be broken. It doesn’t bother me. I am just proud that I had the opportunity to set those records,” Mannery explained.

Mannery began his years at California as a psychology major then switched to social science.

“I wasn’t a brainy kid. When I got to college, the spotlight immediately went on me because I was starting in my freshman year. I wasn’t applying myself during my freshman year. I knew the (psychology) classes were demanding, so I changed my major. I went into social science, and I met a professor who name was Bev Willison and I liked the way she taught. She explained to me what social work really meant. It was all that I wanted to do when I did leave college,” Mannery said.

When he left California, Mannery went on to play for the Steelers. He made it through the training camp and lasted until the first week of the season. Even though professional ball didn’t turn out as he had anticipated, he said than he still enjoyed the experience. He says that he enjoys coaching, which he did at Cal for two years. He also coached a Albert Gallatin High School while he worked as a teacher’s assistant for socially and emotionally disturbed children.

Now, Mannery spends his days as a youth counselor at the Mel Blount Youth Home for juvenile boys. As a matter of fact, Blount didn’t even know that Mannery had a short stint as a Pittsburgh Steeler until after Mannery had worked at the home for a while.

“We-Mr. Mel and a couple other kids- were playing basketball, and another staff person had told him about it. I was guarding him, and he said, ‘You know what, Mr. Sam? We used to eat guys like you.’ I didn’t know what he was talking about and he told me quarterbacks. He said, “Yea, I heard you played for the Steelers.’ He didn’t know about it. I don’t really tell anybody,” Mannery said.

The Mel Blount Youth Home isn’t for the hardened criminals who tried to commit murder, Mannery said. It is mainly for juveniles who just don’t want to go to school they go to the home because of the court system. They are given the option of either going to a place such as the youth home or being sent to a detention center or a child holding facility.

“They get sent to us and we try to just refine their behaviors. We try to teach them a little about respect for themselves and others. We try to teach them manners. We have 24 kids who we work with a time. There are three cabins with eight kids and one counselor to each cabin. We are there to help if a kid wants to turn his life around. We give them the tools to do that,” Mannery said.

“It is a six- to nine-month program. There are four stages, and the kids can achieve different levels. Hopefully, when they leave there, we want them to be on a level four. Most kids achieve their level there, and we recommend that they be released from the program. It is a great situation for them because they can learn. They also have all kinds of activities like riding horses, playing basketball and football, running, weightlifting, bible study and choirs,” he continued.

About the Hall of Fame, Mannery said that even though he is happy that California is recognizing his efforts and achievements, the full effect of the honor hasn’t really sunk in yet. He went on to explain what it was like to have his picture put on the wall in Hamer Hall.

“I remember them taking the picture, but I didn’t know what it was for. Then I walked in and saw it. I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m on the wall,’” Mannery said.

“I am not a stickler of self-achieving awards. I am a team player because everything I achieved on and off the field is because of others. If I got interviewed after a game, I didn’t want to talk about my stats. I didn’t want to talk about what I achieved or what I did. It was always what we did. The people that I played with appreciated that. I don’t think I could have achieved the friendship that I have with the players if I did do it any other way. Playing at California was great,” he continued.

Sam Mannery was Cal's only four-year starting quarterback in school history and played from 1987 through 1990. Mannery finished his brilliant career with 9,125 total offensive yards which at that time was the second-highest total in the history of NCAA Division II football. This total is still second in PSAC football history through the 1996 season. Mannery ranks fourth in PSAC history career passing with 8,680 yds, second for career attempts (1,282), third in career completions (649) and fifth for career touchdown passes with 64.

Mannery was named the 1987 PSAC-West Rookie of the Year and was a first-team, All-PSAC selection each of his last three years. Mannery was also selected as the 1990 PSAC-West and ECAC Player of the Year. In 1988, Mannery received Associated Press All-American honors. In his career, he passed for over 200 yards 23 times and over 300 yards nine times. Mannery's 413-yard passing effort against Slippery Rock in 1990 is still the most single-game passing yards by a single quarterback in school history.

Sam, who has a son Danzel, is originally from McClellandtown and a graduate of German Township High School. Since graduating from Cal, Mannery has been an active youth football coach and is a youth counselor at the Mel Blount Youth Home for juvenile boys form Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.