Stimac, Minton key for Thiel
LATROBE — Middle linebacker Mike Stimac doesn't shy away from much.
Except for maybe Steve Minton.
Good thing they are teammates on the Thiel College football team.
"Steve Minton is one of those running backs you don't want to play against," said Stimac, a Karns City High graduate and a senior with the Tomcats this season. "He's a powerhouse, a downhill runner and by far the most aggressive running back I have ever seen."
The two share a special bond. Stimac played four years with the Gremlins. Minton starred at Seneca Valley High School before being thrust into the starting lineup at Thiel as a freshman.
Both seniors, the two are expected to lead the offensive and defensive units this season at Thiel.
The key for Minton has always been health.
He broke into the starting lineup his freshman season because of a rash of running back injuries and rushed for 935 yards in 2004. The following season, he became the first Thiel running back in the 100-year history of the school to rush for more than 1,000 yards, gaining 1,066 during the Tomcats' 10-0 regular season.
Last year, though, Minton was injured most of the season, gaining a mere 537 yards. He missed two games and parts of others.
"Last year, he was hampered by injuries," said Thiel coach Jack Leipheimer. "He would have played every game if we would have let him, but we were trying to do what was best by him."
Minton, who runs like Earl Campbell in a 5-foot-1, 205-pound body, takes a beating with his brutal style. It is what makes him a success and what lands him on the sideline with injuries.
"It's very comforting knowing we have a kid like him back there," Leipheimer said. "He's like an iron horse. The guy comes to play every single day. He plays hurt. He plays in pain. He's going to give you positive yardage every single time he carries the ball. You never know when he is going to break one. He's awesome."
Minton holds school records in rushing yardage (2,570) and touchdowns (32). He is second all-time in rushing attempts (558) and points (198). Those records should fall this season — provided Minton can stay on the field and off the training table.
"If we can keep him healthy," Leipheimer said, "he is going to have a big year."As much as the offense rides on Minton, the defense hinges on Stimac, who was moved from outside linebacker to inside before this season to take advantage of his sideline-to-sideline range and smarts.Stimac was voted team captain by an overwhelming margin and is in charge of making the defensive calls and adjustments on the field and he carries a 4.0 grade point average. It's a job Leipheimer feels comfortable leaving in Stimac's hands."It's like having another coach on the field," Leipheimer said. "You tell Michael something once, you don't have to tell him again. Having that on the field is a value. He doesn't have any weakness."The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Stimac started out his career at Thiel in the middle, before moving to the outside for his sophomore and junior seasons. He said he is welcoming the shift back to middle linebacker this season."I'll have the free range to make more plays," Stimac said. "I'll definitely embrace that."Not that he didn't make his fair share of plays last season.Stimac was third on the team last season with 62 tackles. That number should rise this season at his new position.Stimac and Minton are two of seven Butler County area players on the roster. That number has been higher over the past few seasons."The linebacker before me, (Karns City grad) Jeff Wagner, got me to Thiel," Stimac said. "He was basically my recruiter. Without him I wouldn't have learned the things I did."One thing Stimac has learned is to stay far, far away from Minton in practice drills."I think he takes it a little easy in practice," Stimac said. "But he's a load to bring down. When the game starts, he turns it up a notch or two. It's amazing watching him. I'm just glad I don't have to try to tackle him."
