Nick Reiser

This is the last in a series of seven articles profiling the 2013 inductees into the Butler County Sports Hall of FameFREEPORT — The team aspect has never been lost on Nick Reiser.The former Knoch and Allegheny College football standout runs a “team” of his own in overseeing all rehabilitation services offered by Concordia.“The greatest thing about sports is feeling part of a team and recognizing the strength of team,” Reiser said. “I’ve always tried to develop that team concept at work.“Sports gave me a great foundation, showed me the value of relationships. They taught me life lessons I use today.”Reiser’s accomplishments as an athlete have landed him in the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the organization’s annual banquet at 6 p.m. April 27 at the Butler Days Inn.Reiser lettered for three years in football and basketball at Knoch. A two-year starter as a guard-forward in basketball, he made first and second team all-conference and averaged between 14 and 18 points per game.He played fullback and linebacker for the Knights’ football team, which reached the WPIAL championship game at Three Rivers Stadium in his senior season of 1992.“That senior class was a bunch of kids who grew up together through football,” Reiser said. “We played together with the Saxonburg Spartans and we stayed together. Playing at Three Rivers was a great way to culminate all of that.”Reiser made all-Greater Allegheny Conference two years on defense and was a third-team all-state performer his senior year. That was also the first season Knoch’s football stadium had lights.“We played home games on Saturday afternoons during my sophomore and junior years,” Reiser recalled. “The kids and parents, we all worked together to help the process of getting lights added to the stadium.“That was a massive team effort I still feel good about today.”After receiving some feelers from Division I schools, Reiser’s collegiate football options came down to Delaware, James Madison, Holy Cross and Allegheny.Reiser’s older brother, Kurt, caught the winning touchdown pass for Allegheny in the NCAA Division III championship game in 1990.“The family had history there, it was a great academic school and I could stay close to home,” Reiser said of his decision to attend Allegheny.And he added to his family’s legacy at the school.Recognized as one of the top defensive linemen in North Coast Athletic Conference history, Reiser became the third freshman in league history to be named first team All-NCAC. He registered 9.5 quarterback sacks his sophomore year.By his senior year, Reiser was named Preseason National Division III Player of the Year by College Sports magazine. He went on to become NCAC Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time first team all-conference player.“We lost five games in four years,” Reiser recalled. “We made the national playoffs three times, but kept running into Mount Union in the first round.“Just being with the guys every day, putting the time and work into practice and accomplishing what we did was a great time.”Two of his former coaches at Allegheny — Ken O’Keefe and Joe Philbin — are now wide receivers and head coach, respectively, with the Miami Dolphins. His brother, Kurt, is head football coach at Thiel College, where former Allegheny and Thiel coach Jack Leipheimer is athletic director.“My coaches always emphasized reaching your full potential,” Reiser said. “Whether you’re a street sweeper, doctor ... reach your full potential in whatever you do.“I’ve tried to live my life that way.”Tickets for the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet are available from any of the HOF directors, online at www.bcshof.com or at Bill’s Beer Barn, Moses Jewelers, Parker Appliance, Saxonburg Drug and Snack-N-Pack.