Hostetler reflected on playing days at Clemson and Charleroi

He was a charter member of the Football Hall of Fame at his high school.

John “Hoss” Hostetler was featured in a 2021 MVI story, but his story is so rich, there’s more to be said.

He starred for Charleroi High (Class of 1963) and eventually was inducted into the Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame. He also became a charter member of his high school’s Football Hall of Fame.

He shared some of his accomplishments and memories from his college days, including what should have been a stunning upset. Hostetler played for Clemson University when Coach Bear Bryant was still leading the University of Alabama.

“We played Alabama in 1967 when Kenny Stabler was quarterback — we lost, 13-10, but I think we missed three chip field goals,” Hostetler recalled. Stabler went on to enjoy a hall of fame career in the NFL.

The 1967 season was Hostetler’s final one for Clemson. He helped the Tigers go undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference (6-0). That was the second season in which his team won the conference title during his three-year career. In his senior year he played tight end and averaged 9.4 yards per catch, but in 1964 as a wide receiver, his average reception went for 12.9 yards.

During his days at Clemson, he also played center due to an injury to the regular center. Ironically, as he pointed out, “I played that position for about four games then had a concussion and was replaced.”

“Another thing I remember about that time period, were coaches like Bryant and at Georgia, Vince Dooley,” Hostetler said. “They seemed to be in the same circle with our coach, Frank Howard. They were like idols you looked up to in awe, impressed that you got to meet these people.”

All three of those coaches earned a spot in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

In a 2021 interview that took place before that new football season began, Hostetler said he was delighted that the Tigers had made it to the title game in four of the last six seasons and were crowned national champions in 2016 and 2018 under Coach Dabo Swinney.

“I like to think that everybody in the past was a contributor to that in terms of building up to it,” Hostetler chuckled, “but at the same time, I really believe that Swinney coming in (was huge) with his philosophy. The unification of family has brought Clemson the results that it has had. He’s just a very good Christian individual who, as they say, walks the talk. He’s created a family atmosphere there that’s outstanding.

“I think that’s one of the strengths that Clemson has always had. When I went there, it was a lot smaller, of course, but it has grown into what it is today. It’s always been a tight community, and he’s even advanced it further.”

Hostetler also gazed back at his days at Charleroi High, modestly speaking of skilled teammates.

“There are tons of them, particularly when you look back at the 1959 teams, and you look at people back then like Paul Strelick, Bob ‘Moose’ Hodgson, Gary Hogan, Mickey Bitsko and Red Harger.

“Previously, there were guys like Myron Pottios, Ollie Payne, Jim ‘Mouse’ Chacko. John Verkleeren was an outstanding end and basketball player. I remember watching Bobby Abbott play — he was a great.”

The teams of Hostetler’s era had no shortage of solid to sensational players.

“Some of them were overlooked, but they made things happen,” he added. “On our offensive line our center Don Saunders was outstanding — he went on to play at California State University.”

Later he coached under Bill Cowher at Carlynton High School and with Jeff Petrucci at California State College.

“Joe Hurley was outstanding at tackle — he was my partner — I was the end on his side,” Hostetler continued. “We had people on the line like Dave Sink, Bob Polacek and Steve Stetz who were good blockers and end Paul Yewisiak, who went on to play at Virginia as a defensive end and linebacker.”

Hostetler feels that many of the underclassmen could have been starters for other teams.

“Ron Yuss was a fierce competitor who went on to play at West Virginia,” he said, “and Bill Lee was a backup quarterback, but to call him that is an injustice because I think Bill had the strongest arm in the league and was very accurate.

“In a couple of games when Stan Kemp was either hurt or out of the game, Bill came in and won games. His passes were always straight line shots, always there. His dad was a coach on our team, Frank Lee.”

Charleroi sports historian Tom Jenkins said Bill Lee “broke numerous passing records at Cal State. He passed away from COVID four years ago.”

Jenkins stated that quarterback Kemp was “on the Cougars’ 1962 Big 6 title team. He’s in Charleroi’s Football and the All Sports Hall of Fame, and the Valley’s All Sports Hall of Fame. At Virginia, he lettered three years at three different positions, wide receiver, defensive back, and quarterback. Stan was an assistant coach at Marshall High School when they played T. C. Williams High School and coach Herman Boone as seen in the movie Remember the Titans.”

Part two will feature more on Hostetler and other Cougars.