CONWELL-EGAN:
Slaton's rise to the top lightning fast
Texans running back Steve Slaton (L) was honored with his own day.
Bucks County Commissioner James Cawley (R) proclaimed it.
Bucks County Commissioner James Cawley (R) proclaimed it.
Day in the sun for Conwell-Egan
product came quicker than expected
product came quicker than expected
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Levittown’s own pro football player Steve Slaton always dreamed of a day such as the one that took place earlier today at his alma mater Conwell-Egan Catholic (CEC) High School. At 10 a.m. this morning in the school auditorium, the Bucks County Commissioners proclaimed March 4 as Steve Slaton Day throughout the county.
The record-setting running back for the Houston Texans just never thought a day like today would come so quickly, just after his first campaign in the NFL.
“I dreamed that one day I would return to school on a day like this,” said Slaton, a 2005 graduate of CEC. “I just thought it would happen when I was old and gray. I never thought it would happen my first year as a pro.”
Everything has always seemed to happen quickly for Slaton, who took the NFL by storm this year as the NFL's leading rookie rusher. Despite not getting his first start until a week three visit to Tennessee, Slaton just finished his first professional campaign by setting the Texans’ single-season rushing record, compiling 1,282 yards on just 268 carries (4.8-yard avg.).
And while an early season injury to Houston starting RB Ahman Green gave Slaton the chance he needed to get onto the pro football field, it was hard work that allowed Steve the opportunity to succeed.
“My parents always said whatever you put into it, you get out of it,” said Slaton. “I put a lot in.”
Slaton got onto the field quickly at Egan too, where he was plucked from the ranks of the JV team and placed onto the varsity squad in a week three battle at Cardinal Dougherty. Trailing at the half, Egan coaches decided to give Slaton a try after the intermission.
Steve took the opportunity and ran with it, all the way to the end zone. Slaton scored five times after the break, helping the Eagles to a 46-27 comeback victory over Cardinal Dougherty. His 290 yards rushing that day set a new record at CEC.
Slaton proved his worth right away in college, rushing for 188 yards and six touchdowns in just his second start for the Mountaineers--a 46-44 triple overtime triumph over Louisville. Compiling 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2005, Slaton garnered Big East Rookie of the Year honors. As a WVU sophomore, Steve reached paydirt 18 times and set a new record at West Virginia for rushing yards in a season (1,744, which ranked fourth in the nation), earning All-American honors and a chance to become that year's Heisman Trophy winner.
“We salute Steve for parlaying his time with the Conwell-Egan football program into a springboard to excellence,” stated County Commissioner James Cawley, a graduate of the school. “We look forward to watching him on Sundays as he makes all Bucks County-ans proud displaying his profound athletic gifts.”
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In a career that spanned four years as the Eagles' featured tailback, Slaton carried the ball for nearly 6,000 yards. He finished his time at Egan in a 21-12 Eagles' Thanksgiving Day win over Truman, toting the ball 27 times for 186 yards. His last two touches at CEC produced a 34-yard touchdown and a 2-point conversion."Just look at our wins and losses before he came here and our wins and losses once he came," said Conwell-Egan coach Kevin Kelly.
"Steve is a great football player and a great person. It was just a real honor to be able to coach him."
Slaton’s NCAA star rose just as fast at West Virginia where he rushed for 3,293 yards, scored a school-record 50 touchdowns. The capper to Slaton's first college season came in January, 2006 when Steve tallied three TDs in West Virginia's upset win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Slaton's 204 yards were not only a Sugar Bowl record, but the second most rushing yards ever in a BCS game.
Slaton helped West Virginia accumulate 382 yards against an 11th-ranked Georgia defense that came into the game having surrendered an average of just 124 yards per game against SEC opponents. Tallying 204 yards on 26 carries, Slaton broke the previous Sugar Bowl rushing mark set by Tony Dorsett in 1977.
During Slaton’s time at West Virginia, in addition to their Sugar Bowl win, the Mountaineers tallied a 38-35 comeback win over Georgia Tech January, 2007 in the Gator Bowl and a 48-28 triumph over No. 3 ranked Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl the following year.
Trailing the Yellow Jackets 28-17 at the half without Slaton, who was injured after just three rushes, the Mountaineers went on to a 38-35 win over Georgia Tech. WVU bounced back in the second half on three third quarter TDs, two through the air from QB Pat White and another rushing by the Mountaineers quarterback.
According to Steve, training played a big part in West Virginia’s ability to upset foes in big bowl games year after year.
“The biggest thing was our conditioning. We went no-huddle. A lot of teams can’t go no-huddle. You can be the best athlete but if fatigue sets in, it makes you weak.
“We played as hard in the fourth quarter as we did in the first.”
Despite all the hoopla surrounding one of Levittown’s most famous athletes, Slaton keeps both feet planted firmly on the ground. In addition to his upbringing, Steve attributes his character as an athlete to his education at CEC.
“It teaches you humility. As fast as the climb is to success, it’s an even shorter fall,” said Slaton. “I’m going to stay on top as long as I can. Whenever I do fall, I don’t want my big head to get in the way.”
Add hard work to humility and you get the sum of the parts that make up this very special player--one of the best ever to emerge from the ranks of lower Bucks high schools.
“I know I have to do more than I did last year,” said Slaton, never one to shy away from a challenge. “With the season I had, teams are going to focus on me a lot more.
“I just got to follow up with an even better year.”
Somehow, you get the feeling Slaton will find a way to exceed last season’s astounding rookie marks. And while it still feels like a dream to the rest of us, for Slaton, he’s right where he always knew he’d wound up.
Since 1994--the first year Steve suited up on the gridiron, playing football was all the Conwell-Egan grad ever wanted to do.
“I always wanted to play in the NFL; the opportunity came and I took it,” said Slaton. “I didn’t second guess it. I just knew it was right for me.”
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Steve Slaton's speech to Conwell-Egan students
assembled in auditorium for inaugural Steve Slaton Day:
assembled in auditorium for inaugural Steve Slaton Day:
“By getting an education, you can go as fast or as slow as you want.
Take as little or as much, do what you need to do to get by, or do all that you can to be an honor roll student.
“It will not only make your parents proud, but yourself also.
“With the work that you put into school, you have the book-smarts to tackle the tasks that come up in everyday life.
“The moral of my story is ‘do not sleep in class.’”
Labels: Conwell-Egan, Football
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