PITTSBURGH — In just a few months, former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This week, Dawson is coaching football's next generation at the Dermontti Dawson Football Camp.
"We have about 150-plus campers and we have three different age groups," Dawson said about the camp. "We have ages 7 to 18 and it's just nice to get out here and interact with the kids."
For the Hall of FamerDawson, it's about giving back to the new crop of players that are coming up at his football camp at Robert Morris University.
"It's nice to be able to give those guys some life lessons and just talk to them and mentor and just be a positive influence in their life," Dawson, a six-time All-Pro center, said.
In terms of Dawson's football life, no one made more of a positive impact than his high school football coach Steve Parker, who will present Dawson at the Hall of Fame ceremonies.
"The reason why I chose coach Parker as my presenter was because I never would have played football if it weren't for him," Dawson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, said. "Coach Parker came up to me in the hallway, I think in the beginning of my junior year, and just put his arms on my shoulders and said 'Son where have you been all my life?'"
The life lessons he has learned from his high school coach have stuck with Dawson.
"Just hard work and dedication and you know that was what he preached all the time," Dawson said. "When you work hard from something it pays off in the end. You know you may not get the immediate rewards but if you keep plugging at it eventually it's going to come around."
Dawson will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 4.
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