Mitch Frerotte’s mother, Lilah, is surrounded by (L-R) Mitch’s nephew, Kraig Walker, brother, Kurt, sister, Lee Walker and brother-in-law, Ed Walker during yesterday’s golden football presentation. Each high school where an NFL Super Bowl player attended received a golden football as part of their Super Bowl 50 celebration. Mitch played in three Super Bowls during his career.
by Jonathan Weaver
While the new golden football in the Armstrong Junior-Senior High trophy case doesn’t symbolize a local championship or individual honor, it recognizes one of the community’s most notable sports figures on the biggest football stage.
Yesterday afternoon, the family of former Kittanning Senior High Wildcats star athlete Mitch Frerotte gathered around the wooden cases and reminisced on the latest way to memorialize him.
School Athletic Director Denny Stewart explained the honor – which coincided with Super Bowl 50 played last weekend.
“Every high school got a gold football if their alumni played in the Super Bowl,” Stewart said. “We got that ball about two weeks ago in the mail – which was a big surprise to us because we didn’t know it was coming.”
Mitch – Class of 1983 – played in Super Bowl 25, 26 and 27 – all with the Buffalo Bills.
Mitch died of a heart attack in June 2008.
Frerotte’s mother, Lilah, found out about the honor through one of Mitch’s former teammates, Brad Bowers, a few weeks ago.
Lilah – a 1952 Kittanning graduate – remembered always being nervous watching her son play football, but always enjoyed watching him play at Penn State or each of Mitch’s three Super Bowls.
Bowers was Mitch’s best friend, high school teammate and best man at his wedding.
“It’s nice that the NFL did this,” Bowers said. “It’s nice that (Mitch) gets honored. He was a helluva player.
“He’s up there smiling now.”
Fellow friend Rick Schaffer – whose son, Alek, played for the Wildcats two years ago, said Mitch deserved the honor
Mitch’s sister, Lee Walker, is five years older than her brother, but still saw many of his sports accomplishments.
“I lived in Pittsburgh when he was in high school, but I came back to watch all his high school football games and then I went to all the Penn State games. We all followed him,” Lee said. “It was exciting. He really worked hard for it.
“He lived and breathed football.”
Mitch’s brother, Kurt, graduated five years after Mitch and also enjoyed watching games to see his brother.
Nephew, Kraig Walker, played football, basketball and track before graduating in 2005. He said yesterday “brought back a lot of memories.”
“Me and my Uncle Mitch used to hang out all the time. He used to come to all of our games,” Kraig said.
Mitch’s cousin, Gus – of Ford City – also went on to play professional football. Gus is seven years younger.
Stewart taught Mitch social studies in high school, but didn’t have the opportunity to coach him on the varsity team.
“I knew him as a man, as an individual. The Frerotte Family is a top-notch family,” Stewart said.
High School Principal James Rummel was grateful to see the Frerotte Family and to the NFL for the recognition.