The
PIGSKIN Playhousetm
Proudly Presents!

Oakland Raider Great
Dave Dalby

Flashback!!!!!

03/12/01
Talking Old School!
By Rich Fernandez 

High School Days

All time Raider Great Dave Dalby is the proud owner of three Super Bowl Championship Rings with the Raiders.  We as fans know Dave’s accomplishments and moments as great Center for the Raiders but do we really know how Dave began his journey to the NFL and the Oakland Raiders.  Over the next month or so Dave and I will chronicle what lead him to his outstanding professional football career.  From his days as a teen growing up in Whittier California to his High School and College days we begin to take a look at this Raider Legends climb to success!

  Rich:     “Now Dave you’re originally from Southern California, born and raised correct?”

Dave Dalby:  ”Yeah I’m from Woodier California and that’s where I started my High School days.  I went to Lasserna High School and I lettered in three sports football, basketball and baseball.  Yeah I got nine letters, three per sport since I played Varsity in all three since I was a sophomore.”

Rich:  “During your High School days what sport really interested you and was your passion?”

Dave Dalby:  “Well it was Baseball.  I really wanted to be a Baseball player.  I’ve got a funny story for you.  When I went out for football I actually went out late and my mom didn’t want me to play because she didn’t want me to get hurt.  So anyway, I came out late and my first period Physical Education class was with my Varsity Football coach.  He put us all through agility drills because he wanted to make football players out of us and see who had any ability and he actually liked me.  So he said that sixth period was when I’d get to practice with the football team.  I wanted to play Running Back and Wide Receiver because I wanted to touch the ball!”

Rich:  “So you wanted to be where all the action and glory were huh (lol)?” 

Dave Dalby:  “Yeah, exactly!  I wanted to be Tight End but then they found out that I couldn’t run or catch so they put me at Center! (lol)  So that’s where I started along with Defensive End.”

Rich:  “So you actually did get your wish in always touching the ball, because you were at Center and you started each and every play with your hands on the ball!”

Dave Dalby:  “Yeah exactly, sometimes you better watch out for what you ask because you just might get it! (lol)  You know my High School coach was one of the greatest motivators of all time!  His name is Harry Robinson and today he lives about three quarters of a mile from me so I walk with him and we still do things today.” 

Rich:  ”Wow that’s excellent you still keep in contact with him, now was he one of the biggest motivators in your life?”

Dave Dalby:  “He really brought me around and taught me how to do things right with a lot of class.  I remember out first practice I put my pads on backwards!”

Rich:     “Which pads, your Shoulder Pads?”

Dave Dalby:  ”No my Thigh Pads, I had them pointing up towards my groin! (lol) That was certainly an accident waiting to happen!  I played Defensive End and Tight End and I thought I played well, and all of a sudden they needed a Center and that’s where I ended up for the rest of my career!  I use to play tackle football on weekends and it was always with bigger guys and at the time they were in High School and I was still in Grade School so I think that prepared me for football in making me tough and developing my skills against older boys. 

I developed and came along in my playing and I was very lucky to receive great coaching.  Like they say the rest is history and things just turned out great for me!”

Next week we’ll see if Dave was the biggest guy on his High School team and his thoughts on XFL Football!!!

      Click here to see Dave's past interviews

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