Pete Ladygo facts for kids
Ladygo as a senior at Maryland in 1951
|
|
| Position: | Guard, center, linebacker |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 23, 1928 West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died: | August 22, 2014 (aged 86) Keyser, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Maryland (1950–1951) |
| NFL Draft: | 1952 / Round: 16 / Pick: 186 by the Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Player stats at PFR | |
Peter Glenn Ladygo (born June 23, 1928 – died August 22, 2014) was an American football player. He was known for playing as a guard (a player who blocks for teammates) and linebacker (a player who defends against the other team). He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL) from 1952 to 1954. Later, he played as a guard for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1955. Before becoming a professional, Ladygo played college football at the University of Maryland.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Pete Ladygo was born on June 23, 1928, in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania. He went to Allegheny Prep School, which helped him prepare for college. After that, he attended Potomac State College.
Later, he transferred to the University of Maryland. There, he played college football for the Maryland Terrapins team. His coach was Jim Tatum. Pete earned special awards called varsity letters in both 1950 and 1951 for his excellent play.
In 1950, Maryland had a big upset win against Michigan State. During that game, Ladygo caught an interception (when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an opponent). He ran the ball 23 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble (when a player drops the ball) against George Washington that same year. In 1951, he recovered another fumble in the end zone against Washington & Lee. This play led to Maryland's first touchdown of the season.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Pete Ladygo in the 16th round of the 1952 NFL Draft. He was the 186th player picked overall. In June 1952, he officially signed a contract to play for the team.
Ladygo played three seasons for the Steelers, from 1952 to 1954. He mainly played as a right guard. In 1952, he played in all twelve games. He even returned one kickoff for four yards.
In 1953, Pete Ladygo unfortunately broke his leg. Because of this injury, he did not play in any games during the 1953 season. However, he made a strong comeback in 1954. That year, he returned to play in all twelve games for the Steelers.
Playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders
In 1955, Pete Ladygo decided to play in Canada. He joined the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Detroit Lions in the NFL had tried to get him to play for them, but Ladygo wanted to play in Canada. He said he had not signed with Detroit and wanted to play for Ottawa.
During the 1955 season, he caught one interception and ran it for 12 yards. The Ottawa Citizen newspaper praised him, calling him the "outstanding Ottawa lineman" in September. He also recovered a fumble against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which helped his team score points. In another game against Hamilton, Ladygo and two teammates played almost the entire game and were described as "immense" (meaning they played incredibly well).
Life After Football
After his football career in Canada, Pete Ladygo returned to Keyser, West Virginia. He lived there with his wife, Jackie. He became a teacher and football coach at Bruce High School in Westernport, Maryland. He also worked as an assistant football coach at Potomac State College, where he had played earlier.
In 1988, Pete Ladygo was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Potomac State College Athletic Hall of Fame. Pete Ladygo passed away in Keyser on August 22, 2014.
