APPLETON -- Rocky Bleier, the Appleton prep star who became a starting running back on four Super Bowl championship teams in Pittsburgh in the 1970s, is getting a place of honor at his alma mater -- Xavier High School.
Bleier, 61, whose NFL career was interrupted when he was wounded while serving in Vietnam, will have the Xavier football field named for him Oct. 12 as part of a three-day celebration and fundraiser to establish a scholarship fund, also in his name.
''What a wonderful honor,'' Bleier said.
''I'm happy to come back and help,'' he said. ''It's a good cause and a good reason.''
Bleier and coach Gene ''Torchy'' Clark led Xavier to an undefeated record in three years of varsity of football, ending as Wisconsin's top-rated team in 1962. Bleier averaged 9.4 yards a carry for his high school career.
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He went on to star at Notre Dame, and then his NFL career was put on hold when the Army drafted him and sent him to Vietnam in 1969.
He suffered leg and feet injuries in an ambush but came back to become a starter for the Steelers during their series of Super Bowl runs.
The football field at Xavier is adjacent to a gym that now is named for Clark.
Bleier, a motivational speaker who still lives in Pittsburgh, said it was humbling to join Clark in being honored.
''He spent 11 years at Xavier,'' said Bleier. ''I was there only a short period of time, three years. To put it into context, I pale under what impact Torchy had on that school and that foundation, and the lives he touched along the way.''
