 |
 |
Former Dreadnaught Pouncey Goes To Pittsburgh
By Tom Zebold
The Ledger
Published: Friday, April 23, 2010 at 12:08 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 23, 2010 at 12:08 a.m.
Family celebrated with Maurkice Pouncey on his big NFL Draft night, and family was on his mind after he got the call he's been dreaming of since he was 6 years old.
The former Florida Gators All-American center was selected 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, making him the eighth Polk County player ever to be picked in the first round.
And instead of talking about what new house or car he'd buy for himself, the former Lakeland High School star said he'll do something even more special with his first big check.
"I'm so happy right now that I can finally take care of my family that's always been there for me," he said. "I'll tell you one thing, the first thing I'm doing, my grandma, she's... 80 years old, she's not going to work another day in her life."
Family was on hand for Pouncey's big night, and tons of friends, too. More than 100 people were either packed inside and outside Pouncey's parents' moderately sized home to congratulate him after he became Polk's first first-rounder since former Kathleen receiver Freddie Mitchell was selected 25th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001. "Polk County represented with the fullest extent," Pouncey's father, Rob Webster, said.
The celebration really began at 9:22 p.m. when Pouncey got the call from the Steelers, six minutes before an ESPN camera captured the official pick when friends and family flooded the small living room decorated with Gators memorabilia from Pouncey and twin brother Mike. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin was on the line first with Maurkice Pouncey as tears streamed down the cheeks of his mother, Lisa Webster. Other coaches followed Tomlin, and the message was clear for the new Steeler. "They all said the same thing: 'Get ready to come to work. See you tomorrow,'" Pouncey said.
But before the call came in, the atmosphere went from relaxed and filled with laughs to a bit tense as the first round passed its midpoint."I was being nervous," Pouncey said. "Words can't even explain that." Once the Steelers picked their man, it reaffirmed a feeling Pouncey had going into the draft."I met with them three times, so I already had a good feeling for them," he said. "I kind of knew coming in that was my team, I just didn't want to say anything." The outcome turned out to be a granted wish as well. "He told me all week that he wanted to go to Pittsburgh, so I'm glad it worked out for him," Mike Pouncey said. "I know he'll do real good up there."
For the parents, it also was a granted wish, from a geographical standpoint. Before Pittsburgh, San Francisco was selecting 17th, which made Pouncey's mother a bit nervous. "I seen the San Francisco 49ers, I was like, 'Oh God, please don't send my baby all the way to California,'" she said. "Then Michael said it was the Steelers, I was like, 'Thank you Jesus.'" Webster was already planning what the family will be doing on future weekends. "We have to go to Michael's games on Saturday and go to Maurkice's games on Sunday," she said. Mike Pouncey, now a senior offensive lineman at Florida, passed on the NFL draft this season but is using his brother's success as a goal. "It's a lot of motivation," he said. "Of course I want to go higher than him next year. Just bust my behind on the field and just hope for the best."
