Proehl, O’Hara, Mayer among 120 at annual golf event
By: John E. Powers
It was easy to imagine Otto Gsell being in the middle of the crowd at the St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough last Thursday night. It was a spirited gathering with people trading stories and enjoying the give and take of the type of wisecracks the popular late Hillsborough High School teacher and coach would have appreciated.
The crowd came, in part, to honor Gsell, who coached and taught at Hillsborough High School for many years before his death in 2000. They came to take part in the fourth annual Otto Gsell Golf Classic, which began with a golf outing at Quail Brook Golf Course and was capped by a dinner at St. Mary Byzantine Church.
The crowd included three Hillsborough High School graduates and former football players now playing in the National Football League. Carolina Panther receiver Ricky Proehl, New York Giant center Shawn O’Hara and New England Patriots defensive back Shawn Mayer were all coached at one point in their high school careers by Gsell.
More than 120 took part in the golf outing that included a closest to the pin contest, long drive contest and a raffle of NFL material. Hillsborough Raider Touchdown Association president Bruce Wayne and event director Jim Ruh assisted the outing. Former Hillsborough High School Athletic Director Rocky Forte was instrumental as usual.
"We had a great response the last three or four years," said Ruh, a 1992 graduate of Hillsborough High School and former Raider football player. "The first year we had it we said that if Otto was there he would have shot 57 before he made his first tee-shot. It’s definitely a good time and definitely reflective of Otto’s personality."
Proehl, who won a Super Bowl ring in 2000 with the St. Louis Rams, has always spoke with reverence about Gsell. The year the Rams beat the Titans for the Super Bowl title, Proehl brought Gsell to Atlanta to watch the game.
"I loved Otto," Proehl said. "He meant so much to me and where I am today. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. He was like a father figure, a brother and a good friend and his family means a lot to me. I remain close to Betty, the kids, Otto, Paul, and Jen. I don’t know if I would have had the career if it weren’t for Otto. I hope I can get more involved next year. I love to come back and see old friends. Anytime I can get back to Hillsborough it means a lot. So many people here mean so much."
Gsell’s widow, Betty, welcomed the dinner crowd.
"It’s the best honor and tribute I could ever imagine," Mrs. Gsell said. "Just the fact that his memory lives on is a blessing in disguise. Everybody who comes here faithfully every year as a tribute is a blessing. Otto loved what he did and he had a passion for all his football players, wrestlers, golfers it was a passion of his life. They are all coming back. What goes around comes around and they are coming back to honor my husband. The saddest part is that he isn’t here."
Mayer, whose Patriots beat Proehl and the Panthers in this past year’s Super Bowl, said he remembered Gsell coaching his older brother, Jim.
"He coached my brother, growing up and I would always go to his practices when I was with the Junior Raiders and he would always take me to the side and say ‘work hard’ and all that stuff," Mayer said. "It helped me out as a young guy wanting to work hard and get to the point of being a good high school player. We always had a good rapport."