What he did: The 1983 cult movie "All The Right Moves" with Tom Cruise, who plays a rugged, opinionated high school football player in a rundown Pennsylvania steel town, is not quite how Fralic grew up. But it is close. Fralic's childhood was spent in the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills. His father was a Marine and steel worker and mother a waitress.
After a brilliant high school career, he left for a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a consensus All-American offensive lineman three times. He was drafted second overall in the 1985 draft by the Falcons behind Virginia Tech defensive end Bruce Smith. Fralic, at 6 foot 5 and 285 pounds, quickly became a starting tackle and was named All-Pro 1986 and again in ’87. He played in three Pro Bowls. Though was hampered by injuries, he built a reputation as a great run blocker and despite the Falcons struggling during those years, he played on some very good offensive lines with Jeff Van Note, Jamie Dukes, Chris Hinton, John Scully and Mike Kenn.
Fralic remains a legend in his home state and his name sits beside Chuck Bednarik and Mike Munchak as a first team offensive lineman on the state’s high school “All-Century team.’’ Fralic points to his father as having a huge influence on his life but also legendary offensive line coach Joe Moore, who tutored him during his four years with the Panthers.
Fralic arrived at Pitt in 1981, playing one season under head coach Jackie Sherrill. As a freshman starter, he faced Georgia and Herschel Walker in the 1981 Sugar Bowl, beating the Bulldogs when quarterback Dan Marino threw for a touchdown in the final seconds. He twice finished in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy balloting (eighth in 1983, sixth in ’84), a first for an offensive lineman. His blocking style gave rise to the “Pancake,” which the Pitt’s sports information staff used as a stat for every time Fralic knocked an opposing defensive lineman on his back. Fralic meant so much to the school that his No. 79 jersey was retired at his last home game and he also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
When the 1985 draft came, the Falcons desperately wanted Fralic and traded up two spots with Minnesota to get him. He played eight years for the Falcons, the team’s best record during that span being 7-8-1 in 1986. He retired after one season in Detroit. As good as he was on the field, he was also very outspoken off it and in 1989 testified in a U.S. Senate hearing about the rampant use of steroids in the NFL, pushing for stricter testing. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time, said Fralic’s testimony was “refreshing and believable.” He worked a couple of years as a color analyst for Falcons games on the radio and also spent many years as part of the Pitt radio team.
Where he lives: Fralic, 52, lives in Roswell with his wife of nine years, Susan, and his two English Bulldogs, Daisy and Charlie.
What he does now: Fralic just celebrated the 25th anniversary of his property and causality insurance company that deals primarily with trucking companies across the county. He recently had a knee and hip replacement which has allowed him to get back to playing golf and working out. He also is very involved with fundraising for rescuing English Bulldogs and will be co-chairing the Bully Ball next year on March 7 at the St. Regis to help raise money for the animals that are in need of care.
On his love for English Bulldogs: "I always had Rottweilers but seven years ago, someone spotted an English Bulldog sitting in a cage at a Petco and told Susan about him and she went and got him. That was Daisy and last year we raised more than $200,000 at the Bully Ball.''
On the 1985 draft: "It's funny but I just got a call from NFL Films about that draft and I am supposed to do something with them next week. It was a different deal back then. We didn't go to New York and I woke that morning and the Falcons called me and told me that they had drafted me second. I remember getting on a plane to Atlanta, doing a press conference and I think I came back the same day."
On his years with the Falcons: "It was what it was and to say anything else I would be kidding myself. I wish we won more football games but I was comfortable that I showed up every day ready to play. I wish I could have been a little healthier."
On the toughest defensive lineman he ever faced: "I'm not going to name names but I would just say playing down in New Orleans against those guys in front of that crowd was tough. And San Francisco was known for their offense but their defensive fronts were really good back then.''
On beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl: "People down here sure don't forget things like that."
On the difference in linemen today: "The game has changed. It is more quarterback driven. I am not sure how that shakes down to the line. They do seem a little bigger these days. We didn't see many 300-pounders back then."
On concussions: "I am all for them trying to help the former players get the help they need. I remember having one, maybe two during my career. But I would go at someone with my forehead every play and that is a lot of trauma."
On his concern that head trauma may still affect him: "I don't worry about it. I am aware that it could either happen or will happen. But I still like the game better the way it was played when I was in it. If I had kids I would let them play. The rewards outweigh everything else."
On what are the rewards: "The game is very special. There was nothing like it when we were hitting on all cylinders. It really helped me a lot with my business because it taught me there were always going to be highs and lows with everything you do. It also teaches kids to leave their ego at the door and play as a team.''
On whether he still watches the Falcons: "Sure, I do, but I sweat over the outcome like I did when I was playing. I don't lose any sleep anymore."
On speaking out against steroids: "I thought there were a significant number of players doing it and really felt there was a problem. My story with steroids has always been consistent and I tried them in college and my father found the bottle and told me I didn't need to cheat. It was all about keeping up with the Joneses back then and I can't imagine where I would be today if my father wouldn't have stopped me."
On participating in Wrestlemania: "It's funny but I knew a local wrestler in high school and my agent sort of used the fact that I may go into wrestling instead of football as leverage when he was doing my contract with the Falcons. After the Bears won the Super Bowl (1985), they had Wrestlemania in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and they invited a bunch of football players like the Refrigerator (William Perry) for a battle royal in Chicago. It was all scripted out and I got to throw my college teammate (Jim Covert) out of the ring and I think Big John Studd and the Iron Sheik threw me out. It was a blast."
