Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer was overcome with emotion Thursday morning, speaking for the first time since the death of Pittsburgh wide receiver coach Darryl Drake.
Drake, who was 62, was found in his Saint Vincent College dorm room Sunday morning.
"He didn't have any boys," Switzer said, while choking back tears. "He always called us his sons. I just took that with me to camp. He called us his sons."
"For some reason I just trusted him," Switzer added. "I've had a lot of tunrover in my short career and a have a had a lot of empty and broken promises. I didn't feel that with Drake. Never did. He was a trustworthy person and so welcoming, so warm. I felt that right away when I got here."
"I'm a better man, a better husband, a better son, a better friend, a better teammate because of coach Drake and because of the things that he taught me. I promise you they won't go in vain. I'll take things that he instilled in me and that he shared with me from his experiences the rest of my life. I think that's the best thing he could have ever given me."