Football: "Grandpa Hog" Gets Hamilton Elementary School in the Mood for the NFL Season

Special to VivaLoudoun.com
via Loudoun County Public Schools

Hamilton (Sept. 13, 2010) - Ron Saul has lived just about every boy’s dream; playing professional football for 13 years and being part of a Super Bowl champion.

His biggest thrill, however, was being named an Academic All-America at Michigan State and obtaining an education that has allowed him to lead a successful life outside football.

That’s what Saul told the students of Hamilton Elementary on Friday, September 10th, as part of the NFL’s Back to Football Friday. NFL teams are offering prizes to schools that show exceptional spirit prior to their team’s opening kickoff (in the case of Hamilton, Sunday night’s Redskins game with Dallas).

Saul was the oldest of the original “Hogs” and thus bears the nickname “Grandpa Hog.”

Saul’s message went beyond football and games.

The thing that he is most proud of is that not only he, but his identical twin brother, Rich, was an Academic All-America. The Sauls are the first identical twins to achieve this honor as well as the first identical twins drafted by the NFL (Ron was a guard for the Oilers and Redskins between 1970 and 1982; Rich a defensive tackle with the Rams from 1970 to 1981).

Students were encouraged to wear an NFL jersey for the pep rally, but not everyone wore Redskins paraphernalia. Saul said he could excuse those wearing a Steelers jersey (he’s a native of Butler, Pa., and his older brother, Bill, played linebacker for Pittsburgh in 1964 and between 1966 and 1968).

Saul could even forgive those wearing a Cowboys jersey.

“I was a Cowboy fan when I was a Redskin. You know why? Because we beat them all the time…”

Saul led students and teachers in a spirited rendition of “Hail to the Redskins” and impressed everyone by singing the song’s obscure second verse.

About Sunday’s game: Saul predicted a 21-14 Washington victory with defense dominating the action.
Saul said he played an average of 60 plays per game with each lasting about six seconds. Those six seconds were filled with intense action, he added. “It’s not for the meek and mild.”

As part of his appearance, Saul let students try on his Super Bowl XVII ring and signed a football card depicting a younger version of himself that a student brought to school.

Among the facts the 62-year-old Saul shared about himself:
• He weighs 213 now, as opposed to 280 pounds as a player. (He’s also two inches shorter from the pounding he took in the NFL.)
• He’s had nine knee operations and a shoulder replacement.
• He’s a licensed teacher in four states, including Virginia.
• During his first three games in the NFL, Saul faced future Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke and Bob Lilly. After the third game he remembers asking a coach “When does it get any easier?”
• He played against his twin brother three times in the NFL with Ron’s team winning each contest.