Archives for January 22, 2016

'“They get along famously,” Robert Smith, Kathryn’s father, told the Post-Standard. “She likes him, he likes her. The fact that he asked her to go wherever he ended up is a big vote of confidence for her. She enjoys working for him very much.”'

'Smith said she appreciated expressions of support from members of the Bills and nationally in the wake of the news of her hiring. She singled out congratulatory tweets by Barbie and the Girl Scouts of America as “pretty cool.”'

'She couldn’t possibly be qualified to the same level that a man could be qualified to do that.'

'“It’s really just been an amazing opportunity more than anything. I got into sports. I got into football. Obviously, you want to grow your role. You want to go into the next thing. It’s an entry-level coaching position. I’m going to start here on the coaching track and go from here.”'

'“There are so many other females in very important roles in football organizations, whether it’s in administration, athletic trainers, public relations, so many departments have women,” Smith added. “Kim Pegula, for example, is our owner. I’m an entry level coach. So yes I might be the first coach, but I’m not the only woman in the building or dealing with the coaches or players on a daily basis. So that’s how I’m looking at it.”'

'“She wasn’t the best player on those teams, but she worked as hard as anybody and was respected as much as anybody,” Wleklinski said. “It’s great to see she continued to work hard while at St. John’s and with the Jets and, now, the Bills.”'

'"She goes from being someone hard-working, doing the right stuff, to all of a sudden being the answer to a trivia question. And it couldn't happen to a nicer person," Wleklinski added. "You couldn't have foreseen this happening. I don't think anybody could. But all that we are is just proud in knowing that she worked hard to get to where she is. She earned this."'

'"You always wonder what results your sacrifices, your work and your efforts will allow to happen, and this has happened in very real time, and I think it's exciting."'

'Because you can't have an NFL head coach who's never played football, can you? Well, actually, you can, if he's a man. Todd Haley, now the Steelers' offensive coordinator, became head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs even though he never played organized football, not even in high school.'

'Quality Control Coach is often a thankless, tireless job. They aren’t the coaches who ever get their name in headlines. Long hours are put in staring at computer entries and having to pay attention to minute details. But it’s a very important position all teams rely upon in all three phases of the game. It’s an entry-level coaching position that allows those who stick with it and do a good job to possibly move into roles as a position coach, and maybe go on from there.'

'The second five of 20 edge rushers to know when it comes to the Bills…'.

'“I was surprised at first, but I also know Rex really puts a lot of faith in his staff and his people, so from that standpoint it made sense knowing I’ve worked with Rex directly and indirectly for a number of years,” said Smith. “So he knows my work ethic and what I’ve done in the past, but it was a bit surprising that he came to me with this.”'