Paterra starred at Slippery Rock
Not many running backs gain more than 3,000 yards and score more than 30 touchdowns in both high school and college.
Elizabeth Forward High's Greg Paterra did.
After ending his scholastic career in 1984 as the Warriors' all-time leading rusher and scorer, Paterra did the same at Slippery Rock University.
He graduated from the Rock in 1988 with 3,149 yards and 186 points on 31 touchdowns in only three years.
The fact that he ended up at the Rock is another story.
"Because of my grades I had to go to a junior college (Hartford Community College in Baltimore)," he recalled.
The school, however, dropped its football program after his freshman year.
"I had no where to go," he said. "I was working in a beer distributor that summer when my midget and mighty mite football coach Bob Johns took me up to Slippery Rock. They really didn't know much about me and I didn't get a chance until the starting running back got hurt in a scrimmage against Hillsdale."
After getting his first start, Paterra never lost the job.
Although he ran for more than 100 yards in 16 of his last 19 collegiate games, one game stands out in his college career. It was at fourth-ranked Millersville in his senior campaign.
"I had a 100 degree temperature and the flu the day before the game and wasn't going to play," he claimed.
Paterra played and scored four touchdowns, including an 80-yarder, and ran for close to 200 yards as the Rock pulled off a 34-29 upset.
Paterra was good enough to finish tied for fifth in the balloting for the Harlon Hill Trophy given to the country's top NCAA Division II gridder.
An impressive showing in the NFL Combine at Indianapolis resulted in Paterra getting drafted in the 11th round by Atlanta.
"I ran a 4.4 in the 40 and was the strongest running back, bench-pressing 225 pounds over 30 times," he said. "The papers had me going in the fifth or sixth round but I think I went late because I played at a small school."
For the Falcons, Paterra starred on the special teams where he returned kicks with Deion Sanders.
"My special teams coach was Foge Fazio," he said.
Paterra's Atlanta stay as short-lived when new coach Jerry Glanville cleaned house and he was traded to Detroit.
He was with the Lions for only four games before being released and then ended up with four years at Buffalo, including a season with the Montreal Machine in the World League of American Football.
Paterra is getting ready for his fifth season as an Elizabeth Forward assistant football coach and works for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
He's married to the former Kathleen Kisselovich of Blaine Hill. They have four athletic daughters: Ashley, 17; Victoria, 14; Elizabeth, 12; and Andrea, 11. Ashley doubles as a cheerleader and swimmer while the other three are basketball and softball players.
