When people talk about great Penn Hills football players, the conversation usually starts with quarterbacks, running backs, or linebackers.

But championships are won in the trenches.

Barry Tielsch was one of the finest offensive linemen Pennsylvania had to offer in the early 1990s. A dominant offensive tackle and physical run blocker, he helped pave the way for one of Penn Hills’ outstanding football eras while also making an impact on the defensive line.

His play earned him a spot on the prestigious Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 team in 1991—an honor reserved for the best high school football players in Western Pennsylvania. He later continued his career at Penn State, joining one of college football’s premier programs.

As someone who loves telling the stories of Penn Hills legends, I believe it’s important to recognize the players who did the dirty work. Running backs get the headlines, but none of it happens without great offensive linemen opening holes and protecting quarterbacks.

Barry Tielsch was one of those guys. Today, we celebrate another Penn Hills OG whose impact deserves to be remembered.

 

Q: What was it like growing up in Penn Hills and representing such a proud football tradition?

A: Growing up in Penn Hills was amazing because we had a wonderful support system as young athletes. I played football, baseball, basketball, and wrestling starting at six years old before focusing on football as a sophomore. In each of those youth sports, there were people sacrificing their time to support us. Whether it was volunteer coaches, equipment managers, fundraising, working the concession stand, cheerleading, or countless other roles, there was never a lack of support. Not only were parents involved, but people without children and those whose kids had already grown up continued giving back to the community.

 

Q: When did you first realize football could take you to the next level?

A: I think it was in middle school. I was always a big kid, so I had to play up in youth football because of the weight limits. By eighth grade, I weighed around 185 pounds, so there was no way I was making the 135-pound limit for the Bantams. That was the first time I was playing against kids my own age, and it was when I realized what I was capable of.

 

Q: You played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle in high school. Which position did you enjoy more, and why?

A: I enjoyed both very much. There was nothing like wreaking havoc on defense, but offense was what I truly loved. Our offense only threw the ball maybe four or five times a game, which meant our offensive line could get on our toes, fire off the ball, and physically dominate people. I also had the privilege of blocking for some incredible players, including Steve Russell, Adam Martin, Larry Jackson, Rich Brooks, Mike Peeler, TK Allen, Otis Duncan, Mark Murphy, Jermaine Carswell, Kenny Burkley, and many others.

 

Q: You were known as one of the best run blockers in Pennsylvania. What made run blocking so satisfying compared to pass protection?

A: See my answer to No. 3 for starters. Watching those quarterbacks and running backs hit the holes and break into the open field was an awesome feeling. There is nothing like exploding off the ball, engaging a defender, taking control of him, and driving him onto his back—or 10 to 15 yards down the field.

 

Q: Being selected to the Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 in 1991 was a huge accomplishment. What did that recognition mean to you at the time?

A: It was a great feeling to represent Penn Hills and my family in the Fabulous 22. My dad was—and still is—a loyal reader of the Post-Gazette. Growing up, he would always point out the Fabulous 22 selections to me each year. To eventually earn that honor myself was incredible. We even went down to the Post-Gazette building in downtown Pittsburgh for the photo shoot, and that’s something I’ll never forget.

 

Q: What do you remember most about those Penn Hills teams and the teammates you went to battle with every Friday night?

A: The best part about growing up in one place and playing for your hometown public school is that you compete alongside the same people you grew up with while representing the community that supported you all along. I’m not a big fan of today’s culture where kids transfer to multiple high schools or even move out of state to play. Let kids finish where they started, with the classmates they’ve grown up with. We had incredibly talented teams every year with many Division I players. Moving up to varsity as a sophomore was an eye-opener. Going against senior Aaron Jackson (Michigan State) on the practice boards by the creek during camp made me realize this wasn’t going to be easy. I could name so many teammates, but I was fortunate to grow up playing with Tom Tomulty (Pitt). I don’t know if I’ve ever played with a better athlete for his size. He was an outstanding tight end, an even better linebacker, and also starred at shortstop in baseball. More than anything, what defined our teams was our pride in wearing the Big Red uniform. That pride created dedication, friendship, accountability, sacrifice, and a willingness to give everything for each other. If anyone wants to understand what Western Pennsylvania high school football was like in the late 1980s and early 1990s, watch the 1989 Penn Hills highlight film. That was my sophomore year.

 

Q: Penn Hills has produced some legendary linemen over the years. What did it mean to be part of that tradition?

A: We were all trying to live up to one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time—Bill Fralic. Fralic was still playing in the NFL while I was in high school, so just being mentioned alongside him was a privilege. Following someone like Aaron Jackson was also an honor because he showed us what it took to succeed. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the other linemen I played with. Two years older than me were Aaron Jackson and David Baines, who was an inspiring teammate. One year older was Eric Keiser, whom I grew up playing alongside and who was a tremendous athlete. One year younger was Jim Gardner, who was never afraid to stick his head in there with the big boys. My classmates included Ben Kincel, Warren Weir, and Bob McCabe. We had four senior starting offensive linemen, and we ran the ball on just about everyone that year—except Woodland Hills.

 

Q: What was the recruiting process like before committing to Penn State? Why did Penn State feel like the right choice?

A: My son recently went through today’s recruiting process and is now a freshman at the University of Minnesota. It’s completely different than it was 35 years ago. Social media puts a tremendous amount of pressure on young athletes because they can instantly compare themselves to players from all over the country. That can be motivating if handled properly, but it can also be difficult. Penn State was the right place for me. Joe Paterno was in his prime, and we were bringing in outstanding talent every year. Pitt was going through coaching changes and difficult seasons at the time. During my four active seasons, we went 42-7. I was also part of Penn State’s first season in the Big Ten. In 1994, we finished undefeated, won the Rose Bowl, and were left out of a share of the national championship. I’d do it all over again.

 

Q: What was the biggest adjustment from dominating high school football to competing at Penn State?

A: The biggest adjustment was the physicality and the work. You think you’re working hard in high school until college shows you what your body is actually capable of. I also realized I couldn’t simply overpower everyone anymore. Technique became everything. You had to know exactly what you were doing every single play. Early in my career, I was moved to center. I wasn’t thrilled about it at first, but it turned out to be the right move. I eventually became a two-year starter at center in 1995 and 1996.

 

Q: Which coach had the biggest impact on your life, both on and off the football field?

A: It’s impossible to pick just one. First and foremost is my dad, Butch Tielsch. I wish everyone could have a father like mine—not only as a coach but as a mentor in life. I was fortunate to have outstanding youth coaches, including Joe Pizzuti, Bernie Murphy, Ronny Kleckner, Cliff Anderson, and Mike Crossey. At Penn Hills, Neil Gordon was an incredible leader and motivator. Greg Botta brought unmatched enthusiasm and passion every day before going on to become a successful head coach at Franklin Regional. Every assistant coach made a difference, including Mr. Birmingham, George Poindexter, Coach Erhentraut, Tim Timko, Paul Seneca, Carl Sinkula, and many others. Then I had the privilege of playing for Joe Paterno. What happened at Penn State was tragic, and I hope the victims are able to find healing. As a coach, however, Joe Paterno was an outstanding teacher, motivator, and one of the toughest people I’ve ever known. The lessons we learned there have stayed with us for life.

 

Q: Looking back, what game from your high school career stands out as the one you’ll never forget?

A: Our first playoff victory during my senior year against Penn-Trafford stands out the most. We had made the playoffs during my sophomore and junior years but lost in the opening round both times, so finally getting that first postseason win meant a lot. I also remember the Hurricane Hugo game in 1989 against McKeesport. Most area games were postponed until Saturday, but we played through it and lost a close game. Another unforgettable memory was my senior-year game at Plum when the stadium lights went out during the second quarter. We took halftime early, waited for the lights to come back on, then finished strong and won.

 

Q: Offensive linemen rarely get the spotlight. Did you take pride in doing the work that helped everyone else succeed?

A: If you want the spotlight, you probably shouldn’t play offensive line. Opening holes and watching great running backs do their thing is what it’s all about. Pass protecting and seeing your quarterback connect on big plays is just as rewarding.

 

Q: What advice would you give today’s offensive linemen who want to earn Division I scholarships?

A: Like I said, my son just went through the process and earned an opportunity at a Big Ten school. It’s much tougher today and starts at a younger age. My advice is simple: First, be coachable. Listen, watch, learn, and absorb everything—not just your own reps but everyone else’s as well. Be a sponge and keep your love for the game. Second, put in the extra work. Speed training, position-specific drills, and film study all matter. The players who separate themselves are usually the ones willing to do more than everyone else.

 

Q: When people look back on Barry Tielsch’s football career years from now, what do you hope they remember most—not just about the player, but about the man?

A: I hope they remember that I always worked as hard as I could. That I loved the game of football. That I tried to be a leader and a good teammate. And that I took the lessons football taught me and applied them to life the best I possibly could.