Wilkes alum Paul Domowitch chronicled the life and career of late Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Mills in his new book, ‘Just Give Me A Chance to Fail.’
Submitted
Submitted
Jolley
Wyoming Valley native Paul Domowitch always knew he wanted to be a sportswriter and made that dream come true throughout a long career covering the National Football League.
A Wilkes University alum, he spent nearly 40 years as an award-winning sports reporter, Philadelphia Stars and Philadelphia Eagles beat writer, and columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News before retiring in 2021 to focus on time with family and writing books.
Domowitch released his new book, “Just Give Me A Chance to Fail – The Life of NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Sam Mills” in July, and the inspiring biography is being well-received not only in Philadelphia, New Orleans and Carolina where Mills played professional football, but everywhere.
Reading “Just Give Me A Chance to Fail” is an enjoyable experience, as the book is written with respect, style, knowledge, and energy.
A Pro Football Hall of Fame selector since 2002, Domowitch recently spent Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, reminiscing with old friends and signing copies of his book.
Professional football insiders, those who know the game inside and out, appreciate that he is telling the story of Sam Mills to a new generation of fans who never saw the undersized All-Pro linebacker excel on the field.
Mills was an underdog from the beginning. Considered too small at 5-foot-9, he was ignored by the big-time college programs and instead played at Division III Montclair State in New Jersey. More than 40 years later, Mills still holds the school record for career tackles.
Despite being named a two-time Division III First Team All-American, he was not selected in the NFL draft, and subsequent tryouts with the Cleveland Browns and the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts went nowhere.
Mills returned home believing his professional football career was over before it had a chance to begin. Family and friends convinced him to try out for the Philadelphia Stars in the newly formed United States Football League (USFL) and once again he proved his worth.
Coached by Jim Mora, Mills was an All-Star in all three USFL seasons and won two league championships with the Stars in 1984-85. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a Dunmore native who wrote the foreword to Domowitch’s book, was on Mora’s coaching staff with the Stars. After the league folded both coaches ensured Mills continued his career in the NFL.
“I met Sam in 1983 when I was assigned to cover the Stars, and it didn’t take long to understand he was a special player and person,” said Domowitch. “He had an extra gear or two that not many players can reach, and he was clearly a leader.”
Over 12 NFL seasons – nine with the New Orleans Saints and three with the Carolina Panthers – Mills played in 181 games and registered over 1,300 tackles, 22 forced fumbles, 20.5 quarterback sacks, and 11 interceptions. He was 38 when he retired from playing and joined Carolina’s coaching staff.
Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in August 2003 when doctors told him he had only a few months to live. Weakened by the cancer but still showing up for work nearly every day, Mills addressed the team prior to an important playoff game. He again stood tall and shared his “keep pounding” philosophy with the players who, inspired by his strength and attitude, won the game.
With his typical grit and desire, he defied the odds and lived 20 months before passing away at age 45 on April 18, 2005. The Panthers subsequently retired his uniform No. 51.
Sam Mills never stopped working or trying, and never lost due to lack of effort.
Twenty-one years after his death, there is a statue of Mills outside the stadium in Charlotte and his “keep pounding” advice continues at the center of Carolina’s overall methodology. Mills was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and, long overdue, elected posthumously to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
All Sam Mills ever wanted was a chance and he made the most of every opportunity he worked so hard to get. And, as Domowitch, so ably writes, Mills did it with character and class.
“He was loved and admired by everyone who ever knew him,” Domowitch said. “He was one of the finest human beings I’ve had the pleasure of covering and getting to know during my career.”
Importantly, fame and success never changed Sam Mills.
“He was the same humble person when I interviewed him in Charlotte seven months before his death as he was two decades earlier the first time I sat down with him at the Stars training camp,” Domowitch said. “He was just a wonderful person and I am honored to share his story with readers.”
During his college days, Domowitch announced matches for the then-Division I Wilkes wrestling program. He was the sports editor for the Wilkes newspaper, The Beacon, and worked the radio broadcasts for the college’s basketball games on WCLH-FM.
His storied career has taken him from Wilkes-Barre to Midland and Fort Worth, Texas, his first journalism jobs where he covered the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys, and then back to Pennsylvania.
He credits the strong Northeast Pennsylvania work ethic with playing a large part in his success.
“I will be back to visit the Wyoming Valley Oct. 9-11 for Wilkes University’s homecoming weekend and look forward to renewing friendships and seeing everyone,” Domowitch said.
Paul will present a talk and sign books in front of the Wilkes Colonel Corner Campus Store, inside the South Street entrance to the Henry Student Center at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. The public is welcome to attend.
As a fellow Wilkes Colonel, Class of 1978, I will be happy to see Paul and welcome him back home.
David Jolley is a writer, author, public relations and marketing communications consultant, sports fan and historian. For more content, visit davidajolley.com.
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