Courtesy of John Harrison
Former Lion wrestler and football player Mike Reid is a true Renaissance man. An Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion, two time All-American football player, and first round draft choice and subsequent two time All-Pro defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike has since gone on to have a successful music career. For twenty years he has been writing chart topping country and pop songs for Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson and Ronnie Milsap, among others. Along the way he picked up several Grammy Awards and numerous other honors such as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ (ASCAP) “Writer of the Year” award. Mike, who has a degree in Music from Penn State, has also written an opera, “Different Fields”, which was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera Guild (New York) and Opera Memphis.
Mike was an amazing athlete with catlike quickness and balance to go along with his great strength. He wrestled like a lower weight; he had a beautiful duck under and a great single and double shot. His standup was fantastic-he came up like a rocket. He had so much potential. He was a great guy too. When he came out for the team he went right to work; he had a great work ethic and just fit right in with the guys. His sophomore year, he came out late for the team because of his football commitments and after he got into wrestling shape he was undefeated. He ended up as Eastern champion at heavyweight and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament before tearing the cartilage in his knee. After that injury, he wasn’t allowed to come out for wrestling again. I would have loved to see him wrestle two more years as he had a chance to be a one or two-time national champion. I remember during his freshman year (I was a sophomore); we were at Lehigh for a match and Mike disappeared. Nobody could find him for hours until we finally located him in a store window playing the piano. He played all afternoon-that was his way of relaxing. Then he went out that night and kicked the heck out of his opponent. I was ready to take piano lessons-I figured if that was the secret of success then I’d do it too. He was a neat young man and we are still friends today-Mike is a good person. One of the things I admire most about him is that he has always stuck close to his family.
-former Penn State wrestler and head coach Rich Lorenzo
Mike, update us on your career since you retired from professional football.
Since those (football) days, I have been involved full time with music. I had a band for awhile, then I played solo for a number of years. I was on the road 35-40 weeks a year. In 1980, I moved to Nashville and began to write songs. I had some hits as a writer, mostly by country singers although the songs were not necessarily country. It’s been fairly constant since then. I have records out which were done by a variety of people, Bonnie Rait, for example, with “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Then a few years ago I got a commission to write an opera. The opera I wrote is set against the background of a professional football team. Now I am doing some song writing but am mostly trying to crack the Broadway barrier. Most of what I’m writing now is theater and chamber.
What are your best memories from the years you spent as a Penn State wrestler?
The best is when we beat Lehigh in 1967. It came down to my match and I beat my guy-unfortunately the heavyweight gets all the credit. Lehigh had a couple of national champions but our guys up and down the lineup were all wrestling a couple levels higher than usual. It was a tough match, a long evening but, overall, an extraordinary night. Rec Hall was packed and people went crazy after my match was over-it was very, very exciting.
People had been talking about the PSU/Lehigh showdown all year. Lehigh was number one in the east and Penn State was number two. The crowd for the match was estimated at approximately 8,800-it was absolutely packed. The noise was deafening throughout the match and the lead went back and forth. It came down to Mike’s match at heavyweight and he was really excited to be in that position with everything on the line-he loved competition. He won his match and the place just went nuts-people swarmed out of the stands, picked Mike up and paraded him around the floor.
-RL
Do you still follow wrestling?
I didn’t for years and years, but my son is wrestling now and children afford the opportunity through adoration to go back and see certain aspects of your own life in a new light. I see him competing and what participating in sports means to him. I’ve gone back into that world of high school sports and see it now with a different set of eyes. I’m really getting back into it now-the intensity with which they compete is pretty amazing.
Mike called me last Christmas and one of the things he wanted to tell me about was his son who just had his first tough match. He was wrestling a really good wrestler and was losing but he stayed with it and came back to beat the guy. Mike was so proud that his son had that kind of determination and “stick-to-it” attitude.
-RL
Mike, what advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?
The same advice I would have for anyone. Discover what it is that resonates within you-what really makes sense in your life-and be totally committed to it. The collegiate wrestler who is successful is a completely committed individual. An example of someone who has totally committed himself to the sport of wrestling and, by the way, also happens to be absolutely the toughest athlete I ever came across, and this includes both my years in professional football and collegiate wrestling and football, is Rich Lorenzo who was our 191-pounder and team captain. Wrestlers who are committed and good are really among the most amazing athletes competing anywhere. When you discover that thing you love-love it enough to be totally committed to it.
Thanks Mike!
