During his time at Yough, Scotty Houseman was perhaps the most recognizable athlete in the school. A hulking lineman for the Cougars football team, Houseman also competed on the baseball team. His future at the next level was on the gridiron, though, as he first attended Lackawanna College, and now starts for the University at Albany. Houseman is the first featured athlete of the 2022-23 school year for the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

Houseman made the Yough football varsity roster and subsequently lettered in his freshman year in 2014, as the Cougars sputtered to a mark of 0-9 overall, including 0-8 in conference play.

The following year, Yough improved to 2-7 overall, with all of the contests coming in conference action.

In 2016, the Cougars posted a mark of 4-5 overall, and 3-4 in the conference. However, Yough still failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs. On defense, Houseman notched 12 tackles and a forced fumble.

In Houseman’s senior campaign, Yough went 2-8, including 2-5 in the conference ledger. Individually, he registered 22 tackles and a pass defensed.

During his final two years, Houseman served as a team captain.

Following graduation, he opted to continue his football career at Lackawanna, a junior college. As a starter on the offensive line in 2019, Houseman helped the Falcons post a mark of 10-1, including 2-0 in the Northeast Football Conference (NEFC). Lackawanna garnered a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Football Championship Game, but fell to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College 24-13.

Shortly after the season, Houseman signed with the University at Albany. However, the traditional 2020 was cancelled, as Albany shifted to a 2021 spring season instead. During that abbreviated campaign, Houseman appeared in all four games, as the Great Danes went 1-3, with all games taking place in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Last fall, the Great Danes returned to a normal schedule, as Houseman appeared in nine contests. Albany posted a mark of 2-9, including 1-7 in the CAA.

This season, Houseman has started both games for Albany. The Great Danes have dropped those contests, falling to Baylor and New Hampshire.

Scott dedicated time to answer questions about the nuances of playing on the offensive line, the benefit of playing at Lackawanna, and the best players he faced during his time on Cougar Mountain.

Q: What's your best attribute as a player?

A: I would like to say my aggressiveness and motor. I pride myself on being able to go 100 percent every play.

Q: What are some underappreciated aspects of offensive line play?

A: How smart you actually have to be to play O-line. On TV or to some people, it just looks like they’re just hitting people, but there is a lot more to that than just hitting someone. It’s a very technical position, so you always have to bring your best and be on top of your stuff.

Q: What was the biggest adjustment when playing against Power 5 schools like Syracuse and Baylor?

A: Overall, the speed of the game. Those players are much faster to where they’re going to go.

Q: What are your team and individual goals this season?

A: We want to win the CAA and make a push in the playoffs. As for individually, I just want to win.

Q: Since your days in high school, you've had long, flowing hair. What led to that hairstyle?

A: My dad was a little bit of a part. He had long, flowing hair when he was growing up, so it kind of led me to that. Now, though, I try to donate it every year or two to wigs for kids.

Q: You were part of a powerhouse junior college program at Lackawanna. How did that experience benefit you?

A: It showed me what it was like to win. I had real competition all the time, so I had to always bring my best to every game and practice. This helped with my transition a little better. When you have a lot of competition, people will get better.

Q: What factored into your decision to attend Albany?

A: I really enjoyed the coaching staff and team. I also felt like Albany would be my best opportunity to play and would grow me as a person.

Q: What has been your most enjoyable college course thus far?

A: I liked this business law class I took my first semester here. The professor was awesome and actually taught me a lot about law.

Q: You attended Yough High School. What was your fondest memory there?

A: I really just liked my friends, and the teachers there were so cool. Yough will always be a special place for me.

Q: You were also a baseball player with the Cougars. What do you miss most about that sport?

A: I miss taking batting practice with the guys. We would try so hard to crush the ball and just talk ball and stuff.

Q: Who was the best individual football player you faced in high school?

A: I remember a couple actually. There was a kid from Franklin Regional who ended up at Towson (Bryce Lauer), which I played this year, which was a cool moment for me. Kurt Armer and Chris Wagner also were some athletes who were super talented. I also thought Derry’s Dom Deluca was a beast. So shoutout to those kids who made me better and motivated me all the time.

Q: Do you have any superstitions before, during, or after a game?

A: I try to just say a prayer to my mom, gram, and best friend. It brings me to peace before the game gets going.

Q: To which movie or TV show can you recite nearly every line?

A: Talladega Nights is a must watch.

Q: What is the best advice you've ever received?

A: You just can’t work hard and expect to be great; you have to do everything in between the hard work to be great.