Sports Information blog #27:
Catching on news and notes that have accumulated in the last couple weeks …
• We were unsuccessful in our attempts to reach former Rock football standout
Brandon Fusco last weekend before he dove headfirst into a full schedule of preseason preparations for his rookie season in the National Football League. But we were able to corral Rock Head Football Coach
George Mihalik for a few moments to get his thoughts.
“All of our coaches and players and everyone who has been associated with Brandon the last four years here at The Rock are extremely proud of him and what he’s accomplished and to be able to say The Rock is now part of the NFL!” the 24-year Rock head coach said.
“It’s been exciting for all of us to follow Brandon at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine and in the NFL draft, and it’s only going to get more exciting now as he takes each new step in his professional career,” Mihalik added. “It’s gratifying to know all his hard work, effort and dreams have culminated in Brandon getting his chance to play in the NFL. You have to be happy for him and his family.”
Fusco, who signed a contract with the Vikings Sunday, was featured in a July 26 “Bleacher Report” online story written by Cody Carbone:
“Brandon Fusco is a guy I'm excited about and I think could potentially start at center for the Vikings in the near future,” Carbone wrote. “He dominated Division II. Now I know, that is not that scary—but hey, [New England Patriots running back and Division II Chadron State product] Danny Woodhead's doing alright.”
“Do not be surprised to see Fusco turning a lot of heads in Vikings camp and maybe even seeing the starting center job by season's end,” Carbone added. “Wishful thinking, but it would be nice if the Vikings found their starting center and quarterback [Florida State’s Christian Ponder] for years to come in the same draft. “
We hope to get in touch with Fusco in the near future and have him start sending us training camp and in-season blogs. We also hope to get some pictures of him from Vikings preseason workouts. Stay tuned!
DID YOU KNOW? Fusco was the second Rock football player selected in an NFL Draft since Mihalik became the Green and White’s head coach in 1988.
Greg Paterra was an 11th-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. Mihalik was also a Rock assistant coach when
Ricky Porter (12th round, 1982, Detroit Lions) and
Chuck Sanders (11th round, 1986, San Diego Chargers) were picked in the NFL Draft.
Before we shift gears …
Did you know? The Pittsburgh Steelers held their 1961 preseason workouts on the Slippery Rock University campus.
•
Matt Adams update: The big guy is currently hitting .321 with 21 doubles, two triples, 24 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .606 slugging percentage and a .980 OPS as the starting first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals’ double-A affiliate, the Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals. Adams leads the Texas League in RBIs and slugging percentage and ranks third in home runs.
• Speaking of the Cardinals, congratulations to SRU graduate
Terry Rodgers on being named as a Media & Public Relations Assistant for the redbirds.
• Congratulations to former Rock women’s basketball student athlete
Christin Cunningham Miller upon her selection as the new head girls basketball coach at Slippery Rock Area High School. She joins fellow Rock alums
Aaron Epps (Kiski Area) and
Nikki Presto (Keystone Oaks) as first-year high school head coaches this winter.
• Congrats also to former Rock cheerleader
Nicole Wiltsie, who was recently named as head cheerleading coach of the University of West Georgia. Wiltsie worked the last seven years as an instructor with the Universal Cheerleading Association and also has two years of head coaching experience on the high school level. She is a 2008 Rock graduate with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a minor in Spanish.
• A final, heartfelt thought:
Sincere sympathy to the family of former Rock men’s soccer coach
Jim Egli on his passing last week. I feel like I lost a friend, but am happy he’s free from pain and discomfort and reunited with his wife and daughter. I shall forever remember his friendship and “checking in” during my post-surgery rehab in early 2001. I don’t think I ever adequately thanked him for that, for which I am truly sorry.
Until next time …
GO ROCK!!
Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
