Pitt coach Narduzzi goes home for induction into Youngstown coaches hall of fame
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Pat Narduzzi has been the football coach at Pitt for little more than four months, busily putting his stamp on the program. Sunday night, he took the time to come home. Narduzzi was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame at its 48th annual recognition dinner at Mr. Anthony's restaurant.
He didn't enter alone. Narduzzi's father Bill, who died in 1988, was inducted posthumously. Bill Narduzzi was Youngstown State coach from 1975-85, leading it to the 1979 Division II championship game after the team reached the playoffs only once in the 34 years before he arrived.
Boxing legend Boom Boom Mancini, a former lightweight champion who was guest speaker, said Bill Narduzzi's football teams were known as “Duzzer's Bruisers.” Later, when Pat Narduzzi reached the podium, he held a photo of his father, showed it to the crowded banquet hall and said, “I'm here because of him.”
Narduzzi was inducted on the strength of his high school football career at Youngstown Ursuline and his success as a college defensive coordinator. But his acceptance speech centered on his father. When he asked players who played for his father to stand — there were a couple dozen of them scattered throughout the room — Narduzzi said, “I get goosebumps thinking about these guys.”
“These are the heroes I grew up watching. I remember most of the numbers and the positions they played.” Pat's oldest brother, Will, related how Pat receives regular voice mails and emails from their dad's former players.
“How he changed their life in some small way,” Will Narduzzi said. “The responses were never about football, but always about character.”
Will Narduzzi spoke for his father, words he said he composed while driving from his home in New Jersey. “The car was blessed by a priest (Saturday) and there must have been divine intervention going on in that car,” he said.
“I was overcome by thoughts, memories and emotions. I would drive, pull over, cry, write some of this stuff down and repeat the process. It's a six-hour drive. It took me eight hours to get here.” Will Narduzzi said he had the opportunity to spend time with his father before he died, and one day his father told him, “I always wanted to write a book.” “About what?” Will asked his dad.
“The four Fs,” his father responded. “Faith, family, friendship and football. For me it goes in that order.” Pat Narduzzi said he learned a lot from his father. “You are brought up in coaching.” Narduzzi said, “and it's really who you are.”
A former Narduzzi rival said before the banquet he believes Pitt finally has found stabilty for its program. “Pat will be at Pitt for a long time,” former Ohio State football coach and current Youngstown State president Jim Tressel said. “This is his time.”
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/8287003-74/narduzzi-football-pat#ixzz3ZAUQE5LF
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Pat Narduzzi has been the football coach at Pitt for little more than four months, busily putting his stamp on the program. Sunday night, he took the time to come home. Narduzzi was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame at its 48th annual recognition dinner at Mr. Anthony's restaurant.
He didn't enter alone. Narduzzi's father Bill, who died in 1988, was inducted posthumously. Bill Narduzzi was Youngstown State coach from 1975-85, leading it to the 1979 Division II championship game after the team reached the playoffs only once in the 34 years before he arrived.
Boxing legend Boom Boom Mancini, a former lightweight champion who was guest speaker, said Bill Narduzzi's football teams were known as “Duzzer's Bruisers.” Later, when Pat Narduzzi reached the podium, he held a photo of his father, showed it to the crowded banquet hall and said, “I'm here because of him.”
Narduzzi was inducted on the strength of his high school football career at Youngstown Ursuline and his success as a college defensive coordinator. But his acceptance speech centered on his father. When he asked players who played for his father to stand — there were a couple dozen of them scattered throughout the room — Narduzzi said, “I get goosebumps thinking about these guys.”
“These are the heroes I grew up watching. I remember most of the numbers and the positions they played.” Pat's oldest brother, Will, related how Pat receives regular voice mails and emails from their dad's former players.
“How he changed their life in some small way,” Will Narduzzi said. “The responses were never about football, but always about character.”
Will Narduzzi spoke for his father, words he said he composed while driving from his home in New Jersey. “The car was blessed by a priest (Saturday) and there must have been divine intervention going on in that car,” he said.
“I was overcome by thoughts, memories and emotions. I would drive, pull over, cry, write some of this stuff down and repeat the process. It's a six-hour drive. It took me eight hours to get here.” Will Narduzzi said he had the opportunity to spend time with his father before he died, and one day his father told him, “I always wanted to write a book.” “About what?” Will asked his dad.
“The four Fs,” his father responded. “Faith, family, friendship and football. For me it goes in that order.” Pat Narduzzi said he learned a lot from his father. “You are brought up in coaching.” Narduzzi said, “and it's really who you are.”
A former Narduzzi rival said before the banquet he believes Pitt finally has found stabilty for its program. “Pat will be at Pitt for a long time,” former Ohio State football coach and current Youngstown State president Jim Tressel said. “This is his time.”
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/8287003-74/narduzzi-football-pat#ixzz3ZAUQE5LF
