Rocco Cironi: Solid Presence on the Offensive Line

Oct. 28, 2009

By Jessica Taylor, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant

There's only one word Rocco Cironi can think of when it comes to describing his favorite thing about playing for Michigan State.

"Home games are just...electric," described Cironi. "When we are standing in the tunnel, looking up at the big screen and see the Sparty animations go on, it really gives you chills because you know the whole crowd is watching the same thing we are. Then when you run out of that tunnel...the only word I can think of is electric. The atmosphere is absolutely unbelievable."

The Warren, Ohio, native has been a starter on the offensive line for the Green and White for the past two years, and enters tonight's game against Iowa with 20 consecutive starts at left tackle.

But he wasn't always this comfortable on the field.

After red-shirting during the 2005 season, Cironi made his first collegiate start three years ago.

"Yeah, I was super nervous," Cironi said of his first start at Northwestern, a game in which Michigan State rallied back to defeat the Wildcats in the biggest comeback in NCAA history. "But you just have to play football and you can't worry about the people in the stands."

Cironi proved that those nerves would not stand in his way. He quickly shook them off and managed to get into a rhythm that made for a great start to his football career at MSU, grading at 90 percent or higher in six of his seven games in 2006. To top off his freshman season, he was named to the Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team along with Brett Swenson.

"I was very surprised," Cironi said upon the discovery of his Big Ten accolades. "I still don't know if I deserved it, but I got it and I am very thankful for it."

Topping the list among the different things Cironi is thankful for is his father, Dale. Rocco credits his drive and love of the game, in great part, to him.

"He has always pushed me to be better than I can be," Cironi said of his dad. "He taught me at a very young age. He introduced me to the sport and I really look up to him. He was a great athlete in high school and I appreciate all the time he spent with me."

Perhaps his drive comes from what his father told him at a young age that pushed him to do his very best.

"My dad told me once, and I will always remember this: `There will always be someone out there better than you.' That has always stuck with me."

During the 2008 season, Cironi became the full-time starter at left tackle and went on to lead the team with 32 pancake blocks. Although he may be a leader and one of the top offensive linemen on the MSU football team, he admits some of his teammates might give him a run for his money when it comes to his second favorite activity: golf.

"I'm a really good golfer," Cironi boasted. "I just love playing it. If I'm not doing football or working, I'm golfing. Danny Fortener and Adam Decker are also pretty good."

In the hypothetical situation that all of the above would play together, the winner is clear cut to Cironi.

"Me, of course," he said laughing, but quickly rethinking his statement. "Well...maybe Fortener. I did hear he is pretty good."

Cironi certainly doesn't have a golfer's physique. The 6-6, 310-pound lineman has obviously spent a lot of time in the weight room working on his stature. In doing this, he has gotten to know strength and conditioning coach, Ken Mannie, quite well.

"I like messing with Coach Mannie, but I have a lot of respect for the man," Cironi said of the coach is closest with.

Respect certainly goes a long way and if there is one thing to respect Cironi for, he wants it to be his dedication to academics and the game.

"Doing football and school at the same time is tough and I don't think people always realize how tough it really is," said Cironi of his academic and athletic responsibilities. "You have to go to school all day, practice at night, then do homework and get up and do the same thing the next morning every single day. It gets to be a wear and I'm almost done, but looking back, it has gone really fast and it was definitely worth it.

"Coach was just saying the other day, for us seniors, we only have a few more games to play in. All I could do was think, `What am I going to do when football is over?' It's coming to an end really fast, but I plan to make the best of it."

GETTING TO KNOW Rocco Cironi

Favorite food: Lasagna
Favorite actor: Robert DeNiro
Favorite musical artist: Dierks Bentley
Favorite movie: Goodfellas
Favorite activity other than football: Golf
Travel to anywhere, where would it be: Rome, Italy
Favorite NFL team: Cleveland Browns
Dream job: Own my own sports franchise.

This feature was originally published in the Oct. 24 edition of Michigan State Football Gameday Magazine.