SRU set to retire No. 74 for Fusco
SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University will retire Brandon Fusco's football jersey number No. 74 during a ceremony April 22 in the Robert Smith Student Center.
“It's quite an honor and I'm excited about coming back and seeing everybody again to celebrate it,” Fusco said. “It's going to be fun.”
The jersey retirement ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and will follow The Rock's annual spring game. A formal dinner and banquet honoring Fusco will follow at 8 p.m.
“No one is more deserving,” retired SRU coach George Mihalik said. “This has been in the working stages for months.”
A Seneca Valley graduate, Fusco has been a starting offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings since 2012. He was a sixth-round draft choice of the club in 2010 and signed a five-year extension two years ago.
Fusco is a former Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year award winner in Division II and won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in Division II while at The Rock.
“With all of his accolades, how do you argue the notion that he's the best football player in Rock history?,” Mihalik pondered. “Brandon was the first Slippery Rock player to ever play in the Senior Bowl.
“Any kid who enters college football carries the dream of playing at the next level. Brandon made that dream come true for himself through his own commitment and dedication.
“During each off-season, he made himself into a great player,” Mihalik added.
“I can't take all the credit,” Fusco said. “I had a lot of great coaches and teammates at Slippery Rock. There is so much tradition at that school and I'm proud to be a part of it.”
Fusco is the only Rock player to ever be a multi-year starter in the NFL. He started all 16 games at right guard for the Vikings in 2012, the year Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards.
After a torn pectoral muscle caused Fusco to miss the final 14 games of the 2014 season, he returned this year and started all 17 games at left guard. Peterson led the NFL with 1,485 rushing yards and the Vikings reached the NFL playoffs.
“I didn't feel quite myself in the first few games,” Fusco said of the 2015 season. “I guess I was feeling the effects of missing so much time with the injury. But as the year went on, I felt stronger.
“We have a good, young team and blocking for a future Hall of Famer is incredible. Adrian is in his 30's and can probably go another five years. He's in tremendous shape.”
Fusco's number will be the third to be retired in SRU's 118-year football history, joining Jerry Bejbl's No. 31 and Jim McElhaney's No. 82.
Bejbl graduated from The Rock in 1963 and has donated more than $1 million to the university. He was a fullback-kicker and is a member of the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame.
The late McElhaney, a 1964 Rock graduate, was one of the best wide receivers in the program's history. He caught 114 passes for 1,974 yards and is also a member of the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cost to attend the reception and dinner is $40 and attendance will be limited to 300. Call Mary Lou Scherder at 724-738-4117 for details.
