You may have noticed the Gronk family making the media rounds. They’re promoting a book called “Growing Up Gronk,” based almost entirely on the anecdotes of the clan’s dad, Gordie Gronkowski. The family is from the Buffalo area (Amherst), and Gordie played for Syracuse in the early ’80s. The Gronks have not only Pro Bowler Rob representing them, but two other current NFLers, Dan and Chris too. The other two brothers are athletically gifted themselves. The youngest is Glenn, who plays football currently at Kansas State. Gordie says Syracuse showed Glenn interest, but only K-State and Buffalo offered him.
So how is it possible a family empire of four elite football players from two hours away, with a dad who played at SU, never ended up on the Hill? I had Poppa Gronk on my show. I half-jokingly asked how he dropped the ball and didn’t force any of his sons to be Orange.
“No, no, no. Syracuse dropped the ball. They didn’t offer any of my kids a scholarship except for Rob. And that was amazing because I thought it was a sure thing. I don’t know, Pasquoloni for some reason didn’t like us or something. Maybe I was just so bad when I went there no one wanted to bring my family back, I don’t know.”
This is just bizarre. At least SU saved some face and offered one of the best tight ends in the game a scholarship. But two other NFL-caliber players, and another playing for one of the best schools in the Big 12, didn’t even get offered by the Orange?
Someone screwed up big time. The blood lines are obvious. Their natural size and athletic gifts were clear. They played two hours away in Western New York. Their dad would’ve loved for them to follow in his footsteps.
And SU didn’t even sniff them?
You could understand losing Gronk to Arizona. Tucson versus Syracuse? Advantage Arizona for any 18-year old athlete.
“Rob went out there and fell in love with it. He said, ‘Dad, did you ever go to a pool party (at SU)?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Well, go to one in Arizona.’”¬†
Pool party or not, missing out on four Gronks makes SU look all wet.
Posted: D.A.
17 responses to “How Did Syracuse Miss Out On The Gronks? Dad Says SU “Dropped The Ball””
Well here is another example of losing the legacy of a father who played at SU. We lost out on Spinney who was a 4 star OT who decommitted from SU and went to BC.
This will mot happen with HCSC and the ” Mailman”.
It did. Just ask David Holmes where his son is going.
Good call Malone…
Can you blame Rob for wanting to go to a pool party at Arizona?? Haha.
Gordie Gronkowski played football under Frank Maloney from 1977-1981. Frank Maloney was fired as head coach in 1980. Dick MacPhearson started and brought Pasqualoni with him in 1981.
The reason Syracuse dropped the ball on these three recruits may have been hard feelings between the old and new coaching staffs.
Fizz,your article gives some light as to why Syracuse is having a hard time recruiting top talent in the state and indicates that it’s been going on for some time.
Different personalities sometimes destroys what took others to build. During the 24 years of Coach Schwartzwalder,we had 4(Brown,Davis,Little,Czonka) of the best RB’s ever to play the game that led us the 1959 National Championship.
Ben Schwartzwalder retired as head coach in 1973. It’s taken 40 years for the program to go full circle,in 2013 by hiring a coach(Scott Shafer) that seems to have the same ideas as Ben did,on what is needed to have a successful/winning program.
@Malone is right, we lost out on the Holmes kid out of Florida. But,I believe if Shafer has a respectful/successful 2013 season,missing out on kids like the Gronkowskis is going to go away.
Coach Shafer offered scholarships to 30-32 prospects with the state in 2013. The next couple of years the program should turn the corner and start bringing in the talent.
Malone,did you see Todd Hunt’s article today on Ollison in NJ.com?Seem’s RU needs a “big” change of pace back for their Pro-style O and Jonathan Hilliman and Ollison are the target’s?Hilliman being higher rated and pursued seem’s to be the local fav due to friends on RU’s team!He’s 6’1″ 235 now up from 6′ 215 last winter!Let’s hope they key on the local kid!!Ollison is visiting Wisc on 7 Sept before announcing on Sept 9th!Might visit Pitt too?
We all know that Psqualoni wasn’t the smartest man in the city He was the reason Randy Edsall burned so many bridges behind him at the university when he left after not being named as head coach succeeding Coach Mac.His tirade has been well recorded He even flamed a secretary going out the door for the last time according to a friend of mine who had first hand knowledge of the incident.Thweplayers liked Coach P and that was the deciding principle for the choice. To the surprise of not just a few the players were not enamored with Mac One player’s father could not have been more blunt when he told me that the team was so glad when Mac left they had a party. Not all attended of course but enough to prove that the beloved Mac was a facade which I also knew to be the truth. One coach that I tipped a beer with would only shake his head on that subject not wanting to tip his true feeling which later he expressed with some colorful language not suited for this venue. Not of it favorable to the now feeble minded old man that doesn’t have the sense to go away.
Pasqualoni did not arrive with Mac . Deleone got here in 83 after Tressel left and Paul came in as linebacker coach in 1986.
Crouthamel hired Paul the players had 0 to do with it. Jake was a former head coach and he ran football. Paul followed orders that’s the type of guy Jake wanted because Jake ran the football program.
Holley from the city area just about wrote off SU. BYE SUCKER!! Another NYC/LI/NJ loss. Why?? DA its time to stop putting articles that squirt around this issue and hit it head on. Its embarrassing that SU really can’t get a sniff from its own best HSFBs!!
Terry I think Holley has always been and still is a long shot. We are ultimately banking on his mother’s wish that he stay close to home.
Russ I saw a recent article by Hunt that put RU in the drivers seat for Ish Witter. I don’t totally buy in, but with Ollison going to see Wisconsin and I think Pitt as well, but nothing set up for us that I know of, we’ve got some work to do.
@John Maroney;
So your telling us that Jake Crouthamel was the reason that we didn’t go after these three kids out of the Buffalo area. Are you trying to tell us that Jake had final say as to who came to Syracuse during his time as Athletic Director?
Rob’s older brother was also a walk-on baseball player at AZ when Rob was making his final choice…. weather, family, the state of Syracuse football at the time…. We didn’t stand a chance.
NO I answered the misstatement that Paul Pasqualoni came to Syracuse in 1981 that is not accurate.
George DeLeone came here first and then he
was instrumental in bringing Paul up here in 1986.
The other comment was on Edsall’s not being chosen. Jake made the decision in less than 48 hours while at the coaches conference in new Orleans, Edsall never had a chance with Jake
Father Gronk said Paul didn’t offer his kids , he should know.
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