Anthony Scirrotto

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Anthony Scirrotto
College	Penn State
Sport	Football
Position	S, PR, Gunner
Jersey #	7
Class	Junior
Career	2005 – present
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Nationality	USA
Born	October 21, 1986 (1986-10-21) (age 21)
High school	West Deptford High School, West Deptford, New Jersey
Honors
2008 Team Captain 2007 Pre-season First Team All-Big Ten (Sporting News) 2006 First Team All-Big Ten (AP) 2006-2007 ESPN.com All-Bowl Team

Anthony Scirrotto is a college football player for Penn State under Joe Paterno, a 2006 First Team All-Big Ten Conference selection,^[1]and 2008 team captain. ^[2]

[edit] Biography

As a sophomore member of the 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team, Scirrotto achieved prominence as a defensive playmaker from his safety position when he led all players in the Big Ten Conference in interceptions with six as well as interception return yards with 122. Additionally, he was second among all players in the Big Ten in passes defended with 14.^[3] Among all Division 1-A players, Scirrotto was fifth in the nation in interception return yards and tied for 11th in total interceptions.^[4][5]

During the 2006 season, Scirrotto was the team's so-called "iron-man", participating in a team-leading 1,001 separate plays.^[3]In addition to his play from the safety position, Scirrotto garnered attention for making momentum shifting plays on Special Teams, returning an onside kick for a touchdown against the University of Illinois, blocking a punt against Michigan State University, and as a punt returner.^[3][6][7]

As a result of his play, the sports media named Scirrotto 2006 First Team All-Big Ten Conference along with his teammate, Linebacker and First Team All-American, Paul Posluszny.^[8] Scirrotto also earned a spot on the ESPN.com All-Bowl Team, a team comprised of players with the best individual performances in postseason Bowl games.^[9] He was recognized for his efforts in the Nittany Lions' 20-10 victory over then-No. 17 University of Tennessee in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Scirrotto recorded eight tackles (six solo), grabbed his sixth interception, and sparked the defense when he delivered arguably the Nittany Lions' biggest hit on then Tennessee wide receiver, and now Chicago Bear, Jayson Swain, during the game. He also caused two pass break-ups.^[10]

On March 31, 2007, Scirrotto was accosted, assaulted and battered by two Penn State students after a confrontation with them and a third man on a State College street. As a result of the attack, the two assailants were charged with harassment and criminal mischief respectively. One of the assailants was accused of striking Scirrotto in the face and the other of slapping Scirrotto's cellular phone from his hand.^[11] A Pennsylvania District Judge found both of Scirrotto's attackers guilty of those charges.^[12]

In the early morning of April 1, 2007, less than an hour after the attack on Scirrotto, police allege that Scirrotto and several teammates were involved in a confrontation with Scirrotto's assailants and several others at an off-campus apartment party. As a result of the alleged confrontation at the apartment party, Scirrotto was charged with felony burglary and criminal solicitation, as well as four related misdemeanors.^[13][14]On August 20, 2007, however, Centre County, Pennsylvania, Presiding Judge Charles C. Brown Jr. granted, in part, a Motion for Habeas Corpus, dismissing four of the six charges brought against Scirrotto. Presiding Judge Brown ruled that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania failed to proffer the basic, prima facie evidence, necessary to submit Scirrotto to trial on charges of burglary, two counts of criminal solicitation, or assault. Judge Brown held that the Commonwealth did not offer any evidence that Scirrotto entered the apartment party with the intent to commit a crime therein. The Judge also ruled that there was no evidence that Scirrotto solicited any teammates to confront the men who had earlier attacked him. Additionally, Judge Brown held that there was no evidence that Scirrotto assaulted anyone in connection with the earlier attack upon him, or during the alleged apartment party confrontation.^[15]

The Sporting News named Scirrotto 2007 pre-season First-Team All-Big Ten Conference and rated him the No. 5 strong safety in the nation.^[16]

Scirrotto, a prolific baseball pitcher and shortstop while attending West Deptford High School in West Deptford, New Jersey, was projected to be an early second round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft.^[17][18] Scirrotto reportedly declined interest in the MLB Draft in order to play football under Head Coach Joe Paterno and pursue a higher education at Penn State University.^[19]

[edit] References