Bill Struzzi of Ithaca to Receive ECAC Award of Valor
October 1, 2007
From Ithaca College Sports Information Release
ITHACA, N.Y. – Senior Bill Struzzi (McQuaid Jesuit/Canandaigua), a member of Ithaca’s football team, will receive the Award of Valor from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) at this weekend’s ECAC Convention.
Struzzi, a member of the Bomber starting line-up in 2005, missed the 2006 season after being diagnosed with cancer. Following 12 weeks of chemotherapy, he spent that season as a student assistant coach with the program before returning to the field this fall. Struzzi has started every game at linebacker for the Bombers.
The ECAC Award of Valor has been presented annually since 1985. It was established to honor student-athletes at ECAC member schools whose courage, motivation and relentless determination serves as an inspiration to all.
“Bill has been a model of strength, courage and perseverance for all student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the Ithaca College community,” said Ithaca’s associate director of athletics Mike Lindberg, who nominated Struzzi for the award. “His positive attitude throughout, not only helped him through very difficult times, but was infectious to all who know him. Many times Bill was seen as a source of strength to his teammates, when it should have been the other way around.”
Struzzi was dealt another blow in November when his father passed away. “It's not right for ‘kids’ to have to face mortality at a time when life is just beginning to get interesting for most 20-year-olds.” wrote Lindberg. “Bill had to face issues that many ‘adults’ would run away from. Not Bill – he tackles life issues the same way he tackles in football: head up and feet driving forward. We can all learn from Bill."
Struzzi, who lost 30 pounds during his recovery, had been one of the Bombers’ top players during the 2005 season. His overtime interception return for a game-winning touchdown against St. John Fisher was the season’s most dramatic moment and jumpstarted Ithaca’s drive to the NCAA playoffs. Moved from the secondary to outside linebacker for the 2007 season, he has continued to achieve on-the-field success.
“Bill showed remarkable courage in is his battle with cancer and fulfilled his dream of playing college football again this fall when he started the season-opening game against Lycoming and was named our Honorary Defensive Captain,” praised head coach Mike Welch.
Through four games this season, Struzzi has collected 34 tackles (five for loss, including one sack), intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.
“Bill Struzzi is a true winner,” said Welch. “When your life gets turned upside down you have two choices: quit or fight to win. He chose to fight . . . Bill Struzzi looked adversity in the eye and won.