Sposato II, Ross D.

Ross D. Sposato II – (1998)

 

Ross D. Sposato II launched an outstanding athletic career at Hawthorne Junior High School where he played basketball and football. His skill as a two-way performer at tackle was readily apparent as he helped lead the gridiron Cowboys under Coach Ellwood Zaebst to undefeated seasons in 1963 and 1964.

He actually began developing his athletic prowess as a Boy Scout, and added to his ability by swimming at the Lorain YMCA.

Moving on to Admiral King High School, Sposato began piling up his football credentials as a three-year starter at tackle under Coach Pete Riesen. Among his honors was being named All-Buckeye Conference first team at tackle his junior and senior years, and capping it off with a first team All-Ohio selection his senior year.

Additional scholastic football honors in his senior year included: being named to the Cleveland Plain Dealer Dream Team; chosen Lorain Amvets Player of the Year in 1967; and being named a starting tackle on the North team in the Ohio High School All-Star Game played Aug. 9, 1968 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Stadium.

Following graduation in 1968, upwards of 80 colleges and universities—among them Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Bowling Green, Kansas and including a personal visit by U. S. Naval Academy Head Coach Lee Corso—Sposato chose Syracuse University and that school’s legendary football coach, Ben Schwartzwalder.

Sposato would become a three-year starter and letter winner at tackle for the Orangemen, and probably would have earned honors all four years (1968-72) except freshmen were not eligible for varsity competition in that era. He was named Outstanding Student Athlete at Syracuse his junior year and, after his senior season, he was named a starting tackle in the 1972 All-American Bowl played in Tampa, Fla.

Although recruited to play professional football in the National Football League (Browns, Jets, Cowboys and 49ers all showed interest), as well as the Canadian Football League and World Football League, Sposato put family commitments first and passed up a pro career. He currently resides in Birmingham, Ala.