Michael Terrizzi

Mike Terrizzi
Purdue Boilermakers – No. 7
PositionQuarterback/punter
Personal information
Born: (1953-10-29) October 29, 1953 (age 71)
Paterson, New Jersey
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolHawthorne (NJ)

Michael Patrick Terrizzi (born October 29, 1953) is an American attorney and former football quarterback. A New Jersey native, he played college football at Purdue University in 1973 and 1974.

Early years

Terrizzi was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and grew up in Hawthorne, New Jersey.[1][2] He attended Hawthorne High School where, at 6'3" and 195 pounds, he played quarterback. He threw 23 touchdown passes as a senior and led the Hawthorne football team to two consecutive undefeated seasons.[3] He was also selected by the Associated Press as the quarterback on the 1970 all-state team in New Jersey.[4]

Football career

In February 1971, after being recruited by 50 big-time colleges, he announced his commitment to play college football at Purdue University.[3]

At Purdue, he played for the football team in 1973 and 1974. In 1973, he was the team's punter and backup quarterback.[5] He led the Big Ten in punting during the 1973 season with an average of 38.3 yards per punt.[6][7]

He became the team's No. 1 quarterback in 1974.[1][8] Despite a shoulder injury that called his fitness into question,[9] he led the 1974 Boilermakers to a 24-point first quarter in an upset victory over defending national champion Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana.[10] In total, Terrizzi appeared in 22 games for the Boilermakers, completing 32 of 72 passes for 526 yards.[11]

In March 1975, Terrizzi signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.[2] He was cut by the 49ers in late July 1975.[12]

He attended Golden Gate University School of Law and became an attorney with the law firm of Plastiras & Terrizzi located in San Rafael, California.[13] He specialized in community/homeowner association law.[14]

He is also a board member of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, Northern California Chapter.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "It's Mike, As Future Is Now". Journal and Courier. September 13, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Mike Terrizzi". Paterson News. March 5, 1975. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Mike Terrizzi Accepts Scholarship To Purdue". The Sunday News. February 28, 1971. p. 85 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Terrizzi, Tarulli AP All-State". The Record. December 2, 1970 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Terrizzi Bides Time By Punting". Paterson News. September 19, 1973 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Terrizzi Eyes Starting Job". Paterson News. August 13, 1974. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Oops! Purdue quickly deflates Irish". St. Petersburg Times. September 29, 1974. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Terrizzi Prime Choice To Quarterback Boilers". The Indianapolis Star. September 3, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Pain Persists: Bothersome Shoulder Could Bench Terrizzi". The Indianapolis Star. September 27, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Spoilermakers Strike Again! Purdue Upsets Notre Dame". Journal and Courier. September 30, 1974. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Mike Terrizzi". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "SJS' Kimball among 49er castoffs". The Californian. July 21, 1975. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Plastiras & Terrizzi
  14. ^ "Attorneys" Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine. Community Association Institute, Bay Area Central Chapter.
  15. ^ "About Us". National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, Northern California Chapter.