student

Rich Palazzi '12

As a freshman, I got to start two games as quarterback. I was really happy about that. My second year I played eight out of 10 games. The two games I missed I had to sit out due to a separated shoulder.

We won the Liberty League championship in 2009, which was a great experience for us as a team. Everyone was dedicated to a common goal. Each of the players and coaches knew we had the talent, but we had to put it all together—be on time for practice, stay afterward, take advice from the coaches. We were a pretty young team going into the season. Now it’s something to build on. Beginning in 2010, we’ll play in the Centennial League.

Coach Briggs always tells us that family comes first, then academics, then football. The coaches do a good job of stressing that here at SU, and it shows in most of the players.

Football is a family tradition. My grandfather played in the NFL for the Giants in the ’40s. My father was an All-American tackle at Ithaca College. I just love the game and everything about it.

You learn life lessons—things like hard work, an undying will to learn new things. The list can go on and on. The experience you have as a football player and the life lessons will be things you will cherish forever. It’s a very rewarding sport to play, especially here.

When I graduate, I want to teach history in middle or high school somewhere in central Pennsylvania. I live in northeastern Pennsylvania, but I love everything about this area. When I was in high school, a favorite thing to do was being a peer helper at the elementary and middle schools. I love helping kids out with their schoolwork. It’s one of the reasons I want to be a teacher.