Date: Fri 02-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

john-buonanno

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John Buonanno Feature

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

John Buonanno has the speed and the skill and the almost unquenchable thirst

to play college football and those three things could have landed him a spot

at any number of Division I-AA or Division III schools.

But what landed him at Marietta College in Ohio - the best place he thinks he

could be - was a little luck.

And the help of a neighbor.

One day not long ago, the Buonanno family was having a tag sale at their home

and John, coming home from football practice, caught the eye of his neighbor,

Doug Griebel.

Maybe it was fate or karma or kismet or whatever you'd want to call it. Mr

Griebel is a former football player at Marietta and besides being a big

supporter of the program, he currently is a trustee on the Board of Directors

and a recruiter.

Mr Griebel talked to John. And even though he had already seen him play at

Newtown High, Mr Griebel went back and looked at speedy halfback/cornerback a

little bit more closely.

And then the dominos started falling.

In less than two weeks, John will be lacing up the cleats, strapping on the

shoulders pads, and slipping on the helmet for Division III Marietta.

He considers himself a lucky guy.

" I was fortunate enough to get recruited by a good amount of schools, even

Division I-AA . . . very surprisingly, " said John. " I had a lot of good

offers from different schools, but I don't think I could have gotten it any

better. I just hope I can live up to my expectations. "

Those expectations come from a pretty solid career at Newtown High School. In

the last two years alone, John rushed for 1,192 yards on 177 carries (6.73

yards per run) and caught 20 more balls for 277 yards (13.9 yards per catch)

and has been in the end zone 18 times.

Couple that with his skill at cornerback and John, named to the All-Western

Connecticut Conference team, presents a pretty good package.

But, well, not a terribly big one.

He is a little over 5-foot-8 and weighs about 160 pounds. Those are not very

formidable numbers when you think about the 300-pound behemoths playing on the

line, but there are players - like Eric Metcalf and Dave Meggett - who have

proven that football can still be a smaller man's game.

" The coach was really confident, " said John. " He saw something else than my

size. I told him I would lift a lot and bulk up, but he said, `take it easy,

it will come.' "

John may be smaller in stature than the average halfback, but he attracted a

lot of notice. Southern Connecticut, New Haven, Bentley, and West Virginia

Wesleyan are just four of the schools that expressed some interest in the

speedy RB/CB.

" I didn't expect as much notice as I got, " said John. " I think I can play

and I think if I work hard enough I can be a pretty good player in Division

III. "

And it came down to Bentley College and Marietta. Both offered some financial

packages, but Marietta offered one John could hardly refuse.

" They made it so, " John said, " I could go out there and not have a problem

with finances. "

Marietta was 8-1-1 a year ago and its coach , who was in his fifth year with

the program, consequently, since Marietta was ranked third in the nation in

Division III, was named Coach of the Year.

Marietta likes to recruit running backs since many high schools put their best

athletes at that position. When the backs get on the field, though, is when

the possibility of switching to other positions arises.

" He definitely wants me to play halfback, " said John. " He's not worried

about my size at all because he thinks I won't have a problem with my ability.

But I know the defensive coach is looking at me for corner (back) and he's

trying to get the coach to give me to him. I don't know how that's working

out. I'll just go wherever they tell me. It doesn't matter where I am, as long

as I'm playing. "

Marietta may look at John to play some special teams in his freshman season

while working him into the program. John also wants to play well enough to

make the travel squad, a prospect not too likely for any freshman as it puts a

tougher burden on the new student.

First practice is August 14th.

School opens August 24th.

First class is August 27th.

Things are coming to a boil pretty quickly, but John - who played in the PAL

All-Star game this summer on both offense and defense - has never been more

ready. " I went up to orientation, " he said, " and I saw some of the football

kids and I just wanted to put on the pads. I can't wait to strap it up. I'm

expecting to get wrecked, but you don't learn anything unless you do.

John will learn something about history, too, when he slips his uniform over

his shoulder pads for the first time. The number he will be wearing will be

the one worn by his recruiter, Doug Griebel, and by Marietta's last Division

III All-American.

He has the confidence that he can live up to it all.

" I got my speed down pretty well, " he said. " I can move with those kids.

But I think the biggest thing for me is my heart, that's the biggest thing

that I've got. "

And he will get a chance to show it soon.