Andy Cannavino
Encyclopedia
Andrew J. "Andy" Cannavino (born April 20, 1959) is a retired American football
linebacker
. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1977 to 1980. He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl
and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press
All-Big Ten
football team. He later played professional football in the USFL from 1983 to 1984 for the Michigan Panthers
and Chicago Blitz
.
at Ohio State
in the 1950s. Cannavino attended St. Joseph High School
in Cleveland, Ohio
.
in the fall of 1977. He played football under head coach Bo Schembechler
from 1977 to 1980. Prior to his senior year, Cannavino was selected by his teammates as the co-captain of the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
. The 1980 team gave up an average of 10.75 points per game, and only 1.8 points per game in the last five games of the season. Michigan was named the Midwest Player of the Week on defense in September 1980 after helping Michigan to a 17-10 win against Northwestern
. In that game, Cannavino recovered a Northwestern fumble to set up one Michigan touchdown and intercepted a Northwestern pass deep in Michigan territory with 2:32 left in the game. He also had 15 tackles in the game. At the conclusion of the 1980 season, Cannavino was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten
linebacker by the Associated Press
. He was the only unanimous choice for the AP's All-Big Ten team in 1980.
The 1980 Michigan team won the Big Ten championship and went on to defeat Washington
in the 1981 Rose Bowl
. The victory was the post-season win for the Wolverines under head coach Bo Schembechler
. Interviewed prior to the game, Cannavino noted that many NFL scouts would be at the game, many of whom considered Cannavino too small for pro football. Cannavino joked, "If we win, maybe it'll look good on our resume when we go in to apply for a regular job. Maybe the boss will be sympathetic to the fact that we got Bo Schembechler his first Rose Bowl."
In four years at Michigan, Cannavino was credited with 289 tackles, including 175 solo tackles and 114 assists. At the time of his graduation in 1981, Cannavino ranked third all-team in tackles in Michigan football history.
in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL Draft
. He signed with the Lions and attended training camp, but he was released in the pre-season. In February 1982, he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles
, but he was released at the end of August 1982 shortly before the start of the regular season. In 1983, Cannavino signed with the Michigan Panthers
in the newly-formed USFL; he played for the 1983 Panthers team that won the first USFL championship game played in Denver, Colorado
. In April 1984, the Panthers traded Cannavino to the Chicago Blitz
, also of the USFL, in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.
. He is a resident of Highland Heights, Ohio
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1977 to 1980. He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl
1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football team. He later played professional football in the USFL from 1983 to 1984 for the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
and Chicago Blitz
Chicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
.
Early years
A native of Ohio, Cannavino's father was an All-American football player for Woody HayesWoody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
at Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
in the 1950s. Cannavino attended St. Joseph High School
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School is a private Roman Catholic high school located in Cleveland, Ohio. It is commonly abbreviated VASJ. It was formed by the 1990 merger of Villa Angela Academy and St. Joseph High School . It is run by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The two religious orders...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
University of Michigan
Cannavino graduated from St. Joseph in 1977 and enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the fall of 1977. He played football under head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
from 1977 to 1980. Prior to his senior year, Cannavino was selected by his teammates as the co-captain of the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 10–2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the 1981 Rose Bowl game, 23–6...
. The 1980 team gave up an average of 10.75 points per game, and only 1.8 points per game in the last five games of the season. Michigan was named the Midwest Player of the Week on defense in September 1980 after helping Michigan to a 17-10 win against Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
. In that game, Cannavino recovered a Northwestern fumble to set up one Michigan touchdown and intercepted a Northwestern pass deep in Michigan territory with 2:32 left in the game. He also had 15 tackles in the game. At the conclusion of the 1980 season, Cannavino was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
linebacker by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He was the only unanimous choice for the AP's All-Big Ten team in 1980.
The 1980 Michigan team won the Big Ten championship and went on to defeat Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
in the 1981 Rose Bowl
1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
. The victory was the post-season win for the Wolverines under head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. Interviewed prior to the game, Cannavino noted that many NFL scouts would be at the game, many of whom considered Cannavino too small for pro football. Cannavino joked, "If we win, maybe it'll look good on our resume when we go in to apply for a regular job. Maybe the boss will be sympathetic to the fact that we got Bo Schembechler his first Rose Bowl."
In four years at Michigan, Cannavino was credited with 289 tackles, including 175 solo tackles and 114 assists. At the time of his graduation in 1981, Cannavino ranked third all-team in tackles in Michigan football history.
Professional football
Cannavino was selected by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL Draft
1981 NFL Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981...
. He signed with the Lions and attended training camp, but he was released in the pre-season. In February 1982, he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but he was released at the end of August 1982 shortly before the start of the regular season. In 1983, Cannavino signed with the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
in the newly-formed USFL; he played for the 1983 Panthers team that won the first USFL championship game played in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. In April 1984, the Panthers traded Cannavino to the Chicago Blitz
Chicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
, also of the USFL, in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.
Later years
After retiring from football, Cannavino became the President at Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He is a resident of Highland Heights, Ohio
Highland Heights, Ohio
-External links:*...
.