Mario Danelo
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Mario Danelo (July 3, 1985 – January 6, 2007) was an American college football placekicker.
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[edit] High school career
Danelo was an all–Los Angeles linebacker at San Pedro High School. Because, at 5'10" and 200 lbs, he was undersized to be a major college linebacker, his father, former 9-year National Football League kicker Joe Danelo, taught him the position.[1] Danelo became the first San Pedro High Pirate to play football at the University of Southern California in 30 years.[1][2]
[edit] College career
Danelo was a walk-on college football player at USC in 2003. He redshirted his first year and did not have any kick attempts in the 2004 season. He earned an athletic scholarship starting in 2005. During the 2005 season, he set the NCAA, Pac-10 and USC Trojans season records for PATs (83) and PAT attempts (86). In 2006, Danelo led USC in scoring with 89 points.[3] During the 2006 season, Danelo made 15 of 16 field-goal attempts and 44 of 48 PATs.[2] In his final game, the 21-year-old kicked two field goals in helping USC achieve victory in the 2007 Rose Bowl.[1]
[edit] Death and Memorial
Danelo was found dead by a passer-by on January 6, 2007 in San Pedro, California at the bottom of the 120 foot tall White Point Cliff near Point Fermin Lighthouse. No signs of scuba gear, surfing equipment, or swimsuits were found, and his car was not in the vicinity. The police have ruled out foul play as the cause of death. In front of the cliff, which he is suspected to have fallen off, there are signs forbidding entrance.[4][5] Danelo's autopsy toxicological report found he had a 0.23 blood-alcohol level at the time of his death, almost three times the California legal limit. The coroner's report listed the cause of death as the result of "multiple traumatic injuries."[6] Danelo's blood also tested free from drugs. As of March 2007, the manner of death was undetermined.[7]
Two thousand people attended Danelo's funeral at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic church as city streets in San Pedro were closed to handle traffic and mourners spilled outside of the filled church.[2] The speakers included his older brother Joey Danelo, USC head coach Pete Carroll, and his San Pedro High coach Mike Walsh.[1] Among the mourners were approximately 100 of his former USC teammates and coaches, including Shaun Cody, Matt Grootegoed, Fred Matua, Tom Malone, and Scott Ware.[2]
For the 2007 season, USC players will wear a #19 sticker on their helmets in honor of Danelo.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Former USC kicker Danelo remembered for love of life, Associated Press, January 12, 2007
- ^ a b c d Gary Klein, A university, and a city, mourn Danelo, Los Angeles Times, January 13, 2007.
- ^ USC kicker Danelo found dead at bottom of cliff. Associated Press. January 7, 2007.
- ^ Klein, Gary, and Crowe, Jerry. USC's Danelo found dead. Los Angeles Times. January 7, 2007.
- ^ USC kicker found dead at bottom of cliff. MSNBC News Services. January 7, 2007.
- ^ Danelo's blood acohol level 0.23 at time of death. ESPN. February 5, 2007
- ^ a b Gary Klein, Mario Danelo's parents have an emotional visit, Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2007.
