By Cardinal Insider Steve Grinczel
If you run into Connor Cracchiolo off the field, you won't help but be impressed by his affable, gentle-giant demeanor. But if the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Saginaw Valley State offensive tackle plows into you on the field, and you're wearing the opponent's colors, don't expect an apology.
Although his friendly smile and impeccable manners suggested otherwise at last week's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football Media Day, Cracchiolo insisted he's one mean dude.
Seriously.
The four-year starter will begin remaking his "Bad Boys" case for one last collegiate season in the Cardinals' first practice on Monday. He'll put his nasty alter-ego on display for all to see in the Sept. 5 opener at Winona State.
"That's kinda my play style, playing physical and being violent," Cracchiolo said. "I have gotten in a few scraps in practice that I'm not super proud (about it), but it happens. Growing up, I've always had like that chip on my shoulder. I just do my best to bring that every day."
Cracchiolo developed his attitude while playing for Richmond High School, located about 15 miles west of the border with Canada on the St. Clair River.
"In terms of football, I was always super-undersized," he said. "My junior year on varsity I was a 220-pound tackle, so I've never been the biggest dude out there. I've just always taken pride in everything I do, and I may not be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest, but I'm going to go out there and play my hardest every time."
From his right tackle spot, Cracchiolo anchored an offensive line that paved the way for tailback Terrance Brown to earn GLIAC Freshman of the Year and second-team all-league honors with 733 rushing yards, a whopping 5.4 yards per carry and six rushing touchdowns. Brown finished third in the GLIAC individual rushing race (66.6 yards per game), and the Cardinals were third in rushing (164.5 ypg.) and fourth in total offense (324.5 ypg.).
With four of five starters returning to the offensive front, Cracchiolo believes SVSU will have the best line in the GLIAC, if not the nation. He and center Joe Botello were second-team all-conference selections and right guard Ryan Whitley was an honorable mention recipient. Left guard Tyus Thompson was performing at a high level before being injured and Shaun Shahu, a red-shirt sophomore, is the projected newcomer to the starting lineup at left tackle after appearing in six games last season.
"I've been with all these guys for a number of years," Cracchiolo said. "Ryan's played right guard next to me for a number of years. Tyus would have probably been an all-conference guy last year if he doesn't get hurt. Joe's a great player and Shaun is going to be great, too.
"I know in our room, a lot of us are very like-minded. Ryan and I call ourselves the 'Bash Bros.' It's scary for everyone because we're both very violent and physical on the football field, so me and him go hand-in-hand and play well off each other. Tyus is the nerve center of the group and keeps everything in check and with Joe, and now Shaun, I see our offensive line as yin and yang."
Defined as: "two opposing forces that are interconnected and balance each other out."
With continuity and experience comes improved communication and execution that should greatly eliminate the mental and emotional breakdowns that were so costly in crucial situations, according to fifth-year head coach Ryan Brady.
Cracchiolo is poised to become not just the leader of the line and offense overall, but the team as a whole.
"It's been unbelievable to watch him grow and develop as a man and as a great football player but even a better person," Brady said. "He's going to be a teacher someday and wants to get into coaching, so I love that. He's worked really hard and is probably going to have every opportunity to play at the next level and I totally expect him to be able to do that and continue his dream."
With so much experience and production returning throughout the team, all that's keeping the Cardinals from projecting a championship profile is the lack of a proven quarterback.
Red-shirt freshmen Mason McKenzie and Nick Patterson will wage what's expected to be a well-pitched battle for the starting spot, and both are capable of leading the team, according to Cracchiolo.
While underclassmen, especially those without a proven track record, are inclined to defer to upperclassmen in most matters and hesitant to assert leadership over seasoned veterans, it doesn't appear to be the case in this situation.
"Both have similar playing styles and I'm super-excited to see what those two guys can do," Cracchiolo said. "It makes me sad that this is my last year and they're just getting started. I think Mason is going to be a phenomenal player for us this year and down the road. His process is great for being such a young guy, he really grinds, does all the right things, and is just a great dude to be around. He's a guy you want to be your QB.
"On the flip side, you have Nick, who's a great team guy, a great locker room guy, loved by everybody. We have the relationship with those two, if I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing and pulling my weight, I can see Mason and Nick getting on me and telling me to pick it up. That's what I love about those guys because they're both great competitors; they want to win and they're doing everything for the right reasons."
Keeping McKenzie or Patterson upright while taking the pressure off the passing attack by running the ball consistently will hasten their maturity and progress.
"Having those two guys being our QBs, especially being young, the offensive line is ready to accept that challenge that we really have to protect and be there for them, and make life easy for them," Cracchiolo said. "If we can do what we need to do as a line if we can control the line of scrimmage, if we can protect who we need to protect, there's no doubt in my mind that our playmakers are going to make plays.
"So, the burden really falls on the offensive line's shoulders to produce like we can."