Mario Danelo
San Pedro, California | |
Died: | January 6, 2007 San Pedro, California | (aged 21)
---|---|
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Career history | |
College |
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Bowl games | 2006 Rose Bowl 2007 Rose Bowl |
High school | San Pedro High School |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Mario Danelo (July 3, 1985 – January 6, 2007) was an American college football placekicker for the University of Southern California.
High school career
Danelo was an all–
College career
Danelo was a walk-on
Death and memorial
In the early morning hours of January 6, 2007, after partying with friends, Danelo left his family's San Pedro home, telling his father he was going for a walk.[4] He was found dead later that day by a passer-by at the bottom of the 120-foot-tall (37 m) White Point Cliff near Point Fermin Lighthouse, several blocks from his house. No signs of scuba gear, surfing equipment, or swimsuits were found, and his car was not in the vicinity. The police ruled out foul play as the cause of death. In front of the cliff, which he is suspected to have accidentally fallen off or jumped, there are signs forbidding entrance.[5][6] 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 to operate a vehicle on public roadways. The coroner's report listed the cause of death as the result of "multiple traumatic injuries;" however the coroner could not determine how those injuries had occurred.[4][7] Danelo's blood tested free from drugs. As of March 2007, the manner of death was undetermined.[8]
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 several thousand 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 about 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 wore a #19 sticker on their helmets in honor of Danelo.[8] In addition, the Kennedy-Jones practice field had the number "19" sprayed onto its end zones. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum also put a banner above the tunnel with Danelo's name and the goal-post pads paid tribute to him.[9]
Before the beginning of the 2007 opener, USC held a special ceremony with a video tribute, a moment of silence before the game and coach Pete Carroll and Athletic Director
On December 17, 2007, San Pedro High School dedicated a large mural on campus to Danelo.[12] The mural was planned and donated by a USC group and titled "Livin' the Dream" by sports muralist Mike Sullivan.[13]
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.
- ^ a b Bill Plaschke, An extraordinary extra point is a reminder of who's missing[dead link], Los Angeles Times, September 12, 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 alcohol 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.
- ^ Scott Wolf, USC freshman end Griffen gains reputation Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Daily News, August 12, 2007.
- ^ Gary Klein, Danelo is paid a tribute, Los Angeles Times, September 2, 2007, Accessed July 2, 2008.
- ^ Ted Miller, Trojans had no BCS peer once Carroll arrived, ESPN.com, May 22, 2008, Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ Gary Klein, Mustain and Williams connect in scrimmage, Los Angeles Times, December 17, 2007.
- ^ Garry Paskwietz, Mario Danelo Mural Ceremony Archived 2007-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, WeAreSC, December 18, 2007.