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| No. 73, 75, 45 | |||||||||
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| Positions | Tackle Guard | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1920-08-15)August 15, 1920 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | November 1, 1995(1995-11-01) (aged 75) Manhasset, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Watertown(Watertown, New York) | ||||||||
| College | Boston College | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1943: 9th round, 72nd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Rocco Peter Canale (August 15, 1920 – November 1, 1995) was an American professionalfootball player in theNational Football League (NFL). During his pro career, he split time between thePhiladelphia Eagles and theBoston Yanks. However was also a member of the "Steagles", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Eagles andPittsburgh Steelers due to the league-wide manning shortages in 1943 brought on byWorld War II. Canale's brawny physique earned him the nickname "the Walking Billboard".
Rocco was born in 1920 inBoston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Nicholas and Josephine Marzano Canale. While attendingWatertown High School, he joined the football andwrestling teams. He then quickly becoming one of the school's finest athletes. He graduated in 1939 and received a football scholarship to attend Boston College.
Prior to his professional career, Canale played at thecollege level while attendingBoston College. There he played as an offensive and defensive lineman. His play would go on to earn himAll-American and All-East honors. Canale's blocking and tackling abilities were key factors in Boston College's winning 26 of 31 games played during his varsity career. He was a member of the 1941Sugar Bowl championship team and the 1943Orange Bowl squad. He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
Ed McMahon, who later becameJohnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show", met Canale while he was trying out for Boston College's football team. During a scrimmage, McMahon was assigned to play opposite Canale. While McMahon stopped him once, Canale soon afterwards hit him back even harder. This ended any dreams McMahon had of becoming a football player. 'He creamed me,' McMahon once said, 'and I turned in my uniforms'.
In 1943 Canale was selected into theArmy, temporarily suspending a professional football career. After training atGreensboro, North Carolina, andMiami Beach, Florida, he was assigned to the First Army Air Force Fighter Command Headquarters located atMitchell Field inLong Island, New York. He was promoted to corporal in 1944. Canale's name is listed on the World War II Honor Roll, which lists the over 1,000 NFL personnel who served in the military during war. The listing of players has been inscribed on a plaque, located at thePro Football Hall of Fame inCanton, Ohio.
Canale was drafted in 1943 by, Eagles coach,Greasy Neale to play weekend ball with the Eagles. However 1943 saw the Eagles and Steelers merge to form the Steagles. That season, Canale played in seven games, and in the following year, he participated in nine more; his commanding officer was sympathetic to his desire to play pro football, and allowed him to play with the Steagles. Realizing the football talent among them, the First Army Air Force Fighter Command asked Canale play on its team. He played seven games with the Army in 1945 while still playing four professional football games with the Eagles. In 1946, he asked to be traded to the Boston Yanks and played for that team for the rest of his career. Although he decided to return to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948, an injury ended his football career.
After his playing career ended due to an injury, Canale returned home to Watertown to co-manage with his brother, Richard, Canale's Restaurant, the family business. He was the restaurant's president for 30 years.
Canale coached theWatertown Red & Black football team, the oldest semi-pro football team in the United States, for three seasons. He ended his coaching career with a 23–2 record. In 1981, he received the Old Timers Certificate of Appreciation by the Red and Black Team of Watertown.
Canale was active in theRepublican Party during the 1960s. He was named chairman of the GOP Rally in honor of State GOP Comptroller CandidateJohn P. Lomenzo. In 1962, he was appointed administrative assistant to SenatorHenry A. Wise, aiding the former senator while theNew York Legislature was in session.
Rocco married Eleanor M. Hilden ofBoston,Massachusetts, on December 7, 1943. The couple gave birth to two children, Marcia Canale-Bracken and Nicholas R. Canale.
A scholarship was later created by Canale's wife in his name. It providesJefferson Community College students who are pursuing an associate degree in physical education the financial opportunity they need to some day coach young adults or become professional athletes.
