Anthony Scirrotto

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Anthony Scirrotto


caption = Scirrotto
college = Penn State
sport = Football
position = S, PR, Gunner
jersey = 7
class = Senior
career_start = 2005
nickname =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 198
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|10|21
birth_place =
highschool = West Deptford High School, West Deptford, New Jersey
former_school(s)=
honors = 2008 Team Captain 2008 Preseason First Team All-Big Ten (Sporting News) 2007 Preseason First Team All-Big Ten (Sporting News)
2006 First Team All-Big Ten (AP)
2006-2007 ESPN.com All-Bowl Team

Anthony Scirrotto (born October 21, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a college football player for Penn State under Joe Paterno, a 2006 First Team All-Big Ten Conference selection, [ [http://www.gopsusports.com/Football/people/Player.cfm?rosterid=2920 Official Website Of Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics ] ] and a 2008 team captain. [ cite web | url = http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042908aaa.html | title = Nittany Lions Announce Captains for 2008 Season | accessdate = 2008-04-29 | publisher = Pennsylvania State University]

High School

During his senior season at West Deptford High School, Scirrotto was named a PrepStar All-American defensive back, First-Team Associated Press All-State in both football and baseball, First-Team Philadelphia Inquirer and South Jersey Player-of-the-Year, First-Team All Colonial Conference, and Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year. He was a four-year starter at defensive back and led his team to three consecutive South Jersey Group II State Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004, including undefeated 12-0 seasons in 2003 and 2004 as the team's quarterback and free safety. Scirrotto grabbed 26 interceptions during his high school campaign.cite web |url=http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scirrotto_anthony00.html |title=#7 Anthony Scirrotto
accessdate=2007-08-11 |publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics |work=Penn State Football: Meet the Team]

Scirrotto, also a prolific baseball pitcher and shortstop, was projected to be an early second round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft.cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/mld/inquirer/15906055.htm|title=Pitch from Lions lured a safety out of baseball|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2006-11-02|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Frank| publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer] cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16363580.htm |title=Scirrotto makes impact with his massive hit|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2007-01-02|last=Fitzpatrick |first=Frank| publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer] Scirrotto reportedly declined interest in the MLB Draft in order to play football under Head Coach Joe Paterno and pursue a higher education.cite web |url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/10/10-12-06tdc/10-12-06dsports-08.asp|title=Scirrotto passes on baseball|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2006-10-12|last=Moyer|first=Josh|publisher=The Daily Collegian]

College

In 2005, Scirrotto received considerable playing time as a true freshman at Penn State as both a safety and punt returner, and he secured his first career interception. In 2006, Scirrotto achieved prominence as a defensive playmaker when he led all players in the Big Ten Conference in interceptions with six. He also led the conference in interception return yards with 122. Additionally, he was second among all players in the Big Ten in passes defended with 14.cite web |url=http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scirrotto_anthony00.html |title=#7 Anthony Scirrotto|accessdate=2007-08-11 |publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics |work=Penn State Football: Meet the Team] Among all Division 1-A players, Scirrotto was fifth in the nation in interception return yards and tied for 11th in total interceptions.cite web |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/stats/bycategory?cat=Defense&conference=I-A_BIG10&year=2006 |title=Big Ten Individual Leaders: Interceptions|accessdate=2007-01-22 |date=2007-01-08 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |work=2006 Season Statistics] cite web |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/stats/bycategory?cat=Defense&sort=101&conference=I-A_all&year=2006 |title=Division I-A Individual Leaders: Interceptions|accessdate=2007-01-22 |date=2007-01-08 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |work=2006 Season Statistics]

Scirrotto was the team's so-called "ironman" in 2006, participating in a team-leading 1,001 separate plays.cite web |url=http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scirrotto_anthony00.html |title=#7 Anthony Scirrotto |accessdate=2007-08-11 |publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics |work=Penn State Football: Meet the Team ] In addition to his play from the safety position, Scirrotto garnered attention for making momentum shifting plays on Special Teams, returning an onside kick for a touchdown against the University of Illinois, blocking a punt against Michigan State University, and as a punt returner.cite web |url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAF_20061021_IL@PSU |title=Scirrotto's picks, touchdown on kick guide Penn State past Illinois|accessdate=2007-01-22 |date=2006-10-21|author=Associated Press | publisher=CBS SportsLine.com] cite web|url=http://www.ydr.com/psu/ci_4724082|title=Scirrotto certainly driven|last=Seip|first=Jim|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2006-11-26|publisher=York Daily News]

As a result of his play, the sports media named Scirrotto 2006 First Team All-Big Ten Conference.cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06326/740365-143.stm|title=Posluszny, Scirrotto all-Big Ten selections|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2006-11-22|last=Fittipaldo|first=Ray|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Scirrotto also earned a spot on the ESPN.com All-Bowl Team, a team composed of players with the best individual performances in postseason Bowl games.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/flash/2006/allbowl |title=2006 All-Bowl Football Team|accessdate=2007-01-22|last=Maisel|first=Ivan| publisher=ESPN.com] He was recognized for his efforts in the Nittany Lions' 20-10 victory over then-No. 17 University of Tennessee in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Scirrotto recorded eight tackles (six solo), grabbed his sixth interception, and sparked the defense when he delivered arguably the Nittany Lions' biggest hit on then Tennessee wide receiver, Jayson Swain. He also caused two pass break-ups.cite web|url=http://live.psu.edu/story/21799|title=Scirrotto selected to ESPN.com All-Bowl Team|accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2007-01-19|last=Nelson|first=Jeff|publisher=Penn State Office of Public Information]

In 2007, Scirrotto extended his string of starts to 26 games. For the second consecutive year, Scirrotto led the Nittany Lions in interceptions with 3 and number of plays with 1,029. As a result of securing his 10th career interception, Scirrotto ended his junior season within 1 interception of entering the Top 10 in Penn State history. [http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scirrotto_anthony00.html]

The Sporting News named Scirrotto 2008 pre-season First-Team All-Big Ten Conference. [http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=445739]

2007 Off-campus incident

In a much publicized event, Scirrotto and his girlfriend were accosted, assaulted and battered by two Penn State students after a confrontation with them and a third man on a State College street on March 31, 2007. As a result of the attack, the two assailants were charged with harassment and criminal mischief respectively. One of the assailants was accused of striking Scirrotto in the face and the other of destroying his personal property.cite web|url= http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/163494.html|title='Scirrotto defense seeks dismissal'|accessdate=2007-08-06|date=2007-07-27|last=Bosak|first=Pete|publisher=The CentreDaily ] A Pennsylvania District Judge found both of Scirrotto's attackers guilty of those charges.cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/08/30/pennstate.brawl.ap/ |title=Two Students Charged in PSU Brawl|accessdate=2007-09-01 |date=2007-08-30|author=Associated Press | publisher=SI.com] In the early morning of April 1, 2007, less than an hour after the attack on Scirrotto, police alleged that Scirrotto and several teammates were involved in a confrontation with the assailants and several others at an off-campus apartment party. As a result of the alleged confrontation at the apartment party, Scirrotto was charged with felony burglary and criminal solicitation, as well as four related misdemeanors.cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/04/04-30-07tdc/04-30-07dnews-04.asp
title=Attorney: 'Like a brawl'Witnesses give play-by-play of the night's events |accessdate=2007-04-30|date=2007-04-28|last=Horan|first=Kevin|last=McLaughlin|first=Corey|last=McLaughlin|first=Mark |last=Viera|publisher=The Daily Collegian ] cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-psu0427,0,120917.story?coll=bal-sports-more|title=Six PSU football players charged in off-campus fight |accessdate=2007-04-27|date=2007-04-27|last=Scolforo|first=Mark|publisher=Baltimore Sun]

On August 20, 2007, Centre County, Pennsylvania, Presiding Judge Charles C. Brown Jr. granted, in part, a Motion for Habeas Corpus, dismissing four of the six charges brought against Scirrotto. Presiding Judge Brown ruled that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania failed to proffer the basic, prima facie evidence, necessary to submit Scirrotto to trial on charges of burglary, two counts of criminal solicitation, or assault. Judge Brown held that the Commonwealth did not offer any evidence that Scirrotto entered the apartment party with the intent to commit a crime therein. The Judge also ruled that there was no evidence that Scirrotto solicited any teammates to confront the men who had earlier attacked him. Additionally, Judge Brown held that there was no evidence that Scirrotto assaulted anyone in connection with the earlier attack upon him, or during the alleged apartment party confrontation.cite web|url=http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/185018.html
title=Charges against Scirrotto dismissed |accessdate=2007-08-21|date=2007-08-21|last=Ganim|first=Sara|publisher=Centre Daily Times]

On February 14, 2008, the remaining charges against Scirrotto were dismissed in return for Scirrotto pleading guilty to a reduced misdemeanor count for trespass. Scirrotto was sentenced to a year probation, 25 days community service, and payment of a $500 fine as part of the plea agreement. [http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/403859.html.]

References

:*cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/12/12-15-06tdc/01-01-07dweb-02.asp|title=Scirrotto shines at safety
accessdate=2007-01-22|date=2007-01-01|last=Cooper|first=Scott|publisher=The Daily Collegian