Cuse Camp Clips ... with Vincenzo Giruzzi

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Senior defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi, one of the Syracuse's staples on the defensive line, has seen action in every single game of his dedicated career for the Orange. Giruzzi has just wrapped up his fourth day of training camp and is getting ready to suit up for SU's first day of practice in full pads tomorrow.

"Today we did a good job of dealing with the weather and we got a lot of work done," said head coach Greg Robinson. "We put on the full pads tomorrow and take the next step and that'll be good. The last two days, since they have had shoulder pads on, that intensity and hitting began. They've been banging around. It's been kind of building, lately. I liked the way they were working today. There were a lot of things that were going well and I particularly like the intent of this group. They focus very well. They get back on track pretty quickly."

Syracuse kicks off the 2008 campaign at Northwestern on Saturday, August 30. Season and individual tickets are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX). Learn more about Vincenzo in this edition of 'Cuse Camp Clips.

What was your ‘Welcome to college football moment’?

I was running down the field during the scout team kickoff in practice and the whole field just opened up for me, but little to my knowledge, there was a reason for that. Joe Donnelly, at about 260 lbs., is looping around the field and I didn’t even see him coming. It's a strategy that someone fresh out of high school had no idea what was in store for them. He just came and laid me out. It didn't hurt or anything, but I just went flying across the field. That was my SU welcoming moment. Joe Donnelly, man, that dude was an animal.

What Syracuse University class has taught you the most?

Classes? I mean, I'm almost done with my Master's. I'm in the School Information Studies and I've learned a lot over the years. There are a lot of management concepts and information.

Redsox or Yankees?

Yankees

Who in your life has shared the most valuable ‘life lesson’?

My parents, especially my father. But if you're not a Giruzzi, we don't discuss the "family business" with any outsiders.

Five years after graduating from Syracuse I will be …

I want to be in the NFL, by all means necessary – whatever it takes. After the NFL, I’d like to invest in some restaurants or something along those lines.

What super power would you most like to have?

To be able to fly

Advice to first-year teammates?

Work as hard as you can, don't really talk all that much. Speak when spoken to,but don't be a mute. Work hard, people respect other people that are always working hard and striving to be better. I'm the type of guy, no matter how good or how bad it is, I come to work every day. If all those guys come to work with that mentality, they'll be shown some respect by the coaches and their teammates, even as one of the new guys on the team.

How do you maintain your focus on training camp and not to the season-opener at Northwestern August 30th?

You just have to keep your focus in terms of thinking along the lines that today is the most important day. I try and ask myself how much better can I get today and then you move on tomorrow. If you look into the future and too far ahead, you forget about the things that are right in front of your face. You just have to set for what lies ahead today and everything else will settle into place.

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