Trojans pay tribute to Mario Danelo

USC used the "missing man formation" during its first extra point Saturday against Idaho to pay tribute to kicker Mario Danelo, who died tragically and mysteriously in January. Here is a TrojanWire article about the tribute; here's a YouTube clip from the TV broadcast:

(Hat tip: BK.)

Comments

[BK]

Even if Peeeete thought of that, it deserves some praise. Very classy and touching.

[dcl]

If I'm not mistaken that is the first time USC retired a number not belonging to a Heisman trophy winner. I think that as much as anything gives you an idea of just how much this has effected the team.

[Brandon]

While the player's death is tragic and heartbreaking, that was probably the dumbest thing I've seen in a while. Just play the damn game.

[David K.]

Brandon you clearly never played football, its about more than just the damn game, especially at that level. Pete Carol is a class act.

[Boilermaker]

Wrong, David. Pete Carroll is an insufferable douchebag.

[Wobbly H]

I have to agree with only part of what Davie said. As our resident expert on what football is about (he is a former JV fullback, and his brother played real college football somewhere), Davie is correct about the gesture being appropriate and meaningful. However, this doesn't make Pete "Carrol" a class act...extrapolating from one considerate action that surely meant a lot to his team is an exceedingly poor line of argument.

[David K.]

A little bitter there boilermaker? Did Pete Carroll kick your dog or something? As for you wobbly, you are an idiot, but i'm not surprised, since I never once said that because of this one incident it proves Pete Carroll is a class act. I guess reading comprehension isn't your strong suit.

[Wobbly H]

Pray tell, Davie, what else is out there to support your proposition, then?

[David K.]

Other than his charity work, the universal praise his players have for him, and the fact that the only criticism you hear of him as a person is from internet trolls/USC haters like Boilermaker up above?

[Becky]

It's a nice gesture and I'm sure that it meant a great deal to Danelo's family and friends.

And if we're arguing about argumentation here, Wobs, I think your argument is actually weaker than David's, considering he at least has pointed to one action that supports the notion that Carroll is a class act whereas you've provided no evidence to the contrary.

If nothing else, Carroll is one of the best coaches, if not the best coach, in college football right now. His stellar record and the dynastic program he's managed to create at 'SC over the course of the last six seasons stand as testaments to his awesomeness.

[dc]

I thought it was a classy gesture, along with the stickers on the helmets this year. It's interesting how Mario's death is probably getting even more recognition after the fact than the murder of USC PG Ryan Francis, even though the two situations were completely different.

Still, Mario was a friend of mine and I thought it was very cool of the team to do it.

[Peter Evans]

Being a Brit and knowing absolutely nowt about US American rugby, I have to bow out of the above arguement. I will say though that I found that tribute rather moving. Sounds like Mario was a pretty inspiring and all-round nice guy. A real shame when such good blokes die young.

[kcatnd]

I think it was a cool, classy thing to do. Good reminder that there are real guys under those helmets that care about each other.