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Return to ‘backyard’ inspires Miami Hurricanes’ Anthony Chickillo
UM defensive end Anthony Chickillo will have many familiar faces in the crowd when the former Tampa Alonso High star plays Saturday at USF.
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BY MANNY NAVARRO
MNAVARRO@MIAMIHERALD.COM
With three generations’ worth of Hurricane blood flowing through his veins, it’s only natural that being mired in mediocrity doesn’t sit well with Anthony Chickillo.
So when he was asked to describe his emotions after Saturday’s four-point loss at Florida State dropped UM to 5-5, the 6-4, 250-pound freshman defensive end responded with a little old-school, Canes bravado.
“There’s going to be a point in time when everybody on our team decides we’re never going to lose again,’’ said Chickillo, whose father Tony, a nose tackle from 1979 to 1982, and grandfather, Nick, an All-American two-way lineman in 1952, played for the Canes.
"We’ve got so much talent. We’ve got the right coaches. We don’t have to lose. It’s going to change."
The Canes would love for that change to start Saturday when they travel up Interstate 75 to take on South Florida (5-5) in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. For Chickillo, an Under-Armour All-American at nearby Alonso High, the last thing he wants is to return home and have the school he passed on earn the right to brag about owning a two-game winning streak over UM in front of what he expects to be a crowd of more than 100 of his own friends and family.
“I know he’s excited and we’re definitely excited,’’ said Tony Chickillo, whose son said he has secured about 25 tickets from his UM teammates for his homecoming.
“He’s played great, man. What he’s doing is unbelievable. There’s not too many kids ever that could play on the defensive line as a freshman. Most kids on any major program at defensive end are usually redshirted and then work into the mix at the end of the year. Clearly Anthony was ready to play at that level when he walked into the campus. Right now, he’s living the dream.’’
Tabbed by CBSSports.com columnist Bruce Feldman as one of the nation’s Top 10 freshmen earlier this week, Chickillo has started seven games for UM and is tied for sixth on the team with 34 tackles, ranks tied for third with 5.5 tackles for loss and is second overall with four sacks. Only South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (5) and Middle Tennessee State linebacker Leighton Gasque (6) have more sacks than Chickillo nationally among freshmen.
“I think he’s had a really good year,’’ defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said. “He had to start probably before he should have based on everything that went on [with suspensions] and he hasn’t relinquished his job.’’
UM coach Al Golden said Tuesday he considers Chickillo among the freshmen leaders. Receiver Phillip Dorsett, linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive back Dallas Crawford and defensive tackle Jalen Grimble are others. But Chickillo said he believes Golden has been urging him to step more into the forefront, a role he says he won’t shy away from.
“Coach Golden tells me all the time you have to be a leader, make sure everybody is doing the right thing. ... And that’s what I do,’’ Chickillo said.
“We need everybody to realize what we can be and how good we can be. When this next recruiting class comes in  right when they come in  I’m going to talk to them all and just tell them you just have to follow the process and good things will happen for our program. I want to win a championship. That’s why we all came here and what it should be.’’
But first Chickillo wants to start that trek by winning in his own backyard.
“USF is a real good football team, and it’s going to be a real good challenge for us,†he said. “They’ve got a tremendous quarterback in BJ Daniels, who can create a lot of things with his arms and his legs. They’re real similar to Kansas State. We just have to be disciplined, do our job and good things should happen. We did a pretty good job containing [FSU quarterback] EJ Manuel. We’re looking forward to the challenge of stopping [Daniels].â€Â
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/18/2507400/return-to-backyard-inspires-miami.html#ixzz1e2LUZWJS
UM defensive end Anthony Chickillo will have many familiar faces in the crowd when the former Tampa Alonso High star plays Saturday at USF.
Related Content
Miami Hurricanes defense not forcing turnovers
Blog | How do you feel about Shannon now?
Download your Miami Hurricanes iPhone app
BY MANNY NAVARRO
MNAVARRO@MIAMIHERALD.COM
With three generations’ worth of Hurricane blood flowing through his veins, it’s only natural that being mired in mediocrity doesn’t sit well with Anthony Chickillo.
So when he was asked to describe his emotions after Saturday’s four-point loss at Florida State dropped UM to 5-5, the 6-4, 250-pound freshman defensive end responded with a little old-school, Canes bravado.
“There’s going to be a point in time when everybody on our team decides we’re never going to lose again,’’ said Chickillo, whose father Tony, a nose tackle from 1979 to 1982, and grandfather, Nick, an All-American two-way lineman in 1952, played for the Canes.
"We’ve got so much talent. We’ve got the right coaches. We don’t have to lose. It’s going to change."
The Canes would love for that change to start Saturday when they travel up Interstate 75 to take on South Florida (5-5) in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. For Chickillo, an Under-Armour All-American at nearby Alonso High, the last thing he wants is to return home and have the school he passed on earn the right to brag about owning a two-game winning streak over UM in front of what he expects to be a crowd of more than 100 of his own friends and family.
“I know he’s excited and we’re definitely excited,’’ said Tony Chickillo, whose son said he has secured about 25 tickets from his UM teammates for his homecoming.
“He’s played great, man. What he’s doing is unbelievable. There’s not too many kids ever that could play on the defensive line as a freshman. Most kids on any major program at defensive end are usually redshirted and then work into the mix at the end of the year. Clearly Anthony was ready to play at that level when he walked into the campus. Right now, he’s living the dream.’’
Tabbed by CBSSports.com columnist Bruce Feldman as one of the nation’s Top 10 freshmen earlier this week, Chickillo has started seven games for UM and is tied for sixth on the team with 34 tackles, ranks tied for third with 5.5 tackles for loss and is second overall with four sacks. Only South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (5) and Middle Tennessee State linebacker Leighton Gasque (6) have more sacks than Chickillo nationally among freshmen.
“I think he’s had a really good year,’’ defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said. “He had to start probably before he should have based on everything that went on [with suspensions] and he hasn’t relinquished his job.’’
UM coach Al Golden said Tuesday he considers Chickillo among the freshmen leaders. Receiver Phillip Dorsett, linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive back Dallas Crawford and defensive tackle Jalen Grimble are others. But Chickillo said he believes Golden has been urging him to step more into the forefront, a role he says he won’t shy away from.
“Coach Golden tells me all the time you have to be a leader, make sure everybody is doing the right thing. ... And that’s what I do,’’ Chickillo said.
“We need everybody to realize what we can be and how good we can be. When this next recruiting class comes in  right when they come in  I’m going to talk to them all and just tell them you just have to follow the process and good things will happen for our program. I want to win a championship. That’s why we all came here and what it should be.’’
But first Chickillo wants to start that trek by winning in his own backyard.
“USF is a real good football team, and it’s going to be a real good challenge for us,†he said. “They’ve got a tremendous quarterback in BJ Daniels, who can create a lot of things with his arms and his legs. They’re real similar to Kansas State. We just have to be disciplined, do our job and good things should happen. We did a pretty good job containing [FSU quarterback] EJ Manuel. We’re looking forward to the challenge of stopping [Daniels].â€Â
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/18/2507400/return-to-backyard-inspires-miami.html#ixzz1e2LUZWJS