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Rocco Canale was born on May 1, 1917 in Watertown, NY and attended Watertown High School, where he played football and wrestled. After graduation in 1939, he received a scholarship to play at Boston College. At B.C. he played on both the offense and defensive lines and went on to earn All-American honors. During his varsity career, B.C. won 26 of their 31 games and played in the 1941 Sugar Bowl and 1943 Orange Bowl. He was drafted in the 9th round by the Pittsburg/Philadelphia "Steagles" in the 1943 NFL Draft. He played for the "Steagles" in 1943, who were a merger of the two teams during World War II, but his career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army, in 1943. He trained in Greensboro, NC and in Miami Beach and was assigned to the First Army Air Force Fighter Command Headquarters at Mitchell Field in Long Island, NY. He reached the rank of corporal in 1944, before he went back to play with the Philadelphia Eagles on weekends and again in 1945. He also played for his military football team. He was traded from the Eagles to the Boston Yanks in 1946 and finished with them in 1947. He returned to the Eagles for the 1948 season but was injured and retired. After football, he returned home to co-mange the family restaurant in Watertown, where he worked for 30 years. He also coached the semi-pro Watertown Red & Black football team for three seasons. He ended his coaching career with a 23-2 record. During the 1960s, he was an active participant in the Republican Party and was named chairman. In 1993, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame and into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Rocco Canale passed away on November 1, 1995 at age 78, in Manhasset, NY. |
