Well, it wasn't a Cornellian making such a claim, nor #44 himself, but rather the erudite, articulate, and handsome Jack Ford--award-winning television legal commentator, and himself, an Ivy League Football alumnus. And the guy's a Yalie!!
So now that Jack has his special place in the hearts of all Cornell alumns, what was Ed Marinaro's reaction to such a generous introduction at the Ivy League Football Association tribute to Big Ed and the seven other rain-makers representing the rest of the Ancient Eight?
Marinaro was classic Jersey kid, Heisman runner-up, blue-collar actor--finally getting his chance to sum up the whole career in seventeen minutes. And what a seventeen minutes it was!! Faintly veiling his devaluation of his past achievements for an opportunity to sell his "present" talents in his never-ending search for a "real job," Ed orchestrated a hilarious, self-deprecating acceptance that was even entertaining to all the non-Cornell types there; THEY GAVE HIM A STANDING OVATION WHEN IT WAS OVER.
Go first to www.ivyfootballassociation.org to get the background of this wonderful event at the Waldorf in NYC. Then give yourself the seventeen minutes required to enjoy what the 1000 plus of us did last Thursday, January 22. The video of his entire speech is at http://squidoo.com/Ed-Marinaro-speech
By the way, I know 100 plus Cornell guys who would vote that Jack Ford be the Yale award recipient next time the Ivy League Football Association meets in 2011.
Joe Cervasio, still smiling, and proud to be a Cornellian.
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