 |
 Aliquippa High School’s football tradition of
hard-nosed-tough-as-nails players is well known. There is no better
example than Willie Costanza. Willie was a versatile, full time
player under legendary coach
Carl Aschman for the Quips from 1957 to
1959, playing guard on offense and linebacker on defense. He was not
that big but was very tough, lettering for three years and
starting his last two. In his senior year (1959), he captained the
Quips to the WPIAL championship game, gaining All Conference, All WPIAL,
and honorable mention All State honors in the process, and being
chosen to play in a Pittsburgh Jaycees All Star game. But his most
cherished award was being named MVP by his teammates. Willie was
recruited by the likes of Notre Dame, Arizona, and Wisconsin, but chose Minnesota because he felt it related to his Western
Pennsylvania background. After redshirting his sophomore year, he
went on to earn three letters and was a starter for two years, being
defensive captain his senior year. Willie played alongside Carl
Eller and Bobby Bell, giving the Gophers a feared defense. Excelling
in all facets of the game, including special teams, Willie earned All Big Ten honors on both offense and defense and was chosen to
play in the North-South All Star game. One of his proudest awards at
Minnesota was his selection as the recipient of the Williams
Foundation Scholarship Award, given to the athlete who excelled in
the classroom. Drafted by the Denver Broncos, Willie instead entered
the Navy and served in Vietnam. |
|
|
