Ron Pasquale (2017) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Ron Pasquale

Induction:
2017
Class:
1987

1983-86
Offensive Lineman

Without a doubt, Ron Pasquale was a late bloomer. A product of Youngstown Chaney High School, Pasquale had only been a starter during his senior year. As a result, he didn’t receive any scholarship offers, although a couple of NCAA III teams had shown some interest. However, it was his older brother Bill, both a defensive and offensive lineman at UA, who gets the thanks for talking him into joining the Zips.

A walk-on who worked his way up to become UA’s premier offensive lineman, the 6-3, 240-lb. Pasquale spent the 1982 season on the UA scout team and was redshirted to give him four full years with the team.

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Pasquale kept working, learning, and improving until he got his chance, which came during the spring drills of 1983. He so impressed head coach Jim Dennison who brought him into his office and offered him a full scholarship. It was the inspiration Pasquale needed, and he fought to earn and keep a starting spot on the offensive line all four years.

As a freshman in 1983, he became a part-time starter at offensive guard as UA compiled an 8-3 mark. His performance earned him the Harry “Doc” Smith Award as the most outstanding freshman. The 6-3, 240-lb. athlete kept his position in 1984 and 1985, when the Zips captured seven of 11 games to earn a NCAA I-AA playoff bid.

Pasquale excelled his senior season by bulking up to 270 pounds. He had been strength coach Pat Ciccantelli’s poster player for two years. One of UA’s strongest players, Pasquale bench-pressed 500 pounds, lifted 605 pound in the squat and 360 pounds in the power clean.

At the season’s start, he was selected a team captain. His new coach– Gerry Faust– moved him to a right tackle spot to help UA compile a 7-4 record in 1986. Pasquale’s performance earned him Honorable Mention All-America accolades by the Associated Press, first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, and Akron’s Most Valuable Lineman Award, and as the Zips set an all-time high of 283.6 yards per game rushing that remains a UA record 31 years later.

“Ron is what every football coach looks for in a dedicated student-athlete,” Faust, said. “He is completely dedicated to the game, lifting, his studies and his teammates.”

Now, joining 13 of his teammates in the Hall of Fame, Pasquale is only the second offensive lineman.

Pasquale earned an M.B.A. from Youngstown State in 1991.