Steve Strinko
Encyclopedia
Steven Douglas Strinko (born October 5, 1952) is a former American football
player. He played as a linebacker
for Coach Bo Schembechler
at the University of Michigan
and was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team
. He subsequently founded FAN, Inc., a non-profit organization established to identify and provide medical assistance to former NCAA athletes experiencing hardships as a result of injuries incurred during sanctioned NCAA activities.
, the son of Thomas Strinko. He attended Monroe High School in Monroe, Ohio
, and earned three letters each in track and football and one in basketball. He was a linebacker and offensive tackle on the Monroe Hornets football team from 1968 to 1970. In Strinko's three seasons of varsity football at Monroe, the team lost only one football game. Strinko was selected for the All Mid Miami Conference three times, All Southwestern Ohio two times, All-Ohio two times, and was selected as a first-team Scholastic Coach Magazine High School All-American. In May 1971, he also received the Banquet of Champions award as the outstanding male high school athlete in the Greater Cincinnati area. In January 2010, Strinko was named as an honorable mention selection on the All-Time All-Ohio High School Football Team.
Strinko also maintained a 4.0 grade point average as a high school student, and was the sports editor on the school paper and a member of the student council and National Honor Society.
, Notre Dame
, Stanford
, Michigan and other universities. In January 1971, Strinko and his parents watched Super Bowl V
with Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes
at his house. The Strinkos were the only family invited and enjoyed a home-cooked meal prepared by Hayes' wife Anne. In March 1971, Strinko announced that he had accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan
. At the time of his commitment to Michigan, one Ohio newspaper reported:
Strinko dismissed the notion that he was a "traitor" for choosing Michigan over Ohio State, noting that he chose Michigan "because I liked Bo [Michigan head football coach Bo Schembechler
] a lot. I was probably more impressed with him than with OSU Coach Woody Hayes. They (Michigan recruiters) said I'd definitely play linebacker here. That's what I've always wanted to play. Other schools said I might play somewhere else." Strinko later recalled that Woody Hayes never got over his decision to attend Michigan.
and set a University of Michigan record with 137 tackles during the 1973 season. The 1973 team won the first 10 games of the season but played Ohio State
to a 10-10 tie in the final game of the season. The defense allowed only 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. The Big Ten Conference voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, and conference rules prevented a second Big Ten team from accepting a bowl bid. Before the 1974 rematch with Ohio State, Strinko said, "You're never going to see a team as high as Michigan in Columbus. It went to a vote last year and they shafted us. So we're not going to let them shaft us this time. The other day some of us were sitting around watching TV and one of the guys said, 'If you gave me an elbow pad before the Ohio State game I'd be ready to eat it.'"
, missing one game due to a knee injury suffered in the fourth game of the season against Stanford
. Strinko also called the signals on defense for the 1974 team that allowed only 75 points, an average of 6.8 points per game. In October 1974, Michigan defensive coordinator Gary Moeller
called Strinko "the best linebacker we've had at Michigan. He hustles all over the field. I can see why the pro scouts are so high on him." Strinko accumulated 117 tackles in 10 games and was selected by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player on the 1974 team. Years later, Strinko said, "Of all my accomplishments I consider [the 1974 Most Valuable Player award] the most important. I am humbled to this day at being its recipient and at times fear I have not lived up to its relevance. The Most Valuable Player Award, since it is voted on by your peers, is, at its essence, a reflection of leadership and dedication to 'TEAM'."
At the end of the 1974 season, Strinko was selected by the United Press International
as a first-team All-Big Ten player and a second-team All-American player.
Strinko's younger brother, Greg Strinko, also played for the 1974 Michigan team as a defensive end.
Strinko later said that, outside of his family relationships, playing football at Michigan for Bo Schembechler was "the single most rewarding experience of my life. The camaraderie and meaningful friendships formed in those four years are enduring and special."
in the 9th round (219th overall pick) of the 1975 NFL Draft
. When Strinko was not drafted after the first six rounds, Michigan coach Bo Schembechler told reporters he was shocked: "Strinko hasn't been drafted yet? That is unbelievable! Astounding!" He underwent knee surgery before signing with the Lions in June 1975. Strinko's knee did not recuperate fully following the surgery, and he was placed on the injured reserve list for the entire 1975 season. Strinko later recalled:
Strinko attempted to make the Lions team in 1976, but he was unable to keep fluid off of his knee, and the Lions told him that his condition was chronic and degenerative. In the end, Strinko never played in an NFL
game.
regarding his application for disability. He had no insurance and there was no organization in place that offered financial assistance to athletes injured while participating in college athletics. Strinko organized a non-profit organization called FAN, Inc., the Foundation for Athletes in Need. The mission of FAN, Inc., is to identify and provide medical assistance to former NCAA athletes experiencing hardships as a result of injuries incurred during sanctioned NCAA activities. Strinko states that he has been certified as 100% disabled, qualifying him for Medicare Benefits, so that the funds raised by FAN, Inc., would not be used for his own medical needs. He noted that his goal is to assist others who are not fortunate to have the means to fund their medical care. On the FAN, Inc. web site, Strinko states:
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for Coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team
1974 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
. He subsequently founded FAN, Inc., a non-profit organization established to identify and provide medical assistance to former NCAA athletes experiencing hardships as a result of injuries incurred during sanctioned NCAA activities.
Monroe High School
Strinko was born in Middletown, OhioMiddletown, Ohio
Middletown is an All-America City located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886...
, the son of Thomas Strinko. He attended Monroe High School in Monroe, Ohio
Monroe, Ohio
Monroe is a city located in east central Butler and west central Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2007, the city population was 7,655, up from 4,008 in 1990....
, and earned three letters each in track and football and one in basketball. He was a linebacker and offensive tackle on the Monroe Hornets football team from 1968 to 1970. In Strinko's three seasons of varsity football at Monroe, the team lost only one football game. Strinko was selected for the All Mid Miami Conference three times, All Southwestern Ohio two times, All-Ohio two times, and was selected as a first-team Scholastic Coach Magazine High School All-American. In May 1971, he also received the Banquet of Champions award as the outstanding male high school athlete in the Greater Cincinnati area. In January 2010, Strinko was named as an honorable mention selection on the All-Time All-Ohio High School Football Team.
Strinko also maintained a 4.0 grade point average as a high school student, and was the sports editor on the school paper and a member of the student council and National Honor Society.
Commitment to Michigan
As one of Ohio's top football recruits in the Class of 1971, Strinko was recruited by Ohio StateOhio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
, Michigan and other universities. In January 1971, Strinko and his parents watched Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
with Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
at his house. The Strinkos were the only family invited and enjoyed a home-cooked meal prepared by Hayes' wife Anne. In March 1971, Strinko announced that he had accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. At the time of his commitment to Michigan, one Ohio newspaper reported:
"Herculean Steve Strinko, one of the most complete gridiron players in Southwestern Ohio, signed a letter of intent to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Wednesday evening at his residence in the suburbs of Monroe. ... Strinko, who possesses superbrains and super-brawn to complement a super-personality, was all smiles as he inked his promise to attend the conference football powerhouse."
Strinko dismissed the notion that he was a "traitor" for choosing Michigan over Ohio State, noting that he chose Michigan "because I liked Bo [Michigan head football coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
] a lot. I was probably more impressed with him than with OSU Coach Woody Hayes. They (Michigan recruiters) said I'd definitely play linebacker here. That's what I've always wanted to play. Other schools said I might play somewhere else." Strinko later recalled that Woody Hayes never got over his decision to attend Michigan.
1973 season
Strinko started all 11 games at middle linebacker for the undefeated 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team1973 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
and set a University of Michigan record with 137 tackles during the 1973 season. The 1973 team won the first 10 games of the season but played Ohio State
1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1973-1974. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–0–1 record, including the 1974 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they won 42–21 against the USC Trojans.-Schedule:-1974...
to a 10-10 tie in the final game of the season. The defense allowed only 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. The Big Ten Conference voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, and conference rules prevented a second Big Ten team from accepting a bowl bid. Before the 1974 rematch with Ohio State, Strinko said, "You're never going to see a team as high as Michigan in Columbus. It went to a vote last year and they shafted us. So we're not going to let them shaft us this time. The other day some of us were sitting around watching TV and one of the guys said, 'If you gave me an elbow pad before the Ohio State game I'd be ready to eat it.'"
1974 season
As a senior, Strinko started 10 games at middle linebacker for the 1974 team1974 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
, missing one game due to a knee injury suffered in the fourth game of the season against Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
. Strinko also called the signals on defense for the 1974 team that allowed only 75 points, an average of 6.8 points per game. In October 1974, Michigan defensive coordinator Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
called Strinko "the best linebacker we've had at Michigan. He hustles all over the field. I can see why the pro scouts are so high on him." Strinko accumulated 117 tackles in 10 games and was selected by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player on the 1974 team. Years later, Strinko said, "Of all my accomplishments I consider [the 1974 Most Valuable Player award] the most important. I am humbled to this day at being its recipient and at times fear I have not lived up to its relevance. The Most Valuable Player Award, since it is voted on by your peers, is, at its essence, a reflection of leadership and dedication to 'TEAM'."
At the end of the 1974 season, Strinko was selected by the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
as a first-team All-Big Ten player and a second-team All-American player.
Strinko's younger brother, Greg Strinko, also played for the 1974 Michigan team as a defensive end.
Strinko later said that, outside of his family relationships, playing football at Michigan for Bo Schembechler was "the single most rewarding experience of my life. The camaraderie and meaningful friendships formed in those four years are enduring and special."
Detroit Lions
Strinko was selected by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 9th round (219th overall pick) of the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. When Strinko was not drafted after the first six rounds, Michigan coach Bo Schembechler told reporters he was shocked: "Strinko hasn't been drafted yet? That is unbelievable! Astounding!" He underwent knee surgery before signing with the Lions in June 1975. Strinko's knee did not recuperate fully following the surgery, and he was placed on the injured reserve list for the entire 1975 season. Strinko later recalled:
"I had spent my rookie year, 1975, on injured reserve recovering from knee surgery performed by the University of Michigan's Orthopedic Specialist, Dr. O'Connor. You see the Lions would not sign me to a contract unless Michigan's Team Doctor's performed the necessary surgery, as the injury had occurred playing football at Michigan. This process relieved the Lions from any liability."
Strinko attempted to make the Lions team in 1976, but he was unable to keep fluid off of his knee, and the Lions told him that his condition was chronic and degenerative. In the end, Strinko never played in an NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
game.
FAN, Inc.
In 2007, Strinko was awaiting knee replacement surgery and a determination by the Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
regarding his application for disability. He had no insurance and there was no organization in place that offered financial assistance to athletes injured while participating in college athletics. Strinko organized a non-profit organization called FAN, Inc., the Foundation for Athletes in Need. The mission of FAN, Inc., is to identify and provide medical assistance to former NCAA athletes experiencing hardships as a result of injuries incurred during sanctioned NCAA activities. Strinko states that he has been certified as 100% disabled, qualifying him for Medicare Benefits, so that the funds raised by FAN, Inc., would not be used for his own medical needs. He noted that his goal is to assist others who are not fortunate to have the means to fund their medical care. On the FAN, Inc. web site, Strinko states:
"Over the course of time I have discovered what I believe is a serious gap in services for former student athletes who have been injured while participating in a NCAA sanctioned sport. These athletes have dedicated, not only their hearts and minds but also their bodies to the success and proliferation of their respective university athletic programs. Many of these injuries have manifested into long-term, chronic problems. These debilitating injuries are often left untreated which only exasperates the problem. My goal in the creation of FAN, Inc. ... is to assist these under and uninsured individuals in obtaining relevant, professional services."