Joe Ruggiero overcame broken leg to forge outstanding athletic career.
Editor's Note: Cal U will hold its 23rd annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner April 21 at the Performance Center, inside the Natali Student Center. The Journal is profiling each of the three 2018 inductees.
Joe Ruggiero's season — and nearly his career — ended when the quarterback suffered
a broken leg early in the fourth game of 2004.
Seemingly against all odds, he overcame that injury and returned to lead the Vulcans to the start of the program's most successful era.
Before suffering the injury, against Clarion, Ruggiero had passed for 779 yards and seven touchdowns in just three games. But, suddenly, his priorities changed.
"That was pretty heartbreaking, and I thought my career was over after that," said Ruggiero, who was a 2003 redshirt. "The rehab, at first, was just about trying to be able to walk again."
Remarkably, he recovered in 2005 to pass for 2,200 yards, with 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions. The Vulcans averaged 42.1 points per game and won eight games and their first PSAC-West title in 21 years.
"It just kind of just happened, "Ruggiero said. "For me, it was good just to be back on the field, and everything after the broken leg was just a bonus because, as I said, I did not think I would play again."
The following year, Ruggiero passed for 2,118 yards with 15 touchdowns, and the Vulcans (8-3) repeated as PSAC-West champions. Ruggiero was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in NCAA Division II
In 2007, Ruggiero passed for 2,365 yards and what was then a school-record 25 touchdowns, leading the Vulcans to a 13-1 overall record and the team's first of seven NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
After achieving the program's first undefeated regular season in 49 years, Cal won two playoff games and advanced to its first of three straight national semifinal appearances. Ruggiero earned his third all-conference accolade at season's end.
"It seemed like each game, one area would just pick it up if we were struggling or not performing so well somewhere else," said Ruggiero. We were really just a total team that had each other's back every game.
"It really was a group effort."
He finished his career with 7,462 passing yards and 67 touchdown passes, which both still rank second in school history.
Those figures, along with his career 63.4 completion percentage, 611 completions and 963 attempts, still rank among the conference's top 20.
Ruggiero helped the Vulcans compile a 29-6 cumulative record and a 16-2 PSAC-West mark during the final three seasons of his career under head coach John Luckhardt.
"Joe was so picture-perfect with his passes and such a phenomenal athlete, exceptional quarterback and an even better person," said Luckhardt. "I cannot put into words the impact he had on elevating our program to another level. He's such a winner, and I just have so much belief and respect in him as a player and a leader.
"I coached football for 50 years, and if I was starting a team today, I'd want Joe Ruggiero to be its quarterback."
Ruggiero said the Hall of Fame induction helps ease the sting of a tough four-point season-ending loss to Valdosta State in the 2007 national semifinals.
"It's a great honor and something I did not expect," said Ruggiero. "I am not really into personal awards, but to get an honor like this is special and now makes the conclusion of my career really be on a high note."
He is grateful his path took him to Cal U and plans to complete his bachelor's degree from Cal U in liberal arts.
"I loved it and am so privileged to have ended up here," Ruggiero said. "To see the way the school has grown and progressed over the years is just amazing, and I'm happy to be a part of it."