ATHLETE PROFILE: Anthony Ruzga
As a sophomore, fullback Anthony Ruzga has scored in the past five games for Carnegie Mellon and has played a key role for the winning football program so far this season.
The Tartan spoke with Ruzga about living in Pittsburgh and his outlook on the rest of the football season.
Tartan: How is Pittsburgh different from your hometown in Wisconsin?
Ruzga: The biggest difference between life in Pittsburgh and life in Wisconsin is definitely being away from my family. You never realize how much you care about the people and things that you love until you have to spend a significant amount of time away from them. My family is very supportive of me and my goals, but there’s only so much that can be done from halfway across the country.
T: Do you have a favorite aspect of Carnegie Mellon’s campus? What attracted you to come to this university?
R: My favorite part is the idea that I go to a school that is one of the leading institutions in the United States, which was a major determinant in my decision to come here.
My favorite part of campus is easily the football field. It is an excellent facility and I am very thankful for the opportunity to play on it.
T: If you could play for any team in the NFL, which team would you choose?
R: My dad played professional football for the Detroit Lions, and his intense passion for the game quickly inspired me.
Some of the most memorable moments of my childhood were spent watching games on the living room couch. I remember breaking multiple objects during halftime when my dad would toss me a football as I ran patterns in the living room.
I have always dreamed about playing in the NFL, and the Bears would easily be my first choice. However, if the opportunity were to present itself, I wouldn’t be picky.
T: What area of medicine interests you the most?
R: I want to be a doctor. The idea of working one on one with people and truly making a difference in their lives has always appealed to me. It is often said that a good job is one which you would do for free. For me, helping people in their time of greatest need is definitely a good use of my time.
T: Are you excited about the Homecoming game?
R: I am absolutely excited. To me, every game is the most important game of my entire life, and the Wittenberg game is no exception. It is Homecoming so the pressure will be on to get a big win. I play best under pressure, so I expect to do my part to ensure that this happens.
From this point on, the schedule only becomes more difficult, and we will certainly have our work cut out for us. I see no reason why we can’t beat any team from here on out. We just have to come out ready to play each and every Saturday and the rest will work itself out in our favor.
T: Do you think that students could be more involved in supporting athletic programs on campus?
R: Yes, I definitely wish that students would be more involved in supporting all of the athletic programs. I think it is extremely important for any college campus to have pride in its sports and other organizations. These are the ways by which different universities compete, and supporting these programs unites a campus and greatly increases campus pride and moral.