Saturday was Cut Down day in the NFL. Players across the League waited to find out if they had survived the final cut. For one rookie, a Penn State linebacker drafted in the final round by the Minnesota Vikings, making the team was to become the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. That rookie, Mike Mauti survived the final cut and is now a NFL player.
At Penn State Mauti was on his way to becoming one of the best linebacker ever to play at a school famous for linebackers. But knee injuries and a shocking scandal, which lead to the resignation of his coach, threatened to derail his goals. Through all this adversity and as other players left to play elsewhere he remained loyal to his school. He became a spokesman for his teammates, who he claimed had done no wrong. All while enduring three sever knee injuries. His last injury occurred his senior year in the next to last game. Unable to play his final game as a Nittany Lion his teammates thanked their captain for his loyalty and support by wearing his number “42” on their helmets. Now, like his father before him he is an NFL player. It is really great to see a good guy achieve success in the often maligned National Football League…
