Andy Cannavino Andrew J . " Andy " Cannavino ( born April 20 , 1959 ) is a retired American football linebacker . He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980 . He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history , played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first - team player on the 1980 " Associated Press " All - Big Ten football team . He later played professional football in the USFL from 1983 to 1984 for the Michigan Panthers and Chicago Blitz . Early years . An Ohio native , Cannavino came from a football background . His father , Joe , was an All American halfback while playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes under coach Woody Hayes in the 1950s . Cannivino ' s uncle Mike also played for the Buckeyes , during the 1940s . Cannavino attended St . Joseph High School in Cleveland , Ohio , graduating in 1977 . University of Michigan . After graduating from St . Joseph ' s , Cannivino enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1977 where he played football under head coach Bo Schembechler through the 1980 season . Prior to his senior year , Cannavino was selected by his teammates as the co - captain of the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team . The 1980 team gave up an average of 10 . 75 points per game , and only 1 . 8 points per game in the last five games of the season . Michigan was named the Midwest Player of the Week on defense in September 1980 after helping Michigan to a 17 - 10 win against Northwestern . In that game , Cannavino recovered a Northwestern fumble to set up one Michigan touchdown and intercepted a Northwestern pass deep in Michigan territory with 2 : 32 left in the game . He also had 15 tackles in the game . At the conclusion of the 1980 season , Cannavino was selected as a first - team All - Big Ten linebacker by the " Associated Press " . He was the only unanimous choice for the AP ' s All - Big Ten team in 1980 . The 1980 Michigan team won the Big Ten championship and went on to defeat Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl . The victory was the post - season win for the Wolverines under head coach Bo Schembechler . Interviewed prior to the game , Cannavino noted that many NFL scouts would be at the game , many of whom considered Cannavino too small for pro football . Cannavino joked , " If we win , maybe it ' ll look good on our resume when we go in to apply for a regular job . Maybe the boss will be sympathetic to the fact that we got Bo Schembechler his first Rose Bowl . " In four years at Michigan , Cannavino was credited with 289 tackles , including 175 solo tackles and 114 assists . At the time of his graduation in 1981 , Cannavino ranked third all - team in tackles in Michigan football history . Professional football . Cannavino was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL Draft . He signed with the Lions and attended training camp , but he was released in the pre - season . In February 1982 , he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles , but he was released at the end of August 1982 shortly before the start of the regular season . In 1983 , Cannavino signed with the Michigan Panthers in the newly - formed USFL ; he played for the 1983 Panthers team that won the first USFL championship game played in Denver , Colorado . In April 1984 , the Panthers traded Cannavino to the Chicago Blitz , also of the USFL , in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice . Later years . After retiring from football , Cannavino became the President at Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service in Cleveland , Ohio . He is a resident of Highland Heights , Ohio .