Steve Strinko Monroe High School . Strinko was born in Middletown , Ohio , 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 . University of Michigan . Commitment to Michigan . As one of Ohio ' s top football recruits in the Class of 1971 , Strinko was recruited by Ohio State , 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 : " 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 ] 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 team 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 . ' " 1974 season . As a senior , Strinko started 10 games at middle linebacker for the 1974 team , 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 . " Detroit Lions . Strinko was selected by the Detroit Lions 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 : " 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 game . FAN , Inc . . In 2007 , Strinko was awaiting knee replacement surgery and a determination by the Social Security Administration 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 . "