Lover of football since age of 5, Attanasio a two-way leader
Cole Attanasio (8) leads a train of Northville players who converged on Lake Orion quarterback Tristan Hill.
His family tree has roots firmly grounded in the football-passionate states of Texas and Ohio.
And his dad is a football coach.
Add those two factors to Cole Attanasio’s never-take-a-play-off work ethic and it’s easy to understand how the Northville senior is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
A starter at linebacker and tight end for the Mustangs, Attanasio was among his team’s leading tacklers — and on the receiving end of one of two Michael Cygan’s touchdown passes — during Northville’s season-opening 21-13 setback to powerful Lake Orion on Aug. 29.
GR’8′ season ahead
The performance offers a hint of what is to come this season for the hustling No. 8, who would never leave the field if it was up to him.
“You can tell when you watch Cole that his dad (Tony) is a coach,” observed Northville Head Coach Brent Luplow. “His football IQ is through the roof and he works as hard as anybody — on the field and off. He grew up in Texas, where they live for football.
“He’s a little undersized for a tight end, but he catches the ball well and he’s a great run blocker. Awesome teammate, too.”
Attanasio is one of a handful of starters returning from Northville’s magical 2023 season when the Mustangs finished 10-2 — with both losses coming to Division 1 runner-up Belleville.
He accounted for the Mustangs’ lone touchdown in their 49-7 regional playoff loss to the Tigers (in which underdog Northville trailed just 14-7 mid-way through the third quarter) when he hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from Isaac Pace.
Special memories
“Last season was very special,” Attanasio reflected. “Beating Catholic Central was a special night … winning the school’s first district championship in almost 10 years. Some unforgettable memories.”
Like most youth football players, Attanasio fondly recalled the post-game drives home with his dad, talking about plays and strategy.
What stands out about the Attanasios’ conversations, though, is that Coach/Dad Tony Attanasio knows quite a bit more about the sport’s X’s and O’s than most parents.
“I’m sure a lot of players’ dads know at least a little bit about what they’re talking about (during those post-game conversations with their sons),” Attanasio said. “But with my dad being a coach, it was nice because he could explain what I did good and not so good in the games.
“I always enjoyed those talks. I still do.”
Attanasio said he started playing football “as soon as I was able to.”
Forever fan of football
He admitted to loving the physically-demanding sport at a young age.
“I was never afraid of contact,” he said smiling.
He’s embracing his two-way starting status this season as tightly as he secured Cygan’s TD pass last week.
“Playing tight end is fun; I mean, I get to block and catch the ball,” he said. “I love playing linebacker because it’s such a physical position. You get to hit somebody every play.”
Attanasio said he rarely took a day off during the off-season — either hitting the weight room with a vengeance or joining his teammates for the MHSAA-approved team workouts and 7-on-7 games.
“I love being on the clock for football,” he said. “Our two-a-days lasted about five hours, but I loved it.
“This year’s team has a lot of chemistry built up. We’ve created a connection on the field that is hard to find.”
Definite difference-maker
Speaking of chemistry, he tabbed it as his favorite subject at Northville High School.
Attanasio would love to play football at the next level and he has his sights set on studying pre-medicine.
When Attanasio plays the EA Sports College Football video game in his spare time — the game returned this summer following an 11-year absence — his team of choice may surprise you given that he resides just a short drive from Ann Arbor and East Lansing.
“I’m an Ohio State fan,” he revealed. “Most of my family grew up in the Toledo area. I still remember enjoying that game before they stopped it when I was in second grade.”
A lot has changed since then.
One thing has remained the same, however: Attanasio’s passion for pulling on the pads and being a difference-maker on the gridiron.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
