Chris Sammarone came home to play football at Youngstown State at the right time.
After a standout career at Chaney High School, he originally went to Kentucky to play football. But in 1991, he decided to return to Youngstown, and play for Coach Jim Tressel and the Penguins.
After sitting out the 1991 season because of then-NCAA transfer regulations, Sammarone started his final three years at center helping lead the Penguins to two national titles and three National Championship game appearances.
Sammarone, who's father Chuck played at Youngstown from 1961 through 1964, anchored the offensive line during his three seasons wearing the Red and White. Chuck Sammarone was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 1994, he was selected at the YSU's Jim Zdelar Big Mac Offensive Lineman of the Year. Nationally, he earned first-team All-American honors by The Associated Press, The Sports Network and the Football Gazette.
Sammarone was also dedicated in the weight room. After his senior year, he was named a National Strength & Conditioning All-American.
As one of five team captains in 1994, YSU tied Stephen F. Austin in the season, then went on to win his final 14 games of the year. Youngstown State capped off the season with a 28-14 win over Boise State in the championship game.
In 1993, he had his first taste of winning a national championship as the Penguins defeated Marshall 17-5 in the title game. Youngstown State finished the year 13-2.
After sitting out the 1991 campaign, Sammarone helped lead the Penguins back to the national title game in 1992, his sophomore season. YSU suffered a heartbreaking 31-28 loss at Marshall to finish the year 11-3-1.
Besides having success on the field, he was involved in the community speaking to numerous area schools about the importance of education and working hard to achieve your goals.
Sammarone earned a Biology degree from Youngstown State before earning his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland-John Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.
He is currently an attorney in Youngstown and is the general counsel for Truck World, Inc.
Sammarone graduated from Chaney High School in Youngstown. At Chaney, he was a first-team all-state selection and was the Mike Dairo Award winner, which went to the best defensive player in the city.
He and his wife Krista have five children: Zachary, Maxwell, Serena, Christopher and Summer.
