Canzeri, Jones headline Class of 2021 inductees
Former Troy, Iowa star, late longtime Hoosick Falls coach among those honored
The most common feedback Jordan Canzeri received from college recruiters was that he was too small.
After a career at Troy that featured 2,048 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in his senior year, Canzeri excelled at the University of Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes as a senior to a 12-0 record and a Rose Bowl appearance on New Year’s Day 2016.
For all of his accomplishments, Canzeri was one of the inductees Saturday in the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Albany — The Desmond Hotel.
Canzeri wasn’t in high demand on the Division I circuit until he got a connection with the Iowa program and was given a chance, starting in a sixthstring role before busting out as a senior, including a 256-yard rushing effort against Illinois.
“It was real late, I had teams in Division II and III coming in and telling me I was too small,” Canzeri said. “I was putting weights in my pockets. I showed up there (Iowa), I was 172 pounds, but I got to play over other guys because I dedicated myself to it.”
Canzeri, who was using a cane at the ceremony due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, has been working with kids in the area and hopes his accomplishments and induction can inspire others.
“I’ve been training kids in Clifton Park up at Palace Training and teaching kids at School 12 (in Troy), an alternative learning program school,” Canzeri said. “Just to be able to be home and give back in any way I can, to give back to some of these kids that I’ve been around that goal and showing them a guy like me, short like me, can go do it. It has been a really cool thing.”
Former Hoosick Falls coach Ron
Jones was inducted posthumously following a career at the school that spanned from 1996 to 2020 before Jones passed away suddenly in 2020.
Jones led Hoosick Falls to the 2012 state championship and was runner-up at states on two occasions, posting a career mark of 155-76 and earned New York State Coach of the Year honors twice.
“This will be a great honor for him, he would never have expected it,” Jones’ wife Ikuko said. “This is bittersweet for us, for myself and my daughter (Kai). He will be so honored because he loved football, but I think what he really cared about was the community and the players. He used football as a tool to help the young players become a man, to be disciplined, to care and how to be responsible.”
Former Shaker High product Tony Wise was inducted following a 37-year career as an offensive line coach in the NFL and college football.
Wise was on the staff of Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys and was part of the Jimmy Johnson-coached Super Bowl XXVII team that beat Buffalo 52-17.
Wise also coached with the Chicago Bears and was a part Johnson’s staff with the Miami Hurricanes from 198588, including the Canes’ 1987 national
title team.
“It’s difficult to describe because I’m a high school athlete at Shaker in 1969 and who in the world is going to go, ‘Tony, you’re going to be in the Capital District Hall of Fame?' ” Wise said. “In some ways, it is difficult to describe. I’ve got some good buddies here tonight so that is what means a lot.”
Other players inducted were John Chaney (Albany High), Lyle Darmetko (Watervliet), Josh Etu (Queensbury), Mike Fosmire (Troy), Milt Graham (Columbia), Gary Hamm (Middleburgh), Bob Higgins (Albany Academy), Jeff Higgins (Lake George), David Holloway (Albany Academy), Josh Keyes (Chatham), John Mancini (Fonda-Fultonville), Mike Mazurky (La Salle), Joe Ruggeri (Johnstown), David Winter (Hudson Falls) and Dylan Wydronkowski (Burnt Hills).
Joining Wise and Jones in the contributor category were Service to Youth Football honoree Niall Howard, former Queensbury coach John Irion, referees Dar Rivers and Bob Woods, the 1972 Shenendehowa team, assistant coach honoree Artie Waugh of Guilderland and long-time Glens Falls Post-Star sportswriter Pete Tobey.