Biography

As a little boy, he literally slept with a football and grew up on area football fields. From playing Pop Warner in North Attleboro to watching his father’s teams play at Attleboro and Feehan, Joe Gazzola developed an obsessive love for the game that stayed with him for his entire life. Inspired by two young head coaches, Joe became a bruising fullback and punishing middle linebacker for the Green and Gold that culminated in the school’s first Super Bowl Championship at Boston University in December of 1997. In his freshman and sophomore years, Coach Matt Lanagan gave him the self confidence, and in his last two years, Coach Gary Doherty refined his skills in making Gazzola one of the best two way players to ever buckle up a chin strap for Feehan.

Joe was a three year starter for the Shamrocks from the 1995-1997 seasons. Though his sophomore year was limited due to a knee injury, he was a dominating player in his junior and senior years. Along with Mike Cataldo and Jeff Laroque, he was a captain and the driving force behind a team that went 8-2-1 and won the Eastern Conference Championship and a Super Bowl berth. So impressive were middle linebackers, Gazzola and Cataldo, that the local media referred to them as “the Italian Army” and The Boston Globe tabbed them as “one of the best line backing duos in the state.” Joe earned earned All Sun Chronicle, All Pawtucket Times, and All EAC Honors in both his junior and senior years and was named a Boston Globe Divison 3 All Star in his final season. Joe was also selected to play in the annual Shriners Game which features the top high school players in the state of Massachusetts.

There were several memorable games in his career but none more significant than in his junior year when he opposed his brother, Ryan, a captain for the Red Rocketeers of North Attleboro. With Cataldo and Joe leading the way with nine combined QB sacks, Feehan pulled off a shocking 13-2 upset. Also Joe’s junior year was the last time Feehan played Coyle on Thanksgiving Day. In that game, Joe scored two touchdowns and was in on twenty tackles in a 36-6 mauling of the Warriors. Joe’s senior year was one in which memories are made. Once again, he gained almost 700 yards rushing and was in on over 100 tackles. He also scored 11 TDs to go along with the four he scored as a Junior. These scores came in a variety of ways: six touchdowns rushing, two receiving, two fumbles recovered in the end zone and one interception run back for a TD. The highlight of the season was the first football Super Bowl championship for Bishop Feehan. With Joe leading a defense that was smothering as well as paving the way for running backs with his powerful blocking, the Shamrocks crushed Duxbury 26-6. In addition to being recognized on several All Star Teams, Joe’s efforts were rewarded with a scholarship to Northeastern University.

In playing for the Huskies, Joe enjoyed the home field advantage of the small and quaint Parsons Field in Brookline, MA but relished the opportunities to play in big stadium venues such as Boston College, Villanova, William and Mary, Delaware and Ohio University with his high school teammate Dan Messier and competing against another Shamrock, John Fitzsimmons who played wide receiver for UConn. Joe also competed against two future NFL players: Tim Hasselback from BC and Brian Westbrook from Villanova. After red-shirting his first year, Joe had a stellar first season averaging over 10 tackles a game and being named the team’s “Rookie of the Year.” In his Sophomore season, he had a team high 104 tackles, best ever by a sophomore in NU history, including a career high 20 against URI. A hamstring and elbow fracture limited his playing time to four games as a junior, however, in his senior year he was an integral part of a team that won Northeastern’s last Atlantic 10 championship. After the season, Joe was awarded his fourth varsity letter, a championship ring, and the “Comeback Player of the Year” Award for his outstanding play after such a devastating injury as a junior.

Being a football player described Joe Gazzola but did not define him. He was very human and, therefore, very imperfect. Nonetheless, he walked with princes and paupers, black men and white men, the elite and the downtrodden and was always the same. He was as comfortable talking to a member of the New England Patriots in a high class establishment as he was conversing with homeless people on Huntington Avenue. He made people smile and laugh and when others were around him, they felt happy. These gifts transcended any of his accomplishments on a football field and have been a great source of comfort and pride to his friends and family since his tragic passing in 2004. His enduring impact will never be forgotten by those who loved him most.

Tonight, The Attleboro Area Hall of Fame reaches up to heaven in welcoming back a favorite son to join its ranks. Accepting for Joe will be his father, Lou Gazzola.