SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University officially retired football jersey No. 74, formerly worn by Brandon Fusco, in a ceremony Friday night at the Robert M. Smith Student Center.
 
"I stand here tonight a very proud and humble man," said Fusco as he took the stage in a room filled with former coaches, teammates, supporters and his family and friends. "The best decision I made was coming to Slippery Rock and becoming part of the brotherhood that is Rock football. I don't have words to describe what it means to have my number retired here at Slippery Rock. I will always be part of the green and white and I am very proud of that."
 
Fusco's No. 74 becomes the third number to ever be retired by the Slippery Rock football program, joining Jerry Bejbl's No. 31 and Jim McElhaney's No. 82.
 
The honor was presented to Fusco by former Rock head coach George Mihalik, athletic director Paul Lueken and president Cheryl Norton.
 
"Brandon worked tirelessly to become the best player in the country while he was at Slippery Rock," said Mihalik. "He has continued to display that work ethic in the NFL and has become one of the best offensive guards in the world. What makes us the most proud is that when he gets on national TV and says he played at Slippery Rock, he does it full of pride. We couldn't be more proud to call Brandon our own."
 
Fusco was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted player in Slippery Rock history. He became the first SRU player to make a 53-man NFL roster since 1989 when he made the team in his rookie season.
 
Since then, Fusco has started every game in three years in the NFL and has blocked for two of Adrian Peterson's rushing titles, including his 2,000+ yard season that ranks as the second best in the history of the league.

While at Slippery Rock, Fusco was a three-time All-PSAC selection and was a consensus first team All-American as a senior in 2010. He was named the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year in 2010 and was also named the Rimington Trophy winner as the best center in the country.