Joe Gaziano

Defensive End / Northwestern

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall experience at the 2020 East/West Shrine Bowl?  

Joe Gaziano:  It has been a great experience.  We have great coaches here and great competition.  Just trying to see where I fit in different systems.  I was in the same system at Northwestern for five years.  I want to show that I can be versatile and play many different techniques.  Just make plays.    

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Northwestern?

Joe Gaziano:  I grew up in South Shore, Massachusetts.  Coach Fitz is a great recruiter.  The academics and the people that were there just drew me to the school. 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about Coach Fitzgerald.

Joe Gaziano:  Coach Fitz is a great leader.  Morally and is a standup character guy.  He is a role model of mine.  His passion for football is something that I admire the most.  He definitely instilled it in his players. 

Alex Khvatov:  Talk about the success that Northwestern has enjoyed during your time there. 

Joe Gaziano: We had a lot of success while we were there.  We went to the Big 10 Championship and won three straight bowl games.  It was a lot of fun to be a part of those teams.    

Alex Khvatov:  You became the all-time sack leader at Northwestern this past year.  How proud are you of that accomplishment? 

Joe Gaziano:  My name is on that record.  It is really cool to have my name number one.  It took a lot of people and a lot of support to get me there.  My teammates helped me a great deal.  The coaches put me in position and taught me the technique.  Working in the offseason with the strength coach to get me to that point.  It is my name, but there is a village behind me.     

Alex Khvatov:  What is your goal here this week?  What do you want to showcase these NFL teams? 

Joe Gaziano:  The goals is to show my playmaking ability.  I want to show my ability on all downs especially on third down.  I can plays inside and outside.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point? 

Joe Gaziano:  Breaking the sack record was awesome.  The Holiday Bowl also comes to mind.  Recording a sack, and the fumble that led to the TD.  It swung the momentum and turned the whole game around for us. We went on a third quarter run.   

Alex Khvatov:  What one word best describes you?

Joe Gaziano:  Relentless.