Warning: 'Gronk' still unstoppable
'Dangerous' TE shines in latest UA scrimmage
By Ryan Finley
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.17.2008
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SIERRA VISTA  Rob Gronkowski has collected nicknames like touchdown catches since becoming the Arizona Wildcats' go-to player a year ago.
Robby. Big Rob. Drago. Gronk. Even Gronk-nasty.
After Saturday's scrimmage at Buena High School, the Wildcats' sophomore tight end picked up another one.
How does Dangerous Rob sound?
"He's a dangerous man," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "We have to continue to get him the ball."
Gronkowski caught three passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 61-play scrimmage. His star performance underscored a breakthrough performance for the Air Zona offense.
Quarterback Willie Tuitama completed 21 of 25 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns as the whiteshirts dominated the final practice held in Cochise County. Terrell Turner led all receivers with four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats' passing attack appears to be hitting its stride with less than two weeks remaining before the Cats' Aug. 30 opener against Idaho.
Credit Gronkowski, listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 250 pounds, for keeping the defense honest. He has been the undisputed king of training camp, providing daily highlights on seam routes and in the red zone.
Gronkowski's first catch Saturday went for 50 yards and set up a touchdown. His next grab went for a 27-yard score.
"He's a special guy. He's a 270-pound guy who runs like a wide receiver," offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said. "He's everything you want: He's big, he can use his body, he's physical, he's hard to tackle, and he plays with a lot of attitude."
Sometimes too much.
Gronkowski nearly started a fight at the end of Friday morning's practice at Fort Huachuca, although the story requires a setup.
Gronkowski and defensive back Robert Golden had been talking trash throughout 11-on-11 drills. When Gronkowski made a leaping catch over Golden on the final play of practice, he celebrated by throwing the football off the defender's helmet.
Golden seethed; Gronkowski ran laps. It wasn't the first time.
"Actually, I used to call myself dangerous all the time when I was young, because I used to do anything," Gronkowski said. "I used to jump off ramps with my bike. I'd take every dare. I'd hit people and I'd be bad in class.
"People would ask why and I'd say, 'I'm dangerous, that's why.' "
Gronkowski's mean streak subsided in high school, he said. He now saves the attitude for the football field.
"I'm a grown man now," he said.
Gronkowski opened eyes  and made highlight reels  last September when he trucked Washington State safety Alfonso Jackson on the way to a touchdown in his fourth college game.
Gronkowski said he didn't even notice Jackson, who suffered a concussion on impact and was removed from the game. He finished the 2007 season with 28 catches, six for touchdowns, and 525 yards, the most ever by a UA tight end.
Gronkowski's numbers should double this season as he becomes a focal point of the Cats' pass-happy offense.
That's a safe assumption for an, ahem, dangerous guy.
"He's a fun guy to have on your team," Dykes said.
