The Student News Site of University of Arizona

The Daily Wildcat

64° Tucson, AZ

The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

The f-word means fun for Rob Gronkowski

New+England+Patriots+tight+end+Rob+Gronkowski+%2887%29+battles+Indianapolis+Colts+inside+linebacker+D%26apos%3BQwell+Jackson+%2852%29+for+the+ball+during+the+first+half+on+Sunday%2C+Jan.+18%2C+2015%2C+at+Gillette+Stadium+in+Foxborough%2C+Mass.+%28John+Woike%2FHartford+Courant%2FTNS%29
John Woike
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) battles Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (52) for the ball during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS)

New England Patriots tight end and former Arizona Wildcat Rob Gronkowski might be having the most exhilarating off-season in NFL history with the help of his family and teammates, along with intense partying. Gronkowski made his case as the most entertaining player in football history and has turned into the poster child of Wildcats in the NFL.

The three-time Pro Bowler’s partying ways didn’t just happen overnight, even though he’s only been a household name since he joined the Patriots. How can we forget his world-famous “Yo soy fiesta” remark he said in a locker room press conference.

Gronkowski hails from Amherst, N.Y., and took his talents to the Old Pueblo to highlight a 2007 recruiting class. While Arizona was known for power running backs with Mike Bell, Chris Henry and Nic Grigsby, under former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops, Gronkowski would immediately add another dimension.

Why would a 6-foot-6 man that weighs 265 pounds come from living in a state like New York to Tucson to play football? The same reason as any student from the east coast that attends Arizona: the weather, Greek life and parties. At some points during the school year, all three of those go hand in hand.

Around the country Arizona is notorious for being one of the biggest party schools in America. In 2014, Playboy ranked Arizona as the No. 4 party school in the country. Gronkowski, in his tenure with the Wildcats, evolved into what many consider to be a bro.

Once Gronkowski was drafted in 2010, his football game and his party game skyrocketed.

Whether it was partying with Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel or kicking it with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas, Gronkowski takes his job in the NFL very seriously. He’s a likeable teammate with an unstoppable motor that makes him a matchup nightmare for any team on the other side of the football.

He received a great amount of criticism in 2012 after his first Super Bowl appearance, in which he was a game-time decision with an ankle injury. Gronkowski actually played, and the Patriots wound up losing to the New York Giants. He received national criticism after he was spotted dancing in a nightclub where his ankle looked completely normal again.

Formerly known as Gronk, he isn’t afraid to use the f-word — fun. That goes for any situation, including spending time with teammates at the Kentucky Derby in the morning and taking a private jet to Las Vegas for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight by night.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Gronk took his father to a race car track and drove speeds up to 120 mph.

Face it, Gronkowski is living the high life, and even though he receives large amounts of grief for his partying, he’s living his dream.
On top of that, how can you hate a man who is family oriented? Gronk and his cast of brothers will be on an episode of “Family Feud” that aired on June 21 to take on the Manning family.

Gronkowski may be a knucklehead at times and a total bro, but, like it or not, he is the poster boy of the Arizona Wildcats in the NFL. Unless Nick Foles or Ka’deem Carey win Super Bowls, Gronk will always be atop the Wildcat faithful.

_______________

Follow Justin Spears on Twitter.

More to Discover
Activate Search