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Editor's note: This is the sixth and last in a series of diary/blog submissions, accompanied by videos and still photos Rock Sports Information Director Bob McComas will file to chronicle the activities of Brandon Fusco as the first-ever SRU football student athlete to participate in the Under Armour Senior Bowl, the premier postseason football game for aspiring NFL draft prospects.

MOBILE, Ala. -- The big day has come and gone. Brandon Fusco is now officially the first Rock student athlete to play in the premier postseason all-star game for aspiring NFL players.

Fusco was the offensive center on the second unit of the losing team as the South beat the North, 24-10, in the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. But from our vantage point, biased as it may be, he was still a winner.

In addition to being the first Rock player to participate in the game, which has been played since 1951, Brandon was one of only two NCAA Division II student athletes in this year's game and one of only four Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference players to have ever played in the game. No one can ever take that elite status away from him.

From all accounts, he presented himself well during the week of workouts leading up to Saturday's game, so there is no reason to think he won't be among the players selected in April's NFL draft.

Brandon also received one of his boatload of national honors in front of a packed house of over 40,000 fans as part of Saturday's game. Don Harris, president of the Manheim (Pa.) Touchdown Club, was on hand to present Fusco with his 2010 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award during a brief halftime ceremony.

That honor and the Dave Rimington Award he received as the nation's top Division II center clearly established him as the finest lineman in the nation last fall.

Joining Brandon on the field for the Upshaw Award presentation were his proud parents, Steve and Deborah, along with his sister, Brittany, and brother, Joshua.

You can see footage of the award presentation by clicking on the link at the top of the page. There is also footage of Brandon on the sidelines and on the field during Saturday's game, along with some pictures of my pregame stroll through the tailgating parties held in conjunction with the game.

You can also see some still-action pictures of Saturday's game via a link at the top of this page.

All in all, it's been a fun week for me, and I'm sure for Brandon. Thanks for following our adventures! I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I did sending them to you.

Until we talk again either in person or via blogs … GO ROCK!!

Bob McComas
Sports Information Director