Hall of Fame
Tony Merendino was a standout quarterback for the Mocs football team from 1975-78. The Staten Island, N.Y. native helped UTC usher in the Southern Conference era with back-to-back league titles as a junior and senior.
A two-time Scrappy Moore Team MVP Ward win, Merendino’s 16-4-3 overall record as a starting QB is still the highest winning percentage in school history. His total wins at tied for fourth and he is one of only five in school history to win team MVP honors twice.
He posted career-highs with 134 rushing yards and 240 passing yards in a 72-14 win over Appalachian State on Oct. 7, 1978. The 374 yards of total offense in that game was the school record at the time.
Merendino was second all-time in career rushing touchdowns (24), total offense (3,944) and touchdowns responsible for (43) when he ended his career in 1978. All three of those numbers still rank in the top-10 among the Mocs’ career numbers.
