Seven-year-old Gianna is 11 inches taller than the average for her age.
She plays volleyball and flag football. Last year, she told her parents she wanted to try the Punt Pass and Kick competition that was advertised in their community. Her parents have been amazed at how she can throw but weren’t sure about her kicking ability. After winning the local competition, she took first place at both sectionals and regionals. She ended up having an amazing kicking day at the state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Indianapolis Colts) but her pass was 2 inches short of the winning throw. At only 6 years old, Gianna took second place in the state for her age group.
Gianna’s last name is Morelli. She is the daughter of former Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli and Adrienne (Squire) Morelli, former Penn State women’s basketball player.
I met Anthony and Adrienne more than a decade ago when they were students in a class I taught in the Recreation, Park and Tourism Management program. Both were students in the major. I remember that they came into class the first day that semester, in a classroom in Borland Lab, carrying coffees from the Creamery next door. They sat in the front row, actively engaged with me and with their peers, and seemed oblivious to their campus celebrity status.
I have stayed in contact with the Morellis since they left Penn State.
Anthony Morelli was one of the top recruited high school quarterbacks and likely the most celebrated athlete to come out of Penn Hills High School near Pittsburgh. After a tough 2003 season for the Nittany Lions that saw only three wins, the team ended up third in the nation and co-Big Ten champions with a record of 11-1 in just two years. Anthony, who was the starting quarterback during his junior and senior seasons, is still listed at No. 6 and No. 8 in the top 10 season high passing records at Penn State.
Adrienne was equally as celebrated as a high school athlete before joining the Lady Lion team. She was the leading scorer in the state of Indiana her senior year. After limited playing time her freshman year at Penn State, Adrienne was presented with the Robin Lombard Award as the “spirit of the Lady Lions” her sophomore year. Adrienne still holds the national free throw season percentage record for the NCAA.
They met their first semester at Penn State. “My roommate was hanging out with one of Anthony’s teammates” said Adrienne. “We would all hang out in the ‘Mix’ at Pollock commons at night after study hall. It would be, like, 10:00 and all of the athletes would be over there.” She laughed as she said “Now we are in bed by 10:00.”
They dated throughout college and were engaged before graduation. Adrienne completed her degree in 3 ½ years by taking classes every summer. She graduated after an internship in conferences and event planning with the Penn Stater. They were married in 2008, three weeks before the NFL draft.
Anthony wasn’t drafted but was offered opportunities as a free agent with several NFL teams. They chose to go to Arizona. That try with the NFL and attempts with both the UFL and Arena League football didn’t work out so they opted to relocate to Indiana to be near Adrienne’s family. In that time, Anthony finished his undergraduate degree and earned a Master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania in Exercise Science and Health Promotion.
“I always wanted to be a strength coach for a university football program” said Anthony. “We had made the decision to stay in Indiana so I was looking for options.”
“We were partners in another RPTM class and we had to come up with a business plan” said Adrienne. “Our plan for the assignment was to open a fitness center. We dusted that off and used many of the pieces from that old plan.” In 2011, the Morellis opened X-Factor Sports Performance and QB Academy in Westfield, Indiana. Adrienne manages the books and plans special events from home while Anthony manages the operations on site. After opening at their first location, the Morellis have moved the business twice to increase both the size of the facility and the services they provide.
They offer weight training and speed and agility training for teens as well as personal training for adults. Anthony is also working with approximately 30 high school quarterbacks from all over the region. Adrienne posts pictures of their family attending high school football games in the area to watch the quarterbacks that Anthony trains.
The Morellis live in Westfield, Ind. with their three children – Gianna (7), Briley (5) and Max (3). Briley loves soccer and is “our girly-girl” according to Adrienne. Max is “all boy” and likes to help out at the gym and go fishing with his Dad.
It’s a sign that I am getting old when my former students are running businesses and having babies.
Their time at Penn State was not without controversy. Adrienne quit the Lady Lions before Christmas her junior year, despite her success, in response to the climate surrounding the discrimination allegations around Coach Rene Portland. As is often true with quarterbacks, Anthony sometimes took the brunt of criticism from frustrated fans and the press when the team was unsuccessful. The questions that all Penn Staters faced in the wake of the Sandusky scandal were particularly rough for former athletes.
Despite the rough spots, they look back on their time at Penn State with fondness.
“We learned a lot” said Anthony. “When we built our business, we had the confidence to say if we build it they will come. It’s worked out really well so far.”
“Those coaches taught me a lot about life. I wouldn’t change any decisions that I made” said Adrienne. “Sports taught us that you have to work hard to get what you want in life. It prepared us for this crazy roller coaster of life.”
