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PROVO -- Saying "Mamma mia, that's a spicy meat ball," from the old Alka-Seltzer commercial, or twirling spaghetti around a fork is about as close as many get to Italy.
For BYU running back JJ Di Luigi, his name is a dead giveaway that he is Italian.
Di Luigi's father is a quarter Irish and three-quarters Italian. Di Luigi's grandparents migrated to the United States from Naples, Italy. Hence, Di Luigi means "of Louis" region in Italy.
Di Luigi and his dad, John, are the only two in the Di Luigi family who have yet to visit the Di Luigi homeland, but Di Luigi's aunt brings Italy to them every Thanksgiving.
"When my sister has Thanksgiving at her house, it's always Italian food instead of the tradition turkey," John Di Luigi said.
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The Di Luigi family (see related story) is tight-knit and does everything together and has even picked up a few extra members, thanks to JJ.
"We have a great big Italian family," John Di Luigi said. "We have people that aren't family members but claim to be because of JJ's football career. In high school, the whole center of the football stadium was filled with our family."
JJ Di Luigi was named to the Phil Steele's preseason 2011 All-Independent First Team and was named a preseason candidate for the 2011 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top college running back. He follows in the footsteps of some past Italian football players at BYU.
The names of past Italian Cougar gridders roll off the tongue. Talph Martini (1987, who transferred to San Jose State as a quarterback), tight end Trevor Molini (1984-86), center Brian Rodoni (1985-87), offensive lineman John Borgia (1984-87) and Irish-Italian receiving brothers Mark (1982-86) and Matt Bellini (1987-90) are a few.
Matt Bellini was nomiated for Italian All-American Player of the Year by the Red, White and Green Sports Association of Chicago and was selected as Italian All-American by Red, White and Green Magazine in 1988 and 1989. Mark Bellini also caught the attention of that magazine and was named as Italian Athlete of the Year in the San Leandro area of California as a prep player in 1982.
