With five teammates, one manager, a dog, an iguana and a couple large rats all sharing senior Adam Tanalski's house, his home experience is just about the only thing as diverse as interests.
The 22-year old Queens, N.Y. native and walk-on kicker for the Buffalo Bulls moved from his home to Poughkeepsie and then to Nassau before finally coming to Buffalo in July. The Bulls' kicker began his college career playing for the Marist College Red Foxes and then suited up for Nassau Community College.
Like many kickers, Tanalski grew up playing the sport of soccer rather than football.
"I played soccer my whole life," Tanalski said. "It was during my senior year of high school that I switched to football and kicked."
Although he competed in soccer, Tanalski has been a football fan, and more importantly a Green Bay Packers fan, his entire life. Brought up at an early age to be a Packer fan by his father, Tanalski has attended both Super Bowls that the Packers have competed in since his birth: Super Bowls XXI and XXXII in 1997 and 1998.
"I'm a die hard Packers fan," Tanalski said. "My father is a die hard Packers fan so I have been one since I was a kid. I'm going to the Packers versus Bills game on Sunday."
In an abstract way, it was the Packers that are responsible for Tanalski becoming a kicker.
"The first place I ever kicked a football was out in San Diego for the Packers Super Bowl," Tanalski said. "I was in eighth grade. I hit a 34-yard field goal the first time I ever kicked a ball. I was at the NFL Experience area. My mom still has a picture of it."
After high school, Tanalski played at Marist College, a Division 1-AA school, then at Nassau Community College. While his 42-yard field goal against Ball State was his first in Buffalo, it marked his 15th career field goal and added to the over 100 career points he currently has.
Tanalski credits his success to the support he receives from both teammates and family. While it is sophomore Ray Norell that long snaps and junior Ben Woods who holds for his kicks, both help make Tanalski feel comfortable on the field. Although it is his father who receives the real credit.
Tanalski's father, Adam, is an avid marathon runner, with 16 New York Marathons under his belt, who still travels to every game in which his son plays.
"My dad has changed my entire life," Tanalski said. "He was my basketball and baseball coach. He has been to probably about 1000 soccer, basketball and baseball games. He does everything, goes everywhere and is at every single game I play in."
Sports are not the only aspect of his life that Tanalski attributes to his parents though. With both of his parents being avid music lovers, Tanalski was introduced to their passion at a young age.
"Im a big music buff," Tanalski said. "It's because of my parents. They go to concerts all the time. The first concert I ever went to was Carole King at the Beacon Theatre. My father used to play a lot of James Taylor for me, so he took me to see her and she did some James Taylor covers. I think I was seven or eight years old."
Being that family is such an important part of Tanalski's life, Thanksgiving this year has become a major source of conflict.
"My mom has a big complaint this year because Thanksgiving is her holiday with all of her sisters," Tanalski said. "I can't be there this year so she is pretty perturbed, but she is flying up here Friday, so it will be alright."
With his final football season coming to an end, Tanalski sets his sights to the future. Although undecided about which field he wishes to enter, he has decided to either follow both of his parents and go into education or go in his own direction and work towards a law degree.
"I am going to probably go to law school," Tanalski said. "I'm either going to go into law school or go to graduate school for education. I don't know where I will go though. I'm going to take my LSATs and get everything in order but we'll see."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
