Background
Abbruzzi was born and raised in Warren, Rhode Island, and is the younger brother of former NFL player, Lou "Duke" Abbruzzi.
Abbruzzi was born and raised in Warren, Rhode Island, and is the younger brother of former NFL player, Lou "Duke" Abbruzzi.
Abbruzzi attended Warren High School, and went on to the University of Rhode Island following graduation. Drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NFL in 1954, the 13th pick in the 30th round (352 overall) Abbruzzi chose the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League for a pro career, mostly because they offered him a $500 bonus (which he used for his honeymoon).
Abbruzzi played collegiately for the University of Rhode Island (Class of 1955), and professionally for the Canadian Football League Montreal Alouettes for four years (1955-1959). He is considered to be one of the finest sports figures Rhode Island has ever produced. He rushed 562 times for a school record 3389 yards (6 yard per carry average) and 25 touchdowns.
He also scored 3 TDs.
He was named All-Yankee Conference each of these years and named a New England All-Star from 1952 to 1954. Abbruzzi rushed 182 times and lead the Canadian Football League in rushing with 1,248 yards (69 yard average) and in touchdowns with 17 (his longest rush was 69 yards).
Abbruzzi continued as the Larks top rusher in 1956 with 1,062 yards and was named to a second consecutive Canadian Football League All-Star team in 1956. His 20 touchdowns that year stood alone as a Canadian Football League record until 1990 and was finally surpassed by Allen Pitts in 1994.
In 1957, Abbruzzi had 809 yards, but an injury plagued 1958 season would turn out to be his last, when Abbruzzi finished the year with 630 yards.
In July 1959 he was traded to the Calgary Stampeders for Veryl Switzer during training camp but was released before the start of the 1959 regular season. He coached eight division champions over 26 years, and also coached baseball in his spare time. During the 1970s his football team set an interscholastic league record of 31 victories in a row.
Known to all as "Doc" he was a legendary figure Rhode Island high school football.
Abbruzzi was named to the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1976. He was later elected to the Sons of Italy Athletic Hall of Fame.
Pat Abbruzzi died on June 3, 1998.
As a member of the University of Rhode Island Rams football team, from 1951 to 1954, he was an all star running back. He was a charter member of the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame (1998) and in 2005 Pat was named to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame.