Vic Zucco
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| Position: | Defensive back | ||||||||
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| Born: | September 4, 1935 Renton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | February 15, 2020 (aged 84) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Wayne State Michigan State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1957 / Round: 5 / Pick: 60 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Victor A. Zucco (September 4, 1935 – February 15, 2020) is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He played four seasons for the Chicago Bears.
High school career[edit]
Zucco attended Plum Township High School in Unity, Pennsylvania, earning back-to-back Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph All-Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class B honors in his junior and senior seasons.[1][2] He also participated in basketball and track and field, winning the WPIAL Class B titles in the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, and the broad jump in 1952.[3][4]
College career[edit]
Zucco was convinced to attend Wayne State University by Dick Brown, a former quarterback on the football team who had transitioned into a role on the coaching staff.[5] At Wayne State, Zucco won two letters in football and one in track and field.[6] As a freshman in 1953, he set a new program record by rushing for 228 yards on 10 carries in a 33–13 victory over Washington University; he also tied the program record with three touchdown runs.[5][6] Zucco led the Warriors in both rushing and total offense in both seasons, although his sophomore season was shortened due to injury.[6][7] However, he withdrew from the school after the firing of the team's head coach, Lou Zarza.[8]
Zucco transferred to Michigan State in 1955 after Wayne State joined the Presidents' Athletic Conference, whose members did not offer athletic scholarships.[6][7] Due to Big Ten Conference rules, he was forced to sit out the year and instead spent the season with the scout team.[9] In 1956, Zucco began the season playing mostly on defense, and earned more time on offense as the season went on.[10] Zucco was selected to play both the North–South Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.[11][12] He recorded an interception in each game.[10]
Zucco was inducted into the Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.[6]
Professional career[edit]
Zucco was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 1957 NFL draft.[10] He was a four-year starter at defensive halfback and return specialist, retiring following the 1960 season.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Kiseda, George (December 17, 1951). "Wilmerding High Tops All-WPIAL 'B' Team". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 19. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kienzl, Ray (December 10, 1952). "Three Repeaters On WPIAL 'B' Team". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 33. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kurtz, Paul (May 14, 1952). "Champions' Stiffest Challenge May Come From Plum Township". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 37. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Plum Dethrones Scottdale As WPIAL's 'B' Track Titlist". The Pittsburgh Press. May 16, 1952. p. 36. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Herman, Jack (October 11, 1953). "Wayne's Fast Finish Kayoes Bears Bears, 33-13". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. p. 12A. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Victor A. Zucco* (1990) - Hall of Fame". Wayne State University Athletics. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "Spartans to Shuffle Backs for Zucco". Globe-Gazette. May 4, 1956. p. 11. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Devine, Tommy (March 27, 1955). "Cox Case Certain To Hurt Big Ten". Detroit Free Press. p. D3. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vic Zucco Figures in MSU Plans". Detroit Free Press. April 15, 1956. p. 2E. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Kienzl, Ray (February 3, 1957). "Zucco 'Sleeper' in Draft". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "North Squad Bolstered By 4 Spartan Aces". The Miami Herald. December 16, 1956. p. 2D. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dawson Heads North Squad". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 13, 1956. p. 20. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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- 1935 births
- 2020 deaths
- American football defensive backs
- Chicago Bears players
- Wayne State Warriors football players
- Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Michigan State Spartans football players
- College men's track and field athletes in the United States
- American football defensive back, 1930s birth stubs