Vic Zucco
No. 48
Position:Defensive back
Personal information
Born:(1935-09-04)September 4, 1935
Renton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:February 15, 2020(2020-02-15) (aged 84)
Career information
College:Wayne State
Michigan State
NFL Draft:1957 / Round: 5 / Pick: 60
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:38
Interceptions:8
Fumble recoveries:2
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com

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

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

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

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

  1. ↑ Kiseda, George (December 17, 1951). "Wilmerding High Tops All-WPIAL 'B' Team". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 19. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Kienzl, Ray (December 10, 1952). "Three Repeaters On WPIAL 'B' Team". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 33. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Plum Dethrones Scottdale As WPIAL's 'B' Track Titlist". The Pittsburgh Press. May 16, 1952. p. 36. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Victor A. Zucco* (1990) - Hall of Fame". Wayne State University Athletics. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Spartans to Shuffle Backs for Zucco". Globe-Gazette. May 4, 1956. p. 11. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Devine, Tommy (March 27, 1955). "Cox Case Certain To Hurt Big Ten". Detroit Free Press. p. D3. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Vic Zucco Figures in MSU Plans". Detroit Free Press. April 15, 1956. p. 2E. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 3 Kienzl, Ray (February 3, 1957). "Zucco 'Sleeper' in Draft". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "North Squad Bolstered By 4 Spartan Aces". The Miami Herald. December 16, 1956. p. 2D. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Dawson Heads North Squad". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 13, 1956. p. 20. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.