American football player (born 1935)
American football player
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
^ 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 .