Chuck Zapiec

Chuck Zapiec

Date of birth:	July 1, 1949 (1949-07-01) (age 62)
Place of birth:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Career information
Position(s):	Linebacker
College:	Penn State University
NFL Draft:	1972 / Round: 4 / Pick: 93
Drafted by:	Dallas Cowboys
Organizations
As player:
1972-1973 1974-1978	Ottawa Rough Riders[1] Montreal Alouettes
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star:	1977, 1978
CFL East All-Star:	1974, 1976, 1977, 1978

Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American Linebacker at Penn State^[2][3] and Defensive Captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions.^{[citation needed]} He graduated with the best record of any Penn State Player ever, 34 and 1, winning two Orange Bowls and one Cotton Bowl,^{[citation needed]}

He started as an Offensive Guard his Sophomore and Junior Years when the Lions went undefeated in 1968 and 1969.^{[citation needed]} Zapiec was named to the All-America Blocking Team selected by Wirt Gammon of the Chattanooga Times in 1969.^{[citation needed]} As an Offensive Guard he earned All-East Honors each Year and was a Second All American Selection in 1969.^{[citation needed]}

Switching to Defense for the 1970 Season, Big Z was moved to middle linebacker.^{[citation needed]}After only playing one game as a middle linebacker that year against Navy in 1970, Charlie suffered an appendectomy on the plane flying out to Colorado to play the Buffalos who went on the next day to defeat the Lions and bring to halt their 31 game winning streak.^{[citation needed]} The next year Charlie returned to defense side, moving to outside linebacker, captaining the Team and earning First Team All- American Honors.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, he was awarded the Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Game Award (1971 was the first year that Chevrolet gave the game award) against Iowa.^{[citation needed]}

Following his career at Penn State, Chuck was chosen in the Fourth Round Draft by Dallas Cowboys in 1972.^[4] Picked up by the Miami Dolphins later that year he chose not to play the Dolphins "Taxi Squad" and elected to gain playing time as a Starter in the CFL.^{[citation needed]}

Chuck went on to play linebacker for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League from 1972-1978.^[5] He was a CFL All-Star two times and was a part of two Grey Cup victories for the Alouettes.^[6][7]

Chuck played for the winningest coach in College Football, Joe Paterno, and the winningest coach in Professional Football, Don Shula.^{[citation needed]} Chuck also played for two other Pro Football Hall of Fame Coaches, Tom Landry and Marv Levy.^{[citation needed]} Zapiec is currently an estate planner and lives in New Hope, Pennsylvania.^[8]

References

1. ^ "Ottawa Rough Riders Players List". Capital Region Football. http://capitalregionfootball.info/index.php?pr=Rider_Player_DB. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
2. ^ "NFL Draft". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=Z&abbrFlag=1&type=alphabetical. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
3. ^ "Charlie Zapiec". Lost Lettermen.com. http://www.lostlettermen.com/charlie_zapiec-penn_state-football-big_10-p248032/. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
4. ^ "Dallas Cowboys Draft Selections". Dallas Cowboys Fan Club. http://www.dallascowboysfanclub.com/history/alltimedraft.htm. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
5. ^ "All Time All Stars". Montreal Alouettes. http://en.montrealalouettes.com/page/all-time-all-stars. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
6. ^ MacDonald, Ian (26 April 2010). "Grey Cup flashback: Sam Etcheverry turned Als around". Montreal Gazette. http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Grey+flashback+Etcheverry+turned+around/1943841/story.html#ixzz0nj3ONdna. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
7. ^ "Coupe Grey 2002". Radio Canada. http://www.radio-canada.ca/sportsv1/coupegrey2002/devenus.html. Retrieved 31 December 2010.  (in French)
8. ^ "Charlie Zapiec". Go PSU Sports. http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/zapiec_charlie00.html. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Zapiec, Chuck
Alternative names
Short description	American football linebacker
Date of birth	July 1, 1949
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death