Charlie Zapiec
 |
|
| Born: |
July 1, 1949 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | LB |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| College | Penn State |
| NFL draft | 1972 / Round: 4 / Pick: 93 |
| Drafted by | Dallas Cowboys |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1972–1973 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1974–1978 | 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) was an All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as al;inebacker in the only year that he played linebacker at "Linebacker U". Prior to his senior year, he also started 2 seasons as an offensive guard for the Nittany Lions and helped lead his team to 2 undefeated seasons in 1968 and 1969. Drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Also played with the Miami Dolphins in 1972. He was a Canadian Football League (CFL) All-Star with the Montreal Alouettes.
Zapiec started every game at Penn State that he was eligible for and graduated with the best record of any Penn State Player ever, 34 and 1, winning two Orange Bowls, defeating Kansas and Missouri, and one Cotton Bowl, with a win over Texas.
"Big Daddy Z", as he was known by his friends and coach Paterno, started as an Offensive Guard his Sophomore and Junior Years when the Lions went undefeated in 1968 and 1969. "Big Z" was named to the All-America Blocking Team selected by Wirt Gammon of the Chattanooga Times in 1969. As an Offensive Guard he earned All-East Honors each Year and was a Honorable Mention All American Selection in 1969.
He is most remembered in Penn State Annuls as the lead blocker that took out Kansas All-American John Zook at the goal line that allowed Bobby Campbell to score a 2-point conversion that lead to a Nittany Lion 15-14 Orange Bowl Victory with no time on the clock. This successful try followed an errant pass on the first 2-point attempt when Kansas was penalized for having 12 men on the field. George Plimpton, author of the book and movie Paper Lion, went on to characterize Zapiec's block on Zook as the most important block in College Football, equivalent to Jerry Kramer taking out Jethro Pugh at the goal line to allow Bart Star to score in the 1967 NFL Championship. Fourteen years later NBC voted the Penn State - Kansas finish as the most exciting game in the first 40 years of televising College Football.
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