Hall of Fame
Zucco, a native of Renton, Pennsylvania, and graduate of Blum Township HS, received two letters in football (1953, 1954) and one in track (1954) at Wayne. A two-year starter as an offensive and defensive halfback in football, Zucco is ranked among the greatest rushers in Wayne history. He led Wayne both seasons in rushing and total offense. In his freshman campaign, Zucco gained 637 rushing and 653 total offensive yards, and led the team in scoring with nine touchdowns and 54 points. A kickoff-returns specialist, Zucco also led the '53 squad with seven returns for 156 yards. In 1954 Zucco gained 420 net rushing and 525 total offensive yards. His five touchdowns again led the team, and he scored 30 points, trailing only Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame member Richard Lisabeth's 33 points. Zucco also handled kickoffs again, as well as punts. He led the team with six kickoff returns for 132 yards, and had a team leading nine punt returns. In a 33-13 victory over Washington (M9) in 1953, Zucco set Wayne's Single Game Rushing Record with a 228-yard effort. He is still ranked fourth in the Tartar record book for that exploit. Zucco also tied another Tartar record held by several individuals, when he scored three touchdowns on carries of 76-, 55-, and 52-yards in the game. After the 1953 season, Zucco was named Wayne's Most Valuable Player, and to the Collier's Magazine Honorable Mention All-America Football Team. As a member of Wayne's track squad in 1954, Zucco had best times of 5.5 in the 50-yard Dash, and 25.5 in the 220-yard Indoor Dash. In 1955 Wayne State de-emphasized intercollegiate athletics by joining the Presidents Athletic Conference, a conference that did not allow any scholarship aid and had other restrictive rules on competition. Though the NCAA was not classified into different divisions at this time, today the PAC would be considered a member of the NCAA's Division III. Concerned about Wayne's de-emphasis and his potential for a professional career, Zucco transferred to Michigan State, in his only season he was eligible, 1956, Zucco earned All-Big Ten honors after gaining 145 net rushing yards. He participated in both the North-South Shrine and Senior Bowl games after his senior year. In 1957 Zucco was a fifth-round draft choice of the NFL's Chicago Bears. He was a four-year starting defensive halfback and returns specialist for the Bears before retiring after the 1960 season. Zucco was recruited to Wayne State by former head football coach Lou Zarza, who was visiting Western Pennsylvania in 1953 and convinced Zucco to spurn other offers and enroll at Wayne. At Blum Township High School Zucco won All-Western Pennsylvania honors in football and track. He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. Zucco received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Michigan State in 1958, and during the Bears' off-season, he sold insurance. After retiring from the Bears, Zucco started several companies, including the Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and Sentry Securities Systems Company. In 1977 Zucco sold all his businesses, and moved to Northern Michigan. In 1981 he bought the Schuss Mountain Golf Club located in Mancelona, Michigan, which he still owns. Zucco also operates the Schuss Real Estate Development Corporation Company. Zucco and his wife Marianne, reside in Mancelona during the summer, and winter in Sanibell Island, Florida. They are the parents of three children, sons Mark and Brad, and daughter Lynne. They are also grandparents of three grandchildren.
