Charlie Zapiec

Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as a linebacker 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 Lions and helped his team to 2 undefeated seasons in 1968 and 1969. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played with the Miami Dolphins. He was a Canadian Football League (CFL) All-Star with the Montreal Alouettes.

Early years

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 Annals 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.

Switching to Defense for the 1970 Season, Big Z was moved from guard to middle linebacker, a position he was destined to play after idolizing his boyhood hero Chuck Bednarik, aka, "Concrete Charlie". Bednarik was the last of the 2-way performers in the NFL leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the 1960 Championship over Lombardi's Packers when he played Center and Middle Linebacker for 60 minutes.

After only playing 1 game as a middle linebacker that year against Navy in 1970, he suffered an appendectomy 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. The next year, he returned to the defensive side of the ball moving to outside linebacker, captaining the Team and earning First-team All- American Honors. 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 that year when he made 18 solo tackles in a victory over the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium - still a one-game record for Penn State Linebackers.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Zapiec was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 1972 NFL Draft. He faced a difficult challenge in making the team, after the Cowboys selected a total of 5 linebackers and had one of the best linebacking corps in NFL history already in place. He was waived on August 16.

Miami Dolphins

On August 16, 1972, he was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins to backup middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti. He was released on September 12.

Ottawa Rough Riders

In 1972, he signed to play linebacker for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League. The next year, he was placed on recall waivers in mid-season.

Montreal Alouettes

In 1973, Zapiec was claimed by the Montreal Alouettes who were coached by Marv Levy. He was a CFL All-Star two times and was a part of two Grey Cup victories for the Alouettes. He left the team to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs

On February 28, 1979, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, reuniting with Levy who was his head coach with the Alouettes. He was cut on August 7.

Zapiec has the distinction of playing for the winningest