Zenon Andrusyshyn

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Zenon Andrusyshyn
No. 7, 17, 19
Nickname(s)Big Z
USFL)
1986Montreal Alouettes (CFL)
Career highlights and awards
CFL East All-Star1980, 1981
Honours
Career stats
Field goals215/365 (58.9%)
Longest FG57
Kickoffs501 (Avg: 57.3 yards)
Longest kickoff90
Punting1,320 (Avg: 45.1 yards)
Longest punt108

Zenon Andrusyshyn (February 25, 1947 – August 7, 2023) was a German-born Canadian

UCLA
.

Early years

Zenon Andrusyshyn was born in Germany to Ukrainian parents. His family moved to

discus during the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.[4] He held the Canadian javelin record with a throw of 242 feet 6 inches.[citation needed
]

Andrusyshyn received a

UCLA to compete in the javelin throw, but suffered an elbow injury while preparing for the 1968 Summer Olympics and decided to walk-on to the football team after kicking in a tryout 14 field goals in a row from 45 yards out.[5] In one practice he kicked field goals of 57 and 62 yards.[6] Andrusyshyn was used both as a punter and placekicker
.

As a sophomore, he led the

offensive tackle Bill Hayhoe to affect his kicking game.[citation needed
]

As a senior, he made 8 of 12 field goals, 33 of 44 extra points and had a 42.1-yard punting average. He was a two-time All-American punter (1967, 1969) and was voted to UCLA's All Century Team.[citation needed]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Andrusyshyn was selected by the

1970 NFL Draft.[8] He was waived before the start of the season on September 2.[9]

Toronto Argonauts (first stint)

On May 5, 1971, he signed as a

Edmonton Eskimos, which still stands as the longest punt in professional football history.[citation needed
]

Kansas City Chiefs

On April 14, 1978, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.[11] He was named the team's starting punter, registering 79 punts for 3,247 yards (41.1-yard avg.), a long of 61 yards and one blocked punt. On August 21, 1979, he was waived after being passed on the depth chart by Bob Grupp.[12]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On September 7, 1979, he was signed as a

offensive lineman Al MacLean.[14]

Toronto Argonauts (second stint)

In 1980, he was named the starting kicker and punter over Ian Sunter. He was named CFL East All-Star in two straight seasons. On September 14, 1980, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he kicked a career-longest 57-yard field goal.[15] He was passed on the depth chart by Dean Dorsey and was released in September 1982.[citation needed]

Edmonton Eskimos

In September 1982, he was claimed off waivers by the

Edmonton Eskimos to replace Hank Ilesic, unavailable due to a contract dispute.[16]

Tampa Bay Bandits

On December 29, 1982, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League.[17] He was the starter at kicker and punter for three seasons until the team folded in 1986.[18]

Montreal Alouettes

On October 1, 1986, he signed as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes to replace an injured Roy Kurtz.[19] He was not re-signed after the season.

Personal life and death

In 1969, Andrusyshyn met his wife on the television show The Dating Game.[citation needed] That year, he also had a small part in the television show Medical Center.[citation needed]

Andrusyshyn was ordained a minister in the

Southern Baptist denomination in 1990 in Nashville, Tennessee. He also graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1995 with a Master in Arts, Biblical Studies (MABS).[citation needed
]

Andrusyshyn was the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Tampa Area Director from March 1987, completing 20 years with FCA in 2007. In October 2007, Zenon Andrusyshyn formed his own ministry with his wife Sue. Known as Zenon Ministries Inc., it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth ministry. Andrusyshyn has been on over 15 mission trips which include delivering medical supplies to Cuna Indians- Panama (three times), to Cancer Hospitals for Children in Kyiv and Odesa, Ukraine (four times), Missions abroad in England (three times), Germany (three times) and Mexico (three times). He served as Youth Chairman for the Billy Graham Crusade-1998 Tampa, Florida, and as Youth Chairman for Luis Palau's TampaBayFest 2007.[citation needed]

Zenon Andrusyshyn died on August 7, 2023, at the age of 76.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Argos sign UCLA kicker Medlock". Sportsnet. September 12, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "Zenon Andrusyshyn Death, "Big Zee" Argonauts' record-breaking kicker, dies at 76". Hausa New. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Zenon Andrusyshyn". Oakville Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "'Golden Toe' rejoins Argos". The Montreal Gazette. May 6, 1971. Retrieved July 15, 2019 – via Google News.
  5. ^ "10 UCLA". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "Soph Sensation Solves UCLA's Punt problems". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "Missed Extra Point Will Haunt UCLA's Andrusyshyn". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Cowboys draft Andrusyshyn". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Andrusyshyn, Johansen given another chance to crack Argonauts' lineup". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Chiefs sign Andrusyshyn". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Big Z returns, hoping to kick Riders around". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "Metcalf leads Argonauts to victory". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "Ilesic may be done for year". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Big Zee finds work in USFL". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "Andrusyshyn: Inspiration is easy when your career may be ending". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  19. ^ "Als hoping Big Z can put the boot back in offence". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "Argos great Andrusyshyn dead at 76". The Sports Network. Retrieved August 8, 2023.

External links

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