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Zenon Andrusyshyn was a punter and kicker for a number of teams in the '80s including the Toronto Argonauts. Source: Facebook/Toronto Argonauts Official Fan Club (May be subject to copyright) |
He always had the most memorable name – Zenon Andrusyshyn – and he had quite a football life.
He died a few days ago, at age 76 Not only did it bring back memories of my early days watching football, but also I discovered what an interesting football journey he had.
In the beginning
My first exposure to NFL football of note was when I bought this brand new issue of a magazine called “Inside Sports” with a season preview. It had every team broken down and, instead of photos to go with the story, had what looked like pen and ink drawings sprinkled throughout.
My first exposure to NFL football of note was when I bought this brand new issue of a magazine called “Inside Sports” with a season preview. It had every team broken down and, instead of photos to go with the story, had what looked like pen and ink drawings sprinkled throughout.
I read that feature over and over. They broke the teams down really well. One of the players mentioned on the breakdown of the Kansas City Chiefs was their punter Zenon Andrusyshyn. I think they were discussing what a good addition he was to the team.
The name had no meaning to me at the time, but that would soon change.
The years before
Zenon Andrusyshyn was born in Germany, but moved to Oakville, Ontario where he went to high school. He then went on a track and field scholarship to UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles) in javelin.
Zenon Andrusyshyn was born in Germany, but moved to Oakville, Ontario where he went to high school. He then went on a track and field scholarship to UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles) in javelin.
He suffered an elbow injury, so he decided to try out for the football team as a walk on and made it. The Bruins would use him as a punter and place kicker. In his second year, he led the NCAA in punting with a 44.2 yard average but was 11 of 24 in field goals. In his senior year he had a 42.1-yard punting average and made eight of 12 field goals.
He was an All-American punter in 1967 and 1969 as well.
Andrusyshyn was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the ninth round of the 1970 NFL Draft but was waived in September of that year before the season started.
He signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in May of 1971, and would play for the Argos through the 1977 season. He primarily handled the punting duties in that time.
In 1971, he had a punting average of 43.8 yards, eight singles, and a long of 78 yards. He didn’t handle many place kicking duties, just three convert attempts, making one.
During the 1972 season, his punting average was 45 yards, with a long of 75 yards, and eight singles. He made six of 16 field goals going for six singles, with a long of 45 yards, and was three of four on convert attempts.
For the 1973 season, Andrusyshyn’s punting average was 45.6 yards, with six singles and a long of 67 yards. He made 19 of 37 field goals, 12 singles, a long of 52 yards, and he was 25 of 26 on convert attempts.
In 1974 , his average was a career high of 46.9 yards with a long of 85 yards and seven singles. He made 32 of 52 field goals, with a long of 52 yards, and eight singles, and he was 22 of 24 on convert attempts.
The next season, 1975, Andrusyshyn turned in an average of 43.1 yards with a long of 69 yards and three singles. He was 30 of 56 on feld goals with a long 54 yards, eight singles, and he was 20 for 20 on convert attempts.
During the 1976 season, he had an average of 43.7 yards, with a long of 63 yards and one single. He made 22 of 38 field goals, with a long of 46 yards, six singles, and he was 29 of 29 on convert attempts.
In the 1977 season, his average was 45.2 yards with three singles and a long of 108 yards. Wikipedia says that punt still stands as the longest punt in professional football history. He was 23 of 37 on field goal attempts, with a long of 50 yards, 10 singles, and again he was perfect on convert attempts going 24 of 24.
Andrusyshyn signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL in April of 1978. Handling the punting duties for the Chiefs, he kicked 79 times for 3,247 yards, an average of 41.1 yards, with a long of 61 yards, and had one punt blocked. However, before the start of the 1979 season, in August, the Chiefs decided to go with punter Bob Grupp and released Andrusyshyn.
This is where I picked up his trail.
Dawn of the decade
The Hamilton Tiger Cats signed Andrusyshyn in September of 1979, playing in Hamilton’s final eight games, and that’s where I saw him play for the first time. Up until that point, runningbck Neil Lumsden was handling the place kicking duties and defensive back Zac Henderson was handling the punting chores. Andrusyshyn handled both punting and place kicking duties, making 10 of 20 field goals, with a long of 43 yards, six singles, and he was 15 of 16 on convert attempts.
The Hamilton Tiger Cats signed Andrusyshyn in September of 1979, playing in Hamilton’s final eight games, and that’s where I saw him play for the first time. Up until that point, runningbck Neil Lumsden was handling the place kicking duties and defensive back Zac Henderson was handling the punting chores. Andrusyshyn handled both punting and place kicking duties, making 10 of 20 field goals, with a long of 43 yards, six singles, and he was 15 of 16 on convert attempts.
That was the year Hamilton started out poorly, then made a trade with Saskatchewan for quarterback Tom Clements and that absolutely turned their season, and franchise, around. He would lead the league in passing and be an East Division All-star.
After the end of the season, in June of 1980, Andrusyshyn was traded to Toronto where he began his second stint with the Argonauts.
In 1980, he made 30 of 42 field goals, with a long of 57 yards, which was also the longest field goal of his career, eight singles, and he was 31 of 31 on convert attempts. He also had a punting average of 45.3 yards, with a long of 83 yards and five singles. That season he was the East Division All-star punter.
In 1981, Andrusyshyn was 18 of 25 in field goal attempts, with a long of 54 yards, three singles, and he was 21 of 21 in convert attempts. His punting average was 47.2 yards, with a long of 74 yards, and 12 singles. He again was the East Division all-star punter.
He started the 1982 season with the Argonauts, appearing in nine games. He was 11 of 21 in field goal attempts, with a long of 48 yards, six singles, and was again perfect in convert attempts, going 24 of 24. His punting average was 45.8 yards, with a long of 70 yards, and two singles.
However, the Argonauts wanted to go in another direction, releasing Andrusyshyn in September to make way for Dean Dorsey.
Andrusyshyn was picked up by Edmonton in September of 1982. Their punter, Hank Ilesic, was sitting out in a dispute that lasted three weeks. Andrusyshyn would play in two games, against Hamilton and Calgary, missing his only field goal attempt, but punted the ball 16 times for an average of 41.9 yards, with a long of 55 yards, and one single. He was again released when Ilesic returned.
Ironicly, Ilesic would join the Argonauts the next season, after another dispute.
Heading south
In 1983, a new professional football league started. Playing its games in the spring, the United States Football League would compete with the NFL, and to a lesser extent the CFL, for players, but not directly compete with them at the same time of year.
In 1983, a new professional football league started. Playing its games in the spring, the United States Football League would compete with the NFL, and to a lesser extent the CFL, for players, but not directly compete with them at the same time of year.
Zenon Andrusyshyn signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits, as punter and place kicker, and would stay with the team for three seasons, 1983 to 1985, until the league folded.
In 1983, he went 23 of 31 in field goal attempts, and was 32 of 36 in convert attempts. His punting average was 39.8 yards with a long of 66 yards
For the 1984 season, he went 17 of 25 in field goal attempts, and 55 of 59 in convert attempts. He had a 41.1 yard punting average and his long was 66 yards.
Andrusyshyn’s average in 1985 was 39 yards with a long of 59 yards. He went 14 of 20 in field goal attempts, and 51 of 52 in convert attempts.
End of the line
After the USFL folded, Andrusyshyn returned to the CFL. Initially he signed with Saskatchewan, but never played a game with them.
After the USFL folded, Andrusyshyn returned to the CFL. Initially he signed with Saskatchewan, but never played a game with them.
An injury opened a spot up in Montreal in October, where Andrusyshyn played in just six games. In that 1986 season, he went 14 of 18 in field goal attempts, with a long of 46 yards, and nine of 9 of 9 in convert attempts. His punting average was 46 yards with a long of 62 yards and three singles.
He was not re-signed after the season and retired.
Parting thoughts
Zenon Andrusyshyn’s career shows how great a time it was to be a professional football player in the 1980s. With three professional football leagues, there was plenty of opportunity, and Andrusyshyn took full advantage of it.
Zenon Andrusyshyn’s career shows how great a time it was to be a professional football player in the 1980s. With three professional football leagues, there was plenty of opportunity, and Andrusyshyn took full advantage of it.
He was also there when I started watching football, and I can still picture him punting with the Tiger-cats.
Beyond his skills on the field, how can you ever forget a name like Zenon Andrusyshyn?
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