Football Heroes
In the late 1930s four former Rhode Island Interscholastic League football players headed to Chestnut Hill to play big-time college football at Boston College. Little did they know they would be a part of some of the most celebrated teams in Eagles' football history. Frank "Monk" Maznicki, Al Morro and Joe Zabilski and his brother Ed Zabilski were key performers on the fabled 1940 Cotton Bowl (Clemson 6 Boston College 3) and 1941 Sugar Bowl (Boston College 19 Tennessee 13) Boston College football teams.
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"Monk" Maznicki was Second-Team All-State (1936) and First-Team All-State (1937) at halfback at West Warwick High. He was also a star in baseball earning a pair of All-Class B selections before adding an First-Team All-State nod at shortstop in 1938. A hard-running and dependable halfback he earned All-New England and All-America honors at BC in 1941 for his marvelous running, pass-catching, and kicking skills. He also played in the 1941 North-South game and contributed to the Eagles' success on the diamond. The Chicago Bears drafted him in the 8th round (70th overall) of the 1942 NFL Draft. He played halfback for the Bears in 1942 and 1946 (interrupted by WWII) and finished up with the Boston Yanks in 1947. Maznicki was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971.
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Al Morro was captain of his Central High track & football teams. He was Second-Team All-State at tackle and First-Team All-State in the discus in outdoor track in 1937. He broke the state discus record in 1938. At Boston College Morro played both offensive and defensive tackle for the Eagles and in 1941 he was named captain of the Boston College football team. Boston College won 27 games and lost but five during his splendid varsity gridiron career. He was New England and U.S.A. National Junior Discus champion and record-holder and placed third in the U.S.A. National competition. Morro was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
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Joe Zabilski was a sensational three-sport athlete at La Salle Academy. He was First Team All-State at halfback (1935-36) in football and Third-Team All-State in basketball (1937). He was also a celebrated weight man in outdoor track earning All-State in the shot put (1935-1937), hammer (1936-37) and javelin (1937). He was All-State in indoor track as well in the shot put (1936-37). He would switch to guard in his sophomore year at Boston College and made an immediate impact earning All-New England honors. Not until his senior year did he have success in track (as spring football took precedence) at BC. He would break the Eagle all-time record in the hammer toss in 1941. Joe was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
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Ed Zabilski was an all-around athlete at Central High. Before following his big brother to Boston College he was a star on the football, basketball, track and baseball teams. He was captain of the basketball team and earned Second-Team All-Class A in baseball at pitcher (1938). Slighter than his older brother, Eddie was thrust into action at end in 1940 for the Eagles and proved his worth. He earned All-New England Honorable Mention at end in the 1941 campaign.
