Zeno Karcz

Zeno Karcz was born in Toronto but grew up mainly in Windsor, Ontario. Karcz played junior football with Windsor AKO and college football at Michigan (ne year with the freshaman team and one year with the varsity team) before joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1957.  Karcz would go on to play his entire 10 year career wth the Hamilton club from 1957 to 1966.  Karcz is still considered one of the best linebackes in Tiger-Cat history, winning two East All-Stars at linebacker in 1962 and 1965 and a CFL All-Star in 1965.  1965 was an especially good year for Karcz, as he was named the Outstanding Canadian in the CFL. Defensive stats for that era are spotty with no tackle or quarterback sack stats, but Karcz recorded 10 career interceptions and 5 career fumble recoveries.  Karcz saw some action on offence as well.   While he only had 4 career pass receptions, two of those went for touchdowns.

Karcz and and the Tiger-Cats made a habit out of going to the Grey Cup during his career. In his ten seasons, the Tiger-Cats matee it to the Grey Cup an amazing eight times.  Hamilton and Winnipeg in particular were regular foes, meeting 6 times in the Grey Cup in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Hamilton won the first encounter in Karcz's rookie season in 1957, but Winnipeg won the next four 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962. Karccz finally got a second Grey Cup win in 1963 in a memorable game against BC that ffeatured the now legendary hit by Angelo Mosca on the Lions' Willie Fleming.The Lions got revenge by beating Hamilton in a rematch in 1964. In 1965, the Tiger-Cats got the 'last laugh" on the Bombers with another victory to give Karcz three Grey Cup championships.

Following the end of his playing days, Karcz returned to Windsor and took over the coaching duties for his former junior football team, the Windsor AKO Fratmen.  Karcz coached the Fratmen for three seasons from 1967 to 1969. In 1987, Karcz was elected to the Windsor-Essex Sports Hall of Fame.

Zeno Karcz in Wikipedia

Zeno Karcz on fanbase.com

Karcz in the Windsor-Essex Sports Hall of Fame

Karcz one of the Newcomers at Michigan - August 10, 1955

Karcz East All-Star at Linebacker - November 13, 1962

Karcz Resigns With Hamilton - May 15, 1965

Karcz Returns to Windosor as Junoir Coach - April 12, 1967

Karcz Starts Third Season as AKO Coach - July 5, 1969

GP, Interceptions and +Fumble Retunrs
Year Team GP Int Yds Avg TDInt Long FR Yds Avg TD Long FF
1957 HAM 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1958 HAM 3 1 29 29 0 29 0 0 0 0 0
1959 HAM 13 1 7 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
1960 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1961 HAM 14 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
1962 HAM 14 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
1963 HAM 14 2 3 1.5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
1964 HAM 14 1 0 0 0 0 2

0

1965 HAM 14 2 0 0 0 0 3

0

1966 HAM 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

GP, Rushing and Receiving
Year Team GP TC Yds Avg TD Long Rec Yds Avg TD Long PTS
1957 HAM 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1958 HAM 3




0 0 0 0 0 0
1959 HAM 13




3 53 17.7 1 23 6
1960 HAM 14




1 35 35 1 35 6
1961 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1962 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1963 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
1964 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
1965 HAM 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1966 HAM 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

KO and Punt Returns
Year Team KOR Yds Avg TD Long PR Yds Avg TD Long
1957 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1958 HAM 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
1959 HAM 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
1960 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 3
1961 HAM 1 4 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
1962 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1963 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1964 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1965 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1966 HAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

 

Zeno Karcz

Zeno Karcz

Zeno Karcz