RIP Zenon Andrusyshyn

[Will]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Assocation is saddened to report that longtime Argo punter/kicker Zenon Andrusyshyn has passed away. He was 76.</p>&mdash; @ArgoAlumni (@argoalumni) <a href="https://twitter.com/argoalumni/status/1688643457789591553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[paulwoods13]

Woah, far too young. He was one of the greatest characters of the 1970s Argos, and a pretty good kicker (albeit inconsistent, as most kickers were back then).

[Argo57]

The Big Z, I remember him well.
Synonymous with the Argonauts of the 1970’s, big leg but yes somewhat inconsistent.
RIP.

**An interesting article about Andrusyshyn not getting a ring from Edmonton for winning the 1982 Grey Cup**
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjFp7Xy38uAAxUyg4kEHTX9Ai4QFnoECCUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedmontonjournal.com%2Fsports%2Ff ootball%2Fcfl%2Fedmonton-eskimos%2Fthe-big-zee-wants-a-grey-cup-ring-from-1982&usg=AOvVaw1zcOzFND5d4c4Mu8OmxXtM&opi=89978449

[OV Argo]

RIP Big Z. A great Argo ! Great punter with a booming leg; inconsistent as a place kicker, but so many FG kickers were back in his day; before CFL teams learned that it might be wise to have a separate punter along with a more accurate FG kicker on rosters (not that those were easy to find) rather than thinking a guy was good enough to do both jobs - as the NFL has pretty well always done.

[Will]

Someone I worked with years ago who was an Argos fan described Zenon as being very frustrating to watch. Always money when you didn't need him to be, never money when you needed him to be.

He (along with Jim Corrigall) were troopers on some pretty bad Argo teams only to leave just as they were getting good.

[bannedforlife]

Andrusyshyn was born in Germany and attending college at U.C.L.A. where he was a two-time All-American as a punter in 1967 & '69.

He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1970, but played for the Toronto Argonauts of the C.F.L. from 1971-'77, he played a season in the N.F.L. with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1978, before returning to the C.F.L. and playing for Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1979, the Argonauts again from 1980-'82 and the Edmonton Eskimos in 1982.

He played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the U.S.F.L. from 1983-'85 before returning to the C.F.L. with the Montreal Alouettes in 1986. Andrusyshyn was a C.F.L. All-Star in 1980 & '81.

[bannedforlife]

He was quite a character, this story is an interesting read.

UCLA’s Zenon Andrusyshyn kick-started his life after 1967 loss to USC (https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-andrusyshyn-usc-20141116-story.html)
Chris Foster Los Angeles Times November 15, 2014


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_J8GtayQwY

[bannedforlife]

Strange that there are no news reports of this yet.

[AngeloV]

Very sad news. Definitely a favourite of mine as a kid.

[ArgoRavi]

RIP Big Z. A great Argo ! Great punter with a booming leg; inconsistent as a place kicker, but so many FG kickers were back in his day; before CFL teams learned that it might be wise to have a separate punter along with a more accurate FG kicker on rosters (not that those were easy to find) rather than thinking a guy was good enough to do both jobs - as the NFL has pretty well always done.

The biggest difference today is that there is actually coaching for kickers which I don't think there was much of back in the Big Zee's days. Big Zee was always a better punter than a placekicker.

As Will mentioned, it is unfortunate that some long-time Argos like Andrusyshyn, Corrigall and Peter Muller retired (or were pushed out) just before the Argos came out of their long funk in 1982. Big Zee was with the team during the first half of the 1982 season, including the big August 7th win over Edmonton, before Bob O'Billovich decided to release him in favour of Dean Dorsey.

Sad to hear of Andrusyshyn's death today. He was a favourite of mine back in the 1970s and early 1980s.

[paulwoods13]

RIP Big Z. A great Argo ! Great punter with a booming leg; inconsistent as a place kicker, but so many FG kickers were back in his day; before CFL teams learned that it might be wise to have a separate punter along with a more accurate FG kicker on rosters (not that those were easy to find) rather than thinking a guy was good enough to do both jobs - as the NFL has pretty well always done.

A.pretty big reason why CFL teams were slow to move to specialists was the roster size. With 32 and later 34, tying up two spots for kickers would have left little flexibility elsewhere. I think Edm was one of the first teams to have two, with Cutler and Hickie/Ilesic.

[bannedforlife]

A.pretty big reason why CFL teams were slow to move to specialists was the roster size. With 32 and later 34, tying up two spots for kickers would have left little flexibility elsewhere. I think Edm was one of the first teams to have two, with Cutler and Hickie/Ilesic.I think there were others before that. Correct me if I'm wrong but did Hamilton have Ken Clark and Ian Sunter, Edmonton had Garry Lefebvre and Dave Cutler, Montreal had Wally Buono/Sonny Wade and Don Sweet. I'm going on fading memories so I could be wrong but I don't think it was totally uncommon before Hank the Shank.

[bannedforlife]

Strange that there are no news reports of this yet.3downnation is now reporting the story, TSN has yet to report.

Longtime CFL kicker Zenon Andrusyshyn passes away at 76 (https://3downnation.com/2023/08/08/longtime-cfl-kicker-zenon-andrusyshyn-passes-away-at-76/)
3Down Staff August 8, 2023

[paulwoods13]

I think there were others before that. Correct me if I'm wrong but did Hamilton have Ken Clark and Ian Sunter, Edmonton had Garry Lefebvre and Dave Cutler, Montreal had Wally Buono/Sonny Wade and Don Sweet. I'm going on fading memories so I could be wrong but I don't think it was totally uncommon before Hank the Shank.

You have a good memory, although I think it's worth noting that some of those guys -- Clark, Lefebvre (IIRC) and Buono/Wade -- also played (or at least backed up at) another position besides punter.

[bannedforlife]

You have a good memory, although I think it's worth noting that some of those guys -- Clark, Lefebvre (IIRC) and Buono/Wade -- also played (or at least backed up at) another position besides punter.Yes they did. Lefebvre was a WR, Buono a LB, Wade a QB and Clark did a little bit of everything. But it should be noted that they were the full time punter and did get in a year's worth of punting. Edit: I do get your point, now.

[ArgoRavi]

You have a good memory, although I think it's worth noting that some of those guys -- Clark, Lefebvre (IIRC) and Buono/Wade -- also played (or at least backed up at) another position besides punter.

Gerald Kunyk was solely a punter for a few years: https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-kunykger001

I am guessing that he was the punter with Cyril McFall being the placekicker in Calgary in 1975 and then he was the punter in Ottawa in 1978 when JT Hay was the placekicker, during Gerry Organ's short-lived retirement. A little more rare for sure back in those days to have someone specialize as strictly a punter for sure. Hank Ilesic replaced Kunyk in Edmonton during the 1977 season.

[OV Argo]

You have a good memory, although I think it's worth noting that some of those guys -- Clark, Lefebvre (IIRC) and Buono/Wade -- also played (or at least backed up at) another position besides punter.

Back in the day (say 60s) pretty well all CFL teams had separate punter / place kickers; but most of those guys were either full-time starters at other positions or at least capable back-ups. Ticats had Tommy Joe Coffee place kicking & Joe Zuger punting; Ottawa had Don Sutherin or Mo Racine (all-star OT) place kicking and Bill Van Burkleo (back-up QB and sometimes starting DB) punting.

The time of the just kicker specialists came later, and eventually some teams decided to go with one guy to do both jobs (very myopic, dumb roster thinking IMO unless you have a Lui Passaglia who was great at both jobs).

No teams this CFL season are going with one guy to do both jobs? - Argos with Bede were last to do it I believe.

But we see a bunch of teams dressing just one back-up O-linemen nowdays; gotta have those 4th and 5th string linebackers or 3rd string H-backs to play STs instead.

[bannedforlife]

TSN has yet to report

Argos great Andrusyshyn dead at 76 (https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/longtime-toronto-argonauts-kicker-punter-zenon-andrusyshyn-dead-at-76-1.1993654)
TSN.ca Staff August 8, 2023

[ArgoRavi]

Back in the day (say 60s) pretty well all CFL teams had separate punter / place kickers; but most of those guys were either full-time starters at other positions or at least capable back-ups. Ticats had Tommy Joe Coffee place kicking & Joe Zuger punting; Ottawa had Don Sutherin or Mo Racine (all-star OT) place kicking and Bill Van Burkleo (back-up QB and sometimes starting DB) punting.

The time of the just kicker specialists came later, and eventually some teams decided to go with one guy to do both jobs (very myopic, dumb roster thinking IMO unless you have a Lui Passaglia who was great at both jobs).

No teams this CFL season are going with one guy to do both jobs? - Argos with Bede were last to do it I believe.

But we see a bunch of teams dressing just one back-up O-linemen nowdays; gotta have those 4th and 5th string linebackers or 3rd string H-backs to play STs instead.

Nobody should be dressing any fewer than 2 backup offensive linemen, but special teams is a third of the game in Canadian football so you have to ensure that you have the right personnel on the field for those. This isn't like back in the 1970s or early 1980s anymore when teams were largely happy if their returner caught the ball and made 4 or 5 yards.

[OV Argo]

Nobody should be dressing any fewer than 2 backup offensive linemen, but special teams is a third of the game in Canadian football so you have to ensure that you have the right personnel on the field for those. This isn't like back in the 1970s or early 1980s anymore when teams were largely happy if their returner caught the ball and made 4 or 5 yards.

Almost all CFL teams now (not the Argos though) usually dress just one back-up O-lineman. So Ravi, are you saying you dare to disagree with the roster thinking of these football geniuses ?

And if i had to win a big football game and my choice was between dressing just one dual kicker (who was average sort of at FGs), and having a 5th string LB to play STs, OR, dressing a 2nd kicker (accurate FG kicker) and asking a guy like W. McManis to run down on special teams in place of the 5th string LB, I'm pretty sure which choice gives the team the far better chance to win the game. Mike O'Shea was a key special teams guy back when he was an all-star MLB in the league.

[paulwoods13]

And if i had to win a big football game and my choice was between dressing just one dual kicker (who was average sort of at FGs), and having a 5th string LB to play STs, OR, dressing a 2nd kicker (accurate FG kicker) and asking a guy like W. McManis to run down on special teams in place of the 5th string LB, I'm pretty sure which choice gives the team the far better chance to win the game. Mike O'Shea was a key special teams guy back when he was an all-star MLB in the league.

And even with today's larger rosters, Pickett has been a key special-teams guy this season, and McManis was last year. But "fifth-string LBs" can also be key on specials. Adeboboye is our fourth-string RB, and he is a hugely important player on specials. And it seems teams don't face the either/or choice you are proposing since all of them are finding ways to dress two kickers.

[OV Argo]

And even with today's larger rosters, Pickett has been a key special-teams guy this season, and McManis was last year. But "fifth-string LBs" can also be key on specials. Adeboboye is our fourth-string RB, and he is a hugely important player on specials. And it seems teams don't face the either/or choice you are proposing since all of them are finding ways to dress two kickers.


Substitute dressing just one back-up O-lineman or one back-up receiver (for 5 man starter position groups) for the just one kicker, and it's the same thing IMO - risky, myopic roster management, in these CFL days of way (too IMO) large rosters.

[argolio]

I get why teams sometimes dress only one backup o-lineman. A faster guy who contributes on special teams can give you more than a 7th o-lineman who might sit on the bench the whole game.

RIP Big Zee

[Rich]

Zee was another memorable character on that ‘71 team that was full of them. I guess he was the last Argos PK who was a straight-on toe kicker. He was the last of a breed in a number of ways.

[Argo57]

Zee was another memorable character on that ‘71 team that was full of them. I guess he was the last Argos PK who was a straight-on toe kicker. He was the last of a breed in a number of ways.

Hank Ilesic would probably be the last “toe kicker” for the Argonauts.

[Will]

While there was apparently a video tribute early in the pre-game, I was surprised that there was no moment of silence held for Zenon on Sunday.