John Nunziato
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Graduated: 1954 |
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Inducted: 1991 |
Just 5-5, John Nunziato was the little-big man of Terrier
athletics during his playing days. The three-sport star, who
earned nine varsity letters, was a two way performer on the
football team, a starting guard on the basketball team, and
a second baseman on the baseball team.
In football, Nunziato drew the inevitable assignment of replacing
the legendary Harry Agganis at quarterback. In 1953, he completed
a 55-yard touchdown pass against powerful Penn State, the
longest play from scrimmage that year. A man with few equals
when it came to operating the T-formation, Nunziato led the
Terriers to a combined 92 points in back-to-back games against
Brandeis and Lehigh.
Defensively, "he played better than guys three times
his size," according to writer Bob Coyne in his article
on "People's Choice." Head coach Buff Donelli noted
that the phrase "pound for pound the finest athlete"
was often overused, but that it applied perfectly in Nunziato's
case. In 1952, his interception against national-power Maryland
led to a Terrier touchdown. In 1953, he set up the team's
only score against Holly Cross with a fumble recovery on the
Crusaders' eight-yard line.
During the winter, Nunziato made his presence felt on the
hardwood. As a senior, he missed the first five games of the
basketball season but finished as the team's leading scorer
with 15.4 points per game. His stellar backcourt performances
made him the first recipient of the Lou Cohen Most Valuable
Player Award.
When basketball ended, Nunziato moved to the baseball diamond.
A fine defensive second baseman and a .409 hitter, he earned
All-Greater Boston honors.
For all his accomplishments, Nunziato won the 1953-54 E.
Ray Speare Award as Boston University's top student athlete.
Also an outstanding student, he won the prestigious Scarlet
Key Award and was recognized as a Distinguished Military Student
in the Army ROTC.
After his graduation, Nunziato played and coached three sports
with the 82nd Infantry Division in Europe. Later, he returned
to his high school alma mater and coached the Somerville football
team from 1958-70. During his tenure, Somerville won a Greater
Boston League title, and Nunziato earned Greater Boston League
Coach of the Year honors. He was also elected to the school's
Athletic Hall of Fame.
Nunziato, who also earned a master's degree from Boston University,
served as a member of the Terrier football staff as a graduate
assistant during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, and as the freshmen
coach in 1962 and 1963.
