Georgia Bulldogs legend Zippy Morocco died at his home in Athens on Sunday night, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was 86.
Morocco’s death is being investigated by police as a possible suicide following what is being reported as a possible domestic dispute, according to classiccitytoday.com’s Tim Bryant.
Morroco was a football and basketball star for the Bulldogs in the 1950s. He was Georgia’s first basketball All-American in 1953, and on the football field he was an elusive punt returner. Among his highlights are a 90-yard touchdown return against Furman in 1950 and a 65-yarder against Texas A&M in the 1950 Presidential Cup.
According to a 2013 article written on Morocco by Loran Smith, Morocco, a member of UGA’s Circle of Honor and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, was a “two-handed set shot artist with an alacritous ebb and flow on the court — which is what led to his nickname as youngster.”
Morocco grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where his immigrant father worked in the steel mills. Morocco had opportunities for a career in pro football and basketball, according to Smith, but military duty interrupted those endeavors.
Following his military obligations, Morocco, Smith wrote, settled in Athens and made a career for himself in real estate.
Morocco’s son, Chris, an Atlanta businessman played quarterback at Clemson from 1986-89.
