Former Georgia two-sport star Zippy Morocco dead after apparent suicide
Former Georgia two-sport star Zippy Morocco died in Athens after an apparent suicide at the age of 86.
Morocco, a member of Georgia’s Circle of Honor, was a standout in both football and basketball during his time on campus. Born Anthony Joseph Morocco, he arrived to Georgia in the fall of 1948 and went on to have one of the more prolific careers in program history.
An Athens-Clarke County Police representative said the incident report involving Morocco's death was titled a "Suicide or Attempt" and that the case has been assigned to a detective with an investigation ongoing.
The Morocco family released a statement in the aftermath of his passing.
"Sunday afternoon, after a devastating battle with depression and cancer, our beloved Anthony Joseph 'Zippy' Morocco, a UGA All-American, left us," the statement reads. "The family, which intends to donate his brain to CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) research, wishes to thank all those who loved and adored Zippy. Mass service will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Friday at 11 am and a reception will follow at the Athens Country Club."
CTE is a degenerative disease of the brain that has been linked to repeated blows to the head and can cause side effects such as depression, dementia and erratic behavior. After years of denial, the NFL, through senior vice president of health Jeff Miller, recently acknowledged a link between football and CTE.
A Youngstown, Ohio native, Morocco ranks third all-time in Georgia history with a punt return average of 14.2 yards. Playing for former head coach Wally Butts, Morocco averaged 10 yards per touch, with Butts calling him "the best pass-receiving back I ever coached."
Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951, Morocco decided to put a professional career on hold to play one more basketball season. In 1953, Morocco, after three average years, had a breakout season and totaled 590 points. He scored 30 points or more four times.
In a game at Tennessee, with Georgia trailing by one, Morocco drove around the court for nearly a minute before hoisting a jumper with four seconds remaining that went in for the win.
Morocco earned the SEC’s Most Valuable Player award that season and was named a Helms Foundation All-American, which was the first time a Georgia basketball player ever earned such a distinction. Morocco enlisted in the Army following his college career and played a football season at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. A hamstring injury, however, ended his athletic career.
Morocco and his wife Fran lived in Athens, where he built a real estate business. The Moroccos raised two sons and a daughter.
"Zippy was a good friend and he was well named," former Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley said. I competed against him in football, basketball and tennis and I never knew a quicker athlete. He will be missed. Our condolences to his wife Fran and all the family. God Bless Zippy and the family."
This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Former Georgia two-sport star Zippy Morocco dead after apparent suicide."