Don Zwisler (1981) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Don Zwisler

Induction:
1981
Class:
1971

1966-1968
Football
Quarterback
‘71
“Players like Don come along once in a great while.” Praised by Gordon Larson om remarks about his senior quarterback Don Zwisler in 1968. UA sports fans have to think long and hard in attempting to recall a more potent quarterback than the one who directed the Zips from 1966 through 1968. Zwisler’s statistics bare him out! The 5-11, 175-pound Zwisler began his career in football at UA in 1965—lettering as a punter. During his sophomore season, the Zips’ regular quarterback, Mike Martin quit the team and Don with less than five minutes of varsity action at quarterback, stepped in and guided UA to five wins in the last six games. His consistent performance also earned him the starting assignments in 1967 and 1968. It was the 1968 season that Zwisler, a triple-threat performer, excelled. The 1968 team while compiling a 7-2-1 season and a spot in the school’s first Bowl Game (Grantland Rice), bombarded the UA record books—rewriting 44 standards and tying four others. Zwisler was personally responsible for breaking 17 of those marks—11 that still stand in 1982. All Zwisler did was complete 135 of 244 pass attempts for 2012 yards in 10 games—all current records. He accounted for 325 yards total offense against Baldwin Wallace and passed for 312 yards against completions of 501 passes for 3,297 yards. In addition, Zwisler’s four-year average for punting was 37.4 yards, which was broken in 1980 by Andy Graham. Zwisler’s 1968 effort did not go unrewarded. Besides earning the Fred Sefton Award for outstanding offensive performance and Harry “Doc” Smith Award as the outstanding senior, Zwisler was named honorable mention Little All-American by the Associated Press. After earning a letter in track in the Spring. Zwisler’s 1968-69 year was capped off by being named UA’s Athlete of the Year. Don is currently in his 11th year of teaching health and physical education, the last six at Akon Hoban High School. He and his wife, Georgene, have two sons Don and Dan and they reside in Akron.