Spartifacts

JOHN FUZAK: Today marks the 101st anniversary of the birth of a stalwart of Michigan State University’s athletics history. John Fuzak, better known around the East Lansing campus as “Jack,”served as an MSU faculty member for 31 years from 1948-79, including 20 years as the Spartans’ faculty athletics representative. He became deeply involved with the workings of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, acting as chairman of the Committee on Academic Requirements for five years. Fuzak then became a member of the NCAA’s Long Range Planning Committee and NCAA Council from 1970-79, spending two years as NCAA President. Among the most critical issues during that period focused upon cutting costs. Measures were taken to limit coaching staffs, traveling squads and off-campus visits by prospects. The ‘70s also were marked by Title IX and the sponsoring of women’s sports. In 1980, Fuzak became associate commissioner of the Athletic Coast Conference and he served as the ACC’s interim commissioner for a short time in 1987. As an undergraduate, he was a three-sport letterman as the University of Illinois, participating in football, basketball and baseball. His ’34 Illini ‘9’ won the Big Ten Championship. Fuzak was inducted into MSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and died on June 2, 2007, at the age of 93.

SPARTAN BIRTHDAYS

Sunday: Larry Rettenmund, baseball (66) & Zdravko Rom, soccer (60)

Monday: Maggie Halloran, volleyball (22) & Kevin Rice, lacrosse (50)

Tuesday: Dave Wolff, football (51) & Barry Fordham (50)

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