Chris Morocco
Chris Morocco, Sr. (American Football)
Contents
Early Years
Chris Morocco, Sr. (American Football) was born in Athens, Georgia in 1966. He is a son of the legendary University of Georgia two-sport athlete Zippy Morocco[1] and his wife, former nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, Fran Morocco. Chris began his early sports career at the local YMCA and later played high school football at Clarke Central High School in Athens[2] under legendary coach Billy Henderson. He was an all-state quarterback and was honored by the Macon Touchdown Club to the 1985 Super Seven – the best performers on the gridiron in the state of Georgia.
Morocco played with other notable Clarke Central (and later NFL) players, including defensive end and former University of Tennessee defensive line coach Chuck Smith (Atlanta Falcons, Carolina), kicker John Kasay (Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints), and wide receiver Willie Green (Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos).
College Football Career
Morocco played American football at Clemson University from 1985 to 1989. He was the quarterback for the Clemson TIgers in 1989[3], when the team went 10–2, and won the Gator Bowl Championship in Jacksonville, FL beating West Virginia. Morocco was Offensive MVP of the 1989 team and named South Carolina College Football Player of the Year by the Columbia Touchdown Club in 1989.
Baseball Career
Morocco also played baseball and was drafted by the Montreal Expos [4]in 1985 but chose to attend Clemson and play football where he lettered all four years. Morocco grew up in Athens, Ga where he played both football and baseball for the Clarke Central Gladiators. He was inducted into the Athens Hall[5] of Fame in 2004.
Clemson University Awards and Achievements
Morocco received the following awards during his playing career at Clemson University.
• 11-2 career record as Starter & Gator Bowl Champions[6]
• 1989 Rupert H Fike Award - Clemson Outstanding Athlete
• 1989 South Carolina Football Player of the Year
• 1989 Team Offense MVP - Hamilton Family Award
• CBS Chevrolet MVP of 1989 University of Virginia Game
He also is listed in the Top 10 among Clemson QB’s in the following categories: Interception Avoidance, Passing Yards Per Attempt, Completion Percentage and Passing Efficiency.
Business Career and Personal Life
Morocco is a native of Athens, GA and has resided in resided in Atlanta, Ga since 1990 where he has been a successful entrepreneur developing and leading companies in franchising, healthcare software and internet services technology space. He and his wife Page, of 29 years have two daughters, Blythe Holliday Morocco (26), Sloane Morocco (23) and son, Christopher Morocco (19).
References
- ↑ Associated press, NCAAM. "Anthony 'Zippy' Morocco, 1953 Georgia All-American, who died at 86". https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15357055/former-georgia-2-sport-star-zippy-morocco-dead-86.
- ↑ 2003, Inductees. "ATHENS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME". ATHENS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME. https://athenshalloffame.com/2003/.
- ↑ Team, Stat. "1989 Clemson Tigers Stats". https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/1989.html.
- ↑ Morocco, Morocco. "Chris Morocco". BaseBall References. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=morocc000chr.
- ↑ online, athens. "Henderson's lessons reached across city and state lines". https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2018/02/17/hendersons-lessons-reached-across-city-and-state-lines/14473961007/.
- ↑ Democracy Dies, In Darkness. "CLEMSON TAKES CHARGE IN GATOR BOWL". https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/01/01/clemson-takes-charge-in-gator-bowl/28e13702-da5a-4073-b032-13c63538dc40/.