Vince Mazza
Encyclopedia
Vincent L. Mazza was an all star Canadian Football League
(CFL) player. He was a two-way player, playing offensive and defensive line, and sometimes tight end
.
Mazza did not attend college, but went directly to the pro leagues from Trott Vocational High School. He played for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
(NFL) for 6 games in 1945 and 1946. He moved to the up-start All-America Football Conference
(AAFC) in 1947, with the Buffalo Bills
. He played 3 years (1947 to 1949) there, mostly as a lineman, catching 2 passes and making one interception
, and returning a Lateral pass
for a touchdown
. He played in their 1948 championship loss to the Cleveland Browns
.
He was recruited by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the CFL, and played 5 seasons with them (1950 to 1954). He was an all star as an end from 1950 to 1952, was a double all star in 1953 (both offense and defense) and was an offensive line all star in 1954. He won both the Grey Cup
and the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy
as best player in the East in 1952.
Vince settled in Winona, Ontario
and continued in the game as the color man for CHML
radio for the Tiger-Cat games. He was often seen at the Winona High School football practices helping to develop young athletes.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL) player. He was a two-way player, playing offensive and defensive line, and sometimes tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
.
Mazza did not attend college, but went directly to the pro leagues from Trott Vocational High School. He played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for 6 games in 1945 and 1946. He moved to the up-start All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC) in 1947, with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills (AAFC)
The Buffalo Bills was an American Football team, based in Buffalo, NY, that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During its first season in 1946, the team was known as the Buffalo Bisons...
. He played 3 years (1947 to 1949) there, mostly as a lineman, catching 2 passes and making one interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
, and returning a Lateral pass
Lateral pass
In American football, a lateral pass or lateral, officially backward pass , occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to any teammate behind him or directly next to him...
for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. He played in their 1948 championship loss to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He was recruited by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the CFL, and played 5 seasons with them (1950 to 1954). He was an all star as an end from 1950 to 1952, was a double all star in 1953 (both offense and defense) and was an offensive line all star in 1954. He won both the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
and the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy
Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy
The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding player of the Quebec University Football LeagueThe trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union...
as best player in the East in 1952.
Vince settled in Winona, Ontario
Winona, Ontario
Winona is a small community in southern Ontario, that is officially a part of the city of Hamilton, Ontario.- International acclaim :Winona is home to these internationally known entities:...
and continued in the game as the color man for CHML
CHML (AM)
CHML is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 900 AM in Hamilton, Ontario. The station airs a news/talk format branded as AM 900. CHML is owned by Corus Entertainment.- History :...
radio for the Tiger-Cat games. He was often seen at the Winona High School football practices helping to develop young athletes.