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Former Wildcat Tommy Fanning '13 Awarded Prestigious Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy From the University of Dayton

By Eddie Dwyer, 11/08/16, 10:45AM EST

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Former Wildcats standout Tommy Fanning '13 is awarded the prestigious Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy from the University of Dayton

Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Courtesy of the University of Dayton

DAYTON, OHIO -- Tommy Fanning, a defensive back for the University of Dayton, was named the winner of the 61st presentation of the Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy at halftime of Saturday's Dayton-Valparaiso football game.

The award goes to the Flyer senior who best exemplifies the qualities of Zulli, a former UD football player who was killed in a military vehicle accident while serving in the Army in Germany shortly after his graduation in 1954.  Zulli was not a star football player at Dayton, but his qualities of sportsmanship, scholarship and leadership were so exceptional that this award was created in his memory shortly after his death.

The award is considered the most prestigious in the University of Dayton football program.

Fanning is a three-year letterwinner for the Flyers.  He has played in all nine games this season on special teams and as UD's third corner. A higlight of his career was when he ended the epic five-overtime win at Davidson with his first career interception.

An outstanding student, he is a three-time member of the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll.

Throughout his career the 2013 graduate of Cleveland Saint Ignatius High School has been an excellent teammate, and a great representative of the Flyer football program.

The late Vic Cassano, Sr. began the award in 1956.  His family has continued the support of the award, and also makes a $1,000 annual contribution to the Harry C. Baujan Scholarship Fund at UD in memory of Andy Zulli.

CONGRATULATIONS FROM THS CORNER TO TOMMY, HIS FAMILY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON AND SAINT IGNATIUS FOOTBALL PROGRAMS. IT WAS A PRIVILEGE AND  PLEASURE FOR THIS OLD-TIMER TO REPORT ON TOMMY'S CAREER AS A WILDCAT. - Mr. Eddie Dwyer