Hall of Fame
Leaving an indelible mark as one of the more aggressive and versatile players in Vulcan football history was Greg Zigray, who played from 1972 through 1975 under head coach Elmo Natali.
Originally from Charleroi, and a 1971 graduate of Charleroi Area High School, Zigray was a three-year letterman in football, basketball, and track and field. He played scholastic football under legendary coach Rab Currie, a member of the Mid-Mon Valley Athletic Hall of Fame.
A Vulcan co-captain, Zigray played every offensive and defensive line position, as well as middle and outside linebacker positions, and occasionally even handled the kicking duties.
The consummate team player and one of the last true “60-minute men” in football, Zigray started on both offense and defense each of his final two years. His effective and flexible play hardly went unnoticed, as he was a three-time all-conference and all-district selection. Besides those honors, Zigray was named All-State and to the first-team Western All-Star team following his senior season. He also played alongside his brother, Jeff Zigray, who was a standout linebacker that earned his undergraduate degree from Cal U in 1979.
“I always liked hitting people,” said Zigray. “When I was asked to play offense as well I never really gave it a second thought. Back when I played you just did whatever you could to help the team. You went out there and did it. It was obviously tiring and draining but a great experience.”
Zigray is the only former football player in this year’s seven-member induction class.
“This is quite an honor, something that happens once in a lifetime,” Zigray said. “I am very proud to be selected for the Hall of Fame. This is as good as it gets.”
Zigray, who credited Elmo Natali for saving the football program from becoming a club sport in the tight budgeted 1970s, also played with Cal U Hall of Fame inductees Alan Natali, Gary Michaux, and Dave Robey. Elmo Natali, longtime Cal administrator, teacher, and coach, was inducted into Cal U’s initial 1995 Hall of Fame Class. Several other of many noteworthy players that were teammates of Zigray included Mike Butler, Robert Marasti, Tim Susick (Cal U Dean), Derrick Jones, Don L. Mathews, and Gary Tretter. Aided by Zigray’s powerful play and willingness to also play offense and defense, Michaux rushed for 199 yards against Indiana in 1975. At the time, this was the second-highest single-game rushing total in school history.
Zigray looks back on his collegiate playing era as a special one. The Vulcans did not win any NCAA national championships but, more importantly, improved and matured as citizens.
“The hairs raise up on my back when someone mentions that we did not have great win-loss records,” Zigray said. “Back then Elmo Natali really saved the football program. No one wanted to be the head coach and, the program was in real jeopardy. But he took the job while also being the college’s Dean of Men. You talk about two high-pressure jobs. We may not have won as much as we would have liked, but Mr. Natali saved the program from becoming a club sport, which would have killed it. He taught us how to study and work hard. He was and is a great man.”
Not only did Zigray play alongside the younger Natali, the two became close friends, as is so often the case of the camaraderie that results from athletic competition.
“Meeting both of the Natali’s was pretty powerful for me,” said Zigray. “When you first come to any college you do not know anyone and you feel lonely and like a stranger. But Alan took me on right away and was like a brother to me. We lived in a garage-apartment with Trettor at the Sig Tau fraternity. There are so many memories.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in education from Cal U in 1975, Zigray moved on to professional football, initially playing for the Pittsburgh Wolfpack semi-pro team. Zigray played alongside the late former Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Joe Gilliam. Zigray, who was selected as an all-conference guard helped the Wolfpack win a national championship.
Always possessing a strong work ethic, Zigray earned his M.Ed. from Cal U in 1979 and later his MBA from Robert Morris University in 1987.
He concluded his professional playing career by becoming a free agent with the National Football League’s Washington Redskins along with Michaux. Zigray, who considered his time with the storied Redskins the highlight of his playing career, was inducted into Charleroi’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
Zigray regularly returns to Cal U for annual Football Alumni Weekend and intrasquad scrimmage against current varsity. Receiving the university’s highest athletic honor gives yet another reunion or homecoming.
“There should be over 100 guys coming to the banquet and a lot of Charleroi athletes,” said Zigray. “They are all part of this, and I can’t really begin to describe how much this means to me. It’s really special.”
Though he went on to play professional football, being a Vulcan football player in the 1970s is still an experience that Zigray looks back upon with considerable pride.
“That was a special time with a lot of special people,” said Zigray. “I believe we helped the football program survive during a difficult period. We won some games but thanks to Elmo Natali we became better people.”
The son of Frances and the late Joseph Zigray, Greg now resides in Pittsburgh. He currently dates Soffer Corporation vice president Patti Dittman, who has a son named Chuck.
Zigray proudly holds the position of business manager for St. Paul Cathedral, where he works under the guidance of Reverend Paul J. Bradley, who received the prestigious Serran’s Good Shepherd Award. St. Paul Cathedral is the flagship Church for the Pittsburgh Roman Catholic Diocese.
“Everyday, my education most definitely helps me with work or everyday life,” Zigray said. “Elmo Natali made sure that we all graduated and it has paid off.”
