Dan Ficca

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 18, 2023
• Comments off

INDUCTEE

Dan Ficca, already inducted in the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame; and a1976 Inductee in one of our sisters chapters, The Jerry Wolman Chapter, is along overdue addition to our local Hall of Fame. But that’s all right; because more than one “chapter” is needed to chronicle all of his sports accomplishments.

He was a consensus all-state first team lineman as both a junior and senior at Mount Carmel. Parade Magazine named him to their First Team All America and called him and Bob Lilly, the great Dallas Cowboy all-pro, the nation’s two best college prospects. He was also a first team all America selection of the Wigwan Club; capped his great career by being named to the first Big 33 Team.

As a high school trackman he was that State Champion in the Discus and a fourth place finisher in the Shot Put. His best Shot Put of 57’5” was among the country’s best. Competing in both spring sports at Mount Carmel, he found time to hit .585 and lead his team to the District IV baseball playoffs as a senior.

Dan headed west to Southern Cal University to continue his outstanding career. The “Trojans” were putting a monster team together, aided by a brash young recruiter/talent scout named Al Davis, now owner of the Oakland Raiders. His teammates included 12 future pros…names like Ron Mix, Monte Clark, Jo Arnett and the McKeever Twins. None shone brighter than Dan Ficca. He started as a sophomore, playing more minutes than any previous sophomore ever, he was Honorable Mention All American in 1959 and first team All American in 1960. Dan also competed for the Trojan Track Team. Under famed coach Brutus Hamilton, did well enough to be invited to tryout for the 1960 Olympic team as A Discus Thrower.

After graduation, Dan was drafted by the NFL Eagles and the AFL San Diego Chargers. He signed with the Chargers but delayed his pro career until 1962 while he finished college. He was traded off season to the Oakland Raiders and then to the New York Jets in 1963. He became and AFL All-Pro in 1964 as part of what many consider the finest offensive line in Jets history. Some Jets teammates at that time were Joe Namath, Don Marnard, George Sauer, Matt Snell and Sam Deluca.

Dan is currently president of the Ed Romance Chapter and one of the Regional Vice Presidents of the State Sports Hall of Fame.