Dayton Flyers

Jared Phillips, a senior quarterback and punter for the University of Dayton, was named the winner of the 56th presentation of the Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy at halftime of Saturday's Dayton-San Diego 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.  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.
 
Phillips is a four-year letterwinner and for the Flyers.  The story for the 2008 graduate of Alpena (Michigan) High School is a little unusual.  Most Dayton football players have to wait to their turn to see the field.  But due to injuries he was able to contribute as a freshman as a punter, and as a quarterback as a sophomore.
 
But then he was injured himself and his role changed again, to that of a dependable backup, more valuable because of his versatility to be an “insurance policy” at two positions.  Some players would turn this change in fortune into disappointment, but Phillips’ dedication to the Flyer football program never wavered.
 
Always in the mix for time at those positions, he not only was a solid backup, he pushed his teammates to become better performers.  It’s likely that no other Flyer does more to push his fellow student-athletes to be better than Jared Phillips.
 
Not only does he serve that role as a senior backup and mentor on the football team, but as an Exercise Science major, he also serves as a strength and conditioning coordinator for three UD teams.  He is the primary contact with the UD women’s rowing team, and also assists with the Dayton tennis teams and the football team’s freshmen.
 
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.
 
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