Dr. Andy Kozar was one of the great fullbacks in University of Tennessee football history and helped the Vols win a national championship to boot.
But he was so much more than that.
Kozar, a link to the glorious Robert Neyland Era, died Thursday at his Knoxville home. He was 79.
Few individuals have given more to UT than Kozar, an athlete, educator, author and historian.
"Andy's record as a football player speaks for itself,'' teammate Jim Haslam said Thursday. "Even more impressive is his record as a scholar and gentleman.
"Andy knew more about Gen. Neyland than anybody else. He will be missed by everybody in the University of Tennessee family.''
Kozar's introduction to UT was on the football field, but he later enjoyed a long career as a distinguished faculty member.
A native of St. Michael, Pa., Kozar was recruited to UT in 1948 to play for Neyland. College football was his ticket away from a future in the coal mines, where his father worked but died young of lung disease.
Kozar was a three-year starter at fullback from 1950-52, during which the Vols went 29-4-1. The 1951 team won the consensus national championship.
He led the team in scoring and rushing in 1950 and 1952, excelling as a runner and blocker in Neyland's single-wing attack.
Kozar earned All-SEC honors in 1952 and was named second-team All-America, despite missing the final two games due to an injury.
"At first, they didn't know where to play him,'' said teammate Bob Davis, who reported as a freshman with Kozar in 1948. "He had played defensive end and center before moving to fullback.
"He was a good football player. He had quick feet and could hit the hole.
"There was a time in 1950 when the General made him carry a football around campus after he had fumbled a couple of times.''
Following his graduation, Kozar served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55, then played briefly for the Chicago Bears.
He decided it was time to pursue a career in education and enrolled at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master's degree and then a Ph.D.
He returned to UT in 1966 as head of the Men's Physical Education Program, then elected to move to the classroom to teach in 1974.
Kozar held the distinction of University Professor and remained part of UT's Exercise Science Department for the past 25 years.
For a period, he served as executive assistant to UT president Ed Boling.
"Andy worked hard and was dedicated to the game,'' teammate Mack Franklin said.
"He proved that all football players weren't dumb, because he went out and got his doctorate.''
Kozar, who majored in education and minored in art in his undergraduate days, had a variety of interests.
He became an authority on the sports of paddleball and racquetball.
He played a lead role in the university obtaining the collection of R. Tait McKenzie, one of the world's foremost sport sculptors and wrote a book about McKenzie.
His honors included a Silver Anniversary Award from the NCAA and election to the Greater Knoxville and state of Tennessee halls of fame. He is also in the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.
He was the author of at least eight books, including the 2002 work: "Football as a War Game - The Annotated Journals of General R.R. Neyland.''
Kozar is survived by his wife, the former Marian V. Higgs, and their three children: Mary Anne, Andrew Joseph Jr., and Amy Elizabeth.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Freelance contributor Tom Mattingly contributed to this story.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 17
vut56#231073 writes:
Anyone who reads these articles or post(s) their opinions should take the story of Andy Kozar seriously. Among many other great and worthy student-athletes, Andy is just an outstanding example of what one can do, if given an opportunity. His story should be required reading for every schlorship athlete entering UT. Forget the pros, forget bling and fame, forget wasting time until sports are over. Every young person so gifted should strive to achieve what Kozar did: become sucessful in life as well as sports.
A pipe dream, perhaps, but AK cast a large shadow. We will not soon see his like, again.
PopsinCapetownSA writes:
VUT56 that was a great comment you wrote. Just arriving at work here in Capetown south africa.
BuddyWalker (Inactive) writes:
"Kozar was 'scholar and gentleman'"
I'm Ron Burgundy?
littlec195360#215853 writes:
Actually he wasn't that big. I have talked to him in person some years back. However, I have seen film where he seemed to take the entire defensive line across the goalline with him. He is truly a person to be proud of; one of our finest heroes.
volahoma writes:
Dr. K helped me graduate in 1974. There was a glitch in my senior standing report and I needed 3 hours more. He personally gave me a 3 hour self study course - one on one. I will never forget it. I earned an "A", by the way. Dr K., rest in peace.
AlpharettaVol writes:
I had the privilege of meeting Andy Kozar and spending several minutes talking with him a few years ago at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Georgia. He was everything that you would want in a real scholar-athlete who excelled in a time when that term really meant something. Not only is it a huge loss for the university community, he was the sort of man that enriched the lives of all those who came in contact with him.
Down_The_Field writes:
rest in peace, doc.
TommyJack writes:
No, I would say you're an A-hole.
VOLinATL writes:
Hear! Hear!
richvol writes:
I had one of Kozar's classes at UT when I was in school at UT and he was still a legend then. All the students knew who he was and,although well educated,had played on the national championship team. He showed an interest in every student that he came in contact with.
RichmondKyVol writes:
I heard Dr. Kozar speak back in the late 1970s to the alumni chapter in Crossville about McKenzie. Mr. Haslam is correct. In addition to being one of UT's greatest athletes, he was indeed a scholar and a gentleman. He's another reason why it's great to be a Tennessee Volunteer.
wmcdougle#572463 writes:
I took Athletic Administration from Dr. Kozar and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had as a student at UT. He will be missed but never forgoten.
tnbigg writes:
Very well put. Dr. Kozar was a great man. I had the pleasure of playing many, many hours of paddleball with him. He was also a real gentleman and fun to be around. He will be dearly missed. For any other old timer paddleball players, once the paddleball of the day became more than scarce (Penn). In fact it was nowhere to be found. Dr. Kozar was thrilled when I found a case down in Daytona Beach and brought them back. Many, many great memories of him. God Bless him and his family. May his football glory and his honorable name live on forever.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
was a 'scholar and gentleman' because he didn't play for the bear.
theoldbear writes:
Dr. Kozar, as I called him, came to the Univeristy of Tennessee while I was a student there. He and Sam Venable, Sr. were two of the finest men it was ever my privilege to know.
I played junior high football under Bill Addonizzio, who was a reserve on the 1951 team. He used to talk about Andy Kozar, Doug Atkins, and the other greats of that era.
Some have given the 1967 team recognition as a National Championship team. To do so cheapens the 1951 consensus national championship.
I was there, as a senior, in 1967, and none of us who saw that team lose in a bowl game would have called it a national championship team.
fieldimagery writes:
I spent 10 years working at the University. Dr. Kozar and I crossed paths many times. I always found him to be a gentleman, but more importantly I am glad I could call him a friend. Sometimes we would sit and talk stories of days of old, and what was going on at the University then. He loved Tennessee and wanted to do what was best for the institution. We would talk about families and ideas. He was a great mentor for someone 30 years younger than he. I will miss him, but I will always be thankful for his insight and support. What a great friend to have in Dr. Kozar. God bless him and his family.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
ANDY kOZAR WAS A GREAT vOLUNTEER. JUST READ WHERE THE LAST VOL ON THE GREAT vOL TEAM THAT WAS THE LAST COLLEGE TEAM TO GO UNDEFEATED,UNTIED AN D UNSCORED UPON HAS PASSED ON. dICK mULLOY DIED MAY9TH AT THE AGE OF 89. hE WAS THE LAST OF THE GREAT VOL TEAM MEMBERS THAT BECAME LEGENDARY DURING bOB NEYLAND'S AND VOLS' GOLDEN YEARS. SO LONG DICK AND GOD BLESS YOU.
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