When the cry Zuke! Zuke! Zuke! reverberates throughout the stands of the Hoover stadium during the 2012 football season the echoes one hears could well be the echoes of decades past. As John P. Zucal #13 takes the field as a co-captain for the Hoover Vikings this football season he will be continuing a Zucal family tradition going back three decades. His father John A. Zucal was also a Hoover Viking football co-captain in 1982. John’s uncles, Jim and Jeff Zucal also played football for the Hoover Vikings in the 1980’s. John, was named co-captain for the 2012 football season along with Dave Johnson, # 78; Sam Woods #22; Joe Howard #37.

When you hear the cries of Zuke! During the 2012 football season check your program because there are two Zucals who will be giving their all for the Vikings in 2012. While John is a senior playing in his final season after being a three year letterman the Zucal tradition will carry on; his brother Bret, # 26 is a sophomore and will be following in the spike marks of his brother, father, and uncles next season.

The Zucal football tradition isn’t limited to the boys who have battled in the trenches for the Vikings over the past decades. John’s grandparents, John E. and Mary Ann Zucal have been a fixture at the Hoover football games, both at home and away for close to forty years.

Good luck Vikings!

Oh, GO ZUKE!