Maiden Mustang
Muzika recalls playing days at North Union/Laurel Highlands
If “Jeopardy” ever had a category related to Fayette County sports, a stumper on the legendary game show could be: “He was the last quarterback at North Union High School and the first at Laurel Highlands.”
The answer, technically the question if you follow the rules of the game, would be, “Who is Ted Muzika?”
Muzika spent his sophomore season at North Union before the school merged with South Union to form Laurel Highlands. Muzika was the Mustangs’ signal caller in the 1967 and ’68 seasons.
“I played three years of high school football, and I played the first two games of my sophomore year at defensive back, but our quarterback got hurt in a game against Somerset and I finished the game,” Muzika said. “I played the rest of that year at quarterback for North Union.”
In an era when throwing the football was usually done in crucial situations, Muzika passed for more than 1,500 yards in his two years at Laurel Highlands. He also rushed for 1,000 yards in 1968.
Muzika was second in passing yards and touchdowns, and third in total offense for the Mustangs until 1978.
“I’m sure all those marks are gone now because we only passed when it was absolutely necessary,” Muzika said. “It was kind of a tough jointure when Laurel Highlands opened. I don’t think we were ready for it. We played our home football games at North Union and our baseball games at South Union.”
Until the current Laurel Highlands campus was completed in 1972, students that lived in North Union would attend school at the North Union campus, while students who resided in South Union would head to the South Union building despite being students at Laurel Highlands High School.
“If you didn’t play sports or were in the band, you didn’t know anybody from South Union,” Muzika said. “I had graduated by the time they moved into the new building.”
Muzika was named to the Big 9 and Mon Valley All-Star teams, and was all-conference in football. He made the Big 33 checklist twice, which was a nomination for players who had the potential of playing in the Big 33 Classic.
Fred Botti was the head football coach at Laurel Highlands. Tamer Joseph and Bill Elias were also on staff.
Muzika played one baseball for one year at North Union and two at Laurel Highlands. He had the intention of playing shortstop, but he realized early only his destiny was to play another position.
“I started playing baseball in the church leagues growing up and I thought I was the worldĢƵ best shortstop,” Muzika said. “It turned out we had a better one on our high school team, so I played center field. I played legion baseball for Connellsville. They always had good ball players.”
Tom Croftcheck was the coach at North Union and Ron Fudala handled the duties at Laurel Highlands.
“I had some very good coaches in baseball and football,” Muzika said. “They were gentlemen and students of the game.”
Muzika received over 75 letters from small colleges to play football from all over the country, but Maryland was the only Division I school that showed much interest.
“Maryland wanted me to go to Greenbrier Military Academy for a year to get bigger,” Muzika said. “I was 5-8 and 140 pounds, so I knew I wasn’t going to get to where they wanted me, size wise, so I passed on them. The Coast Guard Academy was interested in me, but I had no desire to go to the Coast Guard, so I decided to attend Cal U (PennWest California).”
Muzika was on the freshman team at California, which was required at the time due to NCAA rules, but was 15 of 15 for 270 yards and a touchdown in a game against Slippery Rock.
“We had two quarterbacks and alternated,” Muzika said. “Even though I was 15 of 15 for 270 yards, I didn’t make the headlines because we had a fullback who scored three one-yard touchdown runs.”
Muzika wasn’t able to complete college because he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Reserves before joining the work force and focusing on his family.
“I had already missed time and didn’t go back to college,” Muzika said. “I was able to get a job and I have no complaints at all. You can’t change the past.”
Muzika was close to getting his chance to play for the Terrapins prior to making his final decision to move on with his life, but a situation out of his control abruptly halted the opportunity.
“When I came back from boot camp, I had a cousin that took me back to the University of Maryland, and he taught down there, to talk to the coach,” Muzika said. “I did get bigger from boot camp, and the coach told me he was going to send paperwork regarding the school and team, but the coach got fired not long after our meeting.”
Muzika has stayed active in sports, as he coached his sons, Teddy, Adam and Nate in baseball and football, and was an Amateur Softball Association (ASA) umpire. He started an umpiring organization with Jerry Anderson and Mike Miskanin that had 65 umpires.
“I would like to think I was a pretty good umpire,” Muzika said. “I got to meet a lot of different people and make a lot of friends.
“I don’t think too many people realize that Fayette County had some outstanding menĢƵ slowpitch softball teams. Buck Grover had the Uniontown team and took us to tournaments all over the place. PolitoĢƵ Tavern won several national tournaments, and our Catholic War Veterans team won the over-35 state championship in 1995. A current umpire, Joe Volpe, was on that team.”
Muzika is the financial officer for the Catholic War Veterans Post in Hopwood. The organization is active in the community and sponsors baseball teams at Oliver and Hutchinson.
“My dad was the state commander for quite a while, and my mom was a national commander,” Muzika said. “I would like to thank WMBS for filming our scholarship program. Richie Franks is a really nice guy and does a great job with the Uniontown Senior Legion baseball team. They also have a Junior Legion, which is great for the kids.”
Muzika and his wife, Karen, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. All his sons were active in sports, and Adam played football at Brown University.
Although he was a rival during his playing days, Ted Muzika has always admired former Uniontown football coach John Fortugna, who guided his sons when they played for the Red Raiders.
“I don’t think people realize everything that John (Fortugna) did for the kids and the school at Uniontown,” Muzika said. “John was a great athlete, but he is a better person.”
MuzikaĢƵ brothers, Frank, George, Ed, John and Bill all played football. Ed played at Potomac State and was all-conference. Bill and John were also named to the all-conference team.
“I come from an athletic family, and that extends to my children and grandchildren,” Ted Muzika said. “I couldn’t have done it without my wife and my family. Teddy coaches the 12-and-under Fayette Fury AAU baseball team.”