Remember The Titans

Former Shaler High School Athletes Excelling at UB

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo has elevated its athletic program by leaps and bounds in the last few years thanks to the many great student-athletes who are recruited each year. UB has traditionally found its largest recruiting base in the Western New York area, as well as having a large number of in-state students. Yet, as the Bulls continue to grow as an athletic program, more and more out of state students are being recruited to Buffalo and continuing to strengthen the school's reputation as a great regional University. Nonetheless, what are the odds that four student-athletes from the same high school in Pittsburgh, PA would attend Buffalo, and all become vital members to their respective sports?

Just ask the quartet from Shaler High School, Chris Shelly, Bob Dzvonick and Erik Zeppuhar of the UB football team, and Bill Norberg of the soccer team. Chris Shelly, the oldest of the four, graduated from Shaler in 1997. Dzvonick and Norberg graduated in 1998, and Zeppuhar finished his Shaler career in 2000.

Chris Shelly

Shelly, who was named MVP for the Titans his senior year, was a perennial Western Pennsylvania All-Conference selection, as well as a three-year captain. He came to UB while the Bulls where in Division I-AA, and was redshirted his freshman year. In 1998, he started all 11 games for the Bulls at linebacker, and quickly became one of UB's most dominating defensive players. "The kid has a motor that just won't quit," says Dzvonick, who ironically was Shelly's backup at Shaler, before moving to nose guard.

Shelly has returned to the position he played at Shaler, defensive end, as a senior and he and Dzvonick are cornerstones of the much-improved UB defense. Through three games, the UB defense was third in the Mid-American Conference in total defense and first in pass defense. Shelly ranks among UB's career leaders in forced fumbles (5) and tackles for loss (19).

Shelly was a major factor in Dzvonick's decision to attend UB. "I came up here and Chris took me around and showed me a good time," said Dzvonick. "From there it was an easy decision."

Bob Dzvonick

Dzvonick has made a name for himself as one of the Bulls' best run stoppers. Dzvonick, who has started 30 games in his UB career, is often double and even triple-teamed at times and has been one of the Bulls' unsung heroes throughout his stellar career. At Shaler, he was selected to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 team as a senior.

The charismatic Dzvonick was named one of the Bulls' captains for the 2001 season, as he is one of the most respected and hardest-working players around. "Bob has really blossomed as a football player," said Shelly.

Erik Zeppuhar

The third and youngest of the Shaler gridiron Titans is redshirt freshman Erik Zeppuhar, who led Shaler to a Quad A North Championship title as a junior. Erik knew that Buffalo was the University for him the second he stepped foot on campus. "I came to the school, loved the University, and I cancelled the rest of my visits," said the 6-4, 264 pound offensive lineman. "When you already know two guys on the team, it helps the whole process," he added.

Zeppuhar is one of two redshirt freshmen starting on the UB offensive line, a testament to the talent he possesses and his bright future with the Bulls.

Bill Norberg

Bill Norberg, a senior midfielder for the Bulls' soccer team, captained coach Erik Kaiser's Titans as a senior. Norberg helped lead that team to a 20-2 record. He was awarded a slew of individual accolades while at Shaler, including being named a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Star, All-Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic All-League, and one of the "Finest 15 in Section 3 AAA."

Norberg has been one of UB's top scorers in the early-going of the 2001 season, helping the Bulls to a 3-3-1 mark and scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Central Connecticut State.

Norberg, as well as the other Shaler boys, still reflect on their high school memories - experiences such as the thousands of fans who would regularly attend football, soccer, and basketball games, the camaraderie between all the athletes in the school, and of course doing what they do best on their respective playing fields.

"All the athletes went to every game," said Dzvonick. "We all tried to push each other."

Shelly remembers the Shaler Homecoming games, a huge event in their highly-spirited community. "Thousands of people would fill the stadium, even more would be standing along the fences, roads were blocked, and we even had halftime shows," said Shelly. "It felt like I was playing D-1 ball while still at Shaler."

And that's not the only reason why the Titans thought they were already playing college-caliber ball. The Shaler football trio said that adapting to college ball right out of high school was a testament to their coach, Frank Rocco and the Titan coaching staff.

"Our head coach was from Penn State, so he trained us as a college program," said Shelly. " It helped us make the transition from high school to college."

The Shaler Boys have helped start something at UB. As the Bulls' athletic program continues to grow, these four student-athletes can say that they helped lay the groundwork for what will become a very reputable power in college sports. "We are helping UB make the transition to a big-time sports school," said Norberg.

Nobody agrees more with Norberg than Chris Shelly. "Mark my words, in 10 years Buffalo, as a total University, will be mentioned in the same breath as the Penn States, Michigans, and Ohio States," he stated.

For Chris Shelly, Bob Dzvonick and Bill Norberg, this fall is their final season of collegiate sports. After graduating in June, Chris Shelly has aspirations of attending graduate school and getting a degree in education so he can be an elementary school teacher. Bob Dzvonick, who is a theatre major, has plans of being an actor. Bill Norberg will attend law school.

Erik Zeppuhar, who has three years of eligibility left after this season, is a business major.

UB is ready to break out to gain national recognition in all sports. With the school recruiting the way it is now, this program is going to be one to be reckoned with. Athletes are going to want to attend UB thanks to young men like the Shaler quartet. Bob Dzvonick summed up UB the best. "I love this place," he shouted. "How can you not?"

The dream that began with UB's inception in the Mid-American Conference is gaining strength. And with student-athletes like the boys from Shaler, this dream could become a reality a lot sooner than many people think.

- Written by Jason Sarney, UB Athletic Communications Student Intern

09/28/2001