September 29, 1932- Paul Giel played halfback at the University of Minnesota from 1951 through the 1953 seasons.
The National Football Foundation voted Paul Giel into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
The Minnesota teams that Giel played on were average at best, posting a losing record overall in the three seasons Paul was on the squad. Paul Giel was a bright spot on the team, though, as according to the NFF website, his career totals were 2,188 yards rushing, complemented by an additional 1,922 yards passing.
Giel started in the Golden Gophers’ single-wing offense at the blocking quarterback position but was eventually moved to play at the left halfback spot, where his running and passing skill sets could be utilized. One of the highlights of Paul’s collegiate career came in his senior season against the heavily favored Michigan Wolverines. The Gophers pulled off a massive upset powered by Giel’s two rushing touchdowns and an additional score attributed to Paul’s arm, resulting in a 22-0 blanking of Michigan. That season, Giel was voted as the AP Back of the Year, the UP Player of the Year, and won Minnesota’s Big 10 Award for being the top athlete in academics. He eventually became the Athletic Director of the University of Minnesota from 1971 to 1989.
