University of Minnesota Athletics
Paul Giel - M Club Hall of Fame
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Football, 1951-53
Baseball, 1952-54
HOF Class of 1991
Paul Giel was a true two-sport star.
On the gridiron, he rushed for 2,188 yards, caught 281 passes, posted 417 return yards on punts and kicks, collected 3,165 career all-purpose yards and scored 22 touchdowns.
In 1953, Giel was named College Football Player of the Year. He was runner-up to Notre Dame's Johnny Lattner in Heisman Trophy voting, in what remains the closest ballot count ever. Awarded the 1954 Big Ten Medal of Honor, Giel was also a two-time All-American and the first two-time Big Ten MVP.
As a baseball pitcher, Giel earned 21 wins and was still ranked second, more than a half century later for the most Minnesota career strikeouts, 243.
Giel played Major League Baseball for six seasons, and later served as Minnesota's Director of Men's Intercollegiate Athletics. The Gopher football award named for him is given to the student-athlete who exemplifies unselfishness and concern about the U of M, on and off the field.
Giel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.