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Leo Draveling

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Leo Draveling
Date of birthJune 23, 1907
Place of birthPort Huron, Michigan
Date of deathJuly 2, 1955(1955-07-02) (aged 48)
Career information
Position(s)End, Tackle
US collegeMichigan
Career history
As player
1928–1930Michigan Wolverines
1933Cincinnati Reds
Career stats

Leo Frank "Firpo" Draveling[1] (born June 23, 1907 – July 2, 1955)[2] was an American football player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1928–1930 and for the Cincinnati Reds of the NFL in 1933.

Early years

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Draveling was born in Port Huron, Michigan in 1907. In 1925, he played on the Port Huron High School football team that was "undefeated and unscored upon."[3]

University of Michigan

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Draveling enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1927 and played football for the Wolverines football teams of 1928, 1929 and 1930. As a sophomore in 1928, Draveling started seven games as Michigan's right end.[4] Draveling played a key role in the 1928 Michigan-Ohio State game. He put the Wolverines in the lead 7-6 when he recovered a loose ball in the end zone. An Ohio State player allowed a punt to roll past him thinking it would reach the end zone for a touchback. The Ohio State player was blocked into the ball, and Draveling gained possession long enough for the officials to rule that he had scored a touchdown.[5]

In 1929, Draveling started eight games (seven at right end) for the Wolverines.[6] A newspaper feature story on the 1929 Wolverines said the following about Michigan's ends:

"One may search a long time before finding a pair of wingmen to match the ability of Captain Joe Truskowski of Detroit and Leo Draveling. They are six feet tall, weigh 200 pounds each, and play a smart game at the flanks. Each is a master at snagging passes. Truskowski also is a commendable ball-carrier, while Draveling is one of the team's best punters."[7]

As a senior in 1930, Michigan's coach Harry Kipke moved Draveling to the right tackle position.[8] Draveling was six feet, two inches tall, weighed 208 pounds at the start of the 1930 football season and was "looked upon as a likely all-American."[9] Due to injuries, Draveling started only four games for the undefeated (8-0-1) 1930 Michigan team that tied for the Big Ten Conference championship.[8] Despite limited playing time, Draveling was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by sports writer Hank Casserly,[10] and as a third-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press.[11]

Draveling also competed for Michigan as a collegiate wrestler in the heavyweight class. He participated in the second NCAA wrestling championship held at Columbus, Ohio in March 1929.[12] Draveling finished in top four in his weight class, losing a semi-final match to Fairall, Ohio State's best wrestler, in 8 minutes, 45 seconds.[13]

Professional football and later years

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After graduating from Michigan, Draveling played one year of professional football for the Cincinnati Reds; he played in nine NFL games for the Reds as a tackle.[14]

Draveling died in July 1955 at age 48.[15] In 2003, he was posthumously inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Leo Draveling profile". databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  2. ^ Bentley Historical Library Necrology File.
  3. ^ a b Rick Jakacki (July 22, 2003). "'03 class covers major sports". The Times Herald (Port Huron, MI).
  4. ^ "1928 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  5. ^ Jack Park, The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia, p. 113
  6. ^ "1929 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  7. ^ "Kipke Grooms Strong Team At Michigan U.". Olean Times. October 18, 1929.
  8. ^ a b "1930 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  9. ^ "Michigan To Judge Team By Purdue Game". The Vidette-Messenger. September 24, 1930.
  10. ^ "Two Badgers on Casserly's Team: HERE IS AN ALL CONFERENCE TEAM WITHOUT A PEER!". The Capital Times. November 30, 1930.
  11. ^ "United Press All-Big Ten Selections". Oelwein Daily Register. November 24, 1930.
  12. ^ "2nd NCAA Wrestling Tournament" (PDF). wrestlingstats.com.
  13. ^ "BUCKEYE BRIEFS IN CONCISE FORM FROM OVER STATE: Twenty-Five Wrestlers for Finals in National Event at Ohio University". The Van Wert Daily Bulletin (INS wire service story). March 30, 1929.
  14. ^ "Leo Draveling profile". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  15. ^ "Social Security Death Index". rootsweb.com.