Paul Elzey
|
|
|
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Paul Elzey (Paul Vincent Elzey) was born on May 13, 1946 in Toledo, Ohio.
HIGH SCHOOL - Starred in football as a running back and linebacker and in wrestling in high school at St. Francis de Sales (Toledo, OH). Ohio High School State Heavyweight Wrestling Champion in 1964. Elected to the St. Francis de Sales Hall of Fame in 1990.
COLLEGE - Elzey attended the University of Toledo. He was a key contributor as a running back and linebacker in the Rockets first Mid American Conference Championship team in 1967. Named Sports Illustrated Collegiate Defensive Player of the Week, recording 18 tackles and setting up two scores with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery in a 35-9 win over Western Michigan (SI Oct. 30, 1967 issue). The offensive player of the week was O.J. Simpson.
MAC Wrestling Champion in the 191 lb. weight class in both 1966 and 1968. Qualified for the NCAA National Wrestling Championships in 1966, 1967 and 1968 but did not place.
He was elected to Toledo's "Varsity T" Hall of Fame in 1986.
PRO - Was a 5th round draft choice (126st overall) of the Baltimore Colts in 1968. Released during the season, he made his professional debut in the AFL in 1968 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals for his entire 1 year career.
OTHER DISTICTIONS - Returned to his hometown of Toledo, where he continued to contribute to the sports programs of St. Francis de Sales and the University of Toledo. Was a training partner for Greg Wojciechowski (U. Toledo), the 1971 NCAA Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and runner-up in 1970 and 1972. Wojciechowski was runner-up at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Trials and finally the US Champion in 1980, making the Olympic team, which unfortunately boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Greg contributed his success to his coaches "and U.T. training partners Don Wyper and the late Paul Elzey." (What Happened to Wojo" Wrestling Pod May 23, 2005).
Paul Elzey died in a car crash September 29, 1989. An endowed scholarship was established in his name, the Paul Elzey Memorial Fund, at St. Francis de Sales High School.
[edit] Statistics
While playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, he recovered 1 fumble which was advanced 5 yards.
