I now continue my look at some of the historical athletes to play in a very young National Football League from the city of Louisville.
James “Jimmy” German played his high school football at DuPont Manual High School prior to joining Centre College’s team where he very quickly made a name for himself as a halfback and quarterback. German proved himself such a valuable asset that the Washington Redskins drafted the young man in 1939 where he played until the next season when German was traded to the Chicago Cardinals for the following year. It was in the Windy City that German retired from the NFL.
Pasquale “Patsy” Giugliano played his high school ball ironically at two of the biggest rival schools in town, Male and Manual. A quality quarterback, despite not having any college experience Giugliano was drafted to play with the hometown, Louisville Brecks in 1923, this was also his final season in the NFL. Additionally, in regards to the Brecks the first UK alum I’ve found, Edd Gregg played the 1922 NFL season with the local professional team after a standout career with the Wildcats. Meanwhile, center Austin Higgins also suited up for the Brecks for three seasons: 1921-1923. Further, James “Jim” Irwin, was a fullback at Anchorage high school before becoming a Breck in 1921. Irwin would stay on the team’s roster for two seasons. Along with these men came John “Eddie” Meeks a halfback out of the University of Louisville who played the 1922 season with the team. Al Otto played two years with the Brecks (1922-23) as an offensive lineman, and James “Jimmy” Van Dyke came out of Male high school to play three years with the team as well.
It’s not surprising that so many of the athletes on the Brecks roster were hometown guys because at that time often a professional football team representing a town, was just that- that is, natives of that town for the most part going up against natives of another area or city.
Image courtesy of The Cthulhoid Chronicle
Outside information courtesy of Football Database