Leo Draveling
Encyclopedia
Leo Frank "Firpo" Draveling (born June 23, 1907 – July 2, 1955) 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.
in 1907. In 1925, he played on the Port Huron High School football team that was "undefeated and unscored upon."
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. 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
.
In 1929, Draveling started eight games (seven at right end) for the Wolverines. A newspaper feature story on the 1929 Wolverines said the following about Michigan's ends:
As a senior in 1930, Michigan's coach Harry Kipke moved Draveling to the right tackle position. 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." 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. Despite limited playing time, Draveling was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten
player by sports writer Hank Casserly, and as a third-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press.
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. 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.
; he played in nine NFL games for the Reds as a tackle.
Draveling died in July 1955 at age 48. In 2003, he was posthumously inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
teams from 1928–1930 and for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (NFL)
The Cincinnati Reds were a National Football League team that played the 1933 season and the first eight games of the 1934 season. The football Reds played most of their home games at Crosley Field...
of the NFL in 1933.
Early years
Draveling was born in Port Huron, MichiganPort Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
in 1907. In 1925, he played on the Port Huron High School football team that was "undefeated and unscored upon."
University of Michigan
Draveling enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1927 and played football for the Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
teams of 1928, 1929 and 1930. As a sophomore in 1928, Draveling started seven games as Michigan's right end. Draveling played a key role in the 1928 Michigan-Ohio State game
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, also known as The Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Wolverines of the University of Michigan and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University...
. He put the Wolverines in the lead 7-6 when he recovered a loose ball in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
. An Ohio State player allowed a punt to roll past him thinking it would reach the end zone for a touchback
Touchback
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead behind or above a goal line and the team who is attacking that goal line is responsible for the ball being there. Responsibility is determined by which team gave the ball the impetus...
. 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
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
.
In 1929, Draveling started eight games (seven at right end) for the Wolverines. 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."
As a senior in 1930, Michigan's coach Harry Kipke moved Draveling to the right tackle position. 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." Due to injuries, Draveling started only four games for the undefeated (8-0-1) 1930 Michigan team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
that tied for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship. Despite limited playing time, Draveling was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
player by sports writer Hank Casserly, and as a third-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press.
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
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in March 1929. 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.
Professional football and later years
After graduating from Michigan, Draveling played one year of professional football for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds (NFL)
The Cincinnati Reds were a National Football League team that played the 1933 season and the first eight games of the 1934 season. The football Reds played most of their home games at Crosley Field...
; he played in nine NFL games for the Reds as a tackle.
Draveling died in July 1955 at age 48. In 2003, he was posthumously inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame.