Gene Knutson
Encyclopedia
Eugene Peter "Gene" Knutson (November 10, 1932February 9, 2008) was an American football
player. He played college football
as an offensive and defensive end for the University of Michigan
(1951–1953) and professional football as a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers
(1954–1956). As a senior at Michigan, Knutson was selected to play in the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game
.
in 1932. He was the son of Florence and Peter Knutson. He began playing football at Lincoln High School in Beloit. At Beloit Memorial High School
, he played football, basketball and track and field. He earned seven varsity letter
s and won all-state honors in both football and basketball and was a hurdler on Beloit's state championship track team as a junior. Knutson graduated from Beloit High School in 1950. One of his teammates later recalled, "Gene was probably one of the best all-around athletes Beloit High School ever had."
in 1950. After his freshman season, Michigan head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
said that Knutson was "unquestionably Michigan's outstanding freshman prospect." He sustained a broken leg in April 1951 while stepping off a curb, but he recovered in time for the 1951 football season. Knutson played for the Michigan Wolverines football
team from 1951 to 1953. He played at the offensive and defensive end position for Michigan. By his senior year, he was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds. In October 1953, he caught a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter to help Michigan to a 14-13 victory over Iowa. He was selected as an All-Midwest player and played in the college all-star Hula Bowl.
Knutson later recalled the first time he ran out of the tunnel into Michigan Stadium
in front of 100,000 fans: "That was such a thrill to me, so exciting. How could I ever explain that to someone? Unless you experience sitting in that locker room, getting dressed, warming up and then going out to that crowd and playing in that ballgame, you'll never know. It was exhilarating."
in the 10th round (111th overall pick) of the 1954 NFL Draft
. He played as a defensive end
for the Packers, appearing in 18 games during the 1954 and 1956 NFL seasons. Knutson did not play for the Packers in 1955 after suffering an injury in an exhibition game against the Washington Redskins
. His highest annual salary as a professional athlete was $8,000. Knutson later recalled his days in the NFL as follows: "It was more of a business - dog eat dog. When I played there were only 12 teams and the (roster) limit was 33. It was a lot harder to get on a pro roster than it is now. I would love to be coming out of college now."
, before entering the insurance business. He also worked as an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. In his later years, he lived in Cassopolis, Michigan
.
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 college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as an offensive and defensive end for the University of Michigan
University 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...
(1951–1953) and professional football as a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(1954–1956). As a senior at Michigan, Knutson was selected to play in the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game
Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
.
Early years in Beloit
Knutson was born in Beloit, WisconsinBeloit, Wisconsin
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...
in 1932. He was the son of Florence and Peter Knutson. He began playing football at Lincoln High School in Beloit. At Beloit Memorial High School
Beloit Memorial High School
Beloit Memorial High School is a public, four-year comprehensive high school in Beloit, Wisconsin. The average class size is 28 students with an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students and 130 full-time certified staff. 80% of the students continue their education after graduation.The school's...
, he played football, basketball and track and field. He earned seven varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s and won all-state honors in both football and basketball and was a hurdler on Beloit's state championship track team as a junior. Knutson graduated from Beloit High School in 1950. One of his teammates later recalled, "Gene was probably one of the best all-around athletes Beloit High School ever had."
University of Michigan
Knutson 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 1950. After his freshman season, Michigan head coach Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
said that Knutson was "unquestionably Michigan's outstanding freshman prospect." He sustained a broken leg in April 1951 while stepping off a curb, but he recovered in time for the 1951 football season. Knutson 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...
team from 1951 to 1953. He played at the offensive and defensive end position for Michigan. By his senior year, he was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds. In October 1953, he caught a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter to help Michigan to a 14-13 victory over Iowa. He was selected as an All-Midwest player and played in the college all-star Hula Bowl.
Knutson later recalled the first time he ran out of the tunnel into Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
in front of 100,000 fans: "That was such a thrill to me, so exciting. How could I ever explain that to someone? Unless you experience sitting in that locker room, getting dressed, warming up and then going out to that crowd and playing in that ballgame, you'll never know. It was exhilarating."
Green Bay Packers
Knutson was drafted by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the 10th round (111th overall pick) of the 1954 NFL Draft
1954 NFL Draft
The 1954 National Football League Draft was held on January 28, 1954.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:-Round eleven:...
. He played as a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Packers, appearing in 18 games during the 1954 and 1956 NFL seasons. Knutson did not play for the Packers in 1955 after suffering an injury in an exhibition game against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. His highest annual salary as a professional athlete was $8,000. Knutson later recalled his days in the NFL as follows: "It was more of a business - dog eat dog. When I played there were only 12 teams and the (roster) limit was 33. It was a lot harder to get on a pro roster than it is now. I would love to be coming out of college now."
Later years
After the 1956 season, Knutson retired from football due to chronic knee problems. He taught and coached at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, before entering the insurance business. He also worked as an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. In his later years, he lived in Cassopolis, Michigan
Cassopolis, Michigan
Cassopolis is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 14,275. It is the county seat of Cass County. The village and county are named after statesman Lewis Cass, a New Hampshire native and a prominent U.S...
.