Mike Mikulak
Encyclopedia
Michael Nicholas "Iron Mike" Mikulak (December 2, 1912 – June 4, 1999) was an American football
fullback
who played three seasons in the National Football League
.
, Mikulak graduated from Edison High School
in 1930. He attended the University of Oregon
. Though originally a defensive player, Mikulak became Oregon's starting fullback and helped lead the Ducks to a 4–1 Pacific Coast Conference
conference record in 1933, tying them with Stanford
for the conference championship. (Stanford, however, received the bid to the 1934 Rose Bowl
due to its victory over USC, the only team to beat the Ducks that year.) Mikulak was a two-time all-Pacific Coast Conference
selection, and was a consensus All-America
n in 1933.
Mikulak earned the nickname "Iron Mike" because he wore an aluminum chest protector to protect a protruding sternum
.
in 1934. He played three seasons in the NFL, quickly earning a reputation as a bruising fullback, and was named to the All-Pro
team in his second season. Following the 1936 season, Mikulak retired from professional football and returned to the University of Oregon to become the backfield
coach on his old team, and to complete his degree.
. Mikulak served in the Army for 27 years, including working as the chief of military police in Naples, Italy during World War II
. Following his Army career, Mikulak received a masters in educational administration and was director of the University of Iowa
's off-campus graduate education department until his retirement in 1978.
and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame. He died in Woodland, California
in 1999.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who played three seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
High school and college career
Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Mikulak graduated from Edison High School
Edison High School (Minnesota)
Thomas Alva Edison High School is the only public high school in the Northeast community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was named for American inventor Thomas Alva Edison...
in 1930. He attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Though originally a defensive player, Mikulak became Oregon's starting fullback and helped lead the Ducks to a 4–1 Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
conference record in 1933, tying them with Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
for the conference championship. (Stanford, however, received the bid to the 1934 Rose Bowl
1934 Rose Bowl
The 1934 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1934, was an American Football bowl game. It was the 20th Rose Bowl Game. The Columbia Lions defeated the Stanford Indians 7-0. Cliff Montgomery, the Columbia quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game when the award was created in 1953 and...
due to its victory over USC, the only team to beat the Ducks that year.) Mikulak was a two-time all-Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
selection, and was a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 1933.
Mikulak earned the nickname "Iron Mike" because he wore an aluminum chest protector to protect a protruding sternum
Pectus carinatum
Pectus carinatum, , also called pigeon chest, is a deformity of the chest characterized by a protrusion of the sternum and ribs. It is the opposite of pectus excavatum.-Causes:...
.
NFL career
Mikulak signed with the Chicago CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1934. He played three seasons in the NFL, quickly earning a reputation as a bruising fullback, and was named to the All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
team in his second season. Following the 1936 season, Mikulak retired from professional football and returned to the University of Oregon to become the backfield
Backfield
The backfield is the area of an American football field behind the line of scrimmage. The backfield or offensive backfield can also refer to members of offense who begin plays behind the line, typically including any backs on the field, such as the quarterback, running back, and/or fullback.-Play...
coach on his old team, and to complete his degree.
After football
He remained with Oregon until 1941, when he was called to active duty by the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Mikulak served in the Army for 27 years, including working as the chief of military police in Naples, Italy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following his Army career, Mikulak received a masters in educational administration and was director of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
's off-campus graduate education department until his retirement in 1978.
Personal and legacy
Mikulak was married with two children. He is a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of FameOregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame. He died in Woodland, California
Woodland, California
Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County, California, located approximately northwest of Sacramento, and is a part of the Sacramento - Arden-Arcade - Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 55,468 at the 2010 census.Woodland's origins trace back to 1850 when California...
in 1999.