Paul Girgash
Encyclopedia
Paul Girgash is a retired American football
linebacker
. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1979 to 1982. He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981
and 1983 Rose Bowl
s, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten
player by both the Associated Press
and the United Press International
in 1982. Girgash later played professional football in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers
in 1984.
in Lakewood, Ohio
. As a senior in 1978, he was selected as a first-team member of the 1978 United Press International
Class AAA All-Ohio Football Team.
in 1979 and played football under head coach Bo Schembechler
from 1979 to 1982. He was the team's starter at inside linebacker for 36 consecutive games from 1980 to 1982.
As a sophomore, Girgash was a starter in every game for the 1980 team that gave up an average of 10.75 points per game, and only 1.8 points per game in the last five games of the season. The 1980 team won the Big Ten championship and defeated Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl
.
As a junior in 1981, Girgash against started every game for a Michigan team that finished the season with a victory over UCLA in the Bluebonnet Bowl
. Girgash intercepted a pass in the bowl game and said afterward, "I think we were in a little better condition than UCLA, and in the last quarter both teams were tired. But I think we were able to 'suck it up' a little better."
As a senior, Girgash was selected by his teammates as a co-captain of the 1982 football team
. That year, he twice had 19 tackles, once against Illinois
and again in his final game against Ohio State
. He also totaled 18 tackles against Notre Dame
in 1982. At the end of the 1982 season, Girgash was selected by both the AP and the UPI as a first-team All-Big Ten
linebacker. He was also selected to play in the January 1983 Japan Bowl in Yokohama, Japan. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Girgash intercepted a pass and ran it back to the 35-yard line where he fumbled the ball, resulting in a 65-yard runback for a touchdown by the West team.
In four years at Michigan, Girgash was credited with 352 tackles, including 206 solo tackles and 146 assists. At the time of his graduation in 1983, Girgash ranked third all-team in tackles in Michigan football history, trailing only Ron Simpkins
and Mike Boren
.
. He was released by the Buccaneers in late August 1983, prior to the start of the 1983 NFL season
. In November 1983, Girgash signed as a free agent with the Michigan Panthers
in the USFL. Girgash played for the Panthers during the 1984 USFL season and was traded to the Orlando Renegades
in October 1984.
.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He played 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...
from 1979 to 1982. He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981
1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
and 1983 Rose Bowl
1983 Rose Bowl
The 1983 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1983. It was the 69th Rose Bowl game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 24-14. Tom Ramsey, UCLA quarterback and Don Rogers, UCLA defensive back, were named the Rose Bowl Players Of The Game...
s, and 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 both the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
in 1982. Girgash later played professional football in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
in 1984.
Early years
A native of Ohio, Girgash attended St. Edward High SchoolSt. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
in Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
. As a senior in 1978, he was selected as a first-team member of the 1978 United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
Class AAA All-Ohio Football Team.
University of Michigan
Girgash 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 1979 and played football under head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
from 1979 to 1982. He was the team's starter at inside linebacker for 36 consecutive games from 1980 to 1982.
As a sophomore, Girgash was a starter in every game for the 1980 team that gave up an average of 10.75 points per game, and only 1.8 points per game in the last five games of the season. The 1980 team won the Big Ten championship and defeated Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl
1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
.
As a junior in 1981, Girgash against started every game for a Michigan team that finished the season with a victory over UCLA in the Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
. Girgash intercepted a pass in the bowl game and said afterward, "I think we were in a little better condition than UCLA, and in the last quarter both teams were tired. But I think we were able to 'suck it up' a little better."
As a senior, Girgash was selected by his teammates as a co-captain of the 1982 football team
1982 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1982 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1982 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
. That year, he twice had 19 tackles, once against Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
and again in his final game against Ohio State
1982 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1982 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1982-1983. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1982 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California, where they won 47–17 against the Brigham Young...
. He also totaled 18 tackles against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
in 1982. At the end of the 1982 season, Girgash was selected by both the AP and the UPI 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...
linebacker. He was also selected to play in the January 1983 Japan Bowl in Yokohama, Japan. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Girgash intercepted a pass and ran it back to the 35-yard line where he fumbled the ball, resulting in a 65-yard runback for a touchdown by the West team.
In four years at Michigan, Girgash was credited with 352 tackles, including 206 solo tackles and 146 assists. At the time of his graduation in 1983, Girgash ranked third all-team in tackles in Michigan football history, trailing only Ron Simpkins
Ron Simpkins
Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpkins played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was an All-American....
and Mike Boren
Mike Boren
Mike Boren is a former American football linebacker who played for the Michigan Wolverines from 1980 to 1983.-University of Michigan:Boren grew up in Columbus, Ohio where he attended Independence High School...
.
Professional football
After graduating from Michigan, Girgash played professional football. In May 1983, he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He was released by the Buccaneers in late August 1983, prior to the start of the 1983 NFL season
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
. In November 1983, Girgash signed as a free agent with the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
in the USFL. Girgash played for the Panthers during the 1984 USFL season and was traded to the Orlando Renegades
Orlando Renegades
The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-In Washington:-1983 season:...
in October 1984.
Later years
After retiring from football, Girgash became the owner of E.W. Publishing Company, Inc., dba Fastsigns in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.