Paul Elzey (1986) - Hall of Fame - University of Toledo Athletics

Paul Elzey

Induction:
1986
Class:
1968

Paul Elzey became the first athlete to be Mid-American Conference champion in two sports. Paul lettered in football as a starting linebacker in 1965, 1966 and 1967 and he lettered in wrestling as a heavyweight in 1966, 1967 and 1968. As a football player he helped UT win its first ever MAC football championship in 1967, a year in which he was first-team All-MAC and UPI Honorable Mention All-American. He was proclaimed National Lineman of the week by Sports Illustrated after making 18 tackles, setting up two touchdowns with pass interceptions and recovering a fumble against Western Michigan. In 1969 he was voted a first-team spot on the All-Time UT team by Rocket fans. He was drafted for professional football by the Baltimore Colts and later played for both the Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals as a starting linebacker. As a wrestler, Paul won the MAC heavyweight title in 1966, was runner-up as a junior in 1967, and again won the title as a senior in 1968. He was a qualifier for the NCAA championship tournament three consecutive seasons. His collegiate career record for all matches was 48-3-1, his only losses coming to two-time NCAA champion Dave Porter of Michigan. Besides his MAC titles, he was 4-1 tournament champion two consecutive season and was a tryout finalist for both the Pan-American games and the Olympics. Paul later helped coach and develop the greatest wrestler in UT history, Hall of Famer Greg Wojciechowski.