| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: September 1, 1902 | |
| Place of birth: Illinois | |
| Date of death: January 27, 1973 | |
| Weight: 170 lb (77 kg) | |
| Career information | |
| College: University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign | |
| Debuted in 1925 for the Green Bay Packers | |
| Last played in 1929 for the Green Bay Packers | |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics as of 1929 | |
| Games played | |
Edward Louis "Eddie" Kotal (September 1, 1902 – January 27, 1973) was a NFL Player, Champion, Coach, Scout, and Hall of Fame Nominee in the National Football League. He also was a Player, Coach & Scout, for Several College Football programs
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Kotal was born Edward Louis Kotal on September 1, 1902 in Illinois.[1] Nicknamed: the Lawrence Flash
Kotal played with the Green Bay Packers for five seasons. He was a member of the 1929 NFL season Champions Green Bay Packers.
The 1929 Green Bay Packers season was their ninth season in the National Football League. The club posted an undefeated 12-0-1 record under player/coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish and the Packers' first National Football League Championship.
A standout player, Halfback and Defensive Back, Coach and Scout, Kotal has made his mark on the sports world. A member of the Green Bay Packers, Kotal played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Never weighing more than 170 pounds , Stood 5' 8" and never wearing headgear, Kotal tallied 10 touchdowns from 1925-1929 under head coach Curly Lambeau.
In 1929, Kotal was recognized for playing a key role in Green Bay's first NFL Championship as the Packers beat the Chicago Bears 25-0. He was nominated 2nd Team All NFL PRO, in 1928. He finished his career with 318 carries for 879 yards and four rushing touchdowns; was 57-for-96 passing for 266 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions; and caught 74 passes for 1,195 yards and five touchdowns. His best season was 1928, when he led the team in receiving (28 catches for 508 yards) and was second in rushing (102 carries for 298 yards).
He played at the collegiate level at Lawrence University and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
During the 1929 Football campaign, Kotal, found himself time to be the Assistant Football Coach for the Lawrence University Vikings team of Appleton Wisconsin , a Community Just South of Green Bay Wisconsin ! Then in 1930 After his retirement from the Packers, Kotal moved Fulltime to be the Head Coaching Ranks for the Lawrence University Vikings Football team.
Then in 1931 He became Multiple Head coach football, basketball, track and field, and boxing at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, in the Division III (NCAA). He led teams to conference championships in all four sports and is an inductee in the University's Athletic Hall of Fame.[2] As the head football Coach compiled a 37-35-9 record in 11 seasons, winning conference championships in 1933, 1934 and 1936. On the hardwood, Kotal's basketball teams posted a 133-49 record from 1930-42 and won titles in 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1942. In addition, he won conference titles in boxing and track & field.
Kotal coached many outstanding student-athletes in his time at University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, but one story that stands out is that of Ted Fritsch. Fritsch, a Spencer, Wisconsin native, had never played high school football. But under Kotal's tutelage, not only did Fritsch become a star at University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, but also went on to play a Star Role for the Green Bay Packers, was an excellant basketball Player, and fine athlete.
In 1942, Kotal returned to the Green Bay Packers organization as a backfield coach and scout before becoming the chief scout for the Los Angeles Rams in 1946. In subsequent years, Kotal also assumed coaching responsibilities for the Rams as well.
He Worked Tirelessly scouring the Country for Top athletes, and everyone knew of Ed Kotal in the College Ranks.
Eddie Kotal became the first scout in 1946 when he was hired by Dan Reeves of the Los Angeles Rams In subsequent years, Kotal also assumed coaching responsibilities for the Rams as well.
According to materials distributed by the Rams, Kotal was noted as “one of the most astute judges of pro football material in the business” and was credited for finding stars such as Larry Brink, Paul “Tank” Younger, V.T. Smith and Bill Smyth. Years later, Ebony magazine labeled Kotal as a powerful influence in making football a racially integrated sport.
after integration, there was no great rush to scout black-college teams. Except for Eddie Kotal. He made friends with black college coaches and discovered that many black players possessed pro football potential.”
One of Kotal's recruits, Tank Younger, became the first African-American player to be signed by an NFL team in 1949 when he signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
10/28/2011 CANTON, Ohio – NFL Champion Eddie Kotal from the 1925-1929 Green Bay Packers , UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame coach Eddie Kotal, who led the Pointers to conference championships in football, basketball, track and boxing, has been named a preliminary nominee for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kotal has received numerous honors since his death and is one of 103 nominees for this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. The selection committee will choose 25 candidates who will be announced in mid-November.
The list of 25 semifinalists will be further reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists and will be announced in early January.
The Class of 2012 will be selected from the list of 17 finalists (15 modern-era and two senior nominees). The actual voting will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee's annual meeting, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, the day before Super Bowl XLVI. The election results will be announced that evening on NFL Network, live from the Super Bowl Media Center.
While there is no set number for any class, the selection process by-laws provide that between four and seven new members will be selected.
The preliminary list includes 71 players, 14 coaches and 18 contributors, including former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and longtime team owners Bud Adams, Jr., Jack Kent Cooke, Ed DeBartolo, Jr., and Art Modell.
The complete list of nominees can also be found at ProFootballHOF.com.
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