Robert Mitinger

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Bob Mitinger
Career information
Date of birth:	February 13, 1940
Place of birth:	Greensburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Date of death:	September 27, 2004(2004-09-27) (aged 64)
Place of death:	State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Position(s):	Defensive End, Linebacker
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
College:	Penn State
High school:	Greensburg-Salem High School
AFL Draft:	1962 / Round: 5 / Pick: 7
Drafted by:	San Diego Chargers
NFL Draft:	1962 / Round: 3 / Pick: 29
Drafted by:	Washington Redskins
Organizations
As coach:
1967	Army (freshmen)
As player:
1962–1964 1966 1968	San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers
Career highlights and awards
2x Liberty Bowl champion (1959, 1960) Gator Bowl champion (1961) Hula Bowl selection (1962) San Diego Chargers Rookie of the Year (1962) AFL champion (1963)
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com
Military service
Allegiance:	United States
Service/branch:	U.S. Army
Years of service:	1966-1967

Robert Bray Mitinger (February 13, 1940 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania – September 25, 2004 in State College, Pennsylvania) was a professional football player, attorney and civic leader.

Professional career

Although drafted in the third-round by the National Football League's Washington Redskins, the 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 235 lb., Mitinger chose instead to sign with the San Diego Chargers of the upstart American Football League.

He was named the 1962 Chargers' team Rookie of the Year.

He played 42 games at linebacker for the Chargers for seven seasons (1962–1964, 1966, 1968), including their 51–10 rout of the Boston Patriots at Balboa Stadium in the 1963 AFL championship, the high point of the team's 44-year history.

Mitinger's pro career was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army from 1966 to 1967. Stationed at West Point, New York, he coached the Army freshman football team. In 1968, he returned to the Chargers for his final season.

College

At Penn State, Mitinger was a two-way All-American player—the consummate 60-minute man, playing tight end and defensive end for Nittany Lions head coach, Rip Engle. He was part of the Penn State team that upset No. 10-ranked Alabama in the 1959 Liberty Bowl—the school's first bowl victory.

He also helped Penn State to victories over Oregon in the 1960 Liberty Bowl and No. 13-ranked Georgia Tech (30–15) in the 1961 Gator Bowl and was selected to compete in the 1962 Hula Bowl.

After Penn State defeated Cal 30–15 in 1962, Cal coach Marv Levy called Mitinger "the best college football player in the United States."

High school

Mitinger attended Greensburg-Salem High School in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

After football

In 1966, Mitinger earned a law degree at the University of San Diego, which he attended in the AFL off-season. He was an attorney for the AFL Players Association in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, he returned to State College, Pennsylvania where he practiced law for 30 years, starting his own law firm in 1984. He was also an instructor of business and real estate law at Penn State University from 1971 to 1994.

Personal

Mitinger lost his AFL championship ring while attending law school. In 1999, a Chula Vista, California man discovered the ring in his deceased mother's jewelry box and placed an ad on eBay, seeking to contact Mitinger. His mother had been a member of the law school's maintenance staff and had found the ring in the drain of the school's swimming pool. The appearance of the ring on the auction site led to the eventual return of the ring. "It renews my faith in humanity," Mitinger told The San Diego Union-Tribune.

He died September 27, 2004 at the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania from complications from stomach cancer. He was 64.

The Robert B. Mitinger Award, named in his honor, is presented to Penn State Nittany Lions football players who personify courage, character and social responsibility. It was first awarded in 2004.

External links

Comprehensive Bob Mitinger obituary, gopsusoprts.com
Bob Mitinger obituary, San Diego Union-Tribune, September 30, 2004
Robert Mitinger bio at Mitinger & De Boef (law firm)

San Diego Chargers 1963 AFL Champions

Head Coach Sid Gillman

Coaches: Walt Hackett; Joe Madro; Chuck Noll; Bones Taylor

v t e Washington Redskins 1962 NFL Draft selections

Ernie Davis Joe Hernandez Bob Mitinger Billy Neighbors Bert Coan Ron Hatcher Dave Viti John Childress Carl Palazzo Terry Terrebonne Bill Whisler Jim Costen Len Velia Tommy Brooker Allen Miller Carl Charon Claude Crabb Ed Trancygier

Draft Years 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1950 AAFC 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Persondata
Name	Mitinger, Robert
Alternative names
Short description	American football player
Date of birth	February 13, 1940
Place of birth	Greensburg, PA
Date of death	September 25, 2004
Place of death	State College, PA

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