Jim Prestel

Jim Prestel
No. 70, 79, 72, 76
Date of birth: June 28, 1937
Place of birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Career information
Position(s): Defensive tackle
College: University of Idaho
NFL Draft: 1959 / Round: 6 / Pick: 70
Organizations
As player:
1960
1961-65
1966
1967		 Cleveland Browns
Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants
Washington Redskins
Career stats
Playing stats at NFL.com

James Francis "Jim" Prestel (born June 28, 1937) is a former professional football player, a defensive lineman in the National Football League in the 1960s. Drafted in 1959 by the Cleveland Browns, he stayed in college[1] and joined the team in 1960. Prestel was with the Minnesota Vikings for their first five seasons, and then one season each with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins. He retired from the NFL prior to the 1968 season.[2]

High school and college

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Prestel graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Indianapolis in 1955. He ventured west to play college football for head coach Skip Stahley at the University of Idaho,[3] where he started for the Vandals in the PCC alongside future pros Jerry Kramer, Wayne Walker, and Jim Norton.[4][5][6] Prestel was a two-sport athlete for the Vandals, where he also lettered in basketball as a 6'5" center for head coach Harlan Hodges, and made honorable mention in the PCC for the 1958-59 season.[1]

Selected by the Browns in the sixth round of the 1959 NFL Draft with the 70th overall pick, Prestal remained in college; he had missed most of the 1957 football season to return to Indianapolis, where his mother was terminally ill.[7][8] He was granted another year of eligibility and played the 1959 season at Idaho, and was elected team captain by his teammates.[9] He broke his left foot in practice prior to the Battle of the Palouse game with WSU in October, but played the first half of the game anyway.[10] He missed the remainder of the season, the East-West Shrine Game, and the 1959-60 Vandal basketball season.[10][11] Prestel played in the College All-Star Game at Soldier Field in August 1960, against the defending NFL champion Baltimore Colts.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spokane Daily Chronicle - Big Idaho gridder mighty busy chap - 1959-04-08 - p.33
  2. ↑ Spokane Daily Chronicle - Minute sports page - 1968-08-27 - p.20
  3. ↑ Spokane Daily Chronicle - photo of Jim Prestal as senior at Idaho - 1958-11-13 p.37
  4. ↑ Spokane Daily Chronicle - offenses and rosters - Oregon at Idaho - 1957-09-20 - p.13
  5. ↑ Spokane Daily Chronicle - Top offensive battle seen for Idaho game - 1957-11-08 - p.12
  6. ↑ Spokesman Review - offenses - Utah State at Idaho - 1958-11-15 - p.10
  7. ↑ Spokane Daily Chronicle - Injuries bench 5 key players on Idaho squad - 1957-10-10 - p.34
  8. ↑ Lewiston Morning Tribune - Flu bug hits Vandal coach - 1957-10-22 - p.8
  9. ↑ Spokesman-Review - Vandals tab Prestal - 1959-09-02 - p.13
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Spokesman-Review - If not all-coast, Jim's all-heart - 1959-11-30 - p.12
  11. ↑ Spokesman-Review - Jim Prestel: hoof healing well - 1960-01-22 - p.12
  12. ↑ Lewiston Morning Tribune - Jim Prestal chosen for all-star tilt - 1960-02-14 - p.8

External links