Lou Midler

Louis Thomas Midler (July 21, 1915 – August 29, 1992) was an

Early life

Louis Thomas Milder was born on July 21, 1915, in

Midler enrolled at the University of Minnesota and began playing for their Golden Gopher football team in 1934 to fulfill a promise he made to one of their trainers.^[2] He had previously, when in high school, gone to a Minnesota facility and asked for a trainer for to look at his injured shoulder.^[2] He told the trainer who treated him, "You fix that shoulder up and I'll be back in a couple of years to play football for the Gophers."^[2] The trainer did not take him seriously, but Midler fulfilled his promise by going out for the Minnesota football team in 1934.^[2] That season, he played for the freshman team and was considered one of its "outstanding" players; a Star Tribune reporter described him as "exceptionally powerful, fast and alert," as well as the "best punter at Minnesota since Clarence Munn".^[5]

Midler lettered as a sophomore in 1935 and became a starter for the varsity team; he was switched at different times between guard and tackle throughout the season.^[6][7] That year, he helped them go undefeated, win the conference championship and win the national championship.^[8] A 60-minute man in some games, Midler helped Minnesota repeat as conference and national champions in 1936.^[9][10] As a senior in 1937, he helped the Golden Gophers compile a record of 7–1 and win the conference championship while being named first-team All-Big Ten.^[11][12][13] He also played in the East–West Shrine Bowl and in the Chicago College All-Star Game.^[14][15] Head coach Bernie Bierman later called Midler the greatest lineman he had ever coached.^[16] In addition to football, he also played basketball and baseball at Minnesota.^[16]

Professional career

Midler was selected in the fifth round (34th overall) of the