By Darin 
Born on November 6, 1916, John Pingel wasn’t just a great player for Michigan State; he was the ultimate triple threat. In a single season (1937), Pingel not only led the nation in punting but also boasted an incredible 5.1 yards per rushing attempt and completed 54 percent of his passes—a mastery of three distinct skills rarely matched in college football history! His all-around excellence was the driving force behind the Spartans’ stellar 8-1 record that year.
Legacy of Pingel
John received accolades and awards for being the school’s top-ranked student-athlete and even earned All-America status on the gridiron in 1937. Those are many of the reasons that John Pingel was accepted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Accolades and Accomplishments
- Triple Threat Dominance (1937): Pingel was a statistical leader, averaging 5.1 yards per rushing attempt, completing 54 percent of his passes, and leading the nation in punting during the 1937 season for Michigan State University (MSU).
- Team Success: His performance helped MSU achieve an impressive 8-1 record in 1937.
- All-America Status: He earned All-America status on the gridiron in 1937.
- Top Student-Athlete: Pingel received accolades and awards for being MSU’s top-ranked student-athlete.
- Hall of Fame Induction: John Pingel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Great article celebrating John Pingel’s incredible legacy as a true triple-threat! It’s fascinating to see how his name continues to be relevant in different contexts today. I was doing some research and came across a modern medication that shares his name, “Pingel,” which is apparently a brand of Clopidogrel used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. This is purely for educational curiosity, but does anyone know if there is a historical connection or if it’s just a coincidence that a heart medication bears the name of such a legendary, heart-and-soul Michigan State athlete? Here’s the link to the information I found: https://pillintrip.com/medicine/pingel
Wow! I did not know about that. Digging in to see if there is a connection to the player and the meds is an interesting project. Thanks for commenting and reading our posts.