Germany Schulz

Born April 19, 1883, in Fort Wayne, Indiana was the top notch University of Michigan center from 1904 to 1908, Germany Schulz was born. The National Football Foundation shares that Schulz who stood 6’-4’ tall and weighed in at 245 pounds unfortunately had to miss the 1906 season as he had dropped out of school because of financial reasons. But the passion he had for both his education as well as football drove Germany to work hard in a Fort Wayne steel mill to raise funds to pay for his final two years tuition at the University. This drive to succeed was seen on the gridiron as well he is credited with two innovations at his position.  Schulz invented the spiral snap as previously the long snappers always sent the ball end-over-end to the awaiting backs who really had to pay attention to the oncoming ball to field it cleanly, thus taking an extra moment off of their reaction time to start their momentum.  His other major contribution was that before Schulz, centers always played along the line on defense but the innovative Germany dropped back to become a roving center therefore creating football's first linebacker! The colorful newspaper journalist, Grantland Rice, painted a great picture of Germany Schulz when he proclaimed in 1928: "Schulz stands as the fastest giant who ever played football, a human bulwark fast enough to tackle at either end, as he brought down his man after the manner of a hawk snaring a quail." The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Germany Schulz into their legendary museum in 1951. After Schulz played his last collegiate down he served as assistant coach at Michigan, Wisconsin, Tulane, and Kansas State and in 1923 as head coach for one season at Detroit University.

Dive into the gridiron greats with this collection of articles exploring the lives and legacies of American college football Hall of Fame players. Each piece delves into the on-field heroics that secured their place in history, from jaw-dropping touchdowns to strategic brilliance. But these articles go beyond the stats, uncovering the personal stories that shaped these legends. You'll discover their journeys from high school prospects to national stars, the challenges they overcame, and the impact they left on the game they loved. Whether you're a die-hard fan or simply appreciate sporting excellence, this collection offers a captivating look at the men who forever changed the landscape of college football.

The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation members select historic players, coaches, and contributors who rose above their peers in collegiate gridiron history to their College Football Hall of Fame. We are happy to help this legendary museum celebrate the stars and innivators of the gridiron with these individual tributes.