Just thought I would share if anyone is interested. He was in Jackson the other day. Did you know, he flew B-29 bombers over Japan during World War II at age 20? He majored in pre-med and had been accepted to Columbia University Medical School before he chose to coach instead. He is 84 years old, has written three books, and is an accomplished artist. At Miami of Ohio, Dietzel once played on the same line with Bo Schembechler and Bill Arnsparger and blocked for a running back named Ara Parseghian. At Army, he once coached on the legendary Red Blaik's staff that also included future coaching legends Vince Lombardi, Murray Warmath, and Sid Gillman. At Kentucky, he coached undr Bear Bryaant and with his future assistant, Charley McClendon. There McClendon and Dietzel made a pact: Whoever got a head coaching job first would hire the other. Here's how he got the LSU coaching job after Gaynell Tinsley was fired ti 1954.....Still at Army, he called his good friend McClendon, who was on Tinsley's staff at LSU to see if he could help McClendon land anothe job. McClendon suggested that Dietzel try to get the LSU job and asked him if he had a connection with forer LSU coach Biff Jones, who would be influential in hiring the new LSU coach..............did he!!! "I was in charge of recruiting at Army and Biff Jones was our guy in Washington, D.C., helping us with appointments<" Deitzel said. "I worked closely with Biff Jones. I got the job at LSU even though at the time I really didn't even know where LSU was." You know the rest. He kept Charlie McClendon on his staff there, won big, and McClendon succeeded him when he left for Army. Leaving LSU for Army seems crazy now. It did then too. He was making all of $18,500 a year. Today's salaries would probably make that decision even worse now. But he did love the academy. *taken from the Clarion-Ledger.. Just thought some of my friends might enjoy.:geaux:
He has also been at the past two TAF pre game parties selling and signing his book. Not sure if he will be at the Bama one or not.
My friend met him recently at a book signing. He spoke to the group that had gathered and told essentially his life history including what was posted above. Friend came back in awe of Paul Dietzel. His generation may go down as the last generation of "great" men.
I first met Coach Dietzel at Beech Mt., NC while he was still HC at LSU.He had a Winter home there and taught ski lessons at the ski resort. They also owned and operated a gift shop/ice cream parlor combo. They had great ice cream. I went in one day to get some ice cream. This tall guy waited on me. I didn't know him but I noticed an LSU banner on the wall. I had on an Auburn jacket and I as turned to leave he said "an Auburn guy huh. I'm familiar with Auburn. Ya'll weren't very nice to us last time we came up." I thought he was a fan and someone had been rude to him. He said no that we jst won the game. We laughed and I left. As I walked out thru the gift shop this lady said "come back" and handed me her card. I don't remember her first name but the last name was Dietzel. My brain said "Bingo." I went back and and told Coach "you old son-of-a -gun I guess youo are familiar with Auburn. We laughed and chatted awhile. That was my encounter with "Pepsident Paul" as he was fondly referred to because of his big smile and bright white teeth. Great guy.
