Governali, Paul V.
Football
b. Jan. 5, 1921, New York, NY
Governali was the top collegiate passer in the nation at Columbia University in 1942, when he completed 87 of 242 passes for 1,442 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was an All-American and won the Maxwell Trophy as the nation's outstanding college player. During his three years as a starter, he completed 175 passes in 384 attempts for 2,513 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 856 yards.
After spending three years in the Marines during World War II, Governali joined the NFL's Boston Yanks 1946. The Yanks sent him to the New York Giants during the 1947 season. Governali played for the Giants in 1948, then retired as a player. During his professional career, he completed 218 passes in 500 attempts for 3,348 yards and 31 touchdowns.
While working as an assistant to Lou Little, his college coach at Columbia, Governali earned a doctorate from the school's teacher's college. His dissertation, submitted in 1951, was entitled "The Professional Football Player: His Vocational Status."