Mike Weger
Encyclopedia
Michael Roy Weger is a former All American football player at Bowling Green University, and an All-Pro
defensive back for the Detroit Lions
and the Houston Oilers.
when he was in seventh grade. He stayed in town to play collegiate football at Bowling Green University. There, Weger played for coach Doyt Perry
and was part of the 1965 Mid-American Conference
championship team. After his senior season, he participated in the Senior Bowl
and the Blue–Gray Football Classic.
in the 1967 NFL Draft
in the 9th round, the 218th pick overall.
Weger played safety for the Lions from 1967 to 1975, and with the Houston Oilers from 1976 to 1977. He was twice named honorable mention All-Pro by the Associated Press. He finished his career with 17 interceptions, six fumble recoveries and scored two defensive touchdowns.
He also played a small part as himself in the 1968 film Paper Lion
. He also sang the unofficial BGSU Fight Song "Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba" in the film.
.
Weger is currently involved in real estate development. For a time he operated a golf driving range
and recreation center on M-24
in Lake Orion, Michigan
, which also served as a location for Detroit Lions special events.
In April 2006, Weger made a donation to the Sebo Athletic Center project at Bowling Green. A training room in the new facility is named in his honor.
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
defensive back for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and the Houston Oilers.
College career
Weger and his family moved to Bowling Green, OhioBowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
when he was in seventh grade. He stayed in town to play collegiate football at Bowling Green University. There, Weger played for coach Doyt Perry
Doyt Perry
-External links:* , WBGU-PBS documentary...
and was part of the 1965 Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
championship team. After his senior season, he participated in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
and the Blue–Gray Football Classic.
Pro career
Weger was drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 1967 NFL Draft
1967 NFL Draft
The 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
in the 9th round, the 218th pick overall.
Weger played safety for the Lions from 1967 to 1975, and with the Houston Oilers from 1976 to 1977. He was twice named honorable mention All-Pro by the Associated Press. He finished his career with 17 interceptions, six fumble recoveries and scored two defensive touchdowns.
He also played a small part as himself in the 1968 film Paper Lion
Paper Lion
Paper Lion, published in 1966, is a non-fiction book by prominent American writer George Plimpton.In 1960, Plimpton, not a professional athlete, arranged to pitch to a lineup of baseball stars in an All-Star exhibition, presumably to answer the question, "How would the average man off of the street...
. He also sang the unofficial BGSU Fight Song "Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba" in the film.
Personal
Weger is a resident of Oxford, MichiganOxford, Michigan
Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Charter Township. The village occupies one square mile and is both politically and geographically a part of the township. The village calls itself...
.
Weger is currently involved in real estate development. For a time he operated a golf driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
and recreation center on M-24
M-24 (Michigan highway)
M-24 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan that extends through Southeast Michigan, from northeast Auburn Hills to Unionville. It starts at an interchange with Interstate 75 and ends where it merges with M-25...
in Lake Orion, Michigan
Lake Orion, Michigan
Lake Orion is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,973 at the 2010 census. "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the much larger Orion Township, of which the village is a part....
, which also served as a location for Detroit Lions special events.
In April 2006, Weger made a donation to the Sebo Athletic Center project at Bowling Green. A training room in the new facility is named in his honor.