Modesto JC honors former star at “Paul Wiggin Day”

Paul Wiggin doubts that many of the Modesto Junior College Pirates will know him.

He turns 80 next month and, truth be told, his autumn with the 1952 Pirates happened before many of the present-day Pirates’ parents were even born.

“They’ll probably wonder, ‘What does this old geezer know about football?’” Wiggin said this week. “I guess I can tell them about the importance of mental toughness. I learned that at Modesto.”

The 2014 Pirates may not be familiar with Wiggin, but they can read a resume. And when they do, they’ll understand why he’s one of the most acclaimed football stars in MJC football history.

Wiggin, born in Modesto and raised in Lathrop, returns to MJC for the first time in more than 60 years for “Paul Wiggin Day” at Saturday night’s game against Laney. He’ll be honored at an open-to-the-public reception from 4 until 5:30 p.m. at MJC Gym, and he’ll also be recognized at halftime.

But before that, Wiggin also will address the team as he returns to an MJC football game for the first time since his playing days in ‘52. Who knew, back then, that he was planting the seeds of a career that would result in his induction into seven halls of fame (two in Modesto)?

“MJC can be a stepping stone to things beyond your imagination,” head coach Sam Young said. “Paul didn’t realize he could go on to Stanford or the NFL when he came to MJC, but it can happen. Anything is possible. That is the main point. Being an educated person is the first step.”

Wiggin, a graduate of Manteca High, eventually became an All-American at Stanford, a two-time All-Pro lineman and a member of the 1964 NFL champion Cleveland Browns. Incredibly, he never missed a game in 146 straight regular-season games.

So began a 55-year career as a player, coach and administrator in the NFL. It continues to this day as a pro personnel and advance scout for the Minnesota Vikings. He served as a head coach at the Kansas City Chiefs (1975-77) and Stanford (1980-83) and also was the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and defensive line coach for both the Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers.

But long before then, Wiggin competed in four sports at Manteca High. He didn’t receive major attention from four-year schools, however, until he was invited to take part in the inaugural Shrine High School North-South Classic at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

“The two biggest things that ever happened to me was winning the championship with the Browns in ‘64 and being invited to the Shrine game,” Wiggin said. “If you knew the highs and lows of my life to that point, you can’t imagine how big a thing that was for me to go to Los Angeles for that game.”

Wiggin starred in that game, in fact, and his father advised him to contact Stanford coach Chuck Taylor. He advised Wiggin to attend junior college for a season, tend to his grades and check with him a year later. So Wiggin spent the 1952-53 school year at MJC. The ‘52 Pirates went 7-2 and Wiggin excelled along with teammates Stan Galas, Don Odishoo, Stan Beasley and others.

Sure enough, he transferred to Stanford and became a three-year starter at defensive tackle. He earned first-team all-league and All-American honors in both 1955 and ‘56. Later, Wiggin was named the Stanford Defensive Player of the Century in fan balloting.

“I always wanted to go to Stanford but I didn’t have the grades (at Manteca) to earn it,” Wiggin said. “I’m really indebted to MJC and my coaches Stan Pavko and Chuck Coker,” Wiggin said. “More important than that, my parents met there!”

This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Modesto JC honors former star at “Paul Wiggin Day”."