Manny “Greek” Stoupis

Manny “Greek” Stoupis began his collegiate career at University of Pittsburgh in 1955 before transferring to Emory & Henry to play football his sophomore through senior years. He was an All-State Tackle, a Methodist All-American and a Scripps-Howard All-American. He was named to the First Team for both the Little Eight and Knoxville Journal All-Area teams. Stoupis was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

In 1958, the year that Stoupis received his All-State, All-Area, and All-American honors, the Wasps went 7-2 and were Little Eight Conference Champions. Stoupis was a two-way starter on the team, playing both offense and defense.

In 1960, Stoupis signed as a free agent for the Buffalo Bills. After a brief stint in the NFL, he returned to his native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was a starter and offensive captain for the semi-professional “Pittsburgh Ironmen” from 1963-68. He also began a 35-year career with U.S. Steel as a blast furnace general foreman and supervisor, and he worked as a construction inspector for the Turnpike Commission of Pennsylvania.

Stoupis served for years as a line coach for the McKeesport Tigers midget football team, which won the midget league World Championship four years. He also coached at a McKeesport Area High School, where he coached three Division I All-Americans – all of whom went on to play professional football.

Manuel Stoupis died on September 25, 2014 at age 78.