TOLEDO, Ohio — Chuck Ealey was the perfect college quarterback.
Playing for Toledo from 1969-71, Ealey set a record that still stands, finishing his career 35-0 as a starter.
Yet "The Wizard of Oohs and Ahs" as he was nicknamed, has been mostly forgotten outside northwest Ohio, despite three Mid-American Conference player of the year awards and three bowl victories.
His accomplishments, though, won't qualify for a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame because Ealey was never selected to a first-team All-America list recognized by the National Football Foundation.
Now his fans are pushing the foundation to change those rules so that players who starred at mid-major schools have a better chance of getting in the hall.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2007-12-04-286564248_x.h...
go to http://inductchuck.com
(admin edit added http://)
...,and his wife when I drove them in the UT Homecoming Parade. Not only should his record - which hasn't been bested by anyone - qualify him for induction, but he's a gentleman, as well, whose character represents all that a role model should...
Truly deserving! Sign the petition!!!
I was a student at the University when Chuck was playing. I have been to only one football game since then. I loved to watch him play. He was one hell of an athlete and field general. I remember that he played in the Canadian Football League because the NFL said he was too short (6 ft), yet he led his Canadian team to a couple of championships. He could have played in the NFL, but he would have to be a wide receiver if he played. Chuck stuck to his guns and played quarterback, and, a great quarterback he was. What I remember about him most was that he came to visit a little league team I was coaching. The kids I coached are almost 50 years old and they still talk about Chuck even though the last time they saw him was 1970.
James you should try to attend a few UT games. My father attended at the same time as you and like you hadn't attended a game since. I got him a ticket to a game in '97 and he thought it was better than any game he's seen in any other college football conference. Since then he's attended at least one game each year.
Chuck should be allowed in. The "mid-major's" have been consistently discriminated against since the 1950's. This has only recently been tried to be reversed in the NCAA but then only came about through the threat of congressional intervention.
The NCAA likes to say it's about the student athletes and not about the money. Keeping Chuck out shows that statement is not true. There is no logical reason not to put Chuck in the hall.
MikeyA