Calvin Harrell
Encyclopedia
Calvin Harrell was a college American football
and professional Canadian football
running back
, ranking among the top players in Arkansas State
history. During Harrell's college career with the Indians (now renamed Red Wolves), the team under head coach Bennie Ellender
played in three Pecan Bowl
s, one of the regional bowls that comprised the post season for the College Division of the NCAA, and won the national small college championship with an undefeated season in 1970.
Harrell was a major force in the last two Pecan Bowls for the Indians, rushing for 160 and a touchdown in 1969 when ASU beat Drake University
29-21. He ran for 135 yards in the 1970 Pecan Bowl, a 38 to 21 win over Central Missouri State University that gave the Indians the number one ranking and the championship.
Harrell was selected an All-America College Division by the American Football Coaches Association
in 1970 and 1971, as well as an Associated Press Second Team All-America in both years. Following his college career, he played in the 1971 North South Shrine Game.
of the National Football League
in the seventh round of the 1972 NFL Draft
, but elected instead to play in the Canadian Football League
. He played 5 seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos
, gained 1,419 yards rushing on 346 carries and caught 116 passes for 1,203 yards in 45 CFL games. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns and added another seven receiving.
Harrell scored the only touchdown for the Eskimos in the 1974 Grey Cup
, where they lost to the Montreal Alouettes
, 20 to 7. He scored the touchdown on an eight yard reception, fumbling before he reached the end zone. He managed to recover his own fumble for the score.
after spending time in farming, police work, coaching and restaurants. He eventually joined Aetna
Insurance.
Harrell died in 1994 at the age of 44.
All-First Decade team (1964-1973). He was also named to the All-Time ASU Team during the 1976 season.
Harrell was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, was the first inductee in the Arkansas State University Ring of Honor in 1996 and had his number retired by the team in that same year. He was also inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Honor in 1994.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and professional Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, ranking among the top players in Arkansas State
Arkansas State Red Wolves
The Arkansas State University Red Wolves is the name given to Arkansas State University's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division I status.-History:...
history. During Harrell's college career with the Indians (now renamed Red Wolves), the team under head coach Bennie Ellender
Bennie Ellender
-External links:*...
played in three Pecan Bowl
Pecan Bowl
Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA...
s, one of the regional bowls that comprised the post season for the College Division of the NCAA, and won the national small college championship with an undefeated season in 1970.
College career
At 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 222 pounds, Harrell was a tough running back for a rush oriented ASU offense. He ran for 2.935 yards in four seasons to rank 5th among the top rushers in team history and his career 18 100-yard games still ranks second all-time. His 1970 rushing performance against The Citadel with 252 yards is the second best single game yardage total in team history.Harrell was a major force in the last two Pecan Bowls for the Indians, rushing for 160 and a touchdown in 1969 when ASU beat Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
29-21. He ran for 135 yards in the 1970 Pecan Bowl, a 38 to 21 win over Central Missouri State University that gave the Indians the number one ranking and the championship.
Harrell was selected an All-America College Division by the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
in 1970 and 1971, as well as an Associated Press Second Team All-America in both years. Following his college career, he played in the 1971 North South Shrine Game.
Professional career
Following his collegiate career, Harrell was drafted by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in the seventh round of the 1972 NFL Draft
1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, but elected instead to play in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He played 5 seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, gained 1,419 yards rushing on 346 carries and caught 116 passes for 1,203 yards in 45 CFL games. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns and added another seven receiving.
Harrell scored the only touchdown for the Eskimos in the 1974 Grey Cup
62nd Grey Cup
The 62nd Grey Cup was played on November 24, 1974 before 32,454 fans at Empire Stadium at Vancouver. The Montreal Alouettes beat the Edmonton Eskimos 20 to 7 on rain slick field...
, where they lost to the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, 20 to 7. He scored the touchdown on an eight yard reception, fumbling before he reached the end zone. He managed to recover his own fumble for the score.
Post playing career
Harrell returned to Arkansas and his wife's hometown of AugustaAugusta, Arkansas
Augusta is a city in Woodruff County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,693 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Woodruff County.-Geography:Augusta is located at ....
after spending time in farming, police work, coaching and restaurants. He eventually joined Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
Insurance.
Harrell died in 1994 at the age of 44.
Honors
Following the 1973 season, Harrell was named to the Southland ConferenceSouthland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
All-First Decade team (1964-1973). He was also named to the All-Time ASU Team during the 1976 season.
Harrell was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, was the first inductee in the Arkansas State University Ring of Honor in 1996 and had his number retired by the team in that same year. He was also inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Honor in 1994.