Chuck Ealey
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chuck" Ealey is a former football player for Notre Dame High School
, University of Toledo
, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
.
under Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, Ed Miller. In 1967, under his leadership, Notre Dame captured its first Ohio High School Athletic Association
state championship. Ealey was lightly recruited despite finishing his high school career with an undefeated record. He was offered a football scholarship to Miami University
with then Coach Bo Schembechler
to be the team's third-string quarterback, but Ealey refused. He was then offered a scholarship to the University of Toledo
to start as first-string quarterback, which he accepted and would lead Toledo to 35 consecutive wins in a three-year span from 1969–1971, an NCAA record that still stands, ranking ahead of players such as the University of Miami
's Ken Dorsey
and USC
's Matt Leinart
.
His greatest triumph with Toledo was helping the Toledo Rockets win the 1970 Tangerine Bowl
. Ealey led the Toledo Rockets to three straight Top 20 finishes and three straight Tangerine Bowl
victories during their run of unbeaten seasons, winning the MVP award in all three games.
In 1971, Ealey's senior season, he was named First Team All-American by Football News, Second Team All-American by United Press International, and Third Team All-American by the Associated Press
. He also finished eighth in the voting for the 1971 Heisman Trophy
, which was awarded to Pat Sullivan
of Auburn
. Ealey finished his career as a three-time first team all-conference selection, and a three-time Back of the Year selection in the Mid-American Conference
, leading the conference in passing yards in 1970 and 1971. His jersey is one of only four retired jerseys in the history of Toledo football, and was elected to the MAC Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1988.
Despite all his amateur accomplishments, Ealey is not a member of the College Football Hall of Fame
. He was passed by in the 1972 NFL Draft
, during a time in which most NFL franchises did not seriously consider African-American quarterbacks.
of the Canadian Football League
(CFL). He did not start as QB until game four, but then proceeded to have an astonishing rookie season, leading Hamilton to an 11-3 record (good for first place in the East), winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
and becoming an All-Star. Best of all, he helped secure a thrilling 13-10 last minute victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
in the 60th Grey Cup
, when he also won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
award after passing for 291 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 63 yards.
He later played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
in 1974 and 1975 and with the Toronto Argonauts
, for 48 games, in 1975 to 1978. Ealey suffered a career ending collapsed lung injury in 1978. In total, Ealey played for seven seasons with Hamilton, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
, and the Toronto Argonauts
, passing for 13,326 yards and 82 touchdown
s.
Wave 94.7. He currently lives in Brampton
, with his wife, three kids and four grandchildren. Ealey's son, Damon, also played football for the University of Toledo in 1995. A documentary film on his life, Undefeated: The Chuck Ealey Story was aired on November 27, 2008, in Toledo and scheduled for DVD release in December. Chuck Ealey is one of a number of black athletes featured in the book for young readers, Choice of Colours: The Pioneering African-American Quarterbacks Who Changed the Face of Football (2008). He is also an honorary initiate of Kappa Delta Rho
Fraternity.
Notre Dame High School (Portsmouth, Ohio)
Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Portsmouth, Ohio, which is located in Scioto County in Southern Ohio. It is a part of the Diocese of Columbus. Their mascot is the Titans...
, University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
.
High school and college years
From 1964 to 1967, Ealey played for Notre Dame High SchoolNotre Dame High School (Portsmouth, Ohio)
Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Portsmouth, Ohio, which is located in Scioto County in Southern Ohio. It is a part of the Diocese of Columbus. Their mascot is the Titans...
under Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, Ed Miller. In 1967, under his leadership, Notre Dame captured its first Ohio High School Athletic Association
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...
state championship. Ealey was lightly recruited despite finishing his high school career with an undefeated record. He was offered a football scholarship to Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
with then Coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
to be the team's third-string quarterback, but Ealey refused. He was then offered a scholarship to the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
to start as first-string quarterback, which he accepted and would lead Toledo to 35 consecutive wins in a three-year span from 1969–1971, an NCAA record that still stands, ranking ahead of players such as the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
's Ken Dorsey
Ken Dorsey
Kenneth Simon "Ken" Dorsey is a former football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami, Dorsey played for the Cleveland Browns from 2006–2008...
and USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart
Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
.
His greatest triumph with Toledo was helping the Toledo Rockets win the 1970 Tangerine Bowl
1970 Tangerine Bowl
The 1970 Tangerine Bowl pitched the Toledo Rockets to the William & Mary Indians on 28 December 1970, and ended with a 40-12 victory of the Rockets. -References:...
. Ealey led the Toledo Rockets to three straight Top 20 finishes and three straight Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
victories during their run of unbeaten seasons, winning the MVP award in all three games.
In 1971, Ealey's senior season, he was named First Team All-American by Football News, Second Team All-American by United Press International, and Third Team All-American by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He also finished eighth in the voting for the 1971 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, which was awarded to Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
of Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. Ealey finished his career as a three-time first team all-conference selection, and a three-time Back of the Year selection in the 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...
, leading the conference in passing yards in 1970 and 1971. His jersey is one of only four retired jerseys in the history of Toledo football, and was elected to the MAC Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1988.
Despite all his amateur accomplishments, Ealey is not a member of the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
. He was passed by in 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:...
, during a time in which most NFL franchises did not seriously consider African-American quarterbacks.
Canadian football career
In 1972, Ealey signed with the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of 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....
(CFL). He did not start as QB until game four, but then proceeded to have an astonishing rookie season, leading Hamilton to an 11-3 record (good for first place in the East), winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
and becoming an All-Star. Best of all, he helped secure a thrilling 13-10 last minute victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in the 60th Grey Cup
60th Grey Cup
The 60th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1972 before 33,993 fans at the Ivor Wynne Stadium at Hamilton. It was the last Grey Cup played in December...
, when he also won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award is awarded annually to the player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game.-Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Award winners:...
award after passing for 291 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 63 yards.
He later played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
in 1974 and 1975 and with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, for 48 games, in 1975 to 1978. Ealey suffered a career ending collapsed lung injury in 1978. In total, Ealey played for seven seasons with Hamilton, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, and the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, passing for 13,326 yards and 82 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
After football
Ealey is now a Regional Director for Investors Group in Mississauga. He also can be heard on Wednesday afternoons on the radio, giving helpful investment tips and advice on CIWV-FMCIWV-FM
CHKX-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 94.7 FM from Hamilton, Ontario and licensed to "Hamilton/Burlington." The station airs a country music format branded as KX 94.7...
Wave 94.7. He currently lives in Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
, with his wife, three kids and four grandchildren. Ealey's son, Damon, also played football for the University of Toledo in 1995. A documentary film on his life, Undefeated: The Chuck Ealey Story was aired on November 27, 2008, in Toledo and scheduled for DVD release in December. Chuck Ealey is one of a number of black athletes featured in the book for young readers, Choice of Colours: The Pioneering African-American Quarterbacks Who Changed the Face of Football (2008). He is also an honorary initiate of Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho is an American college social fraternity, with 77 chapters spread out over the United States, primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions...
Fraternity.
External links
- Chuck Ealey's Bio
- Official website
- InductChuck.com Campaign to enshrine Chuck Ealey into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Exhibit on Chuck Ealey on Toledo' Attic.