Ernie Warlick
Encyclopedia
Ernest "Ernie" "Big Hoss" Warlick (born February 21, 1930 in Washington, D.C.
) is a former tight end
from North Carolina Central University
who played American collegiate and Professional Football
as well as Canadian Professional Football
. After starring at North Carolina Central
, where he also lettered in basketball, he played 4 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
. He then joined the American Football League
's Buffalo Bills
in 1962. He had an average of 17.2 yd/catch with the Bills, while the team earned three straight Eastern Division titles and two American Football League championships, and a 20.8 yd/catch average in 1964. In 1964, he helped the Bills win their first AFL championship game against the San Diego Chargers
, 20-7, when he caught two passes for 41 yards. In the 1965 AFL championship game, when offensive linemen Billy Shaw
and Dave Behrman
were injured, Warlick helped bolster the Bills' offensive blocking in a double tight end offense. In that game, he also scored the first touchdown in the Bills' 23-0 victory over the Chargers
, on an eighteen yard pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Jack Kemp
.
He was selected to the American Football League All-Star Team every year he was in the league, in 1962, '63, '64, and '65. He was the first African-American sportscaster on Buffalo
television, was elected to the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 1998, and received the Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is a former tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
from North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
who played American collegiate and Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
as well as Canadian Professional Football
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....
. After starring at North Carolina Central
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, where he also lettered in basketball, he played 4 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon 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....
. He then joined the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1962. He had an average of 17.2 yd/catch with the Bills, while the team earned three straight Eastern Division titles and two American Football League championships, and a 20.8 yd/catch average in 1964. In 1964, he helped the Bills win their first AFL championship game against the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 20-7, when he caught two passes for 41 yards. In the 1965 AFL championship game, when offensive linemen Billy Shaw
Billy Shaw
William Lewis "Billy" Shaw is an American former college and professional football player.Drafted in 1961 by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, Billy Shaw of Georgia Tech was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like...
and Dave Behrman
Dave Behrman
David Wesley Behrman is a former American football offensive lineman in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.-Buffalo Bills:...
were injured, Warlick helped bolster the Bills' offensive blocking in a double tight end offense. In that game, he also scored the first touchdown in the Bills' 23-0 victory over the Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, on an eighteen yard pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
television, was elected to the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 1998, and received the Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. is the founder, owner and president of NFL's Buffalo Bills. He was one of the founding owners of the American Football League, the league that the NFL merged with in 1970. He is the oldest owner in the National Football League, at age...
Distinguished Service Award in 2000.