Willie McQueen
Encyclopedia
Willie McQueen is a double amputee from Flint, Michigan
who gained substantial renown by starting for his school's football
team.
In 1994, McQueen lost both of his legs after a train accident in Birmingham, Alabama
. While McQueen was playing with two of his cousins, one of his shoelaces became entangled with the undercarriage of a nearby train, and he was dragged behind it for 50 yard
s before it came to a stop. As a result of the injuries he sustained, both of his legs were removed just below the hip.
When McQueen reached seventh grade at Southwestern Academy
in Flint, he decided to try out for his school's football team. Coach Adrian Phillips was initially skeptical, but he agreed to let McQueen try out for the squad after receiving medical clearance and permission from McQueen's mother. The 3'1" teen started out sixth on the depth chart at defensive tackle, but steadily passed the competition until he ultimately became the starter. A wheelchair
user off the field, McQueen propelled himself during game situations by walking on his hands. His quickness and low center of gravity
made him difficult for offensive players to block
, and he also made a name for himself as one of the team's most sure-handed tackle
rs.
In an article published by the Associated Press
, McQueen cited the San Francisco 49ers
as his favorite team, and stated the goals of playing for the 49ers and becoming a coach after graduation. After hearing about McQueen's story, the 49ers flew him and his parents to San Francisco as a guest of the team for the weekend. McQueen met with team players on December 16, 2000, then attended the team's game against the Chicago Bears
the next day. Calling McQueen an "inspiration", wide receiver
Terrell Owens
promised to catch a touchdown
for his visitor, then did so and delivered the ball to McQueen after the game. Four years later, former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci
brought McQueen as a guest to the practice facility of his new team, the Detroit Lions
.
McQueen's story was featured on episode #201 of the television program Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which aired on TBS on September 26, 2001., and on episode #5 of the ESPN2
series Timeless, which aired February 5, 2005. In an interview, Timeless host Dhani Jones
cited McQueen's story as one of the two most memorable of the show's first season.
In 2006, McQueen began coaching basketball
for an Amateur Athletic Union
team in Flint, Michigan.
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
who gained substantial renown by starting for his school's football
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...
team.
In 1994, McQueen lost both of his legs after a train accident in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. While McQueen was playing with two of his cousins, one of his shoelaces became entangled with the undercarriage of a nearby train, and he was dragged behind it for 50 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s before it came to a stop. As a result of the injuries he sustained, both of his legs were removed just below the hip.
When McQueen reached seventh grade at Southwestern Academy
Southwestern Academy
Southwestern Academy is a nonprofit, coeducational college preparatory school for grades 6-12, with two campuses—one in San Marino, California, and the other in Rimrock, Arizona, USA. The school is accredited by WASC...
in Flint, he decided to try out for his school's football team. Coach Adrian Phillips was initially skeptical, but he agreed to let McQueen try out for the squad after receiving medical clearance and permission from McQueen's mother. The 3'1" teen started out sixth on the depth chart at defensive tackle, but steadily passed the competition until he ultimately became the starter. A wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user off the field, McQueen propelled himself during game situations by walking on his hands. His quickness and low center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
made him difficult for offensive players to block
Blocking (American football)
In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player's path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback while attempting to pass or hand-off the ball...
, and he also made a name for himself as one of the team's most sure-handed tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
rs.
In an article published 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...
, McQueen cited the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as his favorite team, and stated the goals of playing for the 49ers and becoming a coach after graduation. After hearing about McQueen's story, the 49ers flew him and his parents to San Francisco as a guest of the team for the weekend. McQueen met with team players on December 16, 2000, then attended the team's game against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
the next day. Calling McQueen an "inspiration", wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
promised to catch a 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:...
for his visitor, then did so and delivered the ball to McQueen after the game. Four years later, former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci
Steve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
brought McQueen as a guest to the practice facility of his new team, the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
McQueen's story was featured on episode #201 of the television program Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which aired on TBS on September 26, 2001., and on episode #5 of the ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
series Timeless, which aired February 5, 2005. In an interview, Timeless host Dhani Jones
Dhani Jones
Dhani Makalani Jones is a former American football linebacker who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning All-Big Ten honors for three straight seasons. He was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of...
cited McQueen's story as one of the two most memorable of the show's first season.
In 2006, McQueen began coaching basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
for an Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team in Flint, Michigan.