An Interview With The Best Athlete You Know The Least About, Chuck Ealey

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fl) I recently was researching an article on how Greg McElroy of Alabama might be the fist quarterback to go undefeated in his high school and college career as a starter when I discovered that not only had it been done before, but discovered a fascinating story to go along with the man who did it.

That story can be seen here .

It tells how a young man from a iron rust town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains went from the projects to the heights of college football winning every game he started for three years in a row for a college record of 35-0.

This is a record that no one in almost 40 years has climbed back to. It was the story of a man who went undefeated as a starter through high school and college, who overcame the obstacles of the 60's segregation and is being unfairly snubbed by the NCAA, and press writers of his day and who still today deny him being placed in the College Football Hall of Fame.

I sought out this unique man with such an inspirational story and found him still living, still inspiring and still being a role model today. And though I've rubbed elbows and talked to greats like Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Bart Starr, none have given me the goosebumps of getting to interview this great man, the only man, to be undefeated as an amateur athlete.

Question: Chuck, when you left the "poor side of town" to play for the private "white" school in high school, was there much resentment from your schoolmates?

Chuck: The high school I went to was all white with about six black students at that time. There was never any outward resentment but the nature of the times, late 60s, had its own problems. Winning can cure all ills.

(Author's note) Chuck replaced an undefeated QB at his high school who they moved to tight end. Many thought the coach was crazy, but he recognized Chuck's talent was far superior and stood by his decision. Like Chuck said, once the team started steam rolling opponents, any resentment soon disappeared.

Question: When you went to Toledo, also predominately white, was there any resentment there? From the movies and stories of the 60's like "Express", the Earnie Davis story there sure seemed to be.

Chuck: Again no resentment that I saw. It helped that I had gone to a school that was predominantly white (in high school) because it allowed me to see and understand the other side of issues. Again winning was the cure.

(Author's note) It also didn't hurt that Chuck brought along a lifelong friend, Jim Goodman, a white player from his high school, to play on that team. Seeing that bond helped the other whites see that Chuck didn't see color, just team.

Question: Let's talk about pressure...Did you feel more as a first year quarterback trying to prove yourself, or as a senior with a shot of going undefeated, or was there something that caused even more pressure.

Chuck: I felt a little more pressure as a sophomore because I took over for a senior quarterback that was now my backup. Some of his classmates were still on the team. As a senior there was just me.

(Author's note) Again, this coach was put on a hot seat for starting a younger more inexperienced quarterback, but just as in high school, as Chuck likes to say, "Winning cures all ills".

Question: I watched the movie "The Express" about Ernie Davis and saw the troubles he went through at the bowl games in the South with blacks in hotels and even certain restaurants. Did you go through any of that in Orlando? (Chuck played and won three straight Tangerine Bowls in Orlando, now the Capitol One Citrus Bowl)

Chuck: No I did not go through any noticeable changes in the way I was treated in Orlando.

(Author's note) I asked if he had met any other of blacks from his era like Earnie Davis who had it so rough and he said he never did and since he left college for Canada to play in the CFL, where he still lives, he still hasn't.

Question: I have met and interviewed a few of these players and some still hold much bitterness from that time, you on the other hand, have the reputation of being the most cheerful upbeat person they've ever met. Why are you that way and what helped you let go of the bad things that fell upon you?

Chuck: Well I am thankful to my mother. She impressed on me the number one thing for me was to get an education. My goal was never playing professional ball but to graduate. I did that on time and playing pro was a bonus. I knew the issues of the day and I was not about to let that control my attitude with life.

Question: I have personally started a mini campaign of my own to make people aware of your stupendous records and story and to point as many as I can to the induct Chuck website. Have you heard from the college football Hall of Fame about any progress in getting you enshrined?

Chuck: I will give you the persons who created the website and let him tell you. His name is Rick Longenecker. But let me say this. I have been blessed. I know what I have done along with my teammates and I am very comfortable in my skin.

(Author's note) According to Chuck, this is something that bothers other people more than it does him. He's content with the accomplishment and the friendships his life in sports brought him, but mostly for the education and degree he received.

Question: If you were given the chance, what would tell Greg McElroy, a Sr. at Alabama who is trying to become the second undefeated HS and college quarterback to help him?

Chuck: Keep focused on one play at a time. Don't get caught up in the information about the situation. The only thing that matters is the game you are in and the next play.

Question: Sometimes people are blown away with the comments of great men like yourself when they are asked what they feel their greatest achievement has been. What is yours?

Chuck: My three adult married children graduating from their university as the legacy of their grandmother who had only a eighth grade education.

Question: Was there one game or one moment in your sports career that topped all the others? If so, what was it?

Chuck: Winning the Grey Cup in Canada as a rookie, it was like the Canadian Super Bowl.

(Author's note) Like everywhere else he went, most thought the coach was foolish to have a young black man with no experience at this level starting as quarterback, but as he had done all of his life, Chuck simply won them all over by winning. Today he is a legend in Canada.

The more you learn about this man, the higher he goes on your own list of greatest athletes ever. To share ideas with this man puts him higher on your list of greatest men and role models of all time.

Using his degree he earned, he became a very successful financial planner in Canada and is involved in countless charity and community endeavors. He is a man who never seems capable of failing to be a role model and inspiration.

For the Alabama fans who I know will read this, Chuck said he met Nick Saban at Toledo the one season he coached there leading them to a 9-2 season and a share of the MAC conference championship. He said he was very impressed with his drive but hadn't seen him since.

This was a man thrown into situations that could have made him see only intolerance, ignorance and segregationist ways, but instead, he only saw the opportunity for education, a chance to pursue his sports dreams and a chance to make new friends.

This is Chuck's greatest legacy. This proves you find in life whatever you look for. If you look for the best in people and situations, you'll find it and live that life. If you look for the worst in situations and people, then that's the life you'll have.

To learn more of Chuck the man, the player and the legend, you can see the Emmy Award winning short documentary called "Undefeated, the Chuck Ealey Story" at http://www.wgte.org/wgte/item.asp?item_id=1892 See for yourself why the man deserves not only to be in the College Football Hall of Fame, but your own list of greatest athletes ever.

After watching that film, I invite all readers to sign the petition at http://www.inductchuck.com/ to help Chuck gain membership into the College Football Hall of Fame, a website not started and supported by Chuck, but his friends and fellow athletes who want to see this injustice undone.

I urge each reader who reads this article to live the rest of their lives as Chuck has his. Don't dwell on what you don't have, but build on what you do have. Don't regret what didn't happen the way you wanted, but enjoy the things that did and lastly realize that the only thing you really have control over is the thing you're doing right now. Don't live in the past or the future, but in the here and now to make a better future, for yourself and those around you.

We can only hope to live such a life.