2008 Woodie Awards
'InductChuck' to begin
UT alums start campaign to change rules to induct record-holding Rocket quarterback into the College Football Hall of Fame
Christa Hieber
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Sports
Ask any sports fan to name the college quarterback with the most consecutive wins, and it's likely they won't know the answer.
Chuck Ealey, the University of Toledo's starting quarterback from 1969 to 1971, is that quarterback.
Ealey led the Rockets to 35-straight Division I football games and UT earned Associated Press Top-25 votes in all three years including a No. 12 ranking in 1971.
He also ran the Rocket offense and helped the team win three-straight Tangerine Bowls and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1971.
His statistics appear to be a shoe-in for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame, but unfortunately for Ealey and UT, he has been left out of ballot consideration due to a technicality.
According to the National Football Foundation, its main standard for consideration into the College Football Hall of Fame is that the candidate must have received First Team All-America recognition by one of five media outlets recognized by the NCAA.
When The Football News named Ealey a First Team All-American in 1971, the publication was not one of the NCAA sanctioned media outlets. The Football News, which became a sanctioned member in 1993, along with the Associated Press, United Press International, Football Writers Association of American, American Football Coaches Association and the Newspaper Enterprise Association, are the current outlets that choose players to name as All-Americans.
UT alums Rick Longenecker and Matt Armstead leveraged their networks around the country to start The Chuck Ealey Foundation - a grass-roots campaign created in hopes of getting Ealey inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
"I've always wanted to give back in a unique way, not just write a check; this was the perfect opportunity," Armstead said. "More importantly, Chuck Ealey is an amazing athlete and wonderful human being in which his character and undefeated spirit has inspired Rick and I every step of the way to create a virtual community and a foundation in his name to ensure he and Toledo are rightfully recognized."
Chuck Ealey, the University of Toledo's starting quarterback from 1969 to 1971, is that quarterback.
Ealey led the Rockets to 35-straight Division I football games and UT earned Associated Press Top-25 votes in all three years including a No. 12 ranking in 1971.
He also ran the Rocket offense and helped the team win three-straight Tangerine Bowls and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1971.
His statistics appear to be a shoe-in for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame, but unfortunately for Ealey and UT, he has been left out of ballot consideration due to a technicality.
According to the National Football Foundation, its main standard for consideration into the College Football Hall of Fame is that the candidate must have received First Team All-America recognition by one of five media outlets recognized by the NCAA.
When The Football News named Ealey a First Team All-American in 1971, the publication was not one of the NCAA sanctioned media outlets. The Football News, which became a sanctioned member in 1993, along with the Associated Press, United Press International, Football Writers Association of American, American Football Coaches Association and the Newspaper Enterprise Association, are the current outlets that choose players to name as All-Americans.
UT alums Rick Longenecker and Matt Armstead leveraged their networks around the country to start The Chuck Ealey Foundation - a grass-roots campaign created in hopes of getting Ealey inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
"I've always wanted to give back in a unique way, not just write a check; this was the perfect opportunity," Armstead said. "More importantly, Chuck Ealey is an amazing athlete and wonderful human being in which his character and undefeated spirit has inspired Rick and I every step of the way to create a virtual community and a foundation in his name to ensure he and Toledo are rightfully recognized."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Beth Hieber
posted 10/04/07 @ 7:02 PM EST
Enjoyed this article. Mr. Ealey played at UT before I attended, but I remember his great accomplishments.
Vicki Haley - Stone Mountain, Georgia
posted 10/19/07 @ 11:31 PM EST
I find it totally unbelievable that a man with such a record is NOT already in the Hall of Fame. It makes no sense at all to me. This man holds a record that no one soon will break, not to mention his character! I have known Chuck for most of my life and he has ALWAYS been very humble and kind and caring. (Continued…)
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