 TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
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By Brian Nowicki Nobody could have imagined what was about to happen when the Rockets took the field on September 20, 1969. The scene was Glass Bowl Stadium in Toledo, OH. The Rockets were hosting Villanova and starting a new QB, Chuck Ealey. A QB, who went undefeated (30-0) in high school. By the time the game was over, a 45-18 victory for UT, Rocket fans knew there was something special about Chuck Ealey. Over the next three seasons Chuck Ealey and the Toledo Rockets would capture the attention of the college football world with each and every victory. Three straight MAC Championships. Three straight Tangerine Bowl victories. Three straight undefeated seasons. A 35 game winning streak, 2nd longest in moderm Division I college football history. And when it was time for Chuck to take the field in a Toledo Rocket uniform for the last time, his emotions came out. "Believe it or not I was a little sad" said Chuck Ealey. "I mean I suddenly realized that this was the last time I would be playing with my teammates and friends." Chuck Ealey made his way into the college football record books with a 35-0 record over his three seasons at Toledo. Rocket fans and local media called him "The Wizard of Oohs and Aahs" because of his uncanny ability to lead the Rockets to victory no matter how difficult the task seemed. This was a special time and it is only fitting that Chuck Ealey and his Toledo Rocket football teams be featured in a documentary. Andrew Langenderfer and Matthew Choma agree. Langenderfer and Choma are graduates of the University of Toledo and big fans of the football program. They had been working on various projects, ranging from ad campaigns to TV pilots to movie scripts in various stages of development. One project was to find a way to promote the Mid-American Conference, and to be more specific the Toledo Rockets. "One morning, Andy comes in to work with a new idea: The Chuck Ealey Story" said Matthew Choma. Andy and Matt contacted Chuck Ealey to get his blessings on pursuing the story. "I was a little suspect at first because of experience with other's ideas that never take off" said Chuck Ealey. "These guys followed up." As they continued on with the project, Andy and Matt began to realize just how amazing the 35 game winning streak was. "Our nation was at war in Vietnam where brothers, cousins, and friends of the Rockets were dying" said Matt. "Protests were common place on campuses across the country. Three civil rights leaders were assassinated the year prior to the start of the streak." Chuck Ealey, an African-American quarterback in Division I college football which was a rarity at the time, overcame all of the obstacles. "I believe you can accomplish anything through all kinds of circumstances" said Ealey, "both from a team perspective and a personal perspective." Andy added "the sport story itself is unbelievable, but to add the human interest story with the backdrop of this racial and chaotic period, this film has the potential to reach a very broad audience. Andy and Matt sent proposal packages to ESPN and BCSN. "The project has picked up momentum since our meetings with BCSN and some of the preliminary interviews we have done to date" said Andy. Those interviews include Chuck Ealey, Frank Lauterbur, Jack Murphy, Lou Holtz, and Christine Brennan. Their goals on this project are to produce a feature length documentary film to showcase before a national audience. "We are hoping to showcase our film at film festivals in 2006-2007" said Andy. "We would like to have production complete by early to mid 2006." Then they will begin preliminary work on a feature film of Chuck Ealey's story, which will showcase many parallels on the struggles of African-Americans during the civil rights movement and the incredible streak. They also want to help get Chuck Ealey inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Finally, I asked Chuck what he thought of the recent push by Rocket fans and administrators to get him into the College Football Hall of Fame. "I am both honored and humbled by those that have taken on this challenge" said Chuck. "I want to thank them very much for their respect for my performance. The greatest time in my life came through those years at Toledo. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and all those I came in contact with for a wonderful life experience." Chuck Ealey, thank you for everything you have done for the University, African-Americans, and the Toledo community. Most importantly, thank you for all the memories. You truly are "The Wizard of Oohs and Aahs!" Have a question or comment for Brian? Email |