Quote:I'm on a mission to right an injustice and need your help. I'm leading a grassroots, volunteer campaign to get the National Football Foundation (NFF) to change their selection criteria for inducting players into the College Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF). This rule change will impact the lives of over ninety (90 players) at fifty-eight (58) colleges (see a player sample below).

The campaign is called “InductChuck” and you can help in five simple ways:

Visit the website http://www.inductchuck.com to sign the petition

Tell you friends, family and colleagues to sign the petition

Connect us to the following types of people for endorsements of the rule change:

College or professional football players and coaches

Alumni of the College Football Hall of Fame

College Athletic Directors

Conference Executives example: Big Ten, SEC, PAC 10, etc.

Connect us to media outlets and sports writers to help spread the word

Make a donation to help defer over $50,000 in debt incurred to set up the infrastructure required to operate this nationwide campaign. Credit card donations can be made on the website http://www.inductchuck.com.

Thanks for helping my colleague, Matt Armstead, and I change the rules and the lives of these great players. We appreciate your financial support! Have a great week!

PS - Who is Chuck Ealey?

Please ask the next person that you run into “what quarterback holds the record for most consecutive wins (35-0) in NCAA and Amateur football history? Here are some hints. He was 8th in the Heisman Trophy, won three consecutive bowl games, led his team to a 12th ranking by the AP, was conference player of the year three consecutive years, and was rated first team all-American by the Football News. His name, Chuck Ealey, QB for The University of Toledo Rockets from 1969-1971. It’s hard to believe that Chuck Ealey is not eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

PSS - What other players would become eligible?

With your help over ninety (90) players including Chuck Ealey, Drew Bledsoe, Brady Quinn, Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Drew Brees, Bernie Kosar, Eli Manning, Tom Matte, Boomer Isiason, Steve McNair, Jim Everett, Jim Harbaugh, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason, Trent Dilfer, and Byron Leftwich will become eligible for induction. These players share three things in common: 1) they are not recognized by the NFF as first team all-Americans, 2) they are Heisman Trophy Finalists, and 3) they are not eligible for induction into the CFHOF.

PSS - Why is Chuck Ealey not eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame?

The first NFF screening criteria states “first and foremost a player must be recognized as a first team all-American by an approved selector.” In 1971 the Football News was not an approved selector. Research shows that over ninety (90) players (from 58 colleges and universities) since 1935 have been Heisman Trophy Finalists but were not first team all-Americans. Thus they too are not eligible for induction.

It’s worth noting that Archie Manning was inducted in 1989 despite the fact that he was not recognized as a first team all-American by an approved selector. Interestingly he was named first team all-American by the Football News in 1969 and 1970 (like Chuck Ealey in 1972). The NFF and the CFHOF has yet to answer the question “why was Archie Manning’s nomination form allowed through the screening process and Chuck Ealey’s wasn’t?” We believe that the NFF can rectify this unfortunate situation by simply changing their first rule to state “first team all-American or Top 10 Heisman Finalist.” Then Archie and Chuck will both be eligible.

Please visit http://www.inductchuck.com to sign the petition, send a link to your friends, and make a donation.