Last week (before our little insignificant corner of the Michigan blogosphere was invaded by the Determiner's Army of correct fandom) I was in a presidential mood and posted a wallpaper of former football captain Gerald Ford. I was educated by one of our new posters named GoBlueChuck27 about the former Michigan All-American Chuck Bernard. To be honest up until this point he was just another guy on our long All-American list. As a result, I did some quick research.As it turns out, Chuck was basically a stud. He was a star for the Benton Harbor Tigers. He came to Ann Arbor and was a true 60 minute player, a two time All American and won two National Titles. He also played a season in the NFL for the 1934 Detroit Lions were he was a center, kicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner. I am hoping that GoBlueChuck27 can tell me why he only played in the NFL one year.
However, he is most famous for keeping future President Ford on the Michigan Stadium sidelines for 2 seasons. When asked in his later years about his greatest regret in life, Ford thought for a moment and said: "Well, I wanted to play more football as a sophomore and junior, but one year ahead of me, Michigan also had an All-American center, Chuck Bernard. I was the better offensive center, but Chuck was 25 pounds heavier and better on defense. And in those days a coach played one guy. So that was my great regret." The interviewer asked, "But, Mr. President, what about losing the election in '76?" Ford laughed and said, "Oh, well, that too."
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10 comments:
Andy this is awesome, From what I've been told, he left the Lions because they wanted to move him from center to guard. I have an article about it somewhere in my basement so hopefully I can get an exact quote about it.
Great. If you can find it, send it over. I love the fact he was a BH Tiger back in the day.
USC won the 1932 national championship
Polls who voted UM in '32:
Dickinson System
James Whalen
Jim Koger
Parke Davis
Polls who voted USC in '32:
1st-N-Goal
Angelo Louisa
Bill Libby
Billingsley Report
Boand System
Bob Kirlin
Bob Royce
Century Football Index
Cliff Morgan
College Football Researchers Association
David Wilson
Dunkel System
Earl Jessen
Esso Gas
Harry Frye
Helms Athletic Foundation
Houlgate System
James Howell
Jim Koger
Loren Maxwell
Massy Ratings
Mel Smith
National Championship Foundation
Nutshell Sports Football Ratings
Parke Davis
Patrick Premo
Poling System
Soren Sorensen
Williamson System
O_G: Yawn.
OMG! remember that nut case LSU fan that obsessed over the LSU/USC split and the whole "three peat" fiasco?
apparently this Guy lives in Ohio now...
Andy that is the reason he left the Lions and told the coach at the time Potsy Clark "to play the position himself". But then he when to coach at Auburn with another Benton Harbor player Earl Brown. Another article said he knocked out Bronco Nagurski during a game between the Chicago Bears and College All-Stars in either 33 or 34.
The Heisman began in '34 I believe... what a shame... he might've snagged it in '33.
OG,
I thought those were the polls who voted you as the fan with too much time on yours hands... get back to work.
I'd like a Quater Pounder with a large fry and a sprite please, and make it snappy.
The only reason I made that post was because someone made a comment about OSU's claim to 1970 title a while back.
My point is this: While it is true that OSU's claims 2 NC's that are a bit BS ('61 and '70)....Michigan actually has 4 such BS claims...with 1932 being one of them (and since the original post mentioned the '32 "title" I brought it up)
OG,
Understand, but I believe that '32 one was still an undefeated season for us... and you can't just dismiss anyone who plays in a big conference and goes undefeated... especially back in the day when exposure was so much tougher to come by.
UWASH doesn't officially claim it, but in '90 they were awarded the NC by several bizarre groups after going 9-2 when everyone else gave it to the only undefeated team that year GT and one loss COL who beat UW. I haven't checked, but I'm pretty sure that any NC we claim wasn't under similar circumstances, and that's all that matters to me. In my heart I would disown any title awarded in such ways.
I'm still waiting on my fries...
Well they levied down the punishment for the MSU goons and it's a meaningless suspension for the rest of the season. What this means is that I will be attending the first MSU M game at home next season. I couldn't miss that for anything.
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