Bill Willis passed away yesterday at the age of 86. His death will be overshadowed by the untimely and terrible passing of Sean Taylor. In fact, not one mention of Willis can currently be found on the main page of this site. If it wasn't for pioneers like Bill Willis, players like Sean Taylor might not have had the avenue to exhibit their talents in the NFL.
In 1942, legendary coach Paul Brown inserted Ohio State track star Bill Willis into the Buckeyes' defensive line as a Sophomore. Barely tipping the scales over the 200-pound mark, Willis was an undersized lineman, but his quickness at middle guard more than made up for his perceived lack of size. He helped lead the Buckeyes to their first National Championship in 1942. Willis volunteered for the army in World War 2, but was rejected due to vericose veins. He returned to the gridiron and became Ohio State's first African-American All-American in 1944. He was a charter member of Ohio State's Varsity O Hall of Fame and had his number 99 retired during halftime of this year's Ohio State-Wisconsin game, which was long overdue.
Willis wanted to turn pro, but the NFL did not come calling. However, his luck changed when former Buckeye coach Paul Brown founded the Cleveland franchise of the All-American Football Conference. Along with fullback Marion Motley, Willis became the first African-American player in the AAFC-a full year before Jackie Robinson broke down the walls of race in baseball.
In his four years in the AAFC, Willis earned All-League honors three times. When the Browns merged into the NFL, he made the Pro Bowl in 1950, 1951 and 1952. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He earned the nickname "The Cat" because of his uncanny speed that found him blowing past the offensive line with Cat-like agility before he could be blocked.
He often endured a barrage of hate no matter where he went. His teammates often remarked at his gentleman-like behavior when racists would taunt him. One story he told USA Today last year was how he and Motley were kept from traveling to Miami for a game. Willis found out later that Brown decided to keep them home due to death threats. Brown was angered and promised Willis the Miami Seahawks wouldn't be in the league the next year. Sure enough, they weren't. The franchise moved to Baltimore, where Jim Crow laws weren't present like in the south. (For more of that excellent article, click here.)
One thing is for sure: the game lost a legendary figure yesterday, but the world lost a great man with a great heart.
I am an avid sports fan...a rare one at that. I have no problem forgoing my own bias with my favorite teams. I resent homers who blindly argue for their teams and make the rest of us look bad.
Willis wanted to turn pro, but the NFL did not come calling. However, his luck changed when former Buckeye coach Paul Brown founded the Cleveland franchise of the All-American Football Conference. Along with fullback Marion Motley, Willis became the first African-American player in the AAFC-a full year before Jackie Robinson broke down the walls of race in baseball.
