Chuck Muncie

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Chuck Muncie
Position(s): Running back	Jersey #(s): 42, 46, 48
Born: March 17, 1953 (1953-03-17) (age 54) Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Career Information
Year(s): 1976–1984
NFL Draft: 1976 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
College: California
Professional Teams
New Orleans Saints (1976-1980) San Diego Chargers (1981-1984)
Career Stats
Rushing Yards	6,702
Average	4.3
TDs	71
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
3x Pro Bowl selection (1979, 1981, 1982) 3x All-Pro selection (1979, 1981, 1982) 1980 Pro Bowl MVP

Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie (born March 17, 1953 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania) is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1980, 1981, 1982).

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Muncie was considered by many as one of the best running backs in the game until cocaine problems forced him into retirement. Eventually he went to prison where he turned his life around and now helps others through mentoring programs.

1 Early life and career
2 NFL career
3 Addiction and recovery
4 External links

[edit] Early life and career

Muncie was born and raised in a rural, coal-mining Pennsylvania town, as one of six children in a football-playing family. Muncie played during his sophomore year in high school, before an injury halted his career and he turned to basketball. Muncie got a scholarship to Arizona Western Junior College. While there, the coach of the football team was sufficiently impressed by Muncie's talent that he convinced him to try out for football as well. Muncie did so, and made the team. He never played basketball for the school but was recruited by the University of California, Berkeley after one year.

Muncie was a star running back for California during the 1970s. He was big, fast and elusive, and was also a good receiver. Muncie set six school rushing records, including most touchdowns and most yards gained in a single season. He was instrumental in Cal's NCAA-leading offense which propelled the team to the co-championship of the Pac-8 in 1975, and he appeared for the first time on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Muncie was a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy and finished second in the voting in 1975 behind Archie Griffin of Ohio State. After Muncie graduated, the New Orleans Saints selected him in the 1st round of the 1976 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall selection.

Muncie's appearance was notable for his use of goggles during games.

Muncie was also an active member of the fraternity Theta Delta Chi, nicknamed the "Chia House," for its noticeable ivy exterior. In Theta Delta Chi, Muncie lived in Grass Hut and then in Ski Hut-- two rooms of the house named after Muncie. Let me guess, because he partied right? Dynamite drop in, Monty.

[edit] NFL career

Muncie went to the Pro Bowl and was named the game's MVP after the 1979 season with the Saints, and broke a couple of team rushing records in the process. Muncie became the first Saints player ever to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau when he ran for 1,198 yards in 1979. But he requested a trade after the 1979 season, alleging a racist atmosphere in New Orleans.

During the 1980 season, Muncie was traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he again was selected for the Pro Bowl twice, including 1981 when he ran for 1,144 yards and an NFL-high 19 touchdowns. He went on to rush for 120 yards and a touchdown San Diego's 41-38 win over the Miami Dolphins in a famous playoff game known as The Epic in Miami, and 94 yards in the AFC title game, known as the Freezer Bowl. Muncie also helped lead the team to two AFC West division championships and he twice appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He retired at the end of the 1984 season after he tested positive for cocaine.

Muncie finished his 9 season career with 6,702 rushing yards, 263 receptions for 2,323 yards, 20 kickoff returns for 432 yards, and 74 touchdowns.

[edit] Addiction and recovery

But the end of his football career marked the beginning of Muncie's involvement with cocaine; the situation worsened after his bitter divorce with his wife. Only a few years after he retired from professional football, Muncie was in federal prison in California for 18 months on cocaine distribution charges.

After prison, Muncie committed himself to mentoring at-risk youth by creating his own non-profit organization called the Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation, which works to move youth and adolescents. Muncie also currently mentors University of California football players once a year.