Chuck Bernard facts for kids
Chuck Bernard from 1934 Michiganensian
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| No. 27 | |||
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| Position: | Center | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | August 29, 1911 Chicago |
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| Died: | March 1962 (aged 50) Detroit, Michigan |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Benton Harbor | ||
| College: | Michigan | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Joseph Charles Bernard (born August 29, 1911 – died March 1962) was a talented American football player. People often called him Chuck Bernard. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1931 to 1933. Chuck was the main center for the 1932 and 1933 teams. These teams had an amazing record of 15 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie. In 1933, Bernard was chosen as a top All-American player. After college, he played one year of professional football for the Detroit Lions in 1934.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Chuck Bernard was born in Chicago in 1911. He grew up and went to Benton Harbor High School in Benton Harbor, Michigan. During his high school years, Chuck was an outstanding athlete. In both 1928 and 1929, he was named Michigan's best high school athlete.
Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
Chuck Bernard was known as a "60-minute player" at the University of Michigan. This meant he was excellent at both offense and defense. He was an All-American center for Michigan's football teams. These teams won back-to-back national championships in 1932 and 1933.
The 1932 team had a perfect season, winning all 8 games. They even had six games where their opponents scored no points. Overall, they outscored their opponents 123 to 13. The 1933 team was also very strong. They won 7 games and had 1 tie. They outscored opponents 131 to 18. Their only tie was against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. This game was for the famous Little Brown Jug trophy.
Famous sports writer Grantland Rice wrote about Chuck Bernard in Collier's magazine. He said Chuck's size, strength, and smart football mind made him a great player. Rice noted that Chuck was quick to understand plays. He was also one of the best defenders against passes. He was good at catching passes thrown by the other team.
Chuck Bernard was chosen as a first-team All-American by many groups. These included Walter Camp and the Associated Press. In 1934, Time magazine called Bernard a "215-lb. cyclone." They said almost every important All-American selector picked him. Alan Gould, a sports editor for the Associated Press, said Michigan would not have been the best without Bernard. Chuck Bernard and Whitey Wistert were key reasons why Michigan's defense was so strong in 1933.
Chuck Bernard and Gerald Ford
Chuck Bernard is also remembered because he was the All-American center for the Michigan team. Later, Gerald Ford became a U.S. President. Ford was Bernard's backup player during the 1932 and 1933 seasons.
Years later, President Ford was asked about his biggest regret in life. He thought about it and said he wanted to play more football in college. But Chuck Bernard was one year ahead of him. Bernard was also an All-American center. Ford said he was better at offense. However, Chuck was heavier and better at defense. In those days, coaches usually played only one person for a position. So, Ford said that was his big regret. The interviewer then asked about losing the election in 1976. Ford laughed and said, "Oh, well, that too."
Ford told his biographer that it was hard to sit on the sidelines. He said his competition was an All-American player. So, Ford had to watch as Bernard started for the National Championship teams. Ford said not playing was tough. But he learned a lot from being on the bench. He learned that someone could always be better than you. And Chuck was better overall.
Playing for the Detroit Lions
In September 1934, Chuck Bernard signed a contract to play professional football. He joined the Detroit Lions. Before this, he had taken a job with a car company after graduating from Michigan. He had turned down offers from the Lions earlier.
Bernard played in the Chicago College All-Star Game. In this game, college all-stars played the NFL champion Chicago Bears to a tie. After this game, Bernard decided to try playing in the NFL. He played 10 games for the Lions during their 1934 season. Chuck had a back injury from the College All-Star Game. He had two small operations for it. Because of this, he spent much of 1934 as a backup player.
Later Life and Coaching
After his professional football career, Chuck Bernard worked for a car company for ten years. Later, in 1948, Bernard became the line coach for the Michigan Tech Huskies football team. In July 1949, he was hired as the line coach at Auburn University in Alabama.
Chuck Bernard was married to his wife, Ruth. They had two sons and two daughters. In his later years, Bernard lived in Dearborn, Michigan. He passed away in April 1962 at the age of 50. He was buried at Michigan Memorial Park.
See also
- List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans
