Bernie Custis
Encyclopedia
Bernie Custis is a former American and Canadian Football player who went on to a distinguished coaching career. He is known for being the first black professional quarterback in the modern era and first in the CFL
, starting for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in 1951.
in Philadelphia in 1947. He excelled in track in High School.
in 1948,1949 and 1950, setting numerous Syracuse records that would last for decades. Custis was recruited by Coach Reaves Baysinger, who was replaced by Ben Schwartzwalder
after a 1-8 season. He played the first two seasons of the Coach Schwartzwalder's legendary 25 year tenure at Syracuse. The team went 4-5 in 1949 and 5-5 in 1950.
Custis roomed with Al Davis
at Syracuse, the future and legendary coach and owner of the Oakland Raiders
.
Custis chose to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU), a league that would become the Canadian Football League
Eastern Division in 1958. Despite being an All-Star at quarterback, he was switched to running back in 1952, where he was also a successful player. In 1953, Custis played for Hamilton in their victory in the 41st Grey Cup game, the Canadian Pro Football Championship Game, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
12-6.
Note: Fritz Pollard
is credited by some as being the first African American Quarterback in Pro Football. In 1923 Pollard took several direct snaps from the center in an NFL game for the Hammond Pros. While Pollard was a pioneer in his own right, as a player and coach, the claim is difficult to confirm and if true it is not clear whether that makes his position a quarterback in the modern sense of the position.
of the Canadian Junior Football League
(CJFL). At Burlington, he coached future Canadian Football Hall of Fame
player Tony Gabriel
.
From 1973 to 1980, he served as a Head Coach at Sheridan College
. During his tenure, his record was 86–14, winning six consecutive Eastern College Championships from 1973–78.
In 1981, he accepted the Head Coach position at McMaster University
. In his second year with the Marauders, he improved the team's standing from seventh to first place. Over eight seasons he led the Marauders to a 31–23–1 record. He was named the OUAA Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984 and was naned CIAU
Coach of the Year in 1982. He was inducted into the McMaster Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 1994 he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
as a "Builder" for his contributions to junior and college football in Canada.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, starting for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in 1951.
Early life
Custis was born in Washington, DC and graduated from John Bartram High SchoolJohn Bartram High School
John Bartram High School is a public secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.-History:...
in Philadelphia in 1947. He excelled in track in High School.
College Playing Career
Custis was a star quarterback at Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1948,1949 and 1950, setting numerous Syracuse records that would last for decades. Custis was recruited by Coach Reaves Baysinger, who was replaced by Ben Schwartzwalder
Ben Schwartzwalder
Floyd B. "Ben" Schwartzwalder was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis.Schwartzwalder played center at West Virginia University,...
after a 1-8 season. He played the first two seasons of the Coach Schwartzwalder's legendary 25 year tenure at Syracuse. The team went 4-5 in 1949 and 5-5 in 1950.
Custis roomed with Al Davis
Al Davis
Allen "Al" Davis was an American football executive. He was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1970 to 2011...
at Syracuse, the future and legendary coach and owner of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Syracuse Passing Statistics - Bernie Custis
| Year | Yards | Comp. | Att. | Pct. | TDs | Int. | Pass Eff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 721 | 52 | 131 | 39.7 | 3 | 14 | 72.1 |
| 1949 | 1,121 | 70 | 134 | 52.2 | 6 | 9 | 123.9 |
| 1950 | 775 | 74 | 159 | 46.5 | 3 | 9 | 82.3 |
| Totals | 2617 | 196 | 424 | 46.2 | 12 | 32 | 97.3 |
Professional Playing Career
He was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1951 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, but did not play in the NFL. At that time, there was a "gentlemens agreement" that limited the number of black players and there had never been a black quarterback in professional football. The Browns told Custis that he could play safety, but he resisted. They then offered to release him, but only if he did not play for another NFL team.Custis chose to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU), a league that would become the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
Eastern Division in 1958. Despite being an All-Star at quarterback, he was switched to running back in 1952, where he was also a successful player. In 1953, Custis played for Hamilton in their victory in the 41st Grey Cup game, the Canadian Pro Football Championship Game, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
12-6.
Note: Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
is credited by some as being the first African American Quarterback in Pro Football. In 1923 Pollard took several direct snaps from the center in an NFL game for the Hammond Pros. While Pollard was a pioneer in his own right, as a player and coach, the claim is difficult to confirm and if true it is not clear whether that makes his position a quarterback in the modern sense of the position.
Coaching career
After the end of his professional career, he stayed in Canada and began a career as a teacher and principal. At the same time, he coached junior level football, most notably with Oakville Black Knights and Burlington BravesBurlington Braves
The Burlington Braves are a Canadian junior football league team. Founded in 1958 in Burlington, Ontario, they presently play in the Ontario Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. Two legendary CFL Hall of Fame players started their football careers with the Braves: Tony...
of the Canadian Junior Football League
Canadian Junior Football League
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
(CJFL). At Burlington, he coached future Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
player Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
.
From 1973 to 1980, he served as a Head Coach at Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
. During his tenure, his record was 86–14, winning six consecutive Eastern College Championships from 1973–78.
In 1981, he accepted the Head Coach position at McMaster University
McMaster Marauders
The McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
. In his second year with the Marauders, he improved the team's standing from seventh to first place. Over eight seasons he led the Marauders to a 31–23–1 record. He was named the OUAA Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984 and was naned CIAU
CIAU
The letters CIAU may mean any of the following:* CIAU-FM 103.1, a radio station in Radisson, Quebec* An acronym for "Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union", now known as Canadian Interuniversity Sport...
Coach of the Year in 1982. He was inducted into the McMaster Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 1994 he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
as a "Builder" for his contributions to junior and college football in Canada.
As a Player
- IRFU (Canadian League) All Star 1951 as Quarteback
- IRFU (Canadian League) All Star 1954 as Running Back
- 1953 Grey Cup Winners (Canadian Football Championship)
- Syracuse University Athletic Hall of Fame (1977 Inductee)
As a Coach
- All-Star Coach 1975, 1977, 1978
- OUAA Coach of the Year 1982-1985
- CIAU Coach of the Year 1982
- Canadian Football Hall of FameCanadian Football Hall of FameThe Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
(1998 Inductee) - McMaster University Hall of Fame (2000 Inductee)
External links
- http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2011/08/syracuse_football_links_former_2.html
- http://www.cfhof.ca/page/custisbernie
- http://www.helmethut.com/College/Syracuse/NYXXSU4952.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grey_Cup_champions
- http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/cfl/article/1038561--meet-bernie-custis-football-s-first-african-american-quarterback
- http://www.ticats.ca/article/bernie-custis-football-pioneer
- http://www.insidehalton.com/sports/article/1056767--iconoclast-quarterback-educator-custis-broke-the-colour-barrier
- http://tourismburlington.com/about-burlington/famous-burlingtonians
- http://www.nunesmagician.com/2011/8/12/2359669/syracuse-qb-bernie-custis-hamilton-tiger-cats-honord-african-american-color-barrier