Sunday, May 19, 2002
Former Navy great ponders past choices
College Football Hall of Famer doesn't regret path he took, but it wasn't easy
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Napoleon McCallum believes Syracuse University would have been a better fit for him than the U.S. Naval Academy. “I think it would have been a smoother road,” said McCallum, who played football at Milford High School. “I probably would have gotten a lot more encouragement to do well playing football.”
Along with Syracuse, he turned down offers from colleges such as Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Point and Georgia Tech.
Not that his collegiate career wasn't successful. And that point will be proven May 3 when McCallum is one of 13 players and two coaches who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will take place Dec. 10 in New York City. He will be enshrined the following August in South Bend, Ind.
“I was overwhelmed a little bit when I found out,” said McCallum from his home in Henderson, Nev., about 15 miles outside of Las Vegas. “There's some great inductees this year, and I'm really honored to be a part.”
His career, though, could have been easier without the extra pressure of being in the Naval Academy.
He had options as a Milford senior. McCallum rushed for 1,625 yards, scored 17 touchdowns and intercepted 12 passes. He also was named all-state, all-Southwest Ohio and all-city.
At another college, he would have avoided the Naval Academy's room inspections by white-gloved officers, or 40-minute swim exams.
“And that was the easy swim test,” McCallum said.
His mother, Virginia, remembers her son's long days.
“He would say, "Mom, I don't think I can do this,' ” she said. “The adjustment was hard for him.”
McCallum said the Naval Academy was the only school where he didn't get an “A” in physical education class.
But he did ace all the tests on the football field.
From 1981-85, McCallum became Navy's most celebrated football player since Cincinnati football legend Roger Staubach won the 1963 Heisman Trophy.
During his career, McCallum set 26 school records, including career rushing (4,179), single-season rushing (1,587) and kick return yards (2,197). His career 7,172 all-purpose yards rank second in NCAA history.
After a season-ending knee injury forced him to miss most of the season in 1984, he became Navy's first athlete to redshirt.
But football wasn't McCallum's main focus when he entered the Naval Academy. Becoming a fighter pilot or astronaut was his first priority. Playing football was secondary, and playing professional football wasn't even a passing thought.
“I'm not saying I'm unhappy with the way I went,” McCallum said. “I'm just saying if you could go through life and always have two choices, I would have made a different choice. But the choice I made was very good.”
Despite McCallum's superb physical condition, he struggled with swimming, one of the main requirements of becoming a pilot. His eyesight also was an issue.
“My eyesight was 20-20, but not perfect 20-20,” McCallum said.
The football player began to surpass the pilot.
“I was scared of going down to (flight school in) Pensacola (Fla.) and failing,” he said.
After graduating in computer science and physical science in 1985 and being drafted in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, he began another tough transition: balancing the Navy and the NFL.
For his first year, he was stationed on a dry-docked ship near the team, so he would be able to practice.
“I was a full-time sailor and a part-time running back,” McCallum said.
In 1987, the Navy barred active-duty sailors from playing professional sports. McCallum was traded to the San Diego Chargers and put on their Military Reserve List. He rejoined the Raiders in 1990.
His football career ended in 1994 with a severe injury to his left knee.
In six NFL regular seasons, McCallum rushed for 790 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite a shortened NFL career, he's happy with what he achieved. he's also happy in his personal life. McCallum and his wife, Yvonne, have twochildren, Breanna, 6, and Cheyenne, 1.
He established Digital Pro Graphics, a full-service graphics company in Las Vegas, almost seven years ago. His business creates signs for everything from casinos to conventions.
His high school coach, George Carl, isn't surprised he has been successful in life after football.
“The thing I most admired about him was that he was a great athlete, but he combined that with character,” Carl said. “Good morals, just a classy person. That stood out more to me than the winning and losing.”
McCallum compared the feeling of seeing his work on a passing van or building to playing football.
“It's a really good feeling,” McCallum said. “Its almost like you're playing football again. You're proud of what you accomplish. You point it out to your friends. "That's our banners over there; that's our sign.' ”
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