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Chic Harley

Halfback

Inducted 1951

Date of Birth

9/15/1894

Birthplace

Chicago, IL

Schools

Ohio State University (1919-1919)

Ohio State University (1916-1917)

Bio

Charles Wesley Harley, known as "Chic," was a 5-10, 158 pound halfback for Ohio State who made All-America in 1916, 1917 and 1919. (In 1918 he was a pilot in the Army Air Corps). Harley was Ohio State's first three-time All-America player, was on Ohio State's first Big Ten championship team, and led Ohio State to its first victory over Michigan. In three seasons he made 23 touchdowns, 39 extra points, 8 field goals, 201 points, a school record that lasted 36 years until broken by Hopalong Cassady. In 1916, he ran 20 yards for a touchdown and drop-kicked the extra point to beat Illinois 7-6; ran 27 and 80 yards and drop-kicked two extra points to beat Wisconsin 14-13, ran for 20 and 67 yards and drop-kicked a 34-yard field goal to beat Northwestern 23-3. In 1917, he scored four touchdowns against Indiana, threw two touchdown passes against Wisconsin, made a touchdown pass and two field goals against Illinois. His best play of 1919 was a 40-yard run against Michigan. Chic Harley attended Columbus East High School as a classmate of James Thurber and George Bellows. Many feel that Harley was college football's greatest player until Red Grange and would have won two if not three Heisman Trophies had the award existed at the time. His play inspired his school to build Ohio Stadium.