Warren McVea
Encyclopedia
Warren McVea was a football
player who made civil rights history by becoming the first African-American to play the sport for the University of Houston
.
McVea, known as "Wondrous Warren" during his high school football career at San Antonio's Brackenridge High School, was a multi-faceted player, serving as running back, flanker and a punt/kick return specialist. Offered scholarships by 73 colleges in 1964, McVea signed with Houston and during his three years on the football team, earned All-America recognition twice.
McVea holds the distinction of being on the receiving end of the longest pass play completed in Houston history – a 99-yard reception against Washington State University on September 23, 1966. That game marked the first football game ever played on artificial turf
.
McVea would go on to play professionally for the American Football League
's Cincinnati Bengals
in 1968, then was traded tho the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs
for kicker Horst Muhlmann
and a draft choice on September 8, 1969. McVea's timing proved to be excellent as the Chiefs went on to capture the final American Football League
championship, before defeating the Minnesota Vikings
in Super Bowl IV
on January 11, 1970. During his years in Kansas City, TV commentators referred to him as "The Flea", reflecting his small size and ability to avoid defenders.
After four more years in Kansas City
, McVea signed with the fledgling World Football League
's Detroit Wheels
, and was immediately considered one of their top players. However, one month into the season, McVea was traded to the Houston Gamblers, most likely due to the precarious financial situation of the franchise. He later finished out his playing career with a tryout with the Houston Oilers
, but injuries effectively ended the comeback.
McVea's post-football career saw his life unravel when in 1985, he was arrested for theft after asking a Houston restaurant for food (ostensibly for the poor), claiming that he was working for the Oilers and promising them free tickets to games.
In 1989, he was convicted and sentenced for setting a female acquaintance's apartment on fire. Then in 1993, he was arrested for drug possession again and given 25 years in prison.
Leaving prison for good in 2000, he was inducted in the University of Houston's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, and works as a courier to deliver photo film to retail stores.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who made civil rights history by becoming the first African-American to play the sport for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
McVea, known as "Wondrous Warren" during his high school football career at San Antonio's Brackenridge High School, was a multi-faceted player, serving as running back, flanker and a punt/kick return specialist. Offered scholarships by 73 colleges in 1964, McVea signed with Houston and during his three years on the football team, earned All-America recognition twice.
McVea holds the distinction of being on the receiving end of the longest pass play completed in Houston history – a 99-yard reception against Washington State University on September 23, 1966. That game marked the first football game ever played on artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
.
McVea would go on to play professionally for the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in 1968, then was traded tho the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
for kicker Horst Muhlmann
Horst Muhlmann
Horst Herbert Erich Muhlmann was a former professional American football player. He was a placekicker in the American Football League and the National Football League for nine seasons...
and a draft choice on September 8, 1969. McVea's timing proved to be excellent as the Chiefs went on to capture the final American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
championship, before defeating the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
on January 11, 1970. During his years in Kansas City, TV commentators referred to him as "The Flea", reflecting his small size and ability to avoid defenders.
After four more years in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, McVea signed with the fledgling World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
's Detroit Wheels
Detroit Wheels
The Detroit Wheels were an American football team, a charter member of the ill-fated World Football League.The Wheels were founded December 13, 1973 by ten investors, whose number eventually grew to 33, including singer Marvin Gaye, Motown Records vice-president Esther Edwards, and Little Caesars...
, and was immediately considered one of their top players. However, one month into the season, McVea was traded to the Houston Gamblers, most likely due to the precarious financial situation of the franchise. He later finished out his playing career with a tryout with the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, but injuries effectively ended the comeback.
McVea's post-football career saw his life unravel when in 1985, he was arrested for theft after asking a Houston restaurant for food (ostensibly for the poor), claiming that he was working for the Oilers and promising them free tickets to games.
In 1989, he was convicted and sentenced for setting a female acquaintance's apartment on fire. Then in 1993, he was arrested for drug possession again and given 25 years in prison.
Leaving prison for good in 2000, he was inducted in the University of Houston's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, and works as a courier to deliver photo film to retail stores.