Gold: Good Luck Chuck -- the Pac-12's most memorable Charleses in honor of Charles III's coronation
Whether you’re into the pomp and circumstance of the first British coronation since 1953 or an Anglophobe, you’ve got to admit it’s pretty cool what’s going on in merry ol’ London on Saturday, as Prince Charles is soon to be dubbed King Charles III. Kinda like naming a new starting quarterback, right?
In honor of the new king’s big day, here’s a list of the top Pac-12 players dubbed Charles in their own rights.
Arizona safety Chuck Cecil
One of the most ferocious hitters in history in both college and professional football, Cecil was a star for the Arizona Wildcats in the late-1980s before playing 8 years in the NFL, where he picked up a 1992 Pro Bowl nod. Cecil, who was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, returned to his alma mater as a senior defensive analyst in 2018 and now serves as safeties coach for the Wildcats. His 105-yard interception return against undefeated rival and 4th-ranked Arizona State in the 1986 Territorial Cup is considered one of the greatest plays in the history of the conference.
Arizona State wide receiver Charley Taylor
A prototype NFL wide receiver in the days before that term existed, the Arizona State multi-sport star is considered one of the greats of the game. Three Super Bowl rings. Six All-Pro honors. Eight Pro Bowl bids. And an honor on the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1960s. Taylor finished his career with 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns after a standout career with the Sun Devils in football and baseball, until his time on the diamond was ended prematurely by a line drive to the knee.
Oregon all-purpose Charles Nelson
Nelson was an all-around weapon as a 3-time all-conference selection for the Oregon Ducks from 2013-16. Nelson’s versatility was illustrated in just one day, when he racked up a career-best 288 all-purpose yards in a 2016 win over UC Davis. And he made an impact from the very beginning, earning second-team freshman all-America honors in 2014. He has since gone on to play a half-decade in the Canadian Football League, winning a Grey Cup in 2019.
Stanford AD/coach/player Chuck Taylor
Talk about a triple-threat. Stanford’s legendary Chuck Taylor played college football for the Cardinal from 1940-42, served as head coach from 1951-57 and became athletic director from 1963-71. In 1951, at the age of 31, he was named AFCA Coach of the Year, the youngest ever to win the honor. When Stanford played in the 1971 Rose Bowl, Taylor became just the second to have participated in a Rose Bowl Game as a player, coach, and athletic director.
UCLA forward Charles O’Bannon
One half of one of the greatest brother duos in college hoops history, O’Bannon teamed with older brother Ed to lead UCLA to its last national championship, way back in 1995. He was a 2-time all-league selection and he helped lead Team USA to the gold medal in the 1995 World University Games. O’Bannon had a brief stint in the NBA then played overseas for more than a decade, winning titles in Japan and Poland.
USC running back Charles White
When you beat a future Olympic Gold medalist in your 2nd best sport, you must be a pretty good athlete. But that’s just what White did, winning the CIF state 330-yard low hurdles title in the mid-1970s over Andre Phillips, who won gold in the 400 hurdles in 1988. But White saved his best moves for the football field, becoming one of USC’s most iconic players and a 2-time Rose Bowl player of the game. His 1979 season was one to remember as he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and was named UPI Player of the Year after rushing for 2,050 yards and 19 scores.
Washington running back Charles Carroll
A 2-time All-American for the Huskies in the 1920s, Carroll would go on to a lengthy career in law and politics, serving as prosecuting attorney for King County for more than 2 decades. He laid down the law in the courtroom and on the gridiron, where he was a gifted running back and linebacker. In 1928, he scored 17 touchdowns, a mark that stood for nearly 6 decades. Known for his toughness, he reportedly played for all but six minutes in his college career.
Washington State coach Chuck “Bobo” Brayton
A legendary Cougar and one of college baseball’s best minds, Brayton finished his Wazzu coaching career 4th on the NCAA all-time victories list. He returned to his alma mater — where he became the team’s first baseball All-American in 1947 — to coach for 33 seasons (1962-94), winning 1,162 games and advancing to the College World Series twice, in 1965 and in 1976. The Cougars retired his uniform number, 14, in May 2003, and the Cougars’ home ballpark is named in his honor.