George Hoey

Hoey was born in Gaffney, South Carolina. He moved with his family from South Carolina to Flint, Michigan at age 13.[1] At Flint Central High School, he excelled in both football and track. When No. 1 ranked Flint Central met No. 2 ranked Bay City Central in 1963, it was billed as the "Game of the Year." Flint Central won the game 25–18, as Hoey (then only a junior) scored three touchdowns, including a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown, and a pass interception that Hoey ran back 35 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game.[2] As a senior in 1964, Hoey was named an All-State halfback by The Detroit News and UPI.[1][3] In naming him to its All-State team, the UPI noted: "Hoey, a 5-foot-10, 165-pounder, gained 502 yards in 64 carries and caught 17 passes. He scored 11 touchdowns to lead the Saginaw Valley Conference for the second straight year. A great broken-field runner, he has scored eight touchdowns on kickoff or punt returns during his two-year stint with the varsity."[3] He also led the Saginaw Valley Conference in scoring for two seasons.[4] On his high school track team, Hoey won the 60-yard dash at the Central Michigan Relays Invitational indoor meet with a time of 6.3 seconds. He was All-State in track at the 1965 Michigan High School Athletic Association Class A track meet.[1]

In 1965, Hoey became the first African-American athlete from Flint to earn a University of Michigan scholarship.[4] At Michigan, Hoey excelled in both football and track. In track, Hoey set a 60-yard dash record with a time of 6.1 in 1966.[1] He was a member of the Wolverines' record-setting 4 × 100 metres relay with a time of 40.6.[1] In football, Hoey did not make the team as a halfback, having the misfortune to be in the same class as College Football Hall of Famer Ron Johnson. He started only three games at halfback during his time at Michigan (and one at fullback).[5][6] With Ron Johnson playing halfback, Hoey was used principally as a defensive back and punt returner. Playing against Navy in 1968, Hoey had two interceptions which he returned for 31 yards, and punt returns of 63 and 36 yards.[7][8] He was named an All-Big Ten defensive back in 1968.[1]

Hoey was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 14th round of the 1969 NFL Draft.[14] He played five seasons in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals (1971), New England Patriots (1972–1973), San Diego Chargers (1974), Denver Broncos (1975) and New York Jets (1975).[15] Hoey played in 53 NFL games and had four punt returns for 38 return yards, 21 kickoff returns for 534 return yards, and two interceptions for 45 return yards. He set a Cardinals club record with six kickoff returns for 206 yards, one for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.[1] The club record for longest return was broken in 1979 by Roy Green, who posted a 106-yard return.[16] Hoey had the misfortune of playing with losing teams throughout his NFL career. The best team that he played for was the 1975 Denver Broncos, who recorded a 6–8 record.[17]

Hoey has worked in various capacities at the University of Colorado. From 1993–1999, Hoey was involved in academic services in Colorado's athletic department. Hoey "came under fire for an eligibility problem of a prospective CU athlete,"[18] including linebacker Anwawn Jones who lost a year of eligibility and was forced to sit out the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season due to an error in calculating his transfer credits. In 1999, Hoey transferred out of the athletic department and began working in the university's career services department. That October, Jones told The Denver Post that Hoey "wasn't necessarily a scapegoat, but there were definitely mistakes made in his department."[18] Recruiting issues arose after Rick Neuheisel departed as Colorado's head football coach and were part of broader problems that resulted in the school's being placed on two years' probation for 53 rules violations, 51 occurring while Neuheisel was the Colorado coach.[19]

In 2004, the Colorado Daily reported that Hoey was a career counselor working with all students to help them prepare for their future careers. I provide information that will hopefully have them taking advantage of many services and resources."[20] In May 2007, Hoey was the University of Colorado's career development coordinator and a co-chair of the Black Faculty/Staff Association,[21] and the Virginia Patterson Chapter of Mortar Board Honors Society at the University of Colorado honored Hoey for his efforts to educate students.[22]

Herb Washington, former Oakland A and world-class sprinter, is Hoey's cousin.[23] Hoey is married to Erin Hoag and has two sons, William and Sean.[24] He was inducted into the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame in 2001,[1] and he was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.[4]

• List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders