The legend of Carlester Crumpler was born on a hardpan practice field in
Wilson in the fall of 1965. His junior high football coach, unimpressed with the
effort of this gangly eighth-grader, moved Crumpler from tight end to
runningback and promptly called his number.
"I think he was trying to punish me," recalls Crumpler with a modest
grin.
They never touched him. In fact, nine years and several thousands yards
later, they were still chasing him. Even today, as Crumpler enters the North
Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, fans and foes vividly recall how he etched his
name in the record books of East Carolina University and the history books of
Fike High School and the North Carolina Athletic Association.
Crumpler's performance as ECU's star fullback was spectacular: 2,889
yards rushing and 37 touchdowns during a three-year career highlighted by
Southern Conference titles in 1972 and 1973. He was even drafted in 1974 by the
NFL's Buffalo Bills and played briefly for the CFL's Montreal Allouettes.
But nothing he attained at the college or professional level could ever
compare with Crumpler's accomplishments at Fike High School. Beginning with four
touchdowns in the second half of the 1967 state championship game against South
Mecklenburg and ending with a 237-yard performance against Winston-Salem Atkins
in the 1969 title game, Crumpler and Wilson Fike became synonymous with high
school football in North Carolina, and beyond.
Having also defeated Gastonia Ashley in 1968 championship game, the
Cyclones of Coach Henry Trevathan were the first team to ever capture three
consecutive state 4-A football championships. Crumpler earned All-East,
All-State and All-America honors along the way, starred in the Shrine Bowl and
the East-West Coaches All-Star Game and even claimed two state championships in
track.
Crumpler rushed for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns at Fike, culminating
with a 2,083-yard, 26-touchdown performance in 1969. Be it five touchdowns
against Kinston, 293 yards against Goldsboro, the 98-yard punt return against
Rocky Mount or some other remarkable feat, the 6-3, 200-pound Crumpler clearly
ranks among the state's all-time greatest high school athletes.
Lesser known, yet perhaps of greater note, is the manner in which
Crumpler overcame humble beginnings and deeply imbedded racial prejudices to
achieve athletic and academic success during the early days of school
desegregation.
As one of only a few black students attending Fike in 1967 and the only
African-American on the football team, Crumpler was under a microscope.
Some thought him aloof, others considered him shy, but there was no mistaking his
natural athletic gifts or his determination to excel and win.
In time, and in his own quiet way, Crumpler won people over with his
humble grace and unparalleled physical prowess.
Crumpler, born March 28, 1951, is the father of three sons: Carlester
Jr. of Seattle, Alge of Atlanta and Bryan of Amsterdam. Residing in Greenville,
he remains close to football as the color analyst for ECU's Pirate Sports Radio
Network and serves as academic coordinator in the student development office for
his alma mater.
