Ernie was known by fans in the Cleveland area for his years with the Browns. A gifted athlete from early on, he excelled in most sports he played. Kellermann, who grew up in Maple Heights, overcame modest size and means to orchestrate a remarkable sports career at every level. He played at Chanel High School, Miami (OH) University, and finally in the NFL (Browns, Bengals, Bills). He was a master technician with great fundamentals in all sports, but his passion for the game and fierce competitive nature were his trademarks. āA lot of my success was sheer determination to overachieve,ā Ernie would say later on in life.
A three-year starter at quarterback for Miami (OH), he earned all MAC honors and was team MVP his junior and senior seasons. He orchestrated two of the biggest upsets in Miami football history, over nationally ranked Purdue and Northwestern. His college coach, Bo Schembechler said, āErnie Kellermann is the best little quarterback in the country. I would not trade him for any other quarterback.ā Bo went on to say, āErnie was the one player who did the most to enhance my coaching career.ā
Sad. I just looked up information on him when we were discussing Miami QBs a few weeks ago. He was Miamiās QB when I attended my very first Miami game with the Centerville band.
About 30 years ago I lived in the same neighborhood in the Seattle area as former Browns and Redskins Running Back Charley Harraway. I bought a hotel voucher from Charley that I could use that was about to expire. His wife told me they used to call Ernie āThe Professorā when Ernie and Charley were teammates in Cleveland because of his studious look and nature.
One of my greatest memories at Miami. My buddies and I made a trip to Purdue to see this history making game when he and Bob Jenks were part of one of the most exciting games in Miami History.
There used to be a thing called Band Day. Maybe up to 20-25 high school bands were invited to Oxford for the game. The bands practiced with the Miami Band on Cook Firld in the morning, ate box lunches and then paraded down High Street from Ox College to Miami Field. The high school bands performed with the Miami Band at halftime.
I lost track of when but I donāt think theyāve done a Band Day at Miami in years. Maybe someone else knows.
I was at that game too! Grew up in Lafayette & went to all Purdue football & basketball games. 15 yrs old at the time of the game. Never interested in staying home & going to Purdue
Same here. I was 9 years old when my dad took me to see the Browns basketball team play our local HS. Got to see Jim Brown and Ernie Kellerman after that ā65 loss to the Packers in NFL title game. Funny that the last game Jim Brown played for the Browns was basketball!
Met Ernie later at a Miami Alumni affair in Cleveland. Great player and person for both Miami and the Browns when they were great.