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News Release
TRUSports Conversation
Charlie Johnson sits down with The Round Up and talks about his days as the Aggies’ star quarterback
By Round Up Reports
Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Round Up Sports sat down with New Mexico State University’s No. 1 football alumnus. Charley Johnson played football for NMSU from 1958 to 1960 and, in the process, led the Aggies to consecutive Sun Bowl appearances. After graduating from NMSU, Johnson played quarterback for 15 years in the NFL and earned a doctorate in chemical engineering while in the pros. These two astounding and contrasting achievements make Johnson one of only a handful of NFL players to go on to earn a Ph.D. Today, Johnson is back at his alma mater as a professor in the chemical engineering department.
TRUSports: What are your plans for homecoming?
Charley Johnson: I'll go to several events. My old buddies will be back for homecoming and I'll get around to see as many as I can."
TRUSports: Tom Brady threw six touchdown passes this past Sunday. ESPN showed the list of quarterbacks Brady joins that have thrown six TDs in one game – a list that you and another great, Peyton Manning, are on. What is it like being on the same list as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?
CJ: “I did it twice. It's fantastic of course. They've won Super Bowls, I didn't get to one.”
TRUSports: What is your fondest memory playing football as an Aggie?
CJ: "Our football team was very close. We were family and have stayed very close over the years."
TRUSports: Fondest memory playing in the NFL?
CJ: "It was the same way with the St. Louis Cardinals. Lots of friends there. Same with the Denver Broncos. We were very, very close and I try to get up there once or twice a year. I still got a lot of teammates still in the Denver area, so it's great to go see them."
TRUSports: What was it like transitioning from pro football player to chemical engineering professor?
CJ: "Well it took a while. I lived in Houston for 30 years. I had applied to be a professor here [at NMSU] a couple of times, but didn't get an interview. This last time, in 1999, I got an interview and came out and visited and was hired to be a department head. The wife and I talked about retiring out here someday anyway, so it was great to come out and be back at my alma mater."
TRUSports: Speaking of alma mater, are you still involved with NMSU athletics?
CJ: "I got very involved five years ago. Mike Martin, the president at the time, asked me to work with him and athletics for one-third of my time. He made me the assistant to the president for athletics progress and I've had a marvelous time doing that. The coaching staff wants me to help them where I can and I've continued to do that. With the new [football] staff, new system and new everything, there isn't much I can do. They're in the learning process and they'll have to learn the new systems and get comfortable with everything. Other than that I have a great time teaching chemical engineering. I have many great students and it's keeping me young. They're awfully sharp."
TRUSports: Do your students know about your NFL career?
CJ: "I don't bring it up. It comes up sometimes when my picture is in The Round Up and they've got one of those posted on the bulletin board. Only a few in each class really know my pro football experience. I certainly don't delve on it but I answer questions that come up and they usually do when the Broncos are playing and certainly last year when the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl. Other than that, they're busy with chemical engineering"
TRUSports: Do you keep in contact with the NMSU team that went to the Sun Bowl?
CJ: "When that team was inducted to the New Mexico State University Athletics Hall of Fame, there were 42 of us that were inducted. As I recall, 34 of them were here for the induction ceremony. We stay in contact. We have an e-mail system and it's been marvelous being close. We are family."