:Willie Miller (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Willie Miller
|number=80, 82
|position=Wide receiver
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1947|4|26|mf=y}}
|birth_place=Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
|height_ft=5
|weight_lb=172
|height_in=9
|college=Colorado St.
|draftyear=1975
|draftround=12
|draftpick=302
|pastteams=* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1975|1976}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1978|1982}})
|statlabel1=Receptions
|statvalue1=112
|statlabel2=Receiving yards
|statvalue2=1,786
|statlabel3=Receiving TDs
|statvalue3=15
|pfr=MillWi00
}}
Willie T. Miller (born April 26, 1947) is a former American football wide receiver who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite news|author1-link=Michael J. Socolow|last1=Socolow |first1=Michael |title=This Ram Was a Patriot |url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/01/willie-miller-rams-football-vietnam-silver-star.html |work=Slate |date=January 29, 2019}}
Military service
After graduating from Hooper City High School in Birmingham, Alabama,{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Jake |title=Head coach Miller recharging Eagles |work=Birmingham News |date=June 22, 2005 |page=7-N |quote="After graduating from Hooper City High School in Birmingham, Miller's allegiance to his country sent him into the U.S. Army."}} Miller enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained with the Special Forces. In the Vietnam War, Miller earned the rank of staff sergeant.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Dave |title=Willie Miller: The Ram from Vietnam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/07/archives/willie-miller-the-ram-from-vietnam-sports-of-the-times-war-within.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 7, 1979 |page=S5}} He was awarded a Silver Star for retrieving his wounded platoon sergeant under heavy enemy fire. He was awarded a Soldier's Medal for repeatedly trying to save another soldier who fell into a stream in a flash flood. He was wounded by a bullet in his thigh and received a Purple Heart.
College career
While stationed in El Paso, Texas, Miller met with the football coaches at Colorado State University at a game against the UTEP Miners, and they offered him a scholarship.{{cite web |last1=Hirn |first1=John |title=Veteran's Day Feature: The Green Beret Ram |url=https://csurams.com/news/2011/11/10/Veteran_s_Day_feature_The_Green_Beret_Ram.aspx |website=ColoradoAggies.com |date=November 10, 2011}} Miller was discharged from the army after five and a half years of service and enrolled at Colorado State in the fall of 1971. During his three years on the varsity squad, Miller broke every Colorado State receiving record, and in 1974 the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named him Athlete of the Year.
Professional career
Miller was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He never started for the Browns and missed the entire 1977 season with a dislocated elbow. He was cut by the Browns and signed with the Los Angeles Rams, earning a spot in the starting lineup in 1978 and leading the team with 50 receptions for 760 yards and four touchdowns. He was on the roster for the 1979 Rams team that went to the Super Bowl, although he did not play due to injury. He retired from in 1983 after three more seasons with the Rams.
Coaching career
Miller took a high school football coaching job at Hayes High School in Birmingham in 1984.{{cite news |last1=Sentell |first1=Jeff |title=Center Point's Willie Miller retiring after nearly 30 years in coaching |url=http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/-2379131934042452185/center-points-willie-miller-retiring-after-nearly-30-years-in-coaching/ |work=Birmingham News |publisher=Al.com |date=August 22, 2013}} He was the head football coach at Birmingham's G.W. Carver in 2002 and 2003.{{cite news |last1=Roley |first1=Veto |title=Veteran Coach - Miller Applies Special Forces Skills to Building Carver Program |work=Birmingham News |date=September 11, 2002 |page=7-N |quote=When U.S. Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Willie Miller was in the highlands of Vietnam teaching tribesmen the art of war, little did he know he was learning lessons he would apply to high school coaching. "I learned the ability to deal with different people and different lifestyles," said Miller, in his first year as Carver High School's head football coach.}} Miller was the head coach at E.B. Erwin High School from 2005 until he retired in 2013.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Footballstats |nfl=2521264 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=M/MillWi00 |rotoworld= }}
{{Houston Oilers 1975 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Willie}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Colorado State Rams football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:High school football coaches in Alabama
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal
Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama
Category:African-American coaches of American football