J.C. Watts: He Never Played The Game! by Harold Bell

As we wait for the final count to determine that Joe Biden is the 46^th President of the United States of America, there has been a lot of talk about the party of the Black America—should it be the Republican party or the Democratic party? Where do and who do we turn to help insure the 40 acres and a mule will finally become a reality in Black America?

The promised was made to blacks in January 1, 1863 via the Emancipation Proclamation. For over 400+ years neither party has been able to deliver on that promise. As a member of the Republican Party J. C. Watts knew how to hold them and he knew when to fold them. He was an outstanding college QB with the University of Oklahoma, but as an athlete and politician, he ran against the wind. He was a black QB and a black Republican. Neither were in demand by white America.

J. C. Watts was the first black QB in Oklahoma University football history. I recently read somewhere that he was not considered one of the school’s Top Ten QB (Bleacher Report). Check the record books and see how many University of Oklahoma quarterbacks have won back to back bowl games in the history of the school.

In 1979, the team was 11-1, in 1980 J. C. had a ‘off-year’ and they were 10-2. Oklahoma were the underdogs both years, still he led them to victory. His two year career stats read 1, 953 yards passing, 8 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and he rushed for 1, 449 yards. He may not make you forget Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson, but the bottom line, he was a winner.

J. C. was drafted by the NFL New York Jets but they refuse to let him earn a roster spot on the team as a quarterback. He decided to take his game to the Canadian Football League. He played in the league from 1981 until 1986. After calling it quits in the CFL he made his way back home to Oklahoma and became a youth minister in Del City, Oklahoma. He was ordained in 1991.

He had to supplement his ministerial income by starting his own highway construction company. The government regulated controlled highway commission kept interfering with his work. Their interference drove him to get involved with politics. Local politics carried him all the way to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The only surprise, he rode into town as a Republican.