Daily News-Record

Charles Haley is still learning from his old college coach.

But these days, Haley doesn't ask former James Madison football coach Challace McMillin about pass-rushing strategy or tackling techniques. They talk about life.

Better late than never.

"He tried to put me under this arm, to get me to understand, to try to curb some of my aggression," Haley said Thursday, his 41st birthday. "But a knucklehead like me, I had to do it my way."

Haley, who now lives in Dallas, is one of 25 modern-era semifinalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Among the others on the list are all-pro quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young, wide receivers Michael Irvin and Art Monk, and defensive end Richard Dent.

The Class of 2005 will be determined at the selection committee's annual meeting on Feb. 5 in Jacksonville, Fla., the day before Super Bowl XXXIX. The Hall picks three to six new members each year.

Haley, who starred at James Madison from 1982-85, played for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys during 12 NFL seasons. He is the only player in league history to win five Super Bowl rings.

But it's his first college coach, McMillin, who Haley turns to for advice about family, marriage and controlling his anger.

"I don't think anyone could take away the anger and pain from growing up in poverty," said Haley, who was raised in Gladys, just south of Lynchburg. "When you don't trust anyone, you carry a lot of hate and anger."

Spotswood High School principal Adam Burkett played four years at JMU with Haley. Burkett recalled going to freshman orientation with his parents; Haley, he said, went by himself. So Haley hung around with the Burketts. On the field, though, Haley stood alone.

"He was a natural," Burkett said. "He wasn't real big, but he would go out on the field and be tough as can be."

Haley said it was his anger that helped turn him into an uncommonly dominant defensive player in the NFL.

"It made me one of the best pass rushers in the NFL," Haley said. "I woke up every morning and thought about it. I wanted to be the best."

These days, Haley has a different focus. In 1997, his daughter Brianna was diagnosed with leukemia. A year later, Haley and his wife Karen started the Brianna Haley Fund to help raise money to support the National Marrow Donor Program.

Haley turns to McMillin for guidance about every other week, he said.

"At this time in my life, I need someone to help guide me," Haley said. "I've done so many stupid things in my life."

Haley declined to comment on what those things were.

Logistically, it wasn't easy for McMillin to snare Haley for JMU's then-young football program. When McMillin and assistant Danny Wilmer recruited him out of William Campbell High School, the hardest part was getting him on the phone.

"At the time we recruited him, Charles didn't have a phone in his house," McMillin, now a kinesiology professor at James Madison, recalled. "We'd call the store down there and they'd go get him."

Haley said that background filled him with anger and fueled his drive to succeed, but it also showed him how to be successful.

"It's no secret that we came from humble beginnings," Haley said. "I think that my father and my mom taught us what hard work and dedication was."

McMillin said it was clear Haley was special from the moment he arrived in Harrisonburg.

"It was obvious when he came on campus for preseason camp that he was going to start as a freshman," said McMillin. "He was a big man, he was very fast and his agility was great."

Haley was a dominant pass rusher his first two years at JMU, but by season three, opponents were keying on him.

"We moved him inside because people were running away from him so much," McMillin said. "But in passing situations, we'd move him right back to the outside. He was such a good pass rusher."

During Haley's tenure, the Dukes were 8-3 in 1982, 3-8 in 1983, 6-5 in 1984 and 5-6 in 1985.

McMillin said Haley is excited by the prospect of being enshrined in Canton. As for the coach, he said he's enjoyed watching Haley star in the NFL and hopes he is inducted.

"I certainly think he deserves it," McMillin said. "He's the only player who's won five Super Bowl rings. That's got to tell you something. I certainly think he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."

Haley said the highlight of his collegiate playing career came in 1982, his first year in Harrisonburg, when the Dukes defeated Virginia 21-17.

"The biggest thing, my first year coming up there, we went 8-3 and we beat U.Va.," Haley said. "It was the highlight of my career. Little old James Madison came up and beat U.Va."

Haley took part in 85 tackles as a freshman in 1982, 143 as a sophomore, 147 as a junior and 131 as a senior.

He became JMU's first Associated Press Division I-AA first-team All-American and the school's first NFL draft pick when the Niners selected him in the fourth round in 1986.

Teammate Gary Clark had been a first-round pick in the USFL draft. Clark went on to star in the NFL with the Washington Redskins. But Haley said, beyond McMillin, he hasn't stayed in touch with many former college or pro teammates.

"I was a loner, man," Haley said. "I didn't trust anybody. So when you don't trust people, you don't stay in contact. That's one of the worst things I did in the NFL.

"Now, I'm learning how to open up and let people know how I feel internally. It's a process that I'm learning to do. I kept a lot of stuff bottled up. It always ended up coming out the wrong way."

And if Haley is inducted to the Hall of Fame, he wants plenty of people to be in attendance.

"I want my family there," Haley said. "I want Coach McMillin. I want the coaches that coached me. I want the players that played with me. I believe teammates are the key to success."
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