Charles Gordon; Class of 1986
Charles Gordon was born on July 30th, 1968 in Tampa Fla. Charles attended Elementary and Junior High Schools in Ft. Myers and Gainesville Fla. prior to arriving at Hannah Middle School in East Lansing.
Sports at East Lansing High School began with freshman basketball and track, both coached by East Lansing Sports Hall of Famer – Andy Wells . Charles moved forward earning a total of 8 varsity team letters in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.
High School: After an impressive junior varsity season, Charles moved up to varsity as a sophomore; seeing action in all playoff games and state championship game loss vs. Birmingham Brother Rice in 1983. In 1985, as captain and most valuable player on the Trojan Football team, his individual recognitions included receiving the Greater Lansing Downtown Coaches Award, the Detroit News –WXYT News Talk player of the week award, 1st Team Capital Area Conference – Running Back and All State honors at Defensive Back . Charles was selected to play in the MHSAA High School All Star game and is one of the only players in All Star game history to play offense and defense. 1986, as captain and most valuable player on the Trojan basketball team, his individual efforts included 1st team Capital Area Conference and All Area – guard. As a member of the Trojan baseball team, received all conference honors and participated in a high school all star game.
College: Charles accepted a football scholarship to Eastern Michigan University as a cornerback and started every game for four consecutive years , was also invited to join the basketball and baseball teams at EMU; deciding to concentrate on football. During his freshman season in 1986, Charles quickly developed a national reputation as a bump and run/shut down cornerback and as an elusive punt returner. Earning runner up honors as Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and appearing on the Sporting News Freshman All America Head of the Class team. In 1987, Charles helped Eastern Michigan to a school best 10-2 record, EMU’s first and only MAC championship, and a bowl win. Individual honors for 1987 include All Mid-American Conference, 3rd Team Football News Sophomore All America, and AP All America (Honorable Mention. Also, as a punt returner, he finished 10th in the nation return average. 1988 and 1989 Eastern Michigan battled for the MAC Championship and was ranked 11th in the country in pass defense. (1989) Charles received All- MAC honors in 1988 and 1989. School records are 4th all-time in Interceptions (12) , 10th all-time Interceptions return yards, 2nd longest Interception return in EMU stadium history, 10th all-time Punt return yardage, 3rd longest Punt Return in school history (91 yards).
Professional: Charles signed a professional football contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1991, a team owned by the late actor/comedian John Candy and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and in his 1st pre-season game returned an interception 114 yards for a score. A controversial trade relocated Charles to the Ottawa Roughriders for his entire rookie season. Charles started every regular season game with Ottawa, finishing behind Raghib (Rocket) Ismail for Rookie of the Year honors. In 1992 received All Eastern Division honors and CFL Player of the Week honors (Week 7). In 1994, signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. Highlights include All-Western Division (1994), CFL Defensive Player of the Week (Wk#5/1994), CFL Defensive Player of the Week (Wk#13/1994), TSN Defensive Player of the Game (Western Qtr Final/1994), CBC Defensive Player of the Game (Western Qtr Final/1994), selected to 1st Coaches and Players CFL All-Star Team (1994), Intergold CFL All-Star Team, Grey Cup Champion/1994, Game winning interception in 1994 playoff game vs. Edmonton and an interception for a touchdown /MVP nominee in the 1994 Grey Cup.
In 1995, Charles had another outstanding season and was the B.C. Lions nominee for CFL Defensive Player of the Year. 1996, Charles signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and continued a highly productive career. Eastern Division leader in Interceptions - 7/1996, Selected to Coaches and Players CFL All-Star Team (1996).
In 1997, Charles was drafted with the 70th pick by the Amsterdam Admirals of the WLAF (World League of American Football) with the Seattle Seahawks holding his U.S. affiliation and the Montreal Alouettes controlling his Canadian rights. A Contractual holdout and contractual issues between Montreal and Amsterdam forced Charles to return to Montreal for a large portion of the 1997 season.
CFL Statistics: 112 games (101 regular season/11 playoff), 42 Interceptions (1992-7)(1994-10)(1995-7)(1996- 10), 57 Pass knockdowns, 8 Touchdowns (6 Interception TD’s )(2 fumble return TD’s).
CFL Records: Most Interceptions for TD’s in CFL history (6) – 3RD Most, Most passes knocked down in a single season (16)- 3rd most (1994)
Currently: Charles is a licensed Canadian Football League Agent and CEO of Athletes International Midwest , his sports agency. He lives in Lansing, MI with wife Dr. Liz and 4 children. Ambrose, Sydney, Nandi, and Naomi and attends most E.Lansing High School football games. Charles would like to give thanks and respect to Coach Smith, Coach Gibbs, Coach Piotter, for teaching him the fundamentals . The East Lansing Community for all of its past and present support.
Sports at East Lansing High School began with freshman basketball and track, both coached by East Lansing Sports Hall of Famer – Andy Wells . Charles moved forward earning a total of 8 varsity team letters in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.
High School: After an impressive junior varsity season, Charles moved up to varsity as a sophomore; seeing action in all playoff games and state championship game loss vs. Birmingham Brother Rice in 1983. In 1985, as captain and most valuable player on the Trojan Football team, his individual recognitions included receiving the Greater Lansing Downtown Coaches Award, the Detroit News –WXYT News Talk player of the week award, 1st Team Capital Area Conference – Running Back and All State honors at Defensive Back . Charles was selected to play in the MHSAA High School All Star game and is one of the only players in All Star game history to play offense and defense. 1986, as captain and most valuable player on the Trojan basketball team, his individual efforts included 1st team Capital Area Conference and All Area – guard. As a member of the Trojan baseball team, received all conference honors and participated in a high school all star game.
College: Charles accepted a football scholarship to Eastern Michigan University as a cornerback and started every game for four consecutive years , was also invited to join the basketball and baseball teams at EMU; deciding to concentrate on football. During his freshman season in 1986, Charles quickly developed a national reputation as a bump and run/shut down cornerback and as an elusive punt returner. Earning runner up honors as Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and appearing on the Sporting News Freshman All America Head of the Class team. In 1987, Charles helped Eastern Michigan to a school best 10-2 record, EMU’s first and only MAC championship, and a bowl win. Individual honors for 1987 include All Mid-American Conference, 3rd Team Football News Sophomore All America, and AP All America (Honorable Mention. Also, as a punt returner, he finished 10th in the nation return average. 1988 and 1989 Eastern Michigan battled for the MAC Championship and was ranked 11th in the country in pass defense. (1989) Charles received All- MAC honors in 1988 and 1989. School records are 4th all-time in Interceptions (12) , 10th all-time Interceptions return yards, 2nd longest Interception return in EMU stadium history, 10th all-time Punt return yardage, 3rd longest Punt Return in school history (91 yards).
Professional: Charles signed a professional football contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1991, a team owned by the late actor/comedian John Candy and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and in his 1st pre-season game returned an interception 114 yards for a score. A controversial trade relocated Charles to the Ottawa Roughriders for his entire rookie season. Charles started every regular season game with Ottawa, finishing behind Raghib (Rocket) Ismail for Rookie of the Year honors. In 1992 received All Eastern Division honors and CFL Player of the Week honors (Week 7). In 1994, signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. Highlights include All-Western Division (1994), CFL Defensive Player of the Week (Wk#5/1994), CFL Defensive Player of the Week (Wk#13/1994), TSN Defensive Player of the Game (Western Qtr Final/1994), CBC Defensive Player of the Game (Western Qtr Final/1994), selected to 1st Coaches and Players CFL All-Star Team (1994), Intergold CFL All-Star Team, Grey Cup Champion/1994, Game winning interception in 1994 playoff game vs. Edmonton and an interception for a touchdown /MVP nominee in the 1994 Grey Cup.
In 1995, Charles had another outstanding season and was the B.C. Lions nominee for CFL Defensive Player of the Year. 1996, Charles signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and continued a highly productive career. Eastern Division leader in Interceptions - 7/1996, Selected to Coaches and Players CFL All-Star Team (1996).
In 1997, Charles was drafted with the 70th pick by the Amsterdam Admirals of the WLAF (World League of American Football) with the Seattle Seahawks holding his U.S. affiliation and the Montreal Alouettes controlling his Canadian rights. A Contractual holdout and contractual issues between Montreal and Amsterdam forced Charles to return to Montreal for a large portion of the 1997 season.
CFL Statistics: 112 games (101 regular season/11 playoff), 42 Interceptions (1992-7)(1994-10)(1995-7)(1996- 10), 57 Pass knockdowns, 8 Touchdowns (6 Interception TD’s )(2 fumble return TD’s).
CFL Records: Most Interceptions for TD’s in CFL history (6) – 3RD Most, Most passes knocked down in a single season (16)- 3rd most (1994)
Currently: Charles is a licensed Canadian Football League Agent and CEO of Athletes International Midwest , his sports agency. He lives in Lansing, MI with wife Dr. Liz and 4 children. Ambrose, Sydney, Nandi, and Naomi and attends most E.Lansing High School football games. Charles would like to give thanks and respect to Coach Smith, Coach Gibbs, Coach Piotter, for teaching him the fundamentals . The East Lansing Community for all of its past and present support.