A controversial figure during his NCAA career,  Fuell sought refuge in the CFL from 1962 through 1965 with both the Argos and Alouettes. A much sought after high school quarterback,  the Guntersville Ala. native started his college career with Auburn where he was an All-American in 1957.  Fuell ran afoul of NCAA recruiting regulations with Auburn and was suspended from playing in the Southeastern Conference, and Auburn was barred from bowl games until 1961.  Fuell planned to transfer to Nebraska in September, 1958, but instead enrolled at Mississippi Southern which did not have a NCAA conference affiliation.  Fuell continued to standout at Mississippi Southern  and played in the Blue-Gray Football Classic, Senior Bowl, and College All-Star games.  In 1961 he was drafted by the AFL Houston team, but was among the last training camp cuts of the Oilers. Fuell  then signed  with the Argos. However, as part of the roster-bending common to the era, he was signed as an “assistant coach”, not as a player since there was no room on the Toronto roster for an import.  The Argos were looking for a replacement when Tom Dublinski retired in September, 1962. They were reportedly ready to waive expensive starter Tobin Rote if they did not do well, and wanted to have an alternative on hand. The Argos squeaked into the playoffs, so Rote was not released, and Fuell wasn’t  added to the roster that season.

After the departure of Tobin Rote in 1963 Fuell and Sandy Stephens shared the  QB position in Toronto. The Argos later inserted the legendary, but by then, ancient Jackie Parker into the QB mix to add some experience. Fuell started the 1964 season as the primary QB after Stephens was released in training camp, and he beat out NFL veteran Karl Sweetan.  Fuell was also asked to play defensive half. The experiment ended when he was lost for the season with torn ligaments.

Upon his return in 1965, coach Bob Shaw decided that both he and Parker would be used exclusively as a defensive back, however, Fuell  was put on waivers at the end of August. Claimed by the Alouettes, he initially declined to play and enrolled at the University of Toronto to continue his dentistry education, before agreeing to terms with the Als. Another  knee injury at the end of the season meant the end of Fuell’s time in the CFL. In 1966, he signed on with the Orlando Panthers of the Continental League,  playing one year before joining their coaching staff in 1967.  After leaving football, he went on to have a long career with the aerospace firm Lockheed-Martin in New Jersey.

[Bio by Wes Cross]

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