Vern Mullen

Vern Elmo Mullen (February 27, 1900 - September 14, 1980) was a professional football player from Taylorville, Illinois.

College scandal
After high school, Mullen split his college time between the University of Illinois and West Virginia Wesleyan College. In 1921, Mullen served as a ringer for his hometown Taylorville team against a team from rivial Carlinville, who was also using ringers from Notre Dame. He left college to play in the game with nine other Illinois players. Taylorville's plan was to use its regular team in the first half and substitute the Illinois players in the second half. However Mullen, being a hometowner, would play the entire game. After two scorelss quarters, Mullen broke through the line to block a Carlinville punt and returned it 50 yards to the Carlinville two-foot-line. This later set up a score. Taylorsville would go on to win the game 16-0 and an estimated $50,000-$100,000 in winnings. The game was well-publicized, however the college players' participation wasn't revealed until late January 1922. The nine Illinois players were banned from further intercollegiate competition. The eight Notre Dame players were expelled from school. This incident led to a revision of the eligibility rules and codes in the Big Ten Conference and the appointment of a full-time commissioner.

Pro football
Mullen made his NFL in 1923 with the Canton Bulldogs, where he helped the team win the NFL Championship. He then played for the Chicago Bears from 1924 until 1926, before traveling crosstown to play for the Chicago Cardinals. He finished his career with the Pottsville Maroons in 1927.