Joe Heap
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lawrence Heap was an American football halfback
who played for the National Football League
's (NFL) New York Giants
during the 1955 season
.
Born in Abita Springs, Louisiana
, Heap played his high school football at Holy Cross High School, New Orleans, from 1947 to 1950. There, he earned four varsity letter
s as a football player and three in track and field. He was a starter for three seasons and scored 55 touchdown
s for Holy Cross High School. At Notre Dame
, Heap started in the fullback position from 1952 to 1954, and was an Academic All-American
three times; as of 2011, he is the only Notre Dame football player to be named to the Academic All-America team that many times. He also holds the record for receiving yards by a Notre Dame halfback, with 1,137 for his career. Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy
said that Heap "could run, pass, kick, receive passes and run back kickoffs better than anyone I've ever coached."
In the 1955 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Heap in the first round, with the eighth overall pick. Heap played one season in New York, appearing in 12 games and rushing for 29 yards in 8 attempts; he also returned kicks and punts. Following 1955, Heap joined the United States Air Force
for three years of service, ultimately becoming a Lieutenant Colonel. He became a member of the Sugar Bowl/Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
who played for the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's (NFL) New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the 1955 season
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
.
Born in Abita Springs, Louisiana
Abita Springs, Louisiana
Abita Springs is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The estimated population, in 2003, was 2,112. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Heap played his high school football at Holy Cross High School, New Orleans, from 1947 to 1950. There, he earned four varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s as a football player and three in track and field. He was a starter for three seasons and scored 55 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s for Holy Cross High School. At Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Heap started in the fullback position from 1952 to 1954, and was an Academic All-American
Academic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
three times; as of 2011, he is the only Notre Dame football player to be named to the Academic All-America team that many times. He also holds the record for receiving yards by a Notre Dame halfback, with 1,137 for his career. Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
said that Heap "could run, pass, kick, receive passes and run back kickoffs better than anyone I've ever coached."
In the 1955 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Heap in the first round, with the eighth overall pick. Heap played one season in New York, appearing in 12 games and rushing for 29 yards in 8 attempts; he also returned kicks and punts. Following 1955, Heap joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
for three years of service, ultimately becoming a Lieutenant Colonel. He became a member of the Sugar Bowl/Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.