Nick Eddy
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Matthew Eddy was raised in Tracy, California
. A broad-shouldered 6 feet, 195 lbs, he attended the University of Notre Dame
on a football scholarship. Eddy was a standout running back
and kick returner
. Eddy was an All-American halfback
, leading Notre Dame to the 1966 National Championship. He finished third to Steve Spurrier
and Bob Griese
in the 1966 Heisman Trophy
balloting.
The Detroit Lions
drafted Eddy in the 1966 NFL Draft
. Eddy played for the Lions from 1967–1972, although he was never a star. He was hampered by knee injuries.
Eddy appeared as himself in the George Plimpton
movie, Paper Lion
. Eddy and his spouse and family live in Modesto, California
.
Eddy obtained a Mild Moderate Specialist teaching credential from Chapman University
in Modesto in 2005. He currently teaches a Special Education
for Modesto City Schools. Eric C. Hansen devotes a chapter to Eddy in his book, Notre Dame: Where Have You Gone (2005).
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. A broad-shouldered 6 feet, 195 lbs, he attended the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
on a football scholarship. Eddy was a standout running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
. Eddy was an All-American halfback
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...
, leading Notre Dame to the 1966 National Championship. He finished third to Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
and Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
in the 1966 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting.
The Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
drafted Eddy in the 1966 NFL Draft
1966 NFL Draft
The 1966 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1965. It was the last draft in which the NFL and the AFL drafted their players separate of one another. As a result, many players selected by teams from both leagues would choose to play for the more established NFL, or in a rarer...
. Eddy played for the Lions from 1967–1972, although he was never a star. He was hampered by knee injuries.
Eddy appeared as himself in the George Plimpton
George Plimpton
George Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and actor. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.-Early life:...
movie, Paper Lion
Paper Lion
Paper Lion, published in 1966, is a non-fiction book by prominent American writer George Plimpton.In 1960, Plimpton, not a professional athlete, arranged to pitch to a lineup of baseball stars in an All-Star exhibition, presumably to answer the question, "How would the average man off of the street...
. Eddy and his spouse and family live in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
.
Eddy obtained a Mild Moderate Specialist teaching credential from Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
in Modesto in 2005. He currently teaches a Special Education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
for Modesto City Schools. Eric C. Hansen devotes a chapter to Eddy in his book, Notre Dame: Where Have You Gone (2005).