The former Philadelphia Eagle and current ESPN football analyst Herm Edwards is coming to the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.
Edwards will deliver a motivational speech about faith, family and football during his visit to SU. The lecture is used to help benefit the Shippensburg University H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Excel) Diversity Scholarship Program.
The ESPN analyst was born in Fort Monmouth, N.J., and later went to three different colleges and played football at each. Edwards started his college career at the University of California in 1972 before transferring to Monterey Peninsula Junior College in 1973 and later returned to UC in 1974.
Edwards finished his career at San Diego State in 1975 and graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Edwards started his professional football career when he debuted for the Eagles in 1977. Edwards played eight seasons in Philadelphia before he went to the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams for a season in 1986.
The former defensive back never missed a game in his nine seasons with the Eagles and recorded 33 interceptions, just one short of the franchise record. Edwards played a key role in the Eagles’ run to Super Bowl XV (1981). The Eagles lost that Super Bowl to the Oakland Raiders 27–10.
The highlight of Edwards’ career is remembered as the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” which occurred on Nov. 19 1978.
Edwards and the Eagles were losing to the New York Giants 17–12 late in the fourth quarter and had no timeouts left. Giants quarterback, Joe Pisarcik, decided to run one more play and botched a hand off to the running back. Edwards scooped up the ball and ran it back for a touchdown, giving the Eagles an unbelievable 19–17 victory.
After Edwards retired from professional football he took on different coaching jobs throughout the years before landing his first head coaching job with the New York Jets in 2001. Edwards stayed with the Jets until 2005 before being hired by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006 where he spent three years with the team.
Edwards tallied a regular season record of 54 wins and 74 losses while going 2–4 in the playoffs during his coaching career.
During his coaching career Edwards was known for his “Hermisms” by fans and players. Edwards knows the game of football well and respected his players to the upmost extent.
The H.O.P.E lecture is free for SU students and the general public can purchase tickets for $20 at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center.
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