FB - Lee Mercer
October 30, 1888 - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania - Leroy Mercer a fullback that played for the University of Pennsylvania was born. Lee was a star athlete on the track and field especially in the broad jump, good enough that even participated in the U.S. Olympic Team. Footballfoundation.org says that Mercer became the captain of the Quaker football team in both his junior and senior seasons. The National Football Foundation selected Leroy Mercer to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1955
LB - Jim LeClair
October 30, 1950 - St. Paul, Minnesota - Jim LeClair a linebacker that played for the University of North Dakota was born. 1971 was a great year for LeClair as he registered 187 tackles, three interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 11 forced fumbles, and 20 tackles for loss per the NFF’s bio on the player. Jim even won the MVP award for the North Central Conference and he even enjoyed North Dakota winning the Conference Championship that season. The National Football Foundation selected Jim LeClair to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
A True Football Hero - Joe Delaney
October 30, 1958 - Henderson, Texas - Joe Delaney a halfback from Northwestern State arrived into this world. The first question that arises is where the heck is Northwestern State? Well our investigation into this matter finds it to be located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. This man, Delaney could definitely tote the rock. In a game against Nicholls State he rushed for 263 yards in the second half after being held to only 36 yards in the first half of a game played October 28, 1978 per the footballfoundation.org website. Joe was named Division I-AA All-America and even had his number retired by his school at halftime of his final college home game. Joe Delaney also excelled on the Northwestern State track team. The National Football Foundation selected Joe Delaney to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. After college Joe played a couple of years with the Kansas City Chiefs even earning AFC Rookie of the Year honors per the UPI. Joe DeLaney was more than a great athlete though he was a good man. In the summer of 1983 Joe Delaney died while trying to save children that were drowning in a pond near Monroe, Louisiana. Joe's efforts did save one of the children but unfortunately the other two and Joe himself succumbed to the dangerous waters. The NFF tells us that President Ronald Reagan honored Delaney with the Presidential Citizens Medal, saying, "He made the ultimate sacrifice by placing the lives of three children above regard for his own safety. By the supreme example of courage and compassion, this brilliantly gifted young man left a spiritual legacy for his fellow Americans."
QB - Ty Detmer
October 30,1967 - San Marcos, Texas - marked the birth of Ty Detmer, a quarterback from BYU. Ty was not shy on tossing the pigskin around as his 15,031 career passing yards and 121 touchdowns give evidence to. As a matter of fact he is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history. The website bio from footbalfoundation.org states that he won a Heisman Trophy, a Maxwell Award, two Davey O’Brien Awards and at one time held 59 NCAA records! The National Football Foundation selected Ty Detmer to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Ty was a late selection of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and in the NFL he played for a total of 14 seasons with the Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.
