North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Fundraising Begins for Edwards Honor
10/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TIM PEELER
Now, a decade after his death, the school is hoping to pay proper homage to Edwards, who saved the Wolfpack football program from the brink of elimination, won five league championships and was honored as the ACC Coach of the Year more than any other coach in the league’s 54-year history.
Fundraising has begun on the “Earle Edwards Arch and Walk of Champions.” The brick structure will stand as the gateway into Carter-Finley Stadium from Dail Plaza North, a permanent reminder for the Wolfpack team as they enter the stadium of the coach whose vision and sacrifice more than a half-century ago made the stadium a reality.
Two weeks ago, members of Edwards’ two most successful teams the 1957 ACC Championship squad and the 1967 Liberty Bowl Champions were given the details of the plan and the opportunity to become the first donors to this campaign. The $30,000 project will be paid for through the sale of commemorative bricks at the base of the archway.
“Coach Edwards meant so much to all of us,” said Dick “Amedio” DeAngelis, a member of the fundraising committee for the project. “If it hadn’t been for him, many of us wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get our education or play football at a school like NC State. We all owe him a huge debt.”
As does the school. For years, Edwards coached an under-funded program at decrepit Riddick Stadium, agreeing to play most of his games on the road for the financial guarantees. Despite huge obstacles, he led the Wolfpack to out-right ACC titles in 1957, ’64 and ’68 and shared championships in 1963 and ’65.
His career record was 77-88, which is more wins than any other coach in school history. Perhaps even more importantly to the coach, more than 90 percent of his players during his 17-year career graduated from NC State. Edwards retired following the 1970 season, staying in
“We are extremely excited to launch this fundraising campaign to properly honor the Earle Edwards family,” said NC State associate athletics director Dick Christy, also a member of the fundraising committee.
Bricks are $500 each. All sales will count toward Wolfpack Club cumulative point totals. For more information about the project, call the Wolfpack Club at (919) 865-1500. Any additional funds will be applied to the Wolfpack Club’s Earle Edwards Scholarship Endowment Fund.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
