Eric Andolsek
Encyclopedia
Eric Thomas Andolsek was an offensive lineman with college football's LSU Tigers
and the NFL's Detroit Lions
, who died in a freak accident at the age of 25.
. He was a star offensive and defensive player at Thibodaux High School from 1981 to 1983. From high school, he went on to LSU, where he became one of the school's all-time greatest offensive linemen. He played at LSU from 1984 to 1987. Andolsek was named a Freshman All-American by Football News in 1984. He was also a member of the All-SEC
team in 1986 and 1987, and was named a third-team All-American by Football News in 1986. LSU named Andolsek a team captain during the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He would also later be named to the Athlon Sports All-Time LSU team.
in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL Draft
. He saw some action his rookie season, and would become a starter at left guard
in his second season. For the next three years, Andolsek would remain a starter for the Lions
, blocking for future Pro Football Hall of Fame
running back
Barry Sanders
.
In his final season, the Lions finished 12-4 and would make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game
. However, the championship game was Andolsek's last football game.
ran off the highway in front of his house and struck and killed him.
Andolsek's name will forever be linked to other NFL tragedies. In 1989, Andolsek's LSU offensive line teammate, Ralph Norwood
, was killed in an automobile accident during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons
. During the 1991 season, Detroit Lions
offensive line teammate Mike Utley
was paralyzed during a football game. Two days after Andolsek's death, Philadelphia Eagles
defensive tackle Jerome Brown was killed in an automobile accident. And two years after Andolsek's death, linebacker
Toby Caston
was also killed in an automobile accident. Ironically, Caston was Andolsek's teammate with both LSU and the Detroit Lions.
Andolsek's number has been retired by Thibodaux High School. In addition, LSU has named its outstanding senior in spring practice the Eric Andolsek Award, a recreational facility in Thibodaux bears his name, and the Detroit Lions have named its outstanding offensive lineman award after him. His family has also created a charitable foundation in his honor.
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
and the NFL's 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...
, who died in a freak accident at the age of 25.
College career
Andolsek was born and raised in Thibodaux, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He was a star offensive and defensive player at Thibodaux High School from 1981 to 1983. From high school, he went on to LSU, where he became one of the school's all-time greatest offensive linemen. He played at LSU from 1984 to 1987. Andolsek was named a Freshman All-American by Football News in 1984. He was also a member of the All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
team in 1986 and 1987, and was named a third-team All-American by Football News in 1986. LSU named Andolsek a team captain during the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He would also later be named to the Athlon Sports All-Time LSU team.
Professional career
Andolsek would be selected by the Detroit LionsDetroit 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...
in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL Draft
1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. He saw some action his rookie season, and would become a starter at left guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
in his second season. For the next three years, Andolsek would remain a starter for the 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...
, blocking for future Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
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...
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
.
In his final season, the Lions finished 12-4 and would make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
. However, the championship game was Andolsek's last football game.
Death
During the off-season, he was working in the yard of his Thibodaux home when a semi-trailer truckSemi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
ran off the highway in front of his house and struck and killed him.
Andolsek's name will forever be linked to other NFL tragedies. In 1989, Andolsek's LSU offensive line teammate, Ralph Norwood
Ralph Norwood
Ralph E. Norwood was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He played 11 games Atlanta Falcons in 1989. He was killed in an automobile accident.- Birth :Ralph E...
, was killed in an automobile accident during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. During the 1991 season, 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...
offensive line teammate Mike Utley
Mike Utley
Michael Utley is a former American football player. He is known for being paralyzed during an NFL game.-NFL career:...
was paralyzed during a football game. Two days after Andolsek's death, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive tackle Jerome Brown was killed in an automobile accident. And two years after Andolsek's death, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Toby Caston
Toby Caston
Toby Caston was a professional American football player who played linebacker for seven seasons for the Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions. He was killed in a road accident.-References:...
was also killed in an automobile accident. Ironically, Caston was Andolsek's teammate with both LSU and the Detroit Lions.
Andolsek's number has been retired by Thibodaux High School. In addition, LSU has named its outstanding senior in spring practice the Eric Andolsek Award, a recreational facility in Thibodaux bears his name, and the Detroit Lions have named its outstanding offensive lineman award after him. His family has also created a charitable foundation in his honor.
External links
- Eric Andolsek at Find-A-Grave