Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer
Although things didn't turn out the way Wildcats All-Ohio senior center/captain and East Carolina recruit John Spellacy had hoped when Saint Ignatius took on Detroit Catholic Central in Novi, Michigan on Friday night (see the corner's story), John's face did light up when this old gridiron reporter mentioned to him what a big night it was for his father, Mr. John Spellacy '85.
Mr. Spellacy couldn't be in Michigan to watch his son play because he was being inducted into Marshall University's Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday evening.
Here is Mr. Spellacy's Hall of Fame bio, along with a link to the entire Herd Hall of Fame Class for 2016.
John Spellacy, Foootball, 1985-88
Spellacy, a linebacker, led the Herd to the I-AA national championship game in 1987 and to the Thundering Herd’s first football title since 1937 with the Southern Conference title in 1988 as a senior captain. He was among a group of players who were the first to play in four-consecutive winning seasons at the school since 1941. He helped the Herd to a 7-3-1 mark in 1985, a 6-4-1 mark in 1986 and a then-school-record 10 wins in 1987. He was eighth all-time in total tackles at Marshall with 392, averaging nearly 100 per season – and led the team with 189 total tackles (99 solo) in 1987. In 1988, he helped the program to an 8-0 start and its first-ever No. 1 I-AA national ranking. He was named to the SoCon All-Conference team in 1986 and had a career with three interceptions, eight passes defended, four fumble recoveries and 27 tackles for loss along with seven sacks in 44 games.