Al Ecuyer – Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame

Football, 1953-69
Jesuit High School/Notre Dame/Canadian Football League

Inducted: 1978

After starring in football and serving as team captain (1954) at Jesuit High School, Allen “Al” Ecuyer went on to tremendous success playing for Notre Dame.

He was a three-year starter at guard for the Fighting Irish, earning first-team All-America recognition as a junior in 1957. In 1958, he was a co-captain of the Fighting Irish and shared the team-lead for tackles with 88. One of his biggest games was an 18-tackle performance in a 1957 game against Iowa.

Ecuyer was a key player for Notre Dame when it snapped Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak on November 16, 1957, in Norman, Okla.

“Holding the Sooners scoreless, their first shutout in 123 consecutive games, was a great accomplishment, of which we were all very proud,” said Ecuyer.

Ecuyer was named the WDSU-TV Athlete of the Year for 1957 and the New Orleans Athletic Club Outstanding Athlete from New Orleans in 1958.

Following his Notre Dame career, he played in the 1959 Hula Bowl and then joined the professional ranks in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos, the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes from 1959-69. Ecuyer was a Western conference All-Star at linebacker in his rookie season. He intercepted 13 passes for 161 yards in his career.

Born October 15, 1937 in New Orleans, he died on April 28, 2012 at the age of 74.