Hall of Fame
A standout football player for the Red Raiders, Steve Ecker lettered four years as a gridder and one year in track. During his career he set a national punt record that still stands today.
In 1965, his senior season, Ecker averaged 49.1 yards per punt to set an NCAA Division II record. The year before, he averaged 42.7 yards per punt. His career mark of 46.2 yards per punt set a school record.
Ecker did more than punt. He started at quarterback in 1964 and 1965 and set numerous records. He was the first Red Raider to ever pass for more than 1.000 yards in a single season.
In 1964, Ecker completed 74 passes in 138 attempts for 1,241 yards and nine touchdowns. His completion percentage was 53.6. In the final game of that season at Hillsdale, he set a school record that lasted until 1983 by passing for 398 yards and gaining 423 yards in total offense. He completed 21 of 40 passes in that game. He also ran for two TDs.
The following season, Ecker was elected team captain. He completed 81 of 168 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns.
Chosen by the Atlanta Falcons, he became the first Shippensburg player drafted by an NFL team. Numerous Shippensburg players were signed as free agents but he was the first draftee.
Ecker set a school record with for yards per completion for a single season with a mark of 16.8 yards per completion in 1964. He also set the single season record for yards per attempt with 8.99 yards. His career records for yards per attempt (6.9), yards per completion (14.2), and touchdown percentage (5.8 percent) were not broken until recently.
After coaching football for seven years and baseball for five, Ecker became a teacher in the South Middleton School District. Ecker also became a PIAA official in football, basketball, and baseball.
