Delaney Wins Brookshier Spirit Award

Eddie Delaney is a veteran at winning awards and being honored for rising to the occasion, despite only having one hand and suffering from diabetes.

The Sachem East alum and Holtsville native was honored Friday night when he was awarded the Maxwell Football Club’s Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award at Harrah's Atlantic City Resort.

Delaney, a senior defensive end at Albany, plays without a left hand and wears an insulin pump to control diabetes. An All-Northeast Conference Defensive First Team selection, Delaney made 54 tackles and led the Great Danes with 11.5 hits for a loss. He also established the program's FCS single-season record with 8.5 sacks.

A leader in his community, Delaney has taken a role to raise awareness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and has spoken to the Sugar Free Gang on several occasions, inviting the group to attend Albany football games.

"This is a tremendous honor for Eddie and for the University," said Albany coach Bob Ford said in a statement. "Eddie is a tribute to the sport of football and to UAlbany. He is a great role model for kids with disabilities and, in addition, he is a great football player."

The Brookshier Award was named after Tom Brookshier, who earned distinction as an All-Pro cornerback on the 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Brookshier passed away in January 2010, and the Maxwell Football Club re-named the Spirit Award in his honor.

Previous winners of the award include Boston College's Mark Herzlich, a member of the New York Giants (2009), and Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills (2008) and Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots (2005).