Eckel

Navy fullback Kyle Eckel has been selected to play in the Hula Bowl All-Star game, which will take place Jan. 22 in Maui, Hawaii. Eckel is the 24th player in school history to be selected for the Hula Bowl All-Star game and the first since tackle Derek Jaskowiak in 2002. Eckel, who has also been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the Gridiron Classic, is one of just six players in school history to be selected to three or more all-star games. Originally published November 14, 2004, 5:59 PM EST

August Ernest "Bud" Eckels Jr., former president and general manager of a family-owned Baltimore ice cream manufacturing plant, died Thursday of a hemorrhage at a Leesburg, Fla., hospital. He was 88. Mr. Eckels, whose father established Eckels Ice Cream & Dairy Co. in 1918 and whose mother was a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised on Mayfield Avenue in the city's Arcadia neighborhood. He was a 1940 graduate of Polytechnic Institute. His college studies at the University of Maryland were interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. Eckels, who was trained as a bombardier, flew 50 missions while based in Italy with the 15th Air Force's 464th Bomb Group.

PHILADELPHIA - It was homecoming for Navy's Kyle Eckel. He grew up in Haverford, Pa., and calls south Philadelphia his home. He swears there is no better food on earth than a Philly cheese steak, and about 30 friends and family members attended last night's game to cheer him on. And Eckel didn't let anybody down. On a night when the U.S. military academies took center stage on the college football field, Eckel grabbed much of the spotlight in Navy's 34-6 win over Army before an announced crowd of 70,844 at Lincoln Financial Field.

PHOENIX -- Kyle Eckel has reached the Super Bowl, but he probably won't receive many congratulations from Annapolis. Before becoming the backup fullback for the New England Patriots, Eckel graduated last in his Naval Academy class in 2005 and was forced to resign as a Navy officer in October 2006 for undisclosed reasons. "I took everything in stride; I didn't want to burn any bridges," Eckel said. "Growing up, like a lot of kids, my dream was to play in the NFL. I followed the road at Navy until everything sorted itself out."

Kyle Eckel is caught between war and peace, between the belly series and blitz pickups. On one hand, he's an ensign in the Navy, temporarily assigned to a job in Newport, R.I., scheduled to report full time to a ship in Norfolk, Va., come January. On the other, he's a rookie fullback with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, learning a new role while fighting for a second career. "He seems like a really neat person to be around," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said at a news conference last week.

PHOENIX -- Kyle Eckel has reached the Super Bowl, but he probably won't receive many congratulations from Annapolis. Before becoming the backup fullback for the New England Patriots, Eckel graduated last in his Naval Academy class in 2005 and was forced to resign as a Navy officer in October 2006 for undisclosed reasons. "I took everything in stride; I didn't want to burn any bridges," Eckel said. "Growing up, like a lot of kids, my dream was to play in the NFL. I followed the road at Navy until everything sorted itself out."

Kyle Eckel returns to the neighborhood tonight as a member of the New England Patriots. For four years, Eckel was one of the best to ever wear a Navy uniform - a football uniform, most in Annapolis would be quick to clarify. When it comes to the uniform of a Naval officer, well, that's a different matter altogether. It's not often Naval Academy graduates find careers in professional sports - Eckel is only the 12th to reach the NFL - so it's inevitable that announcers might reference athletic ancestors such as Roger Staubach and David Robinson.

LANDOVER - Navy coach Paul Johnson has talked so much about dragging this football program out of its doldrums and taking a huge leap forward. Yesterday, after he watched the Midshipmen drop heavily favored rival Air Force at FedEx Field with a grinding performance, after he watched junior fullback Kyle Eckel bowl over the Falcons with the game of his life, after he watched his team make so many crucial plays, Johnson stuck out his chest while he talked...

Navy's 2004 football team stumbled out of the starting blocks last night, turning the ball over three times in the first half and salvaging a halftime tie with Duke only because its defense refused to break down. But once the Midshipmen got rolling behind quarterback Aaron Polanco, there was no stopping a second-half revival, and they scored their first victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since 1996 by beating the Blue Devils, 27-12, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Generally speaking, a team coming off a 2-10 season has few reasons to use the phrase "embarrassment of riches," but Navy's football team has one at fullback, where three players are vying to start. With the returning starter, junior Kyle Eckel, and the challengers, junior Michael Brimage and senior Bronston Carroll, the Midshipmen should be stable at fullback, which, in coach Paul Johnson's triple-option offense, is the lone set back. Through early practices, competition among the three has been spirited but friendly.

Kyle Eckel returns to the neighborhood tonight as a member of the New England Patriots. For four years, Eckel was one of the best to ever wear a Navy uniform - a football uniform, most in Annapolis would be quick to clarify. When it comes to the uniform of a Naval officer, well, that's a different matter altogether. It's not often Naval Academy graduates find careers in professional sports - Eckel is only the 12th to reach the NFL - so it's inevitable that announcers might reference athletic ancestors such as Roger Staubach and David Robinson.

Dorothy E. Eckels, age 83, of Leesburg, FL, passed away on August 6, 2007. She was born in Baltimore, MD and moved to Florida in 1988. She was a Lutheran. She is survived by her husband, A. Ernest Eckels of Leesburg, FL; son, E. Ronald Eckels of Baltimore, MD; daughter, Sharon S. Harris of Tamarac, FL; one granddaughter, Tina Noel Bozetski of Davie, FL. A Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at Steverson Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Steverson Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Home, 226 East Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares, FL 32778.

Former Navy star running back Kyle Eckel is practicing with the Miami Dolphins after having been involuntarily terminated from the service. Eckel received an administrative separation from the Navy on Oct. 31, a Navy spokesman confirmed yesterday. In addition, he'll be required to repay about $96,000 in education costs, said Lt. Tommy Crosby of the Navy Office of Information. "Whenever someone does not fulfill their follow-on service commitment, they must repay their educational expenses on a pro-rated basis," Crosby said.

On Friday, December 23, 2005, NORMAN LESLIE ECKELS SR. age 91; beloved husband of Connie (nee Pluchino) Eckels of 57 years; devoted father of Norman L. Eckels Jr., Susan L. Eckels, Donald B. Eckels, Richard D. Eckels, and the late Kenneth C. Eckels. Also survived by seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the family owned Peaceful Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Center, P.A., 2325 York Road, Timonium, on Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M., where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 28, beginning at 11 A.M. Interment to follow in the Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

Kyle Eckel's budding NFL career will have to wait. The former Navy fullback has been denied permission to play for the Miami Dolphins and will return to Newport, R.I., where he is an assistant to the athletic director at the Naval Academy Prep School. "Ensign Eckel will fulfill his active duty service obligation as an officer in the Navy and will not be able to play for the Miami Dolphins," Lt. Erin Bailey, a Navy spokesman, said yesterday. "He will remain assigned to the Naval Academy until he reports to his ship in January."

Kyle Eckel is caught between war and peace, between the belly series and blitz pickups. On one hand, he's an ensign in the Navy, temporarily assigned to a job in Newport, R.I., scheduled to report full time to a ship in Norfolk, Va., come January. On the other, he's a rookie fullback with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, learning a new role while fighting for a second career. "He seems like a really neat person to be around," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said at a news conference last week.

Kyle Eckel's budding NFL career will have to wait. The former Navy fullback has been denied permission to play for the Miami Dolphins and will return to Newport, R.I., where he is an assistant to the athletic director at the Naval Academy Prep School. "Ensign Eckel will fulfill his active duty service obligation as an officer in the Navy and will not be able to play for the Miami Dolphins," Lt. Erin Bailey, a Navy spokesman, said yesterday. "He will remain assigned to the Naval Academy until he reports to his ship in January."

For as long as he can remember, Kyle Eckel could run fast for a big guy and could run over most defenders while carrying a football. As the junior who is gaining a grip on the competitive fullback position in Navy's triple-option offense, Eckel remains quick for his size and quick to lower one of his broad shoulders to punish a tackler. But the economics major from South Philadelphia continues to refine his game. Eckel no longer looks to bulldoze people automatically. He is learning to use his blockers and rely on his cutting ability.