Hall of Fame
Danny Copeland , who started at strong safety for the 1992 Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, played football four seasons for Eastern where he started at defensive back and returned punts and kickoffs his final three seasons. He was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference choice and was selected as a GTE Academic All-American in 1987. Copeland was recently selected as a member of EKU’s All Century Football Team. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1988, he played five seasons in the National Football League where he started his last three seasons for the Redskins. Copeland also played the 1989 and 1990 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Meigs, Ga., native still holds Eastern’s single- season records for most kickoff returns (34) and most kickoff return yards (967). Upon leaving the game of football following the 1993 season, Copeland formed the Christ in Sports Foundation after working with kids’ groups and sponsors in rural Georgia to improve recreation possibilities. Over a period of the past nine years, his organization has helped youngsters qualify and obtain more than 1.1 million dollars in scholarships. In 2005, Copeland’s foundation joined forces with the Community Betterment Society. He and his wife Joann have six children and reside in Pelham, Ga.
