Glenn Foley to enter Camden County Sports Hall of Fame
Glenn Foley played quarterback in the NFL for six seasons and was a star at Boston College, throwing 72 touchdown passes in his career and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1993.
Glenn Foley played quarterback in the NFL for six seasons and was a star at Boston College, throwing 72 touchdown passes in his career and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1993.
But when Foley stands up to accept his induction into the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night, he is likely to reflect more on the influence of his late father, Ed, and his memories of growing up in the "finest hour" for sports in Cherry Hill.
Playing in the NFL was something special for Foley. His time at Boston College was unforgettable, especially that win over then-undefeated Notre Dame.
But another induction to another Hall of Fame - and Foley is a member of a few of them - almost always is cause to look farther back, to remember his roots and the competitive atmosphere Foley's father created for his four sons, and for an entire town.
"I'm representing my father," Glenn Foley said of the man who passed away about two years ago. "I can't understand how he's not in some of these Hall of Fames. He was one of the greatest coaches I've ever been around."
Glenn Foley and his brothers - Ed, Kevin and Cliff - are Cherry Hill athletic royalty. They were all coached by their father, Ed, a Boston College quarterback in the 1960s and a man so competitive he once was suspended from the Cherry Hill Little League by his own wife.
"My mom was the league president, and my dad was a coach," Glenn Foley recalled with a laugh. "She had to suspend him because he was winning games like 31-0."
That competitive fire made Glenn Foley the most accomplished athlete of the family. He had Boston College in the national conversation and stuck around the NFL for six seasons, starting several games for the New York Jets in the late 1990s.
"I got beat up," said Foley, who still is dealing with some health complications from his time in the NFL. "I wasn't a big guy, and that's a whole other level."
Foley, 46, has three sons from his first marriage and a daughter from his second. His 15-year-old twins play football at Haddonfield, and he's a regular at Bulldawgs' varsity and junior varsity games.
Foley still reminisces about growing up in Cherry Hill during a memorable time for sports in the town, swimming in the Cherry Bowl - chasing the legendary Sean Killion's record times - and playing Little League baseball.
As a high school pitcher, Foley said he once threw more than 200 pitches in an extra-inning tie game for Cherry Hill East against arch-rival Cherry Hill West.
On the football field, Foley led Cherry Hill East to an 11-0 record and the only South Jersey title in program history, in 1988.
Foley threw for 2,187 yards and 25 touchdowns - both South Jersey records at the time - for a team that featured other standouts such as Brian Kurlej, Ted Page, Steve Lobell and Ed Regan and won the Group 4 sectional title in dominating fashion.
"That was Cherry Hill's finest hour in sports," Foley said of the 1980s. "It was such a great experience, so much fun to be part of it."
Foley said his father's influence extended far beyond his own sons to a generation of athletes in the town.
"He did so much for sports in Cherry Hill," Foley said of his father. "He coached so many great players. He is the reason I did what I was able to do, me and my brothers.
"I'm just one of the Foley boys."
@PhilAnastasia