New Orleans sports world remembers legendary sports director Ed Daniels
Legendary sports anchor Ed Daniels is being remembered by his peers as a legend in his profession.
Jay Roth, athletic director at Rummel High School, said Daniels made people proud to know him.
"He'd go from a Friday night staying up at 2 in the morning covering prep to getting up early in the morning doing radio. He covered college, going to Baton Rouge, driving back, covering Saints then get on a plane. That was Ed," Roth said.
The Rummel High School and Loyola University grad loved all sports, but he is credited with putting prep football in the spotlight with his Friday Night Football show, which has been on for more than 30 years.
"He treated prep the same way he treated the Saints and LSU and Tulane, and so again, we all have our kind of little niches, but Ed was Mr. Prep, no doubt," said WDSU Sports Director Fletcher Mackel.
Jerry Phillips is the head football coach at Warren Easton High School. He said it was an honor to have Daniels cover his team because Daniels had known Phillips since he was a student.
"I was one of the scholar athletes of the week and did an interview, and we always keep in touch, man. We took to each other, we had a really good relationship," Phillips said.
Phillips looked forward to watching Daniels' show because he appreciated the feedback and could see how other teams performed.
"It's just not going to feel right without Mr. Daniels being a part of high school football going forward," Phillips said.
As serious as Daniels was in his profession, friends said he had a lighthearted personality.
"He was self-deprecating with an amazing sense of humor," Mackel said.
"He was always good to call me. He'd say, 'Hey Jay, what do you think about this team? You know, how's the bowling team? Come on Ed, bowling," Roth said.
Since news of his passing, tributes from major sports teams, college and high schools have flooded social media. While he's remembered as a hard worker, those who knew him best remember the man who had love for his family and faith.
"It was great to see that in the later years of his life, him and his wife started to enjoy a little bit, going to Europe. Ed and I talked about travel more than we talked about sports," Roth said.
The sports world said his death is a tremendous loss, but they will honor the man who meant so much to so many.
"Great man, great husband, great friend, great sports personality of New Orleans," Roth said.