Irv Heller was the football player who bridged the gap between the Terriers' All-Time team prior to 1948 and the Post-War All-Time team. He was selected for both teams.
Heller was considered a specialist. He specialized in everything. Blocking, tackling, opening holes for the tailbacks, protecting the quarterback, covering kicks — he did it all.
He was primarily used at left tackle, starting every game for three years, where he earned All-New England and All-Eastern honors in his BUÂ career.
Upon graduation, Heller was high on the draft list of the NFL's Detroit Lions but he had other plans. His goal was to work in the insurance business, and to meet that goal, he decided coaching for a few years would earn him the money to do so.
He became the Terriers' freshman coach until he received his master's degree, when he moved on to become the line coach at Brandeis. He was able to start his own business and, not surprisingly, was extremely successful.
For years, Heller was also head of the Boston University Shriners Football Committee, which annually staged the Shriners Intercollegiate Bean Bowl game that officially opened the Terriers' gridiron season at Nickerson Field.
