Andy Spiva

Background

Spiva was born on February 6, 1955 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Education

He attended Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia.

Career

He appeared in 13 games for the Falcons in 1977. He was killed in a car accident. Teammate Garth TenNapel was in the same vehicle and was seriously injured.

The University of Tennessee.

At Tennessee, Spiva was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection. He was drafted by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL draft.

Spiva was released by Saint Louis that year when the team made its final preseason cuts. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons shortly thereafter.

Falcons coach Leeman Bennett said that the team had become impressed with Spiva when they played Spiva and the Cardinals in a preseason game.

He played in 13 games for the Falcons in 1977. Prior to the 1978 season, Spiva was the top middle linebacker on Atlanta"s depth chart before suffering a preseason knee injury. He underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments a few days after sustaining the injury.

On April 3, 1979, Spiva was driving in rainy conditions when his sports car slid off of a street in the Atlanta area and it collided with a tree.

Spiva died at an Atlanta hospital that day after sustaining head and chest injuries. His teammate Garth TenNapel was seriously injured in the crash.

Connections

friends:

TenNapel