Varsity Football

Coach Tatum is a member of the first class to graduate from Catholic High at the present location. His senior year started at the old Adams Avenue location and move to Vaughn Road over the Thanksgiving weekend. He graduated in 1966. He earned two varsity football letters. He played several positions during his high school career. His senior year he played end. Even though he started on offensive and defense his heart was in playing defensive end. He was named to All Central Alabama Athletic Conference as first team defensive end.

Even in high school Eddie also knew he wanted to coach. He spent his free time diagramming plays and discussing them with his head coach, Ed Jones.

Eddie (or Ed) walked on at Livingston College (now West Alabama University) for one season. In the service he played two years of intramural football in the Marine Corp earning Most Valuable Player of the High Desert League.

In 1972 he began his coaching career as a head coach in Montgomery Youth football. Each year as his team grew older and moved up, Eddie went with them.

In 1976, as his group of players started ninth grade at Catholic, Eddie was asked to come to Catholic as an assistant. The nucleus of players from his very first team went on to an undefeated season their senior season, 1979.

Eddie was appointed as defensive coordinator in 1978. During his career at CHS he has coached special team, offensive line, receivers, running backs, defensive ends, and linebackers.

After working and learning from six head coaches, Eddie was announced as Catholic’s head coach in March 0f 1999.