Christy was a star halfback for the NC State Wolfpack football team from 1955 to 1957, leading them to the 1957 Atlantic Coast Conference championship in his senior year.

With the league title on the line in the season's final game, Christy scored all 29 points in a 29–26 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks to clinch the championship for his team.

Hobbled in the College All-Star game in mid-August, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the season.

[4] In March 1966, Christy became the first signing of the Wilmington Clippers of the Atlantic Coast Football League.

The Dick Christy Award was created by NC State to honor the football team's most valuable players in games against South Carolina.