[1] McAshan began his football career as the first African American quarterback to play for the predominantly white Gainesville High School.

His high school quarterbacking was good enough to be noticed by Georgia Tech head coach Bud Carson.

McAshan's football relationship, as was the same with his defensive colleagues, with new head coach Bill Fulcher was strained for the remainder of the season after this lopsided loss.

In protest, under the guidance of black city father's, McAshan skipped practice for the rest of the week.

Fulcher suspended McAshan for the next two games, which were the Georgia loss and the Liberty Bowl victory over Iowa State.

[7][8] During the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, McAshan sat in a white limousine with Jesse Jackson right outside the stadium.

[1] McAshan was eventually kicked off the team by Fulcher and declared for the National Football League draft as a senior in 1972.

Eddie McAshan finished his Georgia Tech career with 4,262 yards of offense, 35 total touchdowns, a 62.5% (20-12-1) winning percentage, and two bowl game appearances.