Doak Walker played college football at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, where he was a running back, defensive back, and place kicker. He also threw and caught passes, punted, and returned kicks. He was a three-time All-American, in 1947, 1948, and 1949. He won the Maxwell Award as a sophomore in 1947 and the Heisman Trophy in 1948 as a junior. Walker's impact on SMU and football in the Dallas area led to the Cotton Bowl being referred to as "The House That Doak Built." Walker was also a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and lettered on the SMU basketball and baseball teams. In 2007, he was ranked #4 on ESPN's list of the top 25 players In college football history.
At one time Walker held the Cotton Bowl record for the longest punt with an 86 yard rocket. Kyle Rote had the next longest punt with an 84 yard job. In 1963 Danny Thomas, who lead the NCAA in punting with a 46.5 average, joined Walker and Rote with a punt blast in the mid-80 yard range, but I cannot remember if he merely matched or surpassed Walker and Rote.
Arthur Wittington should be added to the list. I never saw a player change a game in the last 30 seconds like he could. Also Sam Hervey shot putter and Olympic super heavyweight lifter. Who was the javelin thrower on that team with the Pouncy twins? Glenn Erwin??? All American in track as well. Lots of swimmers and divers could make that list as well. Richard Hess. I remember the guys on the swimming team for grins challenged the nationally ranked Aggie Water polo team to a scrimmage and almost beat them because the Aggies couldn't keep up.
I remember doing Swimming Team dry land drills in Sept. 1970 at the corner of Bishop and Mockingbird ( now Pettus Practice Field) and jogging over to Qwnby afterward for water. Went in and sat down to watch some of the track team work out. Walker who was built like a tank was goofing off with teammates at the high jump area. I watched as this mammoth guy high jumped over 6'6".
Last edited by smustatesman on Wed May 14, 2014 5:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Smustatesman aka NUKE......I procreate and I vote.
What about Kwame "Butterfingers" Brown! Insert joke here...
Thank you LB for showing us what a real basketball program looks like. Thank God the days of Kwame Brown, Paul Zorad, Jay Poerner, Troy Matthews are behind us. What a joke.
Eric Dickerson had 4 NFL Seasons where he rushed for more yards than Doak Walker did in his entire NFL career. He ended up with 9 times the amount of rushing yards in his NFL Career. Dickerson still holds about a dozen NFL Records 3 decades after his career ended. Nobody in the NFL recordbook has that many records that last 3 decades in the NFL
Most rushing yards as a rookie- 1808 in 1983 Most rushing yards in a season- 2105 in 1984 Fastest player to reach 2,000 rushing yards- 18 GP Fastest player to reach 3,000 rushing yards- 27 GP Fastest player to reach 4,000 rushing yards- 33 GP Fastest player to reach 5,000 rushing yards- 45 GP Fastest player to reach 6,000 rushing yards- 53 GP Fastest player to reach 7,000 rushing yards- 63 GP Fastest player to reach 8,000 rushing yards- 73 GP Fastest player to reach 9,000 rushing yards- 82 GP Fastest player to reach 10,000 rushing yards- 91 GP Fastest player to reach 11,000 rushing yards- 103 GP Fastest player to gain 1,000 yards from scrimmage- 7 GP Fastest player to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage- 14 GP Fastest player to gain 4,000 yards from scrimmage- 30 GP- tied with Edgerrin James Fastest player to gain 7,000 yards from scrimmage- 55 GP Fastest player to gain 8,000 yards from scrimmage- 64 GP
You guys can play in your pretend fantasy world all you want-they aren't on the same planet if you are talking about the BEST ATHLETE. In fact, Doak Walker would have rarely seen the field if he played in the Pony Express era. Craig James stats at SMU against stacked defenses in an integrated NCAA are more impressive than Doak Walker running circles around a team full of slow white stiffs if the standard is greatest SMU athletes. You doubt me? Well name all the white guys who have been named ALL-Pro and have run for more than 1,200 in the last 30 years since Craig James retired? I do believe that Craig James was the last and only white RB to rush for even over a 1,000 yards in the NFL in the last 3 decades. Craig James never gets the respect he deserves-he was a generational great who was only took about 45% of the snaps during the years he played.
"With a quarter of a tank of gas, we can get everything we need right here in DFW." -SMU Head Coach Chad Morris
When momentum starts rolling downhill in recruiting-WATCH OUT.
Doak was special, but it's hard to believe a guy almost exactly my size would come close today to dominating like he did then. I'd be willing to bet that Cole Beasley and Doak would be about the same ability level.
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A guy growing up today would be a lot larger than a guy growing up in the depression. You judge against compatriots. No doubt Dickerson was a greater running back. What makes someone the best athlete? Being the best in their position or being great at diverse skills? Have great measurables of athleticism like speed jumping and lifts? Whay about olympic athletes? How do you compare Dickerson against a great swimmer?
yeah he would never have played a single down as a Tailback in the Pony Express offense either unless SMU was up 4 TDs. In fact, he would have been moved to FB which is what he is.
"With a quarter of a tank of gas, we can get everything we need right here in DFW." -SMU Head Coach Chad Morris
When momentum starts rolling downhill in recruiting-WATCH OUT.
