DOAK Walker wouldn't want his alma mater to make a big fuss. Doak Walker was
Mustangs’ original horseAs wonderful as the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner was on and off the field for Southern Methodist University, part of his charm was that he didn't have an ego as big and bright as all the other stars in Texas.
He would be flattered by the SMU players' gesture to wear the "37" decal on their helmets in his honor, but anything beyond that would make him uncomfortable.
Walker was paralyzed in a skiing accident in Colorado in January. The 71-year-old died Sunday of complications from that accident, prompting SMU officials this week to subtly celebrate his greatness.
Today's players probably know little of Walker and his accomplishments just after World War II.
He and University of Texas quarterback Bobby Layne were classmates at Highland Park High School in Dallas.
Layne went to Texas and Walker to SMU, and the two met as freshmen quarterbacks. Walker scored the only touchdown for the Mustangs, who lost, 12-7, on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass by Layne.
WALKER was drafted into the Army in 1946, but returned to SMU in 1947 to renew a career so illustrious that the Cotton Bowl added 20,000 seats in 1948 just to accommodate Walker's following. Of course it was dubbed "The House that Doak Built."
Texas sportswriter Dan Jenkins once described Walker as poetry in motion: ". . . If you applied the phrase to Doak Walker in his heyday at SMU, then you had to say the only guys who deserved to be in the same backfield with him were Byron, Shelley and Keats."
Fans today may say SMU running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James formed one of the greatest backfields in college football history. And they might not be wrong.
But there are those from past generations who would argue that Walker and Kyle Rote formed the original Pony Express. Rote rushed for 2,049 yards in his three-year career. Walker, who was on the cover of 47 national magazines, added 1,954 yards on the ground and 3,592 yards in total offense, scored 303 points and returned kicks for 1,500 yards.
And oh, by the way, he also punted, averaging 39.5 yards before his college career ended in 1949.
Walker's football life didn't draw to a close on SMU's Hilltop. He and Layne went on to have successful careers with the Detroit Lions. Despite being only 5-foot-10 and weighing 170 pounds, Walker was named All-Pro four times before retiring in 1955.
"Everybody in that part of the world knew and respected Doak Walker," UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey said. "He was a gentleman. I was saddened by his death. He was one of the great ones in college football."
SO much so, the nation's top running back receives an award in his name. Last year's recipient of the Doak Walker Award was Ricky Williams of Texas, who would like nothing better than to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walker's Heisman Trophy season by winning one of his own.
SMU will continue its celebration of Walker by unveiling the decal tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium.
There are several stories as to why Walker chose No. 37.
He wore that jersey number in high school in honor of all-time Mustang great Harry Shuford. According to one story, he wanted to continue the tradition at SMU.
But that's not true. In his book, Walker wrote that he came to wear No. 37 by chance. He was late arriving for his freshman season, and once he made the team, the coaches told him to get a jersey from what was left. Only three jerseys remained. One was too big and one was too small. Then there was No. 37.
As destiny would have it, it was a perfect fit for a man who taught us that greatness and humility should be one and the same.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.