THE Hawaii Rainbows meet Southern Methodist or the first time tonight at Aloha Stadium, even though both have been conference members for three years. Which just goes to show how wacky the WAC is. Doak Walker was no
stranger to Hawaii fansHowever, SMU is no stranger to island football fans.
The Mustangs were here for the 1984 Aloha Bowl, beating Notre Dame, 27-20, at Aloha Stadium. It was their last bowl appearance, by the way.
And through the years, a number of SMU standouts have played in the Hula Bowl, including Ray Schoenke of Punahou. Also, Kyle Rote, Don Meredith, Forrest Gregg and Eric Dickerson.
And tonight fans will be reminded of the first SMU player to appear in the Hula Bowl -- the school's greatest player, Doak Walker.
In 1948, he became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy. He's the only three-time All-American in SMU and Southwest Conference history.
Beginning tonight, in tribute to Walker, who died Sunday at age 71 following complications from a skiing accident, the Mustangs will display a "37" decal on their helmets for the rest of the season. No. 37 was Walker's jersey number.
THE Rainbows will have a hard enough time containing SMU wide receivers Damond Blueitt and Albert Johnson -- each are averaging better than 18 yards a catch. Now they also have to contend with the spirit of Doak Walker.
Enough can't be said or written about Walker, who's viewed in awe even in Texas, a land of legends. He must have been something for Texas sportswriter Dan Jenkins, who bleeds TCU purple, to call someone from rival SMU the best player he ever saw.
Hawaii football fans got to see Walker play here five times in his heyday.
He first played in the Hula Bowl in 1950, right after his final season as a do-it-all back for SMU. He led the College All-Stars to 20-6 and 60-2 victories over the Hawaii All-Stars that January.
Then, in 1953, Walker came back as a pro to play for the Hawaii All-Stars in two Hula Bowl games a week after leading the Detroit Lions to a 17-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns for the National Football League championship.
In 1955, Walker caught one of six touchdown passes thrown by Y.A. Title and kicked seven consecutive conversions in leading the Hawaii All-Stars to a 51-20 victory over the collegians when the Hula Bowl became a single-game affair.
Walker, the only player to earn All-SWC honors for four years, proved equally outstanding in the NFL despite being only 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. He won the NFL scoring title as a rookie in 1950 and again in 1953.
NAMED All-Pro four times in his six-year NFL career, Walker retired at the age of 28.
"I could have played for at least four more years," he told the Star-Bulletin back then. But he wanted to devote more time to his business and family.
The 1956 Hula Bowl turned out to be the penultimate game of Walker's storied career. A week later, Walker played his last football game in the Pro Bowl in Los Angeles.
But Hawaii's Doak Walker story doesn't end there.
Walker returned in 1986 to be honored at Aloha Stadium during the Pro Bowl as one of five inductees into the NFL Hall of Fame that year. He was joined by Paul Hornung, Willie Lanier, Ken Houston and Fran Tarkenton.
Despite all the accolades, it was his humility and soft-spoken way that impressed others.
No. 37 returns -- this time in spirit -- to Aloha Stadium.
Not surprisingly, it is the only jersey number the school has retired.