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Doak Walker

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Football Player

The Resume

    (January 1, 1927-September 27, 1998)
    Born in Dallas, Texas
    Birth name was Ewell Doak Walker II
    Attended Southern Methodist University
    Heisman Trophy winner (1948)
    Halfback and kicker for the Detroit Lions (1950-55)
    4,059 combined rushing and receiving yards
    Five-time Pro Bowler (1950-51,1953-55)
    #37 retired by the Lions
    Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1959) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986)
    Namesake for the Doak Walker Award given to the top running back in college football

Why he might be annoying:

    Many scouts felt that at 5'11 and 175 pounds, he was too small for pro football.
    He quit football to concentrate on his business interests in Texas.
    He claimed golf was the only sport he tried that he was not able to master in 30 minutes.
    Sportswriter Paul Zimmerman called him the least deserving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He attracted such huge crowds to SMU football games that the Cotton Bowl had to be expanded, resulting in the stadium being nicknamed 'the house that Doak built.'
    He also lettered in baseball and basketball in college.
    He tried to turn down his All-American selection because injuries had kept him from playing the full season (1949).
    He twice led the NFL in scoring (1950,1955).
    He was the first player to have his uniform number retired by the Lions.
    Teammate Bobby Layne said, 'He was the greatest clutch player I ever saw. . . . I'll tell ya, if we were ahead 28-0 or somethin', you might not notice Doak on the field. But if it was a close game, everybody knew he was there and he would be the difference.'
    He was paralyzed from the neck down in a skiing accident (January 30, 1998) and died of complications from his injuries eight months later.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 97 Votes: 67.01% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying