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Nobody would argue with the notion that the University of Georgia Bulldogs football program has had a continuing impact on the game of college football. With an impressive record of wins and losses – nearly two wins for every game they have lost in the last century-plus of football, the Bulldogs occupy a place among the sport’s best. From their position in the SEC, the Bulldogs have enjoyed many winning seasons, though recent years have not been among their best. Still, they are routinely ranked in the football polls, and always provide formidable competition for their opponents. Many of the great players in football history have won the Bulldogs’ uniform and played in their Athens, Georgia stadium – one of the largest stadiums of its kind in the world – in front of the more than ninety thousand fans that regularly fill it to capacity. One memorable Georgia player in recent decades was the Heisman Award winner of 1982 – Herschel Walker.

Hershel Walker at Georgia

Walker was one of those rare running backs who made contributions wherever he went. Upon arriving at the Georgia campus, he saw play as a freshman – a lot of play – as he bowled over opposing defenders on his way to new freshman records for yards rushing. Most impressively, the Georgia team was undefeated in Walker’s first season, which helped propel the young man into third place in that year’s Heisman voting. The fact that he was even in contention in an era that frowned on such awards for freshmen is just one indication of how good he really was. After defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the postseason Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs were awarded a national title. Walker would continue his powerful running throughout the next two seasons, performing so well that he was finally awarded the Heisman Trophy in his junior season of 1982.

On to the pros

With his junior year at an end, Walker felt that he had nothing left to prove. Though the existing National Football League rules of the time forbade any team from drafting players until they had completed their senior season, Walker decided to find another way into the pro ranks. It made sense to him from both a personal and financial sense – after winning a national title as a freshman and the Heisman as a junior, it was unlikely that his stock in the NFL draft would be elevated by a return for his senior season. In fact, an injury could have made him less attractive.

With an eye toward controlling his own future as a professional, Walker opted to sign on with the United States Football League, utilizing his considerable skills as running back right up until the League disbanded in 1986. The Dallas Cowboys, however, had selected Walker in the draft of 1985, and openly welcomed him to their ranks in 1986.

His legacy

They say that a legacy is all about what you leave behind for those who follow. In that respect, Walker’s legacy is less a matter of his accomplishments as a running back and more about the way he changed the game for those who would come later. In that respect, his legacy can be seen in the opportunity every talented college player now has to leave for the NFL as soon as they decide the time is right.

Freddie Brister is a big fan of Football check out his: Arkansas Watch

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