Here is just a small reminder of what SMU Football once was and what it has the potential to be again. SMU students and fans should take some time to remember the greats that have played here and that we should support our athletes so that they have an environment where they can succeed.
1. Doak Walker
Walker graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas as a multi-sport athlete and decided to attend Southern Methodist University. At SMU he played multiple positions, as a running back, defensive back and place kicker. He was a three-time All American in 1947, 1948, and 1949. He won the Heisman trophy in 1948 as a junior. The Cotton Bowl is often referred to as “The House that Doak built” and Walker was ranked number four on ESPN's 2007 list of top twenty-five college football players. Walker played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions for six seasons in the 1950s as a running back. He led the Lions to consecutive championship titles in 1952 and 1953. He led the NFL in scoring with 534 points in his career; he was an All-American Pro four times. He also received several well-deserved honors; he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, he was an All American Pro fours times and his number 37 jersey was retired by the Lions. We honor him at SMU with a statue of him in between Gerald Ford Stadium and Dedman Life Center.
2. Eric Dickerson
Dickerson was a running back in the
NFL who was picked in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. He went to SMU in
the early 1980s and was recognized as an All-American. He was a part of the "Pony Express’" running back duo. In the NFL he played for the LA Rams, LA
Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons. In his professional career he rushed over
13,00 yards and holds the NFL single season rushing record of 2,105 yards. In
1999 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He became a sport
broadcaster in Los Angeles on KCBS; he also started a sport memorabilia
company, Original Mini Jerseys.
3. Jesse Craig James
James played at SMU in the early
1980s and along with Dickerson he was part of the running back duo dubbed the "Pony
Express." He was also a running back in the NFL for the New England Patriots
and the Washington Federals. After his professional football career James was a
sport commentator on ABC and ESPN and became a very well known face in the
college sport world. He left broadcasting for a while to run for senator. That
did not work out, and now has the Craig James School of Broadcasting and has
gone back to television.
4. Forrest Gregg
Gregg played at SMU and was drafted
in the 1956 draft; in the second round he was picked twentieth by the Green Bay
Packers. Gregg played for the Packers from 1956 to 1970, he ended his
professional career at the Dallas Cowboys in 1971. He was an offensive tackle
with the nickname "Iron-man" He was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls during
his career. He was lucky enough to work with Vince Lombardi who only had high
praise for Gregg, “Forrest Gregg is the finest player I ever coached.” Gregg
started his own coaching career after his professional ball career. He started
off as an offensive lineman coach for the San Diego Chargers and the Cleveland
Browns. He worked his way up to head coach at The Browns, the Toronto
Argonauts, Cincinatti Bengals and the Green Bay Packers. Most recently, Forrest was asked to
come back to SMU to help reboot the football program after the Death Penalty.
5. Emmanuel Sanders
Sanders is a current wide receiver
star in the NFL who started at SMU. He was a three-year starter at SMU and was
awarded All-Conference honors his final two seasons. He was drafted to the
Pittsburg Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft, in round 3, pick 82. He played for
the Steelers until 2013 but he is now on the Denver Broncos. He has made 199 Receptions;
he has 2,544 Receiving Yards and 12 Receiving Touchdowns.
