By: Seth Stringer, NWF Daily News
NICEVILLE — The All Sports Association is synonymous with bringing in college football’s biggest names.Tim Tebow. Bo Jackson. Danny Wuerffel. Nick Saban. Bobby Bowden.
The list of Banquet speakers is a testament to the cachet of the ASA and its commitment to local charities, which have received more than $1.1 million alone over the last seven years.
Now that lauded list adds arguably the best college football player of all time: former Heisman winner, Herschel Walker.
Sporting News and Bleacher Report tabbed the former Georgia running back as No. 1 on the all-time list. ESPN tabbed him as No. 2 behind only Jim Brown.
For All Sports Association president Don Collins, the choice was a no-brainer.
“After he spoke at the Republican Convention, I had four or five guys ask me if we could get Herschel,” said Collins, whose organization will celebrate the 52nd Annual Banquet at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on Feb. 20. “Without a doubt, he’s a first-class individual. He’s a successful businessman, he’s a successful leader and he had a successful college and NFL career.”
Walker, along with Brown, is the player against whom every college running back is measured.
Walker ran for 1,616 yards with 15 touchdowns as a freshman in 1980, leading the Bulldogs to a 12-0 record and national championship. In a 17-10 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Walker ran for 150 yards with two touchdowns despite separating his shoulder.
He ran for 1,891 yards as a sophomore and 1,752 as a junior, when he won the 1982 Heisman Trophy. During his three-year collegiate career, Walker set 41 Georgia, 16 SEC and 11 NCAA records as the Bulldogs went 33-3 during his three seasons.
During his 12-year NFL career spanning stints with the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants, Walker became the only player to gain 4,000 yards three different ways: rushing, receiving and kickoff returns. He rushed for 8,225 yards and 61 touchdowns, had 512 receptions for 4,859 yards and 21 scores, and had 215 kick returns for 5,084 yards and two touchdowns.
In retirement Walker hasn’t slowed down.
Walker is president and Chief Executive Officer of H. Walker Enterprises and Renaissance Man Food Services among many other hats he wears. He also serves on the President’s Council on Sports Fitness and Nutrition.
