Wake Forest Magazine September 2003 - Past Issues - Wake Forest ...

FEAR FACTORFlashy, spicy, and tough: no one who knew him—Flashy, spicy, and tough: no one who knew him—least of all his players—will forget Peahead Walker.BY BILL F. HENSLEY (’50)It has been more than fifty years since Douglas Clyde“Peahead” Walker paced the sidelines at a Wake Forestfootball game, snapping at players and officials, and exhortinghis team to play harder and smarter. Since those memorabledays, the legend of the colorful, dynamic coach—the mostsuccessful in Deacon history—has been kept alive by old gradsand former players, all of whom have a never-ending repertoireof Peahead stories.Walker, a short, stocky fireplug of a man, was widely knownfor his flashy dress, his spicy tongue, his toughness, and hisability to turn out strong, well-coached football teams thatblocked and tackled like the demons for whom they werenamed. A complex man who was sometimes controversial, hecould be as funny as a stand-up comedian or as ill-tempered asa wounded animal, yet he was known for his sensitivity off thefield. His slow, Southern drawl was best described as a halfgrunt,half-snarl, and his biting, sarcastic barbs could sting anelephant’s hide.When he yelled, which he did frequently atmistake-prone players, the earth shook.Throughout the Walker regime, from 1937 until 1950, theDeacons built a solid reputation as “giant killers” by beatingsome of the nation’s most powerful teams.Wake Forest teamswere highly regarded for their devastating blocking and tacklingand their relentless pursuit of victory.“Win or lose, you didn’t feel like going out dancing afterplaying a Peahead-coached team,” said former N. C. State playerBill Thompson. “I went home and soaked for hours in a tubof hot water to ease the pain of my bruises.” Walker compileda 77-51-6 record during his fourteen years at Wake Forest. Hisbest seasons were 8-1 in 1944 and 7-3 in 1939 and 1940.TheDeacons had six wins in 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1950. Histeams were under .500 on only four occasions. Along the waythere were two bowl games.The 1946 team won the inauguralGator Bowl, beating South Carolina 26-14, while the 1950squad lost 20-7 to Baylor in Birmingham’s Dixie Bowl.The game most fans remember came in 1947 when WakeForest knocked off a nationally ranked Tennessee team 19-6 inKnoxville, stunning the Volunteers with their only loss of the30 Wake Forest Magazine