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

Though every player hascountless Peahead stories,probably the best knownis his comment to the teamphysician who rushed overto tell him that a playerwasn’t breathing. “Hell,you’re a doctor; makehim breathe.”immensely popular with sportswriters around the nation. “Hewas a unique individual, a genuine character,” said FurmanBisher, the Atlanta Journal columnist who covered sports forthe Charlotte News in those days. “He was witty, feisty, droll,and quotable, and he never made excuses.”Walker and Clemson’s Howard, who was also fromAlabama, managed to stay in the limelight throughout the yearswith their frequent verbal attacks, swapping insults that themedia relished, even though the so-called “feud” was for publicitypurposes only. “I know now why Mrs. Howard alwaystraveled with Frank,” Peahead announced to the press. “He’s sougly she doesn’t want to kiss him goodbye.”Howard would come back the following day with a snideremark that would amuse readers. “Don’t listen to Peahead,”he would warn, “because he’s uncouth. And you can tell him Isaid that because he’s so dumb he doesn’t know what uncouthmeans.”Walker and Howard were the area’s most popular banquetspeakers and regaled audiences with their backhanded slaps,laughable one-liners, and ribald routines.In addition to his humor,Walker was a flashy dresser whowas well-known for his dark shirts, loud, colorful ties, jauntyfedoras, and gaudy sports jackets. Fans came to see whatPeahead would wear and often sent him the boldest necktiesthey could find. At one time the Deacon coach had more thana hundred neon-bright ties in his collection. He was also aprivate man who was divorced and lived in small bachelorquarters in Gore Gymnasium.When he wanted nightlife, hewould drive his Cadillac to Raleigh for an evening on the town.Despite his success both on and off the field,Walker occasionallywound up in hot water with the Wake Forest administrationand the Baptist community because of his coachingtactics and his liberal use of profanity during football practices.Called on the carpet by college President Thurman Kitchin aftercomplaints by offended observers,Walker drawled, “Aw, Dr.Kitchin. Damn to a football coach is like amen to a preacher.”In addition to his salty vocabulary,Walker was also knownfor hanging demeaning titles on his players. “I was HollowBrain,” said Davis, “and Nub Smith was Amoeba Brain, EdButler was Frankenstein, and others were known as SkinnyLegs, Butterfingers, and what have you.” And his caustic remarkscould sting.A receiver, known for his voracious appetite, droppeda ball in practice and Peahead yelled at him, “You would havecaught the damn thing if it had been something to eat.”Though his humor seldom crept into games,Walkerenjoyed picking on Willis “Doc” Murphrey (’52, JD ’57),fromRoanoke Rapids, North Carolina, a benchwarmer who playedsparingly but who later became a popular sports figure in hisown right. Once at a home game, with the Deacons well aheadon the scoreboard, the fans started yelling, “We wantMurphrey, we want Murphrey.” Suddenly, Peahead turned tothe bench and yelled Doc’s name.Thinking he was going intothe game, Murphrey grabbed his helmet and ran enthusiasticallytoward the coach. “Murphrey,” he drawled, “go sit in thestands. I think your friends want you up there.”32 Wake Forest Magazine