12/03/24
June 30, 2006
Northwestern University football coach Randy Walker is dead.: He died last night of an apparent heart attack. Walker was 52 years old and was the second winningest coach in school history.
posted by Sister Havana to football at 08:04 AM - 7 comments
He'll really be missed at Northwestern. He was a good coach and he made sure his players graduated. He also was committed to staying at Northwestern rather than looking at it as another step up.
posted by ursus_comiter at 09:54 AM on June 30, 2006
This is a real bummer. I was at NU during the late 80s and we absolutely sucked. Further, I was in the marching band, so I had to go watch them get their brains beat out every Saturday. Walker and previously Gary Barnett brought respectability to the program. NU will never win a national championship, but at least under Barnett & Walker Michigan, Ohio State and other Big 10 powers could no longer assume an automatic W. My heart goes out to Walker's family.
posted by drumdance at 10:00 AM on June 30, 2006
Seemed like a really nice guy who worked hard for himself and his team. More proof that only the good die young. Rest In Peace Coach.
posted by melcarek69 at 12:27 PM on June 30, 2006
.
posted by kosmicdebris at 06:58 PM on June 30, 2006
A true shame. I, too, was at Northwestern around the same time as Drumdance (check my profile and I think you'll remember me), and the only reasons I and most of my friends went were that they were free and you knew you'd be seeing future pros on the other side of the ball. Northwestern athletics seem fairly snakebit of late. RIP.
posted by ajaffe at 07:57 AM on July 01, 2006
This is truely sad on a personal and sporting level. My condelences go out to the family, and the program for which he coached. Northwestern has some big shoes to fill.
posted by jojomfd1 at 05:39 PM on July 03, 2006
Randy was really underrated as a coach - despite the talent and size that he had to work with, he was still able to make Northwestern a successful program over the years.