Originally published in October 30, 1999 Football Game Program vs. Hamilton

BOBBY WALKER, JR. '95 – THREE-SPORT CAPTAIN – THREE-SPORT ALL-AMERICAN at WILLIAMS IS NOW A TEACHER, COACH and ROLE MODEL

Baylor University's loss was a huge victory for Williams. Coming out of Saint Marks School of Texas in Dallas, Walker had a choice to make – Div. I football at Baylor or Div. III football at Williams with track & field thrown in.

Bobby Walker '95, 3-sport All-American

"I didn't want him to go so far away from home," said Bobby's mom, Fannie. "I knew if everything went right he'd be okay, but it's a long way from Dallas to Williamstown. Being here [at the wedding of Bobby and Becky Mallory '95 in Williamstown in July] and seeing all of the friends he made on and off the field and seeing what wonderful people they are, I'm grateful he came to Williams." Walker chose Williams for the great educational opportunities it offered and for the chance to compete in more than one sport.

Head coach Dick Farley will tell you that at the end of Bobby's first semester the coaching staff was pretty convinced that Bobby would not be returning because he was so homesick.

Bobby Walker will tell you that Dick Farley is a large part of why he stayed at Williams. "Coach Farley talked to me about being away from home and he told me he thought I would grow up faster and become a stronger person by being at Williams," said Walker. "We talked for quite a while and he never mentioned football. He talked to me as a friend and he told me he wanted what was best for me as a person."

Typical of Farley, he takes no credit for keeping Walker at Williams. "We spoke at length and I told him that by being here he would find out more about himself than if he went home," said Farley. "I just told him what I thought about his situation, answered his questions and let him do what he felt was best."

Walker certainly did do what was best for him and that was pretty much the best anyone could do in Div. III. It's not unusual that one player will lead a team in tackles for three years, but in Walker's case he did it by playing three different positions: nose guard, defensive end and linebacker. He could not be stopped. Walker owns Eph records for most career solo tackles (167); most tackles (235.5) and is second in sacks in one season with 12. He was proclaimed by CNN's Danny Sheridan to be the best Div. III player in the country as a senior. Little wonder he was named an All-American on five different teams.

"When you play with Ramon Silva and Ethan Brooks you can't help but make tackles," said Walker. "Every time the ball came to Ethan's side and I was there I wouldn't even get touched as he would tie up the double-team and mess up the guy trying to get me. So I would just take down the runner. Ramon was my 'on the field coach.' Ramon was the one who helped put what linebacker coach Joe Doyle and Coach Farley were telling me in practice into the game situation."

Walker looks up to Farley as a person and a coach. "Coach Farley's so prepared and focused he once warned us in practice about a play Middlebury might run, because it worked against Williams in 1978 and guys were like, "Wow, this guy's serious." Walker laughed as he recalled how Farley would sometimes challenge his defenders to be ready for all sorts of 'Wacky Offenses.' In Walker's senior year Hamilton came out in a wacky formation to try and throw the Ephs off. "We simply went into our defensive alignment for that play and they were forced to call timeout."

"Bobby Walker was a rare athlete for us," said Dick Farley. "He was strong enough to play as a down lineman and quick enough to play linebacker. We're fortunate that John Donovan, an administrator at Saint Marks who is a Williams guy, mentioned Williams to Bobby."

Track & field was a little different story. It was kind of strange for Walker who is known for his easy, outgoing nature to experience being somewhat ill at ease in a team situation, but the first couple of years on the track and field team were somewhat strained. According to Walker it took a long time for the throwers (discus, shot, hammer and 35-lb. weight) to be accepted by the rest of the team. "I think it had a lot to do with the difference in practice styles and that there was not much overlap between the throwers and the runners.

When the throwers talked to head coach Pete Farwell about it he called a team meeting where everyone talked about their perceptions and feelings and things were fine after that. That was good news to Walker as he spent two-thirds of his time competing in track and only one-third being involved with football.

Walker was an All-American in three throwing events; the hammer, 35-lb. weight and the shot put. He won the NCAA title in the 35-lb. weight throw with a toss of 18.63 meters.

It's not the undefeated seasons in football and track, the numerous All-America honors in three sports that Walker most fondly remembers about Williams -- it's the people. "I met so many good people at Williams in athletics, on the campus, in the town that it just made everything so special," said Walker. "Dick Farley is my idol as a coach, a parent and a person and my teammates are true friends, but also competitors who really, really pushed me to be the best I could be. Dan Dwyer and Matt Aselton gave me confidence when I was a freshman, hurt and homesick and Rives Nolen and Medley Gatewood and Mike Hlatki showed me every day the value of intensity. In track and field you had Brenda Start, Lisa Chadderdon, Brian Consigli and Ethan Brooks who are quality athletes and quality people. Williams is a special place."

Walker is back where he started now, back at Saint Marks School of Texas, where he is the assistant head of the Middle School, teaches fifth grade humanities and coaches varsity football and track. Walker is also enrolled in the Master of Liberal Arts Program at SMU.

"Teaching has always been something that I've wanted to do and with all that I experienced at Williams I think I bring a perspective to combining academics and athletics that kids can identify with." Who could argue?