How good was Walt Garrison

[Catpappy]

Wonder how many older posters on here are or were from Denton,Tx. I am but I don’t even know if they have the old Fair grounds. I ain’t been back in years. I hit the Rodeo scene back then but seems like ages ago.

 

[Doomsay]

In 1972 Walt Garrison came to my small town in West Texas as part of the campaign for a guy running for governor. Nobody cared about the candidate, but the fact that Walt Garrison had come to town was a big, big deal. They shut down the school that afternoon so that the kids could go out and meet him. I still have the autograph I got that day. I am one of the kids in that crowd, but to save myself from future ridicule I’ll just leave it at that. My sister is in that picture too.

That, is awesome!

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

In 1972 Walt Garrison came to my small town in West Texas as part of the campaign for a guy running for governor. Nobody cared about the candidate, but the fact that Walt Garrison had come to town was a big, big deal. They shut down the school that afternoon so that the kids could go out and meet him. I still have the autograph I got that day. I am one of the kids in that crowd, but to save myself from future ridicule I’ll just leave it at that. My sister is in that picture too.

This coulda been a pic from my old HS in SE Tex. All them folks look familiar. I miss those early 1970's. My area was known as the NFL capital of the world as there were 17 players from the area in The League. Great memories and a great pic !

 

[TexasBoys2288]

Walt played at a time when only the toughest of men played. No primadonna players who left the game when they got a scratch. Linemen would get broken arms and be back on the field the next week or two with a cast on. Even QB's were tough as nails and took a beating on a weekly basis. And they did not get paid that much either, they truly loved the game. To me, that was real football.

 

[SellTheTeam]

Per Meredith, Walt was always good for 4 yards, whether they needed 3 or 7 for the first down…lol…Seriously I remember when Dallas drafted him as a “Future” pick after his Jr season at Ok St. He was always one of my favorite players and he seemed to add a degree of toughness that Dallas had during its great seasons!

 

[FVSTONE]

I was watching Super Bowl VI on Youtube between the Cowboys and the Dolphins.
He was literally getting 6-8 yards on just about every carry.
Walt was before my time so I never seen him play.

Hopefully you that did see him play can educate me.

He could hit a fly twenty yards from the huddle with cheek full of chew, that's how good he was............LOL!

 

[plasticman]

In 1971 the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. A great deal of the credit was given to Landry's decision to make Roger Staubach the starter but here was another event that I think was equally important.

After missing 8 games due to injury, Calvin Hill returned to a RB squad already composed of Duane Thomas, Walt Garrison, and Dan Reeves.

Back then there were 14 games to the regular season and those last three games for the Cowboys were the most dominant I have ever seen when it comes to momentum entering the playoffs.

The trio of Hill, Thomas and Garrison were so good that even some in the media were suggesting the Wishbone offense with Staubach being a "running" QB.

Garrison was a fullback. His running plays only represent a third of his contributions to the team's Super Bowl seasons of 1970 and 1971. He was both an excellent blocker and receiver.

It's true that this guy was so tough that he would compete in rodeos during the offseason. He was nationally ranked.

He had a sense of humor too. When a reporter asked him if he had ever seen Tom Landry smile, Garrison replied, "Nope, but I've only been here for 9 years,"

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

I ran across this piece on Youtube about Walt Garrison with a couple of short interviews. I grew up in this age of the Cowboys when they pummeled teams regularly. If not for the NFL darling Stealers this woulda been the team of the 70's. Anyway, enjoy:




And a bonus video that is about another non-football talent of Walt's:

 

[goshann]

 

[kskboys]

Little known fact: Walt whittled the chain that Burt Reynolds was holding in "Best Little HoHouse in Texas".

 

[Risen Star]

Roster filling relic.

 

[Risen Star]

In 1972 Walt Garrison came to my small town in West Texas as part of the campaign for a guy running for governor. Nobody cared about the candidate, but the fact that Walt Garrison had come to town was a big, big deal. They shut down the school that afternoon so that the kids could go out and meet him. I still have the autograph I got that day. I am one of the kids in that crowd, but to save myself from future ridicule I’ll just leave it at that. My sister is in that picture too.

Nice hat.

 

[Hagman]

Nice hat.

Garrison was known for the commercials where he said “just a pinch between your cheek and gum. “. Back then the guys in high school and junior high would put a pinch of Copenhagen in their mouth during class, and spit into a coke can during lessons. Smelled like crap to me, but that was the culture.

 

[RS12]

Good enough to fall forward and move the chains the majority of the time.