RIP, Doc Blanchard

[BB73]

Doc Blanchard just passed away at the age of 84. He had one of the most distinguished college football careers ever. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1945, and finshed third and fourth in his other two seasons.

During his time at Army, the team went 27-0-1, with undefeated MNC seasons in '44 and '45. The tie was the famous scoreless game with Notre Dame in '46, after which Army retained the #1 ranking. His final game was a 21-18 victory over archrival Navy, but the close score against a 1-win team cost them the #1 ranking in the final AP poll. Ironically, his rejection from the Navy's V-12 program due to being "overweight" and having a vision problem was the factor that eventually landed him at West Point.

He also turned down Pro football (#3 overall fraft choice) to become an Air Force fighter pilot, and flew missions in both Korea and Vietnam.

SI.com

Football legend Blanchard dies


BULVERDE, Texas (AP) -- Felix "Doc" Blanchard, the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner and Army's Mr. Inside in one of college football's most famous backfields, has died. He was 84.

Blanchard's daughter, Mary Blanchard, told The Associated Press late Sunday night in a phone interview that her father died of pneumonia at home in Bulverde, a small town in central Texas, earlier in the day.

Mary Blanchard said her father had been living with her and husband for about the past 20 years and he had been in good health until recently coming down with pneumonia.

"He's been strong all his life," she said.

The bruising fullback Blanchard, listed at 6 feet, 208 pounds, and Glenn Davis, aka Mr. Outside, helped Army win consecutive national titles in 1944-45.

Cont'd ...

 

[Gatorubet]

"The bruising fullback Blanchard, listed at 6 feet, 208 pounds" Wow!