AD, alive and kicking
The College Football Hall of Fame adds 20 inductees at its ceremonies in South Bend, Ind., today, and one of them is sure to be booed.
Anthony Davis, the former San Fernando High flash who became known as the "Notre Dame Killer" during his days at USC, takes the response as a sign of respect.
"The fact that more than 30years later they still remember me, I feel blessed," Davis told the Associated Press on the eve of his induction. "I don't feel offended at all."
Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), Cornelius Bennett (Alabama), Joe Washington (Oklahoma) and Roosevelt Leaks (Texas) are among the 20 who'll get their due at the College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner. But Davis is sure to bring the biggest response.
Davis scored six touchdowns against the Irish in 1972. He had four more in 1974.
Second to Ohio State’s Archie Griffin in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1974, Davis still ranks third on USC’s career rushing list with 3,724 yards.
His best memories, though, are his games against the Irish.
For more on the ceremony, read on ...
He still includes the phrase “Notre Dame Killer� when signing autographs, as he did Friday at a golf outing for the Hall.
In the 1974 game against Notre Dame, with USC losing 24-0, Davis caught a 7-yard pass for a touchdown with 10 seconds left in the first half. He opened the second half with a 102-yard kickoff return and scored twice more in the
half to spark the Trojans to a 55-24 victory.
“To me, it’s the greatest collegiate rivalry because of its long history, all the great coaches and players and
all the Heisman Trophy winners on both sides,� he said.
In the three years Davis started at tailback at USC, the winner of the game won the national championship
twice (USC in 1972, Notre Dame in 1973) and finished No. 2 once — although the Trojans finished first in the coaches’ poll in 1974.
Davis was glad to see Notre Dame give the Trojans a tough game again last year.
“When SC and Notre Dame are down, there’s something missing in college football,� he said. “The fact that they’re
back is great.�
Davis, who had an injury-shortened pro career that started with the World Football League and ended with the Rams, is feeling great about his comeback, too. After ballooning to 300 pounds, the 5-foot-10 Davis underwent gastric bypass surgery in March and is down to 215 pounds, just 10 pounds over his playing weight.
“I feel like I can run now,� he said.
He looks like it, too. Wearing a tight-fitting shirt, Davis didn’t look Friday like a man who was obese five months ago. He has an athletic build, especially for a 53-year-old man.
“I’m fortunate,� he said. “I believe by September I’ll be 200 pounds.�
Davis, who is in real estate development now, said he underwent the surgery because of sleep apnea, which can be lethal. For two years he wore a device over his nose while sleeping that supplied pressurized room air through a flexible tube to prevent his airway from collapsing.
Davis said he was spurred to action in part because of the December 2004 death of former NFL great Reggie White, who suffered from sleep apnea and sarcoidosis. He is trying to promote the dangers of obesity, especially to the black community. To promote the gastric bypass procedure, he allowed his
surgery to be cybercast live. He wants other people to be aware of its benefits.
“I’m just glad I’m healthy again,� he said. “I believe this is why I’m still living here today. It saved my life.�