Walter Lewis

deliveryman35 · February 15th, 2006, 09:21 PM

One of my personal, favorite players to ever put on the jersey was Walter Lewis. I'll never forget the '83 Penn St game when we were robbed when he led us from being down four touchdowns, and the huge win in El Paso against a darn good SMU team. From what I understand, he's now out of coaching but living in the state working as a financial advisor. I know he coached w/ Bill Curry, but just seems to me he would be a great candidate if any positions opened up on the staff, particularly qb coach or some other position associated w/ the offense. What do y'all think?

UAB-CT · February 15th, 2006, 09:59 PM

My cousin walked on as a punter under Coach Bill Curry, he had scholarships to play elsewhere but he was a big tide fan. He told me that Walter Lewis was the nicest guy on the staff and that everybody loved him. He is still one of my favorite childhood players. Later I met his sister, and she was just as classy as he is, incidently she was sporting a watch that he gave her from the Sun Bowl he played in.

pcolatide · February 15th, 2006, 10:42 PM

I always liked him as a player. Also he was one of my favorites. As to his coaching, not sure how much experience he has with the type of offense Coach Shula runs and how current he is on the modern game. Would need to know more before I recommend for a coaching position.
But I do generally believe in taking care of your own all things being equal.

bamabryan · February 15th, 2006, 11:25 PM

I met Walter Lewis at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame for a fund raiser for Big Oak Ranch this past December. He is a super nice guy and very soft spoken.

Deliveryman 35 is correct, Walter is a financial advisor now or as he told me, "I am a coach of a different type now." It seemed to me he is very content with his career at this time.

chris · February 16th, 2006, 12:01 AM

he was one of my favorites,almost as exciting as the duece! however,i wouldn't want him as an assistant. after some of the things that transpired his senior year i don't trust him in re; to morale. sue me for holding a grudge but he was bad for the team in my opinion,his last season. i do feel that the 314 game against pa. st. was his best effort as a q.b. jmo!

PattheCatinSaudi · February 16th, 2006, 12:56 AM

	Quote:	deliveryman35
	One of my personal, favorite players to ever put on the jersey was Walter Lewis. I'll never forget the '83 Penn St game when we were robbed when he led us from being down four touchdowns,

I remember that game also. My oldest daughter was born that Thursday night and I was watching the game at home before going over to the hospital. By halftime I was in despair, so I decided to go to the hospital early. The nurses brought in a small TV so I could watch the 2nd half. They brought in Michele and as I held her, Bama started coming back. The nurses came to get her and I won't give her up because she was helping Bama come back. I held her until the end of the game before I'd let the nurse take her back to the nursery.

bat123 · February 16th, 2006, 05:05 AM

I remember wally running out of bounds with no time on the clock with one man to beat and lost to Ga Tech in B'ham.......... Yeah he was one of my favorite players

Braveheart · February 16th, 2006, 07:32 AM

Walter's cousin, Scott Lewis. Scott (while a nice guy)was the TOTAL opposite of Walter, kind of pudgy, kind of loud and flamboyant and a total NON athlete. I met Walter one time through Scott. He seemed like a pretty nice guy but then again, I barely met the guy.

Chris, I think I know what you're talking about. I was student at the time at Alabama and I seem to recall it involved a girl. Are you thinking the same thing?

GrayTide · February 16th, 2006, 08:57 AM

I was never a fan of Walter Lewis. IMHO he exploited being the first black starting QB for Coach Bryant. I always got the impression in tight situations he reverted to street football and tried to win the games on his own play without regard to using teammates, this was especially true in the Wishbone style of play where a perfectly timed pitch to the trailing back could have gained more yards than trying to keep it and make the big play. I do not know him personally, this is just my opinion and my opinion only.

bamaslammer · February 16th, 2006, 09:39 AM

very gifted athalete, I don't think he ever made any attempt to use his color to his advantage, I do remember hearing some biggots make snide remarks about the "black quaterback" but I only saw him play his heart out to win week after week, No way I think anyone should question the manner in which he did it.

If he played today I think the NFL would be alot more interested in him post Vick than they were back then. I thought he did a good job with the Memphis Showboats as well.

redwood11 · February 16th, 2006, 01:59 PM

I only saw him play his heart out to win week after week, No way I think anyone should question the manner in which he did it.

Absolutely. Walter was tough and determined. I always liked him a lot.

TheCapstone · February 18th, 2006, 11:58 AM

I always thought Walter Lewis was one of the most exciting players to ever grace the Crimson jersey when he was on his game. He had some dismal games but the good ones were far more numerous. The 83 Penn St. game will always be etched in my mind. My wife had given up and fell asleep on the couch as we fell behind by way too much. When we starting coming back I finally started to have a feeling that someting was possible and finally I starting getting excited, therefore waking my wife up. I still have the game on VHS tape and will never forget the effort by the good guys.

I remember the effort that Walter gave against Nortre Dame as a freshman in Birmingham. Those days seem like yesterday in a sense but like Coach Bryant they are long ago.

talisitider · February 18th, 2006, 01:25 PM

Talked with Walter just the other day about the financing of a debt obligation of a governmental entity I audit, he seems to be a fine man.