Herschel Walker, nicknamed “the goal line stalker” by Dan Magill, may have been the greatest Bulldog ever when it came to that particular talent. He also may have been the best when it comes to accentuating the positive.
He is a proponent of the axiom: “If you can’t say anything good about somebody, say nothing at all.”
Herschel always sounded like a coach who never said a negative word about an opponent and was always deflecting profuse praise in his direction to his teammates.
It was Herschel who always complimented his offensive line, even to the extent they should have been elected to the Hall of Fame, too, as he said upon being selected for the honor. A worthy assessment for sure, but not likely to ever come about. His linemen, however, thought it was a brilliant idea.
Now, as he awaits Senate confirmation for his appointment by President Trump as ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, No. 34 has his degree from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and is happy to sing the praises of a faculty that accompanied him on his journey to reach fulfillment of a long-standing goal.
The thumbnail of his journey to a sheepskin: some of his coursework was done online, but the bulk of his work was done on campus.
Herschel was eager, when the journey was finished, to compliment his professors. He enjoyed walking the campus with classmates, which led him to exclaim, “I really didn’t know how pretty it was.” He and his wife, Julie, are avid bike riding enthusiasts, and they often cycle through the campus on pretty spring and fall days.
As a member of the prestigious Horatio Alger Association, Herschel serves on its scholarship selection committee, helping the association select deserving students to receive scholarships to pursue graduate degrees. The association’s beneficiaries give the program high marks, and participating in this rewarding process inspired Herschel to return to UGA to complete his own studies, having left the university in his junior year to play professional football.
Like everything he does, Herschel was determined to do his best. He didn’t want to just get by: he wanted to excel, to make A’s. When he came back to campus in 2023, he did that, all A’s, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in all 18 courses he took from his first semester back until graduation, landing on the president’s list each term.
Herschel took a “first to in the classroom and the last to leave” approach. He has always had a kind word for the University of Georgia, but became almost evangelical when he came back to complete his degree requirements.
To achieve his graduate objective, he spent a lot of time on the computer, of course, but found the classroom experience exhilarating. He loved interacting with classmates, impressed by their intelligence and creativity, and was transfixed by his professors’ lectures.
“I was motivated, happy even, to do the work I needed to do, and it was inspiring to work with these bright, enthusiastic students and professors every day,” he said. “It also made me pleased to live up to the commitment I made to my mother many years ago.”
When Herschel waxes philosophically, he allows that “earning his degree is as important as anything I have ever done.” This is coming from a three-time, all-America running back who won the 1982 Heisman Trophy; a man who holds 41 records at Georgia and 16 in the SEC, and one who gained 5,259 yards in college and 8,225 rushing yards as a professional. Now, Herschel talks to UGA athletes about the importance of making getting a degree a priority.
Of being voted into the Circle of Honor, he says it “is nice” to be elected to this select group. Ever grateful, he prefers to talk about the great athletes already chosen before him and nothing about himself. Unaware that earning his degree also made him eligible to join the Circle of Honor, he remains appreciative of the recognition, but deflects, turning the focus to how education is the key to opportunity. He is eager to testify to the intrinsic values of the learning experience.
“Education,” Herschel says, “is the equalizer. You need an open mind. You have to take advantage of so many smart people on our college campuses. I feel so fortunate to have had the experience I had.”
His journey is a study in perseverance. That has always been the Herschel Walker way.