Marcus Allen Named 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers

Doak Walker Legends Award Recipient

DALLAS, TEXAS – Marcus Allen, former USC, Los Angeles Raider and Kansas City Chief running back, has been named recipient of the 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award. The award is presented by the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum. Individuals are nominated by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, and the recipient is chosen by the Forum’s Board of Directors.

Allen will accept the award at the Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet on Friday, February 15, 2008, at The Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Previous recipients include Walter Payton (2006), Jim Swink (2005), John David Crow (2004), Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis (2003), Earl Campbell (2002), Tony Dorsett (2001), Pete Dawkins (2000), Archie Griffin (1999), and Gale Sayers (1998).

Allen became college football’s first 2,000 yard rusher when he rushed for 2,342 yards in his senior season at USC. Allen established 14 NCAA records with the Trojans, including averaging 212 rushing yards per game in 1981. A first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982, Allen was named NFL Rookie of the Year in his inaugural season. The six-time Pro Bowl selection was voted Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 191 yards and leading the Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Allen has been enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. After retiring from the NFL, Allen began a career in broadcasting and is currently an NFL analyst for the NFL Network. In addition to his work in the studio, Allen and his wife Kathryn serve as spokesmen for Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award was created by the SMU Athletic Forum in 1998 to honor former running backs who excelled at the collegiate level and also distinguished themselves as leaders in their communities.

“Marcus Allen is one of the most respected and decorated backs in the history of the game. We are thrilled to honor his achievements on and off the field,” said Maribess Miller, North Texas Market Managing Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is in its ninth year as the presenting sponsor of the Doak Walker Legends Award. PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across the PricewaterhouseCoopers network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

Doak Walker epitomized leadership, sportsmanship, and academic and athletic achievement during his storied career at SMU. Walker was a three-time All-American who won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1948, was a first round draft pick of the Detroit Lions, led the team to NFL championships in 1952 and 1953, and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

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Honoring the legends of sports for 19 years, the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding success in athletics. Based in Dallas, the series features major figures from a variety of sports. The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum includes four luncheons and the prestigious Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet.

-smu.edu/doakwalker-