College Football Great 'Doc' Blanchard Dies at 84

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 20, 2009 12:07 PM CDT
College Football Great 'Doc' Blanchard Dies at 84
Blanchard (35) weaves his way through three Michigan men.   (AP Photo)

Felix “Doc” Blanchard, who won the 1945 Heisman Trophy as part of Army’s famed “Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside” backfield tandem, died yesterday of pneumonia, ESPN reports. The legendary fullback, linebacker, placekicker, and punter was 84. In 1944-46, Blanchard— “Mr. Inside” to fellow Heisman winner Glenn Davis’ “Mr. Outside”—led Army to a 27-0-1 record, scoring 38 touchdowns.

Blanchard was the first college junior to win the Heisman. Though a promising professional career beckoned—he was the Pittsburgh Steelers' third pick in the 1946 NFL draft—Blanchard was required to stay in the military. After West Point, he joined the Air Force, and piloted jets in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Heisman winner. (More Felix "Doc" Blanchard stories.)

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