[NU Sports] Stunned sadness

[Ben Adler]

Just another example of how Coach Walker made time for everyone:
   
  Each week during the football season, WNUR would get 15 minutes to interview the coach for our pregame show.  Media services would rush us in and try to rush us out, telling us Walker was in a hurry.
   
  But most weeks (at least when I was Sports Director in Fall 2002 -- hardly an easy time for the program), we'd end up in there for at least half an hour.  Why?  Because Walker would tell us story after story, with the other sports director and I hardly having to prod him along.
   
  Media services would always get frustrated with us for taking so long, but Walker truly seemed to enjoy talking to us -- whether it was about football or life -- even though we weren't football players or part of the program.
   
  It was always something to look forward to each week, and an example of the type of person Coach Walker was.  A lot of coaches wouldn't even grant the interview with student radio.  Coach Walker seemed to relish it, treating even a couple of radio guys with the same respect he showed everyone else.
   
  -- Ben
  
Jonathan Michael Hawkins <spiritu at northwestern.edu> wrote:
  In Summer 2001, Northwestern Magazine published a profile of our Coach. 
The end of the article read:

"When asked about finishing his coaching career, Walker grins. 'If I could 
script it, part of the severance package would be two season tickets. And 
on Saturdays Tammy and I would walk down Sheridan Road, come over to the 
stadium, sit in the stands and watch some other crazy person coach this 
team!'"

Sometimes we can't have the script we want. He was taken too early.

My condolences to Tammy, Abbey, Jamie, and the rest of the Walker family.

I'd like to share a memory of Randy that will stick with me always. In 
2000, I'm sure you'll all remember the 'Cats pulling off a stunning 47-44 
2OT victory over Wisconsin in Madison - September 23. The NU campus 
erupted in celebration, and some of my NUMB friends and I got a band 
together to play for the team when they returned. When the team came, we 
played our hearts out. Afterwards, Coach Walker decided to get up on the 
conductor's platform and thank the band for coming out and supporting the 
team. He made us feel like a million bucks that day - I'll never forget 
it.

Requiscat in Pace, Randy Walker.

Jonathan Hawkins '03

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006, Tom Maycock wrote:

> A very sad day.
>
> Randy was responsible for a lot of happy memories for this NU fan, and
> there should have been many more to come. 52 is way too young. His wife
> and kids should have had many more years to share with him.
>
> Tom

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