Army rushing legend Glenn Davis, 'Mr. Outside,' dies at 80

LOS ANGELES -- Glenn Davis, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1946 and helped lead Army to three national championships, died Wednesday. He was 80.

Glenn Davis' fame transcended the sport during and just after World War II. (AP)

Davis died of complications from prostate cancer at his home in La Quinta, located about 110 miles east of Los Angeles, said his son, Ralph Davis.

Glenn Davis will be buried at West Point, near his former coach, Col. Earl "Red" Blaik, according to his son.

Davis starred as a halfback for Army when it won national titles in 1944 and 1945. The Cadets and Notre Dame played to a scoreless tie in 1946, and split the national championship.

Davis teamed with fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard as one of the most heralded backfields in the history of college football. He was known as "Mr. Outside" to Blanchard's "Mr. Inside."

Davis scored 59 touchdowns and gained 4,129 yards in rushing and receiving in his college career.

He still holds NCAA records for most yards gained per play in one season, averaging 11.5 yards per carry in 1945; 8.3 career yards per carry; and he and Blanchard share the record for most touchdowns (97) and points (585) scored by teammates in a career.

In 1946, Davis won the Heisman and was voted male athlete of the year by the Associated Press.

"He was one of the best," said former Army guard Joe Steffy, who played with Davis in 1945 and 1946. "He left an impression. The first time I met him, I was in awe. What he meant to the military academy and the game of college football needs no explanation."

A telephone call to Blanchard's home near San Antonio, Texas, was answered by his granddaughter, who said he had already gone to bed. Blanchard won the Heisman in 1945.

After serving his military obligation, Davis joined the Los Angeles Rams, playing on the team that won the 1951 NFL championship before a knee injury cut his career short in 1952.

Renowned for his speed, Davis was coming off a record-breaking career at Bonita High School in LaVerne, Calif., where he scored an amazing 256 points during his senior year, when he was persuaded to play for Army in 1943.

The 5-9, 170-pounder became an instant star. Davis scored his first Army touchdown on a 4-yard run in a 27-0 season-opening win over Villanova, threw a touchdown pass in a 42-0 win over Colgate, ran 82 yards for a score in a 52-0 shellacking of Columbia, and returned a kick 75 yards for a touchdown in a 39-7 victory over Yale.