S4E19: College Football Rankings and guest Mike Walter former NFL All-Pro

On this episode host Brad Fowler gives his College Football Top 10 pre-season rankings, and is joined by special guest Mike Walter, former NFL All-Pro and 3 Time Super Bowl Champion with the San Francisco 49ers. Mike shares some great stories from his NFL career, including playing for legendary coach Bill Walsh, his favorite current NFL player to watch, the most amazing player he ever played against, and much more!

Today's Guest

Mike Walter

Mike Walter played college football at the University of Oregon where he was named All-Pac 10 (1982). He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He is a 3× Super Bowl champion with the 49ers (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) and was named NFL Second-team All-Pro (1989).

Here are the questions we asked Mike:

• You played your college ball at the University of Oregon, a team that's grown into a nationally relevant program that competes at a high level year in and year out. Do you still follow the program? and are you proud to see what the program has become? 

• You were drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round of the '83 draft, you were then waived by them in '84 and picked up by the 49ers where you went one to have a stellar career, but getting waived after one year in the league, did that cause you yo ever have any doubts about your ability and if you could play at that level, or did you always know the Cowboys had made a mistake?

• I heard a quote from former Steelers great Joe Greene, he said quote "You've heard people brag about a lot of things. They talk about being in the zone. They don't know what the hell the zone is about. Because you don't live in the zone. You visit the zone, probably once in your life...I played 13 years. I was in the zone one time." Was there a time that you were in the zone, where you felt unstoppable?

• You had an incredible career, like I mentioned you were an all pro, you led the 49ers in tackles for 3 consecutive seaosns, and played in a great era of NFL football, who was the best player you ever played against?

• You played with so many other great players and several hall of famers, in San Francisco, was there ever times at practice you saw a teammate do something just incredible even mind blowing?

• You played for a legendary coach in San Francisco the late great Bill Walsh. He had not only a background in football but boxing as well and I've read he used boxing analogies with his players. He also once said "If you can get everyone to laugh together, You can get everyone to get serious together." What was he like to play for? Any stories about him that stand out in your memory?

• I heard about something Bill Walsh started called the Annual 49er Fishing Derby, where they filled a pond with cat fish and you guys all competed to see who could catch the most fish, followed by a bbq, sounds like alot of fun, and a great way to build team chemistry, what was that like?

• Like I mentioned in the intro you were a key member of 3 Super Bowl Championship teams, the 1980's 49ers were the team of the decade, a dynasty. Former teammate of yours Harris Barton once said, "success was only measured by winning Super Bowls. It was not get to the playoffs, It was hey, did you win the Super Bowl, and if you didn't win the Super Bowl, you know what, it was a terrible season." What was it like playing for a team with those standards?

• Where are your 3 Super Bowl rings right now?

• Who are some of your favorite players to watch nowadays?

• You played in a different era, a rougher, tougher, version of the NFL than what we see today. Is the game too soft nowadays or is this "safer" version of the game better in your opinion?

• What do you miss most about playing in the NFL?

• When you were in the NFL, who was the biggest trash talker?

• What was the most memorable moment of your career?

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