Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
1981 Peach Bowl Offensive MVP Mickey Walczak Passes Away
March 28, 2023 03:50 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Mickey Walczak, offensive MVP of West Virginia's 1981 Peach Bowl victory over Florida, has died.His death was confirmed this morning by childhood friend Tom Orton.
Walczak caught eight passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Mountaineers' stunning 26-6 upset victory over Florida. It was considered one of the biggest upsets of the year.
"They were intimidated by our passing attack," Walczak said afterward. "I felt we had them beaten by the second quarter. I don't care what they say about teams from the South, the East plays good football, too.
"They didn't hit as hard as Virginia Tech, Penn State or Temple," he added.
Walczak, from Saratoga Springs, New York, was one of four running backs coach Frank Cignetti signed in 1978, and he shared ball carrying duties with Robert Alexander, Curlin Beck and King Harvey when Don Nehlen took over the Mountaineer program in 1980.
Walczak's best year was his junior season in 1981 when offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill used him primarily as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield in the Mountaineers' pro-style offense that suited quarterback Oliver Luck.
Walczak caught a career-high 49 passes for 338 yards and six touchdowns that season, ranking second on the team to All-American tight end Mark Raugh's 64 receptions. He rushed for a season-high 55 yards and scored a touchdown in West Virginia's 38-10 win at Boston College and contributed 51 yards in a late-season victory over East Carolina. In addition to his six touchdown catches, he ran for two and threw a 21-yard TD pass to Raugh in WVU's 27-6 home win over Virginia Tech.
In 38 career games from 1979-82, Walczak rushed for 566 yards and three touchdowns and caught 69 passes for 469 yards and eight scores.
After graduating from WVU in 1982 with a degree in finance, he worked as an investment broker in New York City and later got into golf course design and development for the Golf Group in the United States, as well as real estate development in Quebec, Canada.
Most recently, he was living in the Saratoga, New York, area and was inducted into the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Walczak, 63, is survived by three brothers Todd, Larry and Scott, son Dillon, and granddaughters Aliyah and Luna.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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