Heston, "Willie" (William M.)
Football
b. Sept. 9, 1878, Galesburg, IL
d. Sept. 9, 1963
"Hurry-Up" Yost, his coach at the University of Michigan, once said that Heston had scored at least 100 touchdowns in his four-year career, but Heston modestly admitted to only 93.
Heston first played guard at San Jose Normal, now San Jose State, in California. He captained the team in 1900. Yost, then coaching Stanford, was asked to help coach San Jose for its big game against Chico State. He moved Heston to halfback and San Jose won the game.
In 1901, Yost took over at Michigan and persuaded Heston to attend law school there. There were no eligibility limits at the time, so he could also play football. In his first game, he broke into the opposition, intercepted a lateral pass, and ran for a touchdown. He scored four touchdowns in his second game. Undefeated Michigan beat Stanford 49-0 in the first Rose Bowl, with Heston gaining 180 yards in 17 attempts.
Heston was both very strong and very fast. He was 5-foot-8, weighed 184 pounds, and it was said that he beat Michigan's sprint champion, Archie Hahn, in the 40-yard dash. In the open field, he was shifty, and he often leaped clear over an opponent was getting set to tackle him.
Against the University of Chicago in 1903, Heston gained 237 of Michigan's 260 total yards. He ran 37 times for 240 yards against Chicago the following season. An All-American in 1903 and 1904, Heston was named to most all-time All-American teams until Red Grange arrived at the University of Illinois.
He coached Drake University to a 4-4-0 record in 1905 and played one game for the Canton Bulldogs, for a record $600. The following season, he had a 3-1-4 record coaching North Carolina State and again he played a professional game at the end of the season, with a group of college all stars. He suffered a serious leg injury and retired from football.