Many of the things we take for granted in athletics now—a detailed focus on nutrition, cross-training the body to prepare for any situation, a regimented weight-lifting program—were pretty novel ideas if not downright unavailable in the 1950s. As a student, you ate what they had in the cafeteria or were able to cook yourself. As an athlete, you availed yourself of whatever workouts a coach dreamed up or you dreamt up for yourself if you were so inclined. And then you lined up and played.
And perhaps that's what stands out the most about Bill Alexander's career, taken as a whole. There were multi-sport stand-outs across the landscape before, during and after his era, some of whom have had their day of enshrinement in the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame. But Bill Alexander was defined by his speed, speed that was truly ahead of its time, a speed that gave him the ability to excel on the gridiron and the track for the Govs and makes him the lone athlete in Austin Peay history to earn a Hall of Fame nod for his contributions in both sports.
Alexander was a two-time All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference honoree in 1954 and 1955, starting and starring on both sides of the ball as a tailback and defensive back. Alexander's exploits pre-date even Austin Peay's extensively and exhaustively researched statistical database, but his merits are enough that we know this much to be true about him:
- He was named Most Outstanding Player in the Mid-State Charity Bowl game in 1954
- He also helped lead Austin Peay to back-to-back wins in the first two Charity Bowls, which the Govs competed against a team comprised of standout military players based at Fort Campbell, in 1954 and 1955.
- He was named to the 1954 Nashville Banner All-Midstate College Team
- Before the 1955 season he was elected team captain
- He earned Honorable Mention Little All-American status in 1955
- During that 1955 campaign, he set what was then the school record for number of single-game rushes with 34.
What we seem to have here is a player who elevated his performance when the Governors were in most dire need of it.
Now add to Alexander's ledger that he held school track and field records in the 100 and 220 yard dashes—that's how long ago we're talking about, when those events were still measured in yards—while competing in the long jump and you have a throwback to the classic multi-sport athlete who could excel at whatever he put his mind to, blessed as he was with a natural quickness and agility.
Even competing in multiple sports in the modern era is a notable achievement. Excelling as Bill Alexander was able to is a rarity that defies times and eras. Those able to reach his heights will be special athletes indeed, as Alexander himself was in his day.
