Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame
Darrell Lipford - Football - (1974-77)
Started at tailback in every Catamount contest from 1974-77, was an All-America for the 1976 season and is Western Carolina's all-time leading rusher with 4,089 career yards and 952 attempts. The Lenior, N.C., native was the Southern Conference Football Player of the Year in 1977, rushing for 1,318 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns. He led the nation (divisions I-A and I-AA) in touchdowns scored in 1997 until the final game of the year when Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell overtook the title. A subject of a Sports Illustrated article in 1997, along with former Catamount great and 1977 NCAA leader for receptions Wayne Tolleson, Lipford ended the 1977 season 10th in the nation (divisions I-A and I-AA) in rushing (120.2 ypg ) and second in scoring (9.8 ppg). In 1974, his freshman season, Lipford rushed for 983 yards as he played a key role in WCU finishing with a 9-1 record, ranking eighth in the Associated Press College Division poll and reaching the NCAA Division II playoffs. Lipford rushed for at least 100 yards a WCU-best 19 times in his career, setting school records on two occasions with 231 rushing yards versus Presbyterian (1975) and 243 rushing yards versus Marshall (1977). He additionally owns Western Carolina records for touchdowns scored in a season (18), points in a season (108) and touchdowns scored in a career (38). Lipford was denied many postseason honors as WCU was in transition from NAIA, to NCAA II, to NCAA I-AA during his career and played only one season in the Southern Conference.
