LSU’s Brad Davis: The Hammond Hammer

Brad Davis completed his LSU football days as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 2,253 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging a cool 4.5 yards per carry. His record didn’t stand but he still ranks ahead of Billy Cannon, Rondell Mealey, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Justin Vincent among Tiger all-time runners.

Twice recognized as an All-SEC running back and All-SEC Academic honoree, Davis capped his career as a first-team Academic All-American in 1974. His name still resonates in LSU lore.

Davis enjoyed a pair of memorable outings when he was a junior in 1973, a season in which he ran for 904 yards (5.2 average) with six touchdowns, finishing third among SEC rushers, one against South Carolina on October 27th and another on November 22nd against Alabama.

On the road against the Gamecocks, the Tigers faced a pair of familiar faces on the opposing sideline. The South Carolina head coach was Paul Dietzel, who guided LSU to their first national title in 1958. Gamecock assistant Jerry Stovall, who would eventually assume the head coaching position for the Tigers (1980-’83), was a Heisman runner-up for the Tigers in 1962.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Davis, nicknamed the Hammond Hammer out of Tangipahoa Parish, tallied 156 yards on 25 carries as LSU prevailed, 33-29. Miley connected with wide receiver Ben Jones in the waning moments of the South Carolina win to secure the seventh consecutive win in as many games that season.

“Their defensive backs were small. They weren’t going to take me down,” recalled Davis. “Our line was blocking well. Every time I touched the ball we had a positive gain.”

LSU boasted a bevy of talented runners during that time, and head coach Charlie McClendon ran a platoon system. Besides Davis, tailbacks Steve Rogers, Terry Robiskie, Lora Hinton, Chris Dantin were joined by fullbacks Brian Zeringue and Ken Addy in a big timeshare. Billy Broussard and Mike Miley operated at quarterback.

“Coach Mac wanted to play everyone and develop depth,” explained Davis. “He would run the first team for two series then bring in the second group for two series, including the offensive line.”

Davis suffered an injury to his elbow during an encounter with the South Carolina artificial surface which would require 15 stitches. Backup running back Steve Rogers was scheduled to enter the game but was trumped by a teammate. “Lora Hinton snuck in,” Brad said as he laughed out loud. “No one told him to go in. He scored on a 10-yard run.” Hinton only had two touchdown runs during his college career.

On Thanksgiving evening, November 22, 1973, the 9-0 seventh-ranked Tigers were hosting the undefeated third-ranked Crimson Tide. With help from LSU miscues, Alabama jumped out to a 21-point lead.

Terry Robiskie fumbled at the Bama 17-yard line which led to the game’s first score on the ensuing drive. Fullback Ken Addy laid the ball on the Tiger Stadium grass at the Tide 35-yard line. Mike Miley tossed a pair of interceptions, one late in the third quarter into the visiting end zone from 15 yards out. Wide receiver Norm Hodgins had deep separation on the Alabama defender and dropped a perfectly placed offering from Miley.

“We had our chances; we should have won,” Davis admitted.

Miley only attempted 107 passes in the entire campaign but accounted for 973 yards through the air with seven touchdowns, adding 216 yards and four scores as a runner. Tight end Brad Boyd was his most reliable target with 16 catches on the season for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

On one play in the fourth quarter brought the Tiger Stadium crowd of 67,000 to their feet. The junior took a handoff from Miley on an inside zone play. He powered past five Bama defenders en route to a 30-yard scoring jaunt for the Tigers’ only score.

“I could have carried the ball 50 times,” Davis recalled. “I was in a zone. I made the right cuts. Every time I touched the ball, I had positive yards,” stated Davis, who had 17 carries for 143 yards, averaging 8.4 yards per carry including one touchdown against the Crimson Tide defense.

Legendary Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant reflected on the contest and Davis’ performance.

“Playing in Tiger Stadium is an experience everyone should have, with all that noise,” the Bear growled following the game. “It was the best team we played all season by far. LSU came to play. Brad Davis is some kind of fine runner. We recruited him. He looked good. We would have recruited him a little harder if I knew he’d look that good.”

Mike Miley was a 6-foot-1, 185-pound superstar athlete. He was twice selected in the Major League draft in the first round. But the 23-year-old was tragically killed in an auto accident January 5, 1977, a couple of months shy of being the starting shortstop for the California Angels.

A former East Jefferson High phenom, Miley played both baseball and football at LSU. In April 1974, the LSU baseball team had a doubleheader against Ole Miss on the road. The football spring game was scheduled the same day. No problem. Following the baseball commitment, Miley hopped on a plane and made it in time for the spring contest in Tiger Stadium.

Thanks to his dual threat skills, Miley and his running talents were put to good use by McClendon.

“We ran a lot of RPOs,” Davis explained. “We didn’t throw much. Coach Mac wanted to run more than pass. Mike was a helluva runner. He was special. He could do it all.”

As for Davis’ pro aspirations, he participated in the East-West Shrine game, the Hula Bowl and the Senior Bowl. He teamed with future NFL legend Walter Payton at the Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. “I knew that he was the real deal,” Davis detailed. “Great personality, a big jokester. He was cocky. In the locker room, he wrote ‘Sweetness is…’ on the chalkboard.”

Davis slid over to fullback for a couple of series in the East-West game, blocking for Payton. Brad did score on a 5-yard run.

Both players arrived for the 1975 Senior Bowl and discovered they were assigned to be roommates. LSU had signed their first black football player in 1971; desegregation was still in its infancy in the deep south. “We got along well the time we were together,” Davis said. He also recalled that the Jackson State standout broached the idea of organizing a college football game which would pit an all-white team against an all-black squad.

The now 71-year-old Davis maintains a healthy frame at a 175 pounds. He also keeps a close eye on the football program to this day.

Davis likes the direction the Tigers under Brian Kelly.

“I think he’s going to bring discipline,” Davis declared. “I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen so far. He’s doing the best he can with the transfer portal. He’ll dish out discipline when needed.” Fans saw examples when a pair of highly regarded 2023 transfers – cornerbacks Denver Harris and Duce Chestnut – ran afoul of team rules and were dismissed.

Spring drills are proceeding along with the spring tilt scheduled for April 13th. Davis keeps tabs on the backfield. “With three running backs and a new starting quarterback, you don’t know what’s going to happen. (Kelly) will have to get someone out of the transfer portal. LSU should be good at wide receiver, and I’d like to see Garrett Nussmeier as he develops.”

Sophomore running back Kaleb Jackson, who averaged 5.3 yards per tote last season, should receive an expanded role.

“(Jackson) reminds me of Leonard Fournette,” Davis said. “He can be better than Fournette if he can put on a few moves.”

Another ball-carrying option is sixth-year senior Josh Williams. He has played in 47 games as a Tiger, totaling 1,011 yards with 11 scores, a 5.1-yard per carry average. “I think he is a very good running back and should have a great year,” Davis continued. “He’s excellent at picking up the blitz. He is impressive for crucial yardage when needed.”

Although a half-century later, Brad Davis left behind a lifetime of memories for Tiger faithful of days gone by.