People > Players 1920s-1930s > Walter Koppisch
Walter Koppisch, CC 1925
Walter Frederic “Wally” Koppisch started his Columbia career as a student in the University Extension (now known as the School of General Studies). In 1922, he transferred to Columbia College in order to become eligible to play intercollegiate football. Playing in the backfield with New York Yankee immortal Lou Gehrig, Koppisch captained the Lions for three consecutive seasons – 1922, 1923, and 1924 – Columbia's only three-time captain. A powerful fullback who was considered the fastest player in the East, Koppisch was also a Lion track star, who in 1923 tied the world record for the indoor quarter mile.