DALLAS (SMU) ? Former SMU All-American Kyle Rote died Wednesday night. He was 73.

Rote died from cardiopulmonary complications at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, following emergency surgery a week ago.

Rote lettered at SMU from 1948-50 and shared the same backfield with Doak Walker. Both were All-SWC picks in 1949.

With Walker injured for SMU's 1949 season finale against Notre Dame, Rote rushed for 115 yards and completed 10 passes for 146 yards, scoring all the Mustangs' points in a 27-20 loss.

As a senior in 1950 and SMU's feature back, Rote ran for 762 yards, passed for 490 and scored 13 touchdowns. He was an All-American and played in three postseason All-Star games.

His 2,049 yards rushing rank eighth on the SMU career list.

A lifetime friend of SMU Athletics, Rote was also a founding member of the Doak Walker Associates.

"I am saddened to hear of Kyle's passing," said SMU Athletic Director Jim Copeland. "Over the past few years I had the chance to get close to Kyle and his wife, Nina, and that makes this even more difficult for me. But having talked to many of Kyle's contemporaries, I can say that Kyle was one of the greatest players to ever step on the football field. He will be missed."