Marlin Briscoe in the Gateway
Way back when the University of Nebraska at Omaha was the Municipal University of Omaha and the Mavericks were the Indians, the Gateway was still the Gateway.
Marlin Briscoe has been mentioned far too many Gateway articles to include all of them in this exhibit. But if the selection you see here whets your appetite and you crave more, you can find them all in the Gateway Newspaper Archive.
The very first mention of Marlin Briscoe in the Municipal University of Omaha's Gateway student newspaper was already filled with glowing praise for the promising freshman: "Shrine Bowl standout Marlin Briscoe from Omaha South has been impressive in early workouts but will be counted on for some halfback duty also. Briscoe and Nettleman performed for the winning South squad at Lincoln in August."
Source: Moran, Mike. "OU Has Size, Speed, Weight--Outlook Is Bright." Gateway. September 9, 1963. Page 4.
By his sophomore season, Marlin Briscoe was already being touted as the team's key to victory. "A lot of the fortunes of the 1964 team may depend on the flying feet of soph quarterback Marlin Briscoe. Briscoe amazes you with his speed and deceptiveness and the ability to cut a thousand different ways when cornered. Coaches say he throws the running pass with the best. He's quicker than Carl Meyers but his ability to call the 'right' play and his coolness under fire will be tested Saturday by a big, tough Idaho State line. For sheer running ability, he could develop into the best OU signal caller yet."
Source: Moran, Mike. "From the Bushes." Gateway. September 14, 1964. Page 4.
Marlin Briscoe was one of three OU students named to the CIC All-Stars team for 1964. At that time, quarterback Briscoe was the CIC total offense leader with 939 passing yards and 370 rushing yards (1309 yards total). He is depicted as the lower left point of the triangle of athletes in the artwork for this article.
Source: "Three Indians Named to Team." Gateway. December 4, 1964. Page 4.
By his sophomore season, Marlin Briscoe was already being touted as the team's key to victory. "A lot of the fortunes of the 1964 team may depend on the flying feet of soph quarterback Marlin Briscoe. Briscoe amazes you with his speed and deceptiveness and the ability to cut a thousand different ways when cornered. Coaches say he throws the running pass with the best. He's quicker than Carl Meyers but his ability to call the 'right' play and his coolness under fire will be tested Saturday by a big, tough Idaho State line. For sheer running ability, he could develop into the best OU signal caller yet."
Source: Moran, Mike. "OU Sixth At Hastings . . . Late Outburst Downs Emporia; Fort Hays Hosts OU Saturday." Gateway. January 8, 1965. Pages 3-4.
A concise overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each of OU's 1965 quarterbacks, including Marlin Briscoe.
Source: "Player Profiles." Gateway. April 2, 1965. Page 4.
Marlin Briscoe features prominently in this detailed account of what must have been an exciting game to watch, as OU took a beating in the first half, then turned it into a spectacular triumph in the second half. Briscoe is credited with taking charge and leading the team to victory.
Source: Moran, Mike. "Briscoe Deals Aces: Mid-Game Change Lifts Indians to 21-6 Victory." Gateway. October 8, 1965. Page 4.
Playing to a record-sized crowd at Rosenblatt Stadium, OU defeated Bradley University. Marlin Briscoe merited three mentions in the account of the game, and he is pictured in the upper left image (#27).
Source: Moran, Mike. "Briscoe Baffles Braves: 8,256 See Indians Take 14-12 Squeeze." Gateway. October 15, 1965. Page 3.
Marlin Briscoe was selected Center Bank Player of the Week three times in a row, and went on to win Player of the Year for 1965.
Source: [Untitled.] Gateway. November 19, 1965. Page 4.
A concise overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each of OU's 1966 quarterbacks, including Marlin Briscoe, who is credited with setting three school records the previous year.
Source: "Quarterback Glimpses." Gateway. April 22, 1966. Page 6.
OU's hopes for a great 1966 football season were dashed when Marlin Briscoe sustained an injury that took him off the field. "Out for the remainder of the season with a fractured vertabra of the neck, Briscoe's absence may spell one of the first losing years for Coach Al Caniglia. Briscoe's replacements in the game Lew Garrison, Bill Haas, and Ray Shaw, were willing, but unable to fill Marlin's shoulder pads . . ."
Source: Cowman, James. "Hiram Scott Upsets OU 13-7; Briscoe Sidelined." Gateway. September 30, 1966. Page 4.
What should have been the crowning year of Marlin Briscoe's career with OU football evaporated when a neck injury put him off the field for the entire season. Briscoe was deeply frustrated by this, saying, "I feel completely helpless . . . Just knowing that I might be able to help the team. . . . Football is a part of me . . . And now that part is gone." Thankfully, the CIC would grant Briscoe another chance for a senior year in football, and he would play for OU in 1967.
Source: "The OU QB -- Briscoe May Play Again in 1967." Gateway. September 30, 1966. Page 6.
Unable to play football in 1966 due to his neck injury, Marlin Briscoe found other ways to stay active on campus. One of the things he did during this period was coach a group of sorority girls to play football. Alas, no photographs exist of this event.
Source: "Greek Grind." Gateway. October 14, 1966. Page 8.
Before the 1967 football season even began, the mere knowledge that Marlin Briscoe would play again sparked a tide of optimism for OU's prospects. Briscoe's outline of his strategy, focusing on the strengths and abilities of key players, highlights his skill as a tactician and leader. By this point, the AFL and NFL were both scouting him.
Source: Whisman, John. "At Ring Side." Gateway. April 28, 1967. Page 5.
At the intrasquad spring game, Marlin Briscoe led the Reds to victory. In the right image, Briscoe (#27) is seen "finally" getting tackled.
Source: Parker, Dan. "Reds Win Spring Squad Clash 31-19." Gateway. May 12, 1967. Page 4.
The Magician was well on his way to becoming legend, "the arcangel of the team," a man "you have to study, like music, to appreciate his finesse and mastery while performing on the gridiron." While his considerable physical skills were acknowledged, his true greatness derived from his leadership and command.
Source: Smith, Rudy. "At Ring Side." Gateway. September 29, 1967. Page 5.
It's hard to determine whether the headline was intended as a pun, a massive understatement, or both, but Marlin Briscoe's "passable career" in OU football came to an end with the 1967 season. He held 21 records at OU. Briscoe finished strong with his final game at OU, "scrambling the best he has scrambled all season" and was acknowledged as "perhaps the greatest athlete ever to play here."
Source: Anderson, Gary. "OU Hero Briscoe Leaves Behind Passable Career." Gateway. November 22, 1967. Page 3.
After the conclusion of the 1967 OU football season, Marlin Briscoe was selected for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-America Football Team. "Briscoe s brilliant four-year career at OU resulted in his breaking of 22 school records, completing 56 percent of his passes for 2,283 yards and 25 touchdown passes. He rushed for 354 yards this year."
Source: "Briscoe Wins NAIA Berth." Gateway. January 5, 1968. Page 3.
Marlin Briscoe and teammate Bill Haas both landing pro contracts was big news for OU. Briscoe was drafted by the AFL for the Denver Broncos, and he received numerous awards, such as the Omaha World-Herald Athlete of the Year and the Omaha Sportscasters Gold Helmet award. Dave Smith of the New Orleans Saints said Briscoe had "the greatest arm I have ever seen on any quarterback--college or pro."
Source: Smith, Rudy. "Pro's Draft Briscoe and Haas." Gateway. February 9, 1968. Pages 1, 5.
Five years after Marlin Briscoe moved on from OU, the Gateway did a feature on his early pro career. After a frustrating year with the Denver Broncos, Briscoe signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he played as a wide receiver, though he would have preferred to be a quarterback. After that, he went to the Miami Dolphins, where he played on two Super Bowl championship squads. At the time the article was written, he was temporarily out of service due to an injury. Just days after this article was published, Briscoe would be deactivated by the Dolphins, squelching the optimism he expressed here.
Source: Vermaas, Herb. "Marlin 'The Magician' Briscoe is Happy Pro." Gateway. November 13, 1974. Page 7.
Just one week after the Gateway's article "Marlin 'The Magician' Briscoe is Happy Pro," the followup article "Briscoe Not Happy?" hit. Briscoe's bright future dimmed after a falling out with Coach Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins, leaving Briscoe feeling sufficiently discontented that he was considering leaving the Dolphins.
Source: "Briscoe Not Happy?" Gateway. November 20, 1974. Page 6.
At the time of Marlin Briscoe's induction into the University of Nebraska at Omaha Hall of Fame, 14 of his 22 records still stood.
Source: Briscoe Fourth Hall of Famer." Gateway. November 7, 1975. Page 6.
In a discussion of who was the all-time greatest offensive football player at OU/UNO, of course Marlin Briscoe made the list, with former UNO quarterback Carl Meyers saying Briscoe "was one of the best players in the 1960s." Briscoe (#27) is depicted in the middle image.
Source: McNeil, Tim. "All-time greatest . . . Grid watchers pick top offense." Gateway. December 11, 1981. Pages 13-14.
This is one of the better overviews of Briscoe's career with the OU football team, though not comprehensive, as some of the information had already faded into the mists of time.
Source: Johnson, David. "Marlin Briscoe: Omaha U. football magician." Gateway. February 13, 2001. Page 17.
In 2006, West Omaha Films began work on a film about Marlin Briscoe. That film has not yet been completed, but the project continues, now under the working title "The Magician." The website http://www.marlinbriscoemovie.com/ provides updates on the film's development progress.
Source: Rakowsky, Ryan. "Former UNO, NFL football star topic of new locally produced film." Gateway. July 5, 2006. Pages 6, 8.
Marlin Briscoe visited his alma matter in 2007 to discuss the book Third and a Mile by William C. Rhoden, which portrayed the experiences of groundbreaking black quarterbacks, including Briscoe. On that visit to UNO, Briscoe talked about his experiences at OU with Al Caniglia, his pro career, and the challenges he faced.
Source: Glenn, Jason. "Football legend returns to discuss legacy as first black quarterback." Gateway. February 9, 2007. Pages 4, 7.