Nevada celebrates Motely’s career
The University of Nevada, Reno announced earlier this month that it would honor former Wolf Pack player Marion Motley throughout the 2008 season. 
“Our goal is to raise awareness among people in northern Nevada, the students and faculty here at the university and anyone who is unaware of Marion Motley’s accomplishments,” Associate Athletics Director Keith Hackett said. “He was a tremendous person and representative of the University of Nevada.”
In 1946, Motley, along with Bill Willis, Kenny Washington and Woody Strode became the first African-Americans to break the color line in professional football.
This season marks the 40th anniversary of Motley being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nevada will commemorate Motley throughout the season by placing his image on the scoreboard at Mackay Stadium, releasing a series of feature articles about him on the athletic website, honoring his accomplishments during the Nov. 22 home game against Boise State and placing him on the cover of the game day program against the Broncos.
Even though Motley will be remembered mostly for helping to break the color barrier in professional football, his on field accomplishments have him regarded not only as one of the greatest Wolf Pack football players of all time, but rather as one of the best to have ever played the game.
“Part of it was sheer determination and part of it was that Motley was a naturally big man,” said Paul Mitchell, who is a member of the committee working to commemorate Motley and is the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for the Reynolds School of Journalism. “When one person hit him it wasn’t enough to bring him down. Size and determination were what drove him.”
In 1994, the National Football League named Motley to the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Also, Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman referred to Motley as the greatest player of all time.
Motley played for Nevada from 1940-42. Described as one of the most outstanding players in the country, “Illustrated Football Annual” placed Motley on its All-American Checklist where he was labeled a “22-carat back.” After Motley’s three stellar years at Nevada, he joined the Navy and was placed at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Motley played for the station’s football team under coach Paul Brown. In 1945, Brown became the coach of the Cleveland Browns of the newly formed All-American Football League. One year later, Brown invited Motley to try out for the team.
Motley not only made the team, but he dominated in the league. In his professional career with the Browns (1946-54) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1955), Motley rushed for 4,720 yards and nearly six yards per carry on his way to becoming the career-rushing leader of the AAFL. When the Browns were absorbed into the NFL in 1950, Motley led the league in rushing and was selected to the first-ever Pro Bowl.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Motley undoubtedly had a large target on his back in the predominantly Caucasian AAFL and NFL. Motley used his fierce running style and enormous frame to punish defenders and repeatedly break tackles.
Motley played his last professional season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 13 years later in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, becoming only the second African-American to accomplish that feat.
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September 9th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
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