Marvin Upshaw poses for a picture for The Trinitonian in the fall of 1967.
Upshaw was the starting defensive tackle and starting kicker for the Trinity football team from 1965 – 1967. Following his senior season, Upshaw was named a Little All-American and an All-Texas defensive end for the Tigers for second time. Upshaw also earned All-Southland Conference honors for each of his three seasons (Hall of Fame, 2001). The 1967 Tiger defense set multiple records under Upshaw, including only giving up an average of 61.2 rushing yards per game (San Antonio Scene, 1968, p. 27).
Upshaw served as the team’s co-captain for the 1967 season alongside Bubba Pullin and was also named Trinity’s Most Valuable Player. One of the reasons Upshaw received this accolade was for his speed and the ability to run a 5.0 forty-yard dash with all of his equipment on (“Tiger lineman plays tough,” September 1967, p. 11).
A result of being both a friendly guy and a successful peformer on the football field, Upshaw was one of the best-known athletes at Trinity and an icon of African American acceptance on the university’s campus.
