Duke Carlisle, Texas Quarterback Who Led 1964 National Championship Team, Dies at 84

Duke Carlisle, the former Texas quarterback instrumental in leading the Longhorns to an undefeated season and the 1964 national championship, died Friday at the age of 84 following a battle with lung cancer.

Carlisle was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1964 Cotton Bowl game, where Texas defeated Roger Staubach and Navy. This victory secured the Longhorns' first national title in over six decades. The win marked the beginning of a storied program history, with Texas later achieving national championships in 1969, 1970, and 2005.

Born Emmet Augustus Carlisle in Kaufman, Texas, in 1941, he was a decorated athlete. After his collegiate career, Carlisle was drafted by both the NFL's Green Bay Packers and the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs but never played professionally. He pursued a career as an investment banker in New York before eventually relocating to Mississippi to work in the oil industry.

During his senior season under legendary coach Darrell Royal, Carlisle played both offense and defense, manning the safety position. He is remembered for a pivotal defensive play that season: an interception against Baylor.

His perfect 10-0 record as the starting quarterback in 1963 included victories over highly ranked opponents, including Oklahoma and Navy. In the Cotton Bowl victory over Navy, Carlisle threw for a then-Cotton Bowl record of 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-6 win, outplaying Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.

Rich Terry, Carlisle's son-in-law, described him to the Houston Chronicle as a "humble, self-effacing guy" who never took himself too seriously and was known for his unassuming nature.