Few athletes ever start as successfully as did quarterback Marc Wilson, dubbed "The Marc of Excellence" by his hometown Seattle newspaper.

When Marc replaced injured All-American quarterback Gifford Nielson in game five of the 1977 season, he was a virtual unknown. After he threw for seven touchdown passes against that Colorado State team, however, the quarterback monster was born.

In 1978 - through injury, the fickleness of fans, and the performance of Jim McMahon - Marc really learned about the anonymity an athlete endures. But his star rose again the next year when he rebounded from a midsummer appendicitis attack in the Idaho mountains and led BYU to a season-opening upset of highly touted Texas A & M.

Other highlights of his collegiate career were throwing three touchdown passes in his first three pass attempts in a nationally televised game at San Diego State and breaking the NCAA record with 571 yards passing against the University of Utah.

Marc's record as a starter was 22-4. He broke nine NCAA records and tied two others. He was BYU's first consensus All-American and finished third in the 1979 Heisman Trophy balloting.

Drafted by the Oakland Raiders, Marc played with two Super Bowl champions, the 1980 Oakland Raiders and the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders. He also played with the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots.