Longwell?s Last Request: Please Turn up the Sound

Brent R. Longwell Obituary

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

No program ties football to life like Nebraska, so it seemed fitting that Brent Longwell, the Huskers’ starting tight end on Tom Osborne’s first team as a head coach, asked for the sound to be turned up last Saturday night so he could follow his alma mater’s 37-29 win over UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl game.

On Monday, surrounded by family and friends, Longwell, 64, died of cancer in Topeka, Kan. A native of Homer, Neb., Longwell went on to letter for Bob Devaney’s 1971 national championship team and 1972 squad while backing up the late Jerry List.

In his senior year, Longwell’s first start under Osborne came against UCLA, so his interest in last Saturday night’s nationally televised Husker win over the Bruins was near and dear to his heart. For the record, Nebraska beat UCLA, 40-13, more than four decades ago.

Brent Longwell: A Quiet, Thoughtful Guy and a Very Good Football Player

Count fellow walk-ons Red Beran (Ord, Neb.) and Randy Borg (Alliance, Neb.) as teammates who would say amen to that. “Brent was a quiet, thoughtful guy and a very good football player,” Beran said. “Brent was a great friend and teammate,” Borg said. “We traveled together to every postseason barnstorming basketball game across Nebraska. He was a tremendous competitor.”

Longwell played in every game as a sophomore on a national championship team, then played in 24 more games as an upperclassman. Best known for blocking, Longwell played in 37 games as a Husker, catching 28 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Barbara Lauritsen, whose husband was Longwell's best friend, said Brent “touched many lives in his life” and “was loved by many and will be sorely missed. A man of greater character does not exist.”

Teammates Pitts, Sanger Remember Longwell as a Friend, Competitor

John Pitts, a linebacker from Flint, Mich., said Longwell asked his daughter, Tanya, if she was related to his former teammate. “When he found out she was, they became friends,” Pitts said. “We thank Brent and our prayers go out to the Longwell family.”

Rich Sanger, a Husker punter/placekicker/teammate from Ovid, Colo., remembers losing card games with regularity to Longwell and quarterback Steve Runty. “We lost a great guy and a great friend,” Sanger said. “He will be dearly missed.”

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Voices from Husker Nation

Wow, another tough soldier gone. Brent was a tremendous competitor, possibly one of the best tight ends I faced my entire college career to my recall. I was blessed to have him as a teammate that really got me ready for the next level. I will hold his family up in prayer and pray for their strengths and their consolation, especially in the days to come. Willie Harper, Tracy, California

(Editor's note: An All-America defensive end at Nebraska, Harper played 11 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. A longtime pastor in Pleasanton, Calif., Harper attended last Saturday night's Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif., to cheer on his Huskers.

During the 1973-74 timeframe, Brent student taught at Southeast Nebraska Consolidated School in Stella, Neb. I was in grade school but I do remember this – he was a very nice teacher and enjoyed being around the kids. Even though I didn’t see him for more than 40 years, he definitely left an impression on me for rest of my life. Dan Anderson, Nemaha, Neb.

I am a pastor living in Ocala, Florida, and I and my family knew the Longwell family in Homer. I grew up on a farm southeast of Walthill, Neb. Brent  played for the Homer Knights about 15 miles north of Walthill on Highway 77. As a boy, I watched Brent play a couple of times when my older brother, who was the same age as Brent, played against him in the late '60's. Everyone knew that Brent was special. It was a shock to hear Brent had passed away. He was a great tight end and a great blocker on the edge, which made him a huge part of Bob Devaney's 1971 national championship team. Brent will be missed! Rev. David French, Ocala, Florida

Ol’ Brently. He’ll forever be “that guy from Homer”. Will never forget the HUGE hamstring tear he had when showing up for fall camp. He’d hurt it punting. Great guy. Will miss him. Frosty Anderson, Lincoln, Neb.