PROVO -- During a halftime ceremony at Saturday's game against Air Force, BYU will honor both Eldon Fortie and Marion Probert, whose numbers have previously been retired.
Fortie was a two-year starter and three-year letterman for the Cougars from 1960-62. Nicknamed "the phantom" for his elusive running, Fortie finished his career with 3,056 total yards and was named to several All-America teams after his senior season, including Newspaper Enterprise Association, by UPI, AP, Williamson All-America Poll Football, News and by the Football Coaches Association.
During his senior season, Fortie led the nation in total offense for eight weeks, finishing second behind Terry Baker with 1,963 total yards and 14 touchdowns -- his 1,963 total yards were the fifth most in NCAA history up to that point.
After his senior season Fortie's No. 40 was retired. He was the first Cougar to have his number retired and also BYU's first All-American.
Probert was regarded as one of the finest players ever to don a Cougar jersey by his coach Chick Atkinson. Atkinson once said about Probert, "Only once in a life-time does a coach have the opportunity of coaching a footballer like Probert."
He was a threat on both sides of the ball for the Cougars. He led BYU in receiving as well as was one of its top defenders. Probert also excelled in the classroom, twice being named Academic All-America.
Probert died tragically in an airplane crash in 1965 while traveling with seven other charter members of the Cougar Club to watch BYU face New Mexico. His No. 81 was retired in 1965 shortly after the crash.