Mike Mirabelli, who quarterbacked the Nevada football team to arguably its biggest win of the first half of the 20th century, died Saturday at age 94 in Southern California, the school's director emeritus Dick Trachok said.
Trachok was a member of the 1947 team that beat Oregon, 13-6. Mirabelli was the starting quarterback and tossed the game-winning touchdown to Carl Robinson. The Ducks’ quarterback in that game was Norm Van Brocklin, who eventually earned his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mirabelli was a New Jersey native who moved to Las Vegas and eventually landed in Reno where he played for the Wolf Pack in 1946 and 1947.