Oct. 1, 1949

First football game played at Al Caniglia Field, vs. Northern Illinois (27-8 loss)

Oct. 1, 1952

Pulitzer Prize recipient and foreign newspaper correspondent Edgar Ansel Mowrer addresses Institute on World Affairs, speaking on “his discoveries and observations of conditions in the Far East.”

Oct. 1, 1962

Four-lane bowling alley in student center dedicated

Oct. 1, 1975

Food Services begins selling “Near Beer”

Oct. 2, 1913

Medical Club organized "to form a closer association between those who are preparing for medicine, and heighten the interest of the members in this subject."

Oct. 2, 1951

Alumni Association-backed “Quarterback Club,” an OU booster group, meets for first time at Fontenelle Hotel, name Omaha businessman Roman Hruska chairman of Charter Committee

Oct. 3, 1930

OU becomes one of the first NCAA football teams to travel to game by airplane (in Fremont)

Oct. 4, 1934

OU fields its first freshman football team, losing 13-7 to Dana College

Oct. 4, 1935

Debut of “First Down,” a brown female terrier owned by Tippy Tyler, as mascot of the Omaha University football team in 19-6 win over Wayne. First Down wore a white jersey with scarlet and black stripes – previously one of Leo Pearey’s football socks. 1935

Oct. 5, 1929

OU football team gets stuck on way to game against Tarkio College in Missouri. Hitchhike the rest of the way, getting to Tarkio on cattle trucks. OU wins 6-3

Oct. 5, 1974

Walter Payton scores six touchdowns to lead Jackson State to 75-0 win over UNO

Oct. 5, 1980

Former world record miler Jim Ryun appears at Oktoberfest Fun Run sponsored by UNO School of HPER and UNMC in Elmwood Park

Oct. 5, 1989

Interim NU President Martin A. Massengale approves doctoral degree programs at UNO

Oct. 6, 1954

California U.S. Senator and Republican majority leader William F. Knowland is first speaker at third annual World Affairs Institute, speaking on “Paradox of Coexistence

Oct. 6, 1961

Michigan Republican Congressman Gerald R. Ford (speech: “Our Responsibility for the Defense of Our Nation”) and Nebraska Gov. Frank Morrison are guest speakers at OU convocation celebrating the university's 53rd anniversary.

Oct. 6, 1964

Michael Goldwater, youngest son of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, visits campus in event hosted by UNO's Young Republicans.

Marlin Briscoe becomes pro football’s first black starting quarterback, leading Denver to a 10-7 win over Cincinnati. Briscoe finished 4 of 11 passing for 37 yards and rushed twice for 18 yards, 1968

See more in a UNO Magazine article on Briscoe.

See video of Briscoe's historic moment, ranked third in the "Top 5 Broncos Moments" by the NFL Network

Oct. 7, 1952

Omaha Chamber of Commerce honors past and present OU regents and OU presidents at a public affairs luncheon.

Oct. 8, 1908

University of Omaha founded

Oct. 8, 1928

John Philip Sousa presents OU drum major Evelyn McDonald with an autographed baton during intermission of his concert at Omaha Technical High School

Oct. 8, 1943  

Dedication of Honor Roll board listing the names of former students and faculty members serving with the armed forces

Oct. 8, 1971

Students vote Mavericks as new mascot name, narrowly defeating Unicorns

Oct. 8, 1971

Comedian George Carlin performs in Civic Auditorium Music Hall for 2,000 students at UNO Homecoming Concert promoted by Student Programming Organization

Oct. 8, 1992

Fine Arts Building (now Del and Lou Ann Weber FAB) dedicated

Oct. 8, 2010

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for new Welcome Center, established in former Hayden House near Durham Science Center.

Oct. 9, 1946

Dr. Van R. Potter, a noted enzyme chemist, addresses the university's Chemistry Club, speaking on cancer.

Oct. 9, 1950

World-famous sculptor Alexander Archipenko gives an illustrated lecture at convocation. See entry on Oct. 29, 1939 for a Gateway article related to an Archipenko exhibit held at the university.

Oct. 9, 1971

Actress and singer Della Reese performs in the Omaha City Music Hall as part of UNO Homecoming.

Oct. 9, 1984

NFL quarterback turned drag racer Dan Pastorini gives a homecoming speech in Student Center Ballroom.

Oct. 10, 1951

Maine Senator Owen Brewster speaks at World Affairs Institute

Oct. 10, 1954

“Street Corner USA” show airs after visiting campus to talk about Midwest isolationism,

Oct. 10, 1958

OU hosts six members of the Atlantic Treaty Association, a group that fosters support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The group visited students in various classes. It also visited Strategic Air Command.

Oct. 11, 1947

Freddie Freelin, a senior at the university, is killed and six others injured when their hayrack was struck by a speeding car.

Oct. 11, 1950

Arthur Bliss Lane, former American ambassador to Poland, speaks at Institute on World Affairs on “United States Foreign Policy—Right or Wrong"

Oct. 11, 1974

Sly and the Family Stone perform for UNO’s Homecoming concert at Civic Auditorium

Oct. 11, 1976

George Will debut speaker of 1976-1977 ABC Speaker Series

Oct. 11, 1978

Nebraska Congressman John Cavanaugh speaks in Student Center Ballroom, addressing topics such as scattered site housing, national health insurance and the Equal Rights Amendment

Oct. 12, 1953

OU alum Bob Cahill wins national television talent show Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts program. His vocal solo tied with an accordion selection on studio applause meter. Cahill introduced by Vanita Brown, former OU coed and Miss Nebraska who now works in New York City.

Oct. 12, 1974

Association presents first Outstanding Service Awards

Oct. 13, 1939

Nebraska Gov. Robert L. Cochran speaks on "Democracy and the Executive" at Institute of Government lecture series.

Oct. 13, 1954

Dr. K.C. Wu, former minister of the Chinese Nationalist government, speaks at World Affairs Institute on “Coexistence in the Future of Asia,” Seven months after being expelled from the Kuomintang cabinet for criticizing Chiang Kaishek

Oct. 14, 1911

First athletic contest: OU football defeats Nebraska School for the Deaf, 25-0

Oct. 14, 1953

Pulitzer Prize winner Hanson W. Baldwin, military editor of the New York Times, speaks at World Affairs Institute

Oct. 14, 1968

Rudy Haluza finishes fourth in 20 K race walking at 1968 Mexico City Olympics

Oct. 15, 1956

Start of “Your College Professor Series,” free lectures for OU alumni with OU Professors

Oct. 15, 1965

Leland E. Traywick formally inaugurated as Omaha University's eighth president.

Oct. 15, 1973

UNO graduate Leo Thorsness receives Congressional Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon.

Oct. 15, 1993

UNO amphitheater, the Castle of Perseverance, dedicated with designer Andrew Leicester on hand.

Oct. 15, 2010

The College of Busines Administraiton dedicates Mammel Hall.

Oct. 16, 1952

David Goitein, minister of Israel to the United States, addresses “Israel’s Role in the Middle East,” at a lecture sponsored by College of Adult Education

Oct. 16, 1975

"Spock" — actor Leonard Nimoy, speaks on "A Star Trek Adventure" in Civic Auditorium under SPO sponsorship.

Oct. 17, 1976

Tom Ford, brother of President Gerald R. Ford, visits campus to campaign for his brother.

Oct.  17, 1997

First NCAA hockey game played, vs. Manitoba at Civic Auditorium

Oct.  18, 1949

Owen Lattimore, former political advisor to Chiang Kai-Sheck and director of the Walter Hines Page School of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, is guest speaker at Institute of World Affairs

Oct. 18, 1950

Dr. Orient Lee, Chinese historian and teacher, addresses Institute on World Affairs on “China’s Present Struggle"

Oct. 18, 1950

OU Alumni Association Secretary Dale Agee loses bet on Homecoming reservations and beings 24 hours sitting cross-legged in front of TV on lawn in front of Administration building, dressed in Indian costume and waving to passersby on Dodge Street

Oct. 18, 1972

Georgia State Legislator and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee founder Julian Bond and conservative and nationally syndicated columnist James J. Kilpatrick speak at the student center on “New Politics: Myth or Reality"

Oct. 19, 1962

Count Basie and his orchestra perform at Peony Park for OU's Homecoming Dance.

Oct.  19, 1965

KYNE (Channel 26) goes on the air

Oct. 19, 1976

One-man show Leon Redbone and flutist Tim Weisberg perform for the Homecoming concert in Civic Auditorium Music Hall. The concert was a day late because equipment trucks had not arrived on time.

Oct.  20, 1915

OU loses to Grand Island football team 73-0

Oct.  20, 1922

OU student writes school song, later officially adopted by school

Oct.  21, 1934

OU night watchman Sam Cornett, 21, shot at by burglar attempting to open safe in OU bursar’s office

Oct.  21, 1941

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mayor John Queen speaks at the university about the war

Oct.  21, 1955

OU student Pat Vogel, member of Angels’ Flight, is voted Miss Omaha Aviation by Junior Chamber of Commerce

Oct.  22, 1927

Omaha Uni field debuts at 24th St. and Ames Avenue adjoining OUs grounds; Cardinals lose 20-0 to Grand Island College Zebras

Oct.  22, 1934

Omaha Fire Department, Station No. 22, rescues football kicked into poplar tree by freshman football Coach Leon Fouts. The station laid 200 feet of hose through several backyards and sprayed the ball out of the tree

Oct.  22, 1958

Nuclear weapons expert Dr. Henry Kissinger speaks on campus at first meeting of the Institute of World Affairs

Oct. 22, 1969

Father Dermot Doran, first organizer of food and supply airlifts into a blockaded Biafra (in Nigeria), speaks at Conference Center in appearance co-sponsored by Newman Club and Student-Aluni Project.

Oct. 22, 1985

Larry Linville — Frank Burns (“Ferret Face”) from TV show “M*A*S*H” speaks in Milo Bail Student Center.

Oct.  22, 1994

Nuclear physicist and Manhattan Project team member Edward Teller lectures. 

Oct. 23, 1975

Melissa Manchester hosts the UNO Homecoming Concert, held in Civic Auditorium Music Hall under sponsorship of Student Programming Organization.

Oct. 23, 2002

Jaron Lanier, computer scientist and contributing editor for Wired magazine and a pioneer in virtual reality, discusses "Technology and the Future of the Human Soul" at the ABC Breakfast Series presented by UNO.

Oct.  24, 1936

OU football loses 46-0 to DePaul at Wrigley Field

Oct.  24, 1939

OU President Rowland Haynes elected president of the 36-member Association of Urban Colleges

Oct.  24, 1962

World Champion billiards player Willie Mosconi hols exhibition in student center

Oct. 24, 1974

Louis Falco Dance Company performs at Performing Arts Center.

Oct. 25, 1936

Dr. V. Royce West speaks at Joslyn Memorial on "I Taught Under Hitler." Head of OU's department of foreign languages, he had taught at Heidelberg University.

Oct.  25, 1941

Renowned band leader Artie Shaw visits campus for Homecoming, riding into Benson Stadium in an army “jeep” with Homecoming Princess Margie Litherbury, leading the Morningside band in the national anthem and receiving the honorary title of “Chief Taloa Ikhanachi” (music master),

Oct.  25, 1955

President Milo Bail becomes first educator to rule mythical realm of Quivera when crowned King Ak-Sar-Ben LXI

Oct. 26, 1933

Four OU faculty members address the Nebraska State Teachers Association district convention in Omaha.

Oct. 26, 1968

Bobby Vinton performs at the Civic Auditorium Music Hall as the homecoming act

Oct. 26, 1997

An early snow storm destroys trees throughout Omaha, including 83 on UNO's campus. Cost to replace the trees, $141,950, was covered by insurance.

Oct.  27, 1954

Australian singer Morris Barr sings at special convocation

Oct.  27, 1954

Writer and editor Norman Cousins speaks at World Affairs Institute on “The Realities of Coexistence"

Oct. 27, 1971

Parolees from San Quentin prison are on campus three days, performing "The Cage" and conducting a penal reform workshop

Oct.  28, 1936

OU receives word of $414,000 grant from Public Works Administration toward building program for new campus

Oct.  29, 1939

World renown artist Alexander Archipenko exhibit of drawings, paintings and sculpture at university. See the entry of Oct. 9, 1950 for a Gateway article related to Archipenko's lecture on campus.

Oct.  29, 1949

First TV broadcast from OU campus, OU-St. Ambrose football game (OU loses 60-26)

Oct. 29, 1986

Feminist attorney Sara Weddington and conservative commentator Phyllis Schlafly debate the Equal Rights Amendment and other topics.

Oct.  30, 1939

Group of OU football players ask President Rowland Haynes to fire Football Coach Sed Hartman. Team meeting with Hartman next day appeases players

Oct. 30, 1986

Apollo 15 astronaut Col. James Irwin speaks to 100 people in the Student Center.

Oct.  31, 1936

OU Regents vote to move university to 30-acre site west of the Dodge Street entrance to Elmwood Park

Oct.  31, 1949

9-year-old piano prodigy Robert “Sugar Chile” Robinson  of Detroit visits OU, takes IQ test administered by Professor W.H. Thompson, director of the Child Study Service