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Peter A. "Pete" Liske, (born May 24, 1942, in Plainfield, New Jersey), is a former professional American football quarterback and later a university athletics administrator.

High school and college football careers

Liske played his high school football at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, New Jersey, graduating in the class of 1959.^[1] He was good enough to go on to the powerhouse Penn State Nittany Lions, and was later (on October 6, 2000) elected to the Plainfield High School Hall of Fame (as was Vic Washington, another football player, who coincidentally played against Liske in the CFL's 56th Grey Cup.)

He played for Penn State from 1961 to 1963, quarterbacking winning teams each year. In 1961 he saw limited action (17 for 32 and 216 yards) but was a starter in the other years. In 1962 he completed 91 of 162 passes for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns (with four interceptions.) In 1963 he completed 87 of 161 passes for 1,117 yards and ten touchdowns (with five picks.)

Professional career

Liske was drafted by both American pro leagues. The NFL Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the tenth round, 130th overall, and the American Football League New York Titans picked him in the 15th round, 115 overall. He chose the AFL, and played with the newly named New York Jets.

He saw limited playing time in 1964 with New York, playing in only four games (only 18 passes.) His career took a turn to the north, with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Canadian teams of this time were still a very viable career option, as they paid comparable money and offered more playing time. Liske played 11 games with Toronto in 1965.

In 1966, he moved to the Calgary Stampeders, where he enjoyed his greatest success as a professional. In 1967, he threw for 40 touchdown passes, breaking Tobin Rote's league record, and he was named an all star and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. In 1968 he led the Stamps to the Grey Cup, losing a close and exciting game to the Ottawa Rough Riders. His passing record would eventually be eclipsed by Doug Flutie.

Liske chose to return to the AFL in 1969, joining the Denver Broncos and playing seven games with them. In 1970, now in the NFL, he played 11 games with Denver. He moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1971 and 1972 seasons, playing 14 games in each season. Unfortunately, he did not enjoy the success he had in the CFL, as none of his teams had a winning season. His combined total American professional record was: 50 games over five seasons, with 396 of 778 passes completed, for 5170 yards and 30 touchdowns with 46 interceptions.

Canada beckoned once again, and in 1973 he rejoined the Stampeders. He remained in Calgary until part way through the 1974 season, when he joined the British Columbia Lions. In his last season, 1975 with the Lions, he completed 152 of 280 passes for 2310 yards and 13 touchdowns with nine picks.

Post football career, honors & awards

In 2002 Liske's number 14 was added to the Calgary Stampeders' Wall of Fame.

Liske would later go on to be Athletic Director for the University of Toledo. In 2001 he was appointed Director of major gifts for Intercollegiate Athletics, with special emphasis on developing funding for the improvement of athletic facilities at his alma mater, Penn State (where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees.)

See also

• Other American Football League players

References

Sources

• CFL record book
• BC Lions media guide
• Penn State Nittany Lions record book
• NFL online database