University of Mary Athletics

One of the University of Mary’s all-time leading tacklers and a key player in Marauders football rise to national prominence, Robert Brusven (1991-94) was a two-time all-conference linebacker who led a young program to its first conference title and national playoff appearance.

In 1991, as a freshman from Devils Lake, N.D., Brusven joined a Marauders football program in just their fourth varsity season. He earned several starts in his first season, when the Marauders posted a record of 7-2, the first winning mark in school history. Brusven was a starter as a sophomore in 1992, when the Marauders program took another step forward by earning the program’s first conference championship. U-Mary finished 7-1-1 overall and 4-1 in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference for a share of the league title.

Marauders football reached national prominence in 1993 by claiming their first NAIA playoff berth and defeating Minot State in the opening round. Brusven earned All-NDCAC honors that season for the first time and ended up a repeat selection as a senior in 1994, when he was also team captain. Over four years his teams recorded a record of 28-7-1.

Brusven, one of the most intense players in Marauders football history, finished his career with 255 tackles, the second most in school history through the 2013 season. Also a long snapper for U-Mary, Brusven recorded seven interceptions, six fumble recoveries, nine tackles for loss and two sacks. He later joined the Marauders coaching staff and had a role on two more teams that advanced to the NAIA playoffs. The son of Linda and Mark Brusven, Robert graduated from U-Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education. Currently working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Brusven lives in Shelby, Mont., with his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Brittany, Wyatt and Cameron.