Martine Bercher

Martine Bercher
No. 17 (Arkansas)
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	February 23, 1944; Fort Smith, Arkansas
Died:	December 7, 2005 (aged 61); Fort Smith, Arkansas
Career information
College:	Arkansas
NFL draft:	1967 / Round: 6 / Pick: 151
Career history
	Atlanta Falcons (1967); Minnesota Vikings (1968);
Career highlights and awards
	1964 National Championship; First-team All-American (1966); University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor; University of Arkansas All Century Team; Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2009;

Martine Bercher (February 23, 1944 – December 7, 2005) was an American football defensive back for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1962-1966.^[2] He was a member of the 1964 National Championship team that won the 1965 Cotton Bowl Classic, and was named to the University of Arkansas All Century Team in 1994.

Arkansas[edit]

Bercher attended the University of Arkansas from 1962–1966, where he would become an All-American. Bercher played under Frank Broyles as a defensive back, and was a sophomore on the 1964 National Championship team.

NFL[edit]

Atlanta Falcons[edit]

Bercher was drafted in the sixth round with the 151st pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1967 NFL Draft.^[3] He was with the Falcons for only the 1967 NFL season.^[4]

Minnesota Vikings[edit]

Bercher became a member of the Minnesota Vikings for 1968. This would be the Fort Smith natives' final year of professional football.

After football[edit]

Catholic High School hired Bercher as a teacher and assistant football coach in 1969. He moved back to Fort Smith to care for his ill father-in-law in 1972. Bercher would re-open his father-in-law's restaurant and operate it for over 30 years until his death in 2005.

References[edit]

^ Bailey, John. "Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame: Martine Bercher; Fort Smith flash kept foes on toes." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Article. Retrieved on April 19, 2009.
^ "Martine Bercher Jr.." December 12, 2005. Southwest Times-Record. Article. Retrieved on April 19, 2009.
^ "Pro Grids Like Walker". The Dispatch. March 16, 1967. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
^ "Rookies Dropped By Pro Teams". Bonham Daily Favorite. August 10, 1967. Retrieved 11 January 2011.

[1] Bailey, John. "Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame: Martine Bercher; Fort Smith flash kept foes on toes." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Article. Retrieved on April 19, 2009.

[2] "Martine Bercher Jr.." December 12, 2005. Southwest Times-Record. Article. Retrieved on April 19, 2009.

[3] "Pro Grids Like Walker". The Dispatch. March 16, 1967. Retrieved January 11, 2011.

[4] "Rookies Dropped By Pro Teams". Bonham Daily Favorite. August 10, 1967. Retrieved 11 January 2011.

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