Named as a tribute to the late, legendary Oakland Raider left offensive guard, Eugene "Gene" Upshaw Jnr, who played with the Silver and Black 1967 - 81. Gene Upshaw's extraordinary career included: 2× Super Bowl champion (XI, XV), 6× Pro Bowl (1972–1977), 3× First-team All-Pro (1970, 1974, 1977), 4× Second-team All-Pro (1972, 1973, 1975, 1976), AFL All-Star (1968), and 3× First-team All-AFL (1967–1969). He played in three Super Bowls - in the 1967, 1976, and 1980 seasons - making him the first player to reach the game in three different decades (Jerry Rice and Bill Romanowski would later also accomplish that feat in 2003). In 1999, he was ranked No. 62 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Gene Upshaw died of pancreatic cancer on August 20, a mere five days after his sixty third birthday.

*RIP - killed by a UW Troll in Game 2.