From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Brian John Dowling (born April 1, 1947) was the starting quarterback of the Yale University football team in the late 1960s. He set, and held for decades, a number of Yale passing records. Dowling finished 9th in vote for the 1968 Heisman Trophy, and was awarded the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award for sportsmanship in 1967. The 1968 team was undefeated and fav... show more