Buford Long
Encyclopedia
Buford Eugene Long is a former American college and professional football
player who was a defensive back
, halfback
and end in the National Football League
(NFL) for three seasons during the 1950s. Long played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the New York Giants
of the NFL.
in 1931. He attended Lake Wales High School
, where he played high school football
for the Lake Wales Highlanders.
, where he played for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football
team from 1950 to 1952. In an era when the college football rules permitted only limited player substitutions, Long played on both offense and defense, and was a standout halfback
and defensive back
. Memorably, as a senior in 1952, Long ran seventy-seven yards for a touchdown in the Gators' 30–0 upset of their rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs. Long was a key member of the Gators' 1952 backfield that included fullback
Rick Casares
and quarterback
Doug Dickey
and led the Gators to an 8–3 season and a 14–13 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
—their first-ever NCAA-sanctioned post-season bowl game. Memorably, as a senior, he had 77-yard touchdown run to help defeat the rival Georgia Bulldogs 30–0. Bob Woodruff ranked Long as one of the three best backs to play for the Gators during the 1950s.
During his senior season, Long rushed for fourteen touchdowns, and was a third-team All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) selection. He finished his college career with twenty-five rushing touchdowns, which still ranks eighth on the Gators' all-time career records list. Long graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in physical education in 1955, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
, and he played for the Giants for three seasons from to . In his three-year NFL career, Long played in twenty-six games, rushed fifty-two times for 164 yards and a touchdown, had thirty-three receptions for 462 yards and four touchdowns, made three interceptions, and returned twenty-three kickoff for 607 yards.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and end in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for three seasons during the 1950s. Long played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Early years
Long was born in Lake Wales, FloridaLake Wales, Florida
Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1931. He attended Lake Wales High School
Lake Wales High School
Lake Wales High School or LWHS is a high school located in Lake Wales, Florida, serving not only the city of Lake Wales, but also nearby communities such as Waverly, Florida. Home of the Higlanders. The football team is 7-0!- External Links :**...
, where he played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the Lake Wales Highlanders.
College career
Long attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, FloridaGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1950 to 1952. In an era when the college football rules permitted only limited player substitutions, Long played on both offense and defense, and was a standout halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. Memorably, as a senior in 1952, Long ran seventy-seven yards for a touchdown in the Gators' 30–0 upset of their rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs. Long was a key member of the Gators' 1952 backfield that included fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Rick Casares
Rick Casares
Richard Jose "Rick" Casares is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League and the American Football League for twelve seasons in the 1950s and 1960s...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Doug Dickey
Doug Dickey
Douglas Adair "Doug" Dickey is a former American college football player and coach and college athletics administrator. Dickey is a South Dakota native who was raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida, where he played college football...
and led the Gators to an 8–3 season and a 14–13 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane football
The University of Tulsa's Golden Hurricane football team represents Tulsa in Conference USA. Tulsa is currently coached by first-year head coach Bill Blankenship. The football team was coached by Todd Graham until he accepted the head coaching job at Pittsburgh....
—their first-ever NCAA-sanctioned post-season bowl game. Memorably, as a senior, he had 77-yard touchdown run to help defeat the rival Georgia Bulldogs 30–0. Bob Woodruff ranked Long as one of the three best backs to play for the Gators during the 1950s.
During his senior season, Long rushed for fourteen touchdowns, and was a third-team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) selection. He finished his college career with twenty-five rushing touchdowns, which still ranks eighth on the Gators' all-time career records list. Long graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in physical education in 1955, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
Professional career
The New York Giants selected Long in the fifth round (fifty-eighth pick overall) of the 1953 NFL Draft1953 NFL Draft
The 1953 National Football League Draft was held on January 22, 1953.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
, and he played for the Giants for three seasons from to . In his three-year NFL career, Long played in twenty-six games, rushed fifty-two times for 164 yards and a touchdown, had thirty-three receptions for 462 yards and four touchdowns, made three interceptions, and returned twenty-three kickoff for 607 yards.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1950–1959
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of New York Giants players
- List of University of Florida alumni