Buster Stanley facts for kids
| Born: | May 14, 1970 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Defensive tackle, Defensive guard, Nose tackle |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 283 lb (128 kg) |
| College | Michigan |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1990–1993 | Michigan Wolverines |
| 1994 | New England Patriots |
| 1996–1997 | Rhein Fire |
| 1999–2000 | Grand Rapids Rampage |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Sylvester "Buster" Stanley Jr. (born November 30, 1970) is a former American football player. He was known as a strong defensive player. Buster Stanley played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He was even named the most valuable player (MVP) of his team in 1993. After college, he played professionally for teams like the New England Patriots and the Grand Rapids Rampage.
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Early Life and Football Beginnings
Buster Stanley was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. His father, Sylvester Stanley Sr., worked at a General Motors factory. His mother, Theodora, was a nurse.
When Buster was in high school, he was already a standout football player. The Detroit Free Press newspaper named him to their "Best of the Midwest" team. He was also chosen as the UPI Lineman of the Year. This showed he was a very talented player from a young age.
College Football Career at Michigan
After high school, Buster Stanley received a special scholarship to play football at the University of Michigan. He chose Michigan over other big schools like Ohio State University and Michigan State University.
He played as a defensive tackle and middle guard for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, after a tough game, Buster called a meeting with his defensive teammates. He wanted them to improve their play. He said they needed to "come out with a better attitude" and play "Michigan defense."
The very next week, his team played against Iowa. Buster Stanley led the defense with a lot of energy. They only allowed the other team to gain 48 yards on the ground. In that game, Buster made 10 tackles, including three that stopped the opponent for a loss of yards. He also sacked the opposing quarterback twice.
Because of his great performance and leadership, Buster Stanley was chosen as the MVP and a co-captain of the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team. He also won the Dick Katcher Award that year. This award goes to the best defensive lineman or outside linebacker on the team. Buster graduated from the University of Michigan in 1994. He earned a degree in kinesiology, which is the study of how the body moves.
Playing Professional Football
After college, Buster Stanley continued his football journey. He played as a nose guard for the New England Patriots in 1994.
Later, in 1996 and 1997, he played for the Rhein Fire. This team was part of the World League of American Football.
From 1997 to 1999, Buster worked as a coach. He was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan. He helped players get stronger and fitter.
Then, from 1999 to 2000, he played for the Grand Rapids Rampage. This team was in the Arena Football League. While playing for the Rampage, Buster was recognized as the "Best Player for the Organization." He was also named to the Arena Football League's All-Rookie Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league that year.
Life After Football
After his football career, Buster Stanley started working in business. From 1999 to 2003, he was an account representative for Worthington Steel. Then, from 2003 to 2009, he worked as a sales representative for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands.
