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 for playing in defensive positions like defensive tackle and nose guard. Stanley played college football for the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1993. He was even named the Most Valuable Player for the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team. After college, he played professional football for teams like the New England Patriots, Rhein Fire, and Grand Rapids Rampage.
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Buster Stanley's Football Journey
Early Life and High School Football
Buster Stanley was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. His dad, Sylvester Stanley Sr., worked at a General Motors factory. His mom, Theodora, was a nurse.
When Buster was a senior 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 how talented he was on the football field even before college!
Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
After high school, Buster received a scholarship to play football at the University of Michigan. He chose Michigan over other big schools like Ohio State University and Michigan State University. From 1990 to 1993, he played as a defensive tackle and middle guard for the Michigan Wolverines football team.
In 1993, after a tough game, Buster gathered his defensive teammates for a special meeting. He wanted them to improve their attitude and play "Michigan defense." This meeting worked! In their next game against Iowa, Buster led the defense to a great performance. They only allowed the other team to gain 48 yards on the ground. Buster himself made 10 tackles in that game, including three that stopped the opponent for a loss, and two quarterback sacks.
Because of his amazing play and leadership, Buster was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and a co-captain for the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team. He also won the Dick Katcher award, which is given to the best defensive lineman or outside linebacker on the team. In 1994, Buster graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in kinesiology, which is the study of how the body moves.
Professional Football Career
After college, Buster Stanley continued his football career professionally.
- New England Patriots: In 1994, he played as a nose guard for the New England Patriots.
- Rhein Fire: From 1996 to 1997, he played for the Rhein Fire. This team was part of the World League of American Football, which was a league that helped players develop their skills.
- Coaching: After playing for Rhein Fire, Buster worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 1999. He helped college athletes get stronger and fitter.
- Grand Rapids Rampage: From 1999 to 2000, he played for the Grand Rapids Rampage in the Arena Football League. This league plays football indoors on a smaller field. While with the Rampage, Buster received the "Best Player for the Organization" award. He was also named to the Arena Football League's All-Rookie Team, which means he was one of the best new players in the league.
Life After Football
After his football career, Buster Stanley worked in sales. 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.
