Buster Stanley
Encyclopedia
Sylvester "Buster" Stanley, Jr. (born November 30, 1970) is a former American football
player. Stanley played college football
for the University of Michigan
from 1990 to 1993 and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
. He played professional football for the New England Patriots
(1994), Rhein Fire
(1996–1997) and Grand Rapids Rampage
(1999–2000).
. His father, Sylvester Stanley, Sr., worked at a General Motors plant in Youngstown. His mother, Theodora, was a licensed practical nurse
. As a senior in high school, Stanley was named by the Detroit Free Press
to its "Best of the Midwest" team and was selected as the UPI Lineman of the Year.
, Stanley accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan
, choosing Michigan over offers from Ohio State University
and Michigan State University
. He played at the defensive tackle and middle guard positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
teams from 1990 to 1993. After a lackluster defensive performance against Houston
in 1993, Stanley called a defensive team meeting. Stanley noted, "We had a little meeting (last) Sunday — just the (defensive) players and we got everything out and came out with a better attitude this week. We wanted to come out and play 'Michigan defense.'" The following week against Iowa
, Stanley "led an inspired effort by the Wolverines defensive front", allowing only 48 yards on the ground. Stanley had 10 tackles in the game, including three for losses and two quarterback sacks. Stanley was selected as the Most Valuable Player and a co-captain of the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
. He also won the Dick Katcher award in 1993 as the team's outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker. Stanley graduated from the University of Michigan in 1994 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology
.
in 1994. In 1996 and 1997, he played for the Rhein Fire
in the World League of American Football
. He was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 1999. He played for the Grand Rapids Rampage
in the Arena Football League from 1999 to 2000. While playing for Grand Rapids, Stanley received the Rampage Award as the "Best Player for the Organization" and the Arena Football League's Rookie of the Year award.
(1999–2003) and as a sales representative for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands
(2003–2009).
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. Stanley 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 Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1990 to 1993 and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1993 college football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in...
. He played professional football for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
(1994), Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
(1996–1997) and Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
(1999–2000).
Early years
Stanley was born and raised in Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. His father, Sylvester Stanley, Sr., worked at a General Motors plant in Youngstown. His mother, Theodora, was a licensed practical nurse
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed practical nurse is the term used in much of the United States and most Canadian provinces to refer to a nurse who cares for "people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. The term licensed vocational nurses is used in...
. As a senior in high school, Stanley was named by the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
to its "Best of the Midwest" team and was selected as the UPI Lineman of the Year.
University of Michigan
After graduating from Youngstown's East High SchoolEast High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
East High School is a public high school in the city of Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It had its first school year in fall 2007 since 1998, when a previous incarnation of the school closed. The original school was open from 1925 to 1998 when it was converted to a middle school and closed...
, Stanley accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, choosing Michigan over offers from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He played at the defensive tackle and middle guard positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
teams from 1990 to 1993. After a lackluster defensive performance against Houston
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
in 1993, Stanley called a defensive team meeting. Stanley noted, "We had a little meeting (last) Sunday — just the (defensive) players and we got everything out and came out with a better attitude this week. We wanted to come out and play 'Michigan defense.'" The following week against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Stanley "led an inspired effort by the Wolverines defensive front", allowing only 48 yards on the ground. Stanley had 10 tackles in the game, including three for losses and two quarterback sacks. Stanley was selected as the Most Valuable Player and a co-captain of the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1993 college football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in...
. He also won the Dick Katcher award in 1993 as the team's outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker. Stanley graduated from the University of Michigan in 1994 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
.
Professional football
He played as a nose guard for the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in 1994. In 1996 and 1997, he played for the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
in the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. He was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 1999. He played for the Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
in the Arena Football League from 1999 to 2000. While playing for Grand Rapids, Stanley received the Rampage Award as the "Best Player for the Organization" and the Arena Football League's Rookie of the Year award.
Later years
After retiring from football, Stanley worked as an account representative for Worthington SteelWorthington Industries
Worthington Industries, Inc. is a diversified metal manufacturing company with annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion. The Columbus, Ohio based company is a steel processor and a manufacturer of metal products such as light gauge steel framing for commercial and residential construction;...
(1999–2003) and as a sales representative for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company manufactures dipping tobacco and is a subsidiary of Altria.Its corporate headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut, and it maintains factories in Clarksville and Nashville, Tennessee, Franklin Park, Illinois, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky.Copenhagen and Skoal...
(2003–2009).