Gary Huff
Encyclopedia
Gary Earl Huff who graduated from Leto Senior High School in Tampa, Florida and played college football
and baseball
at Florida State University
, was a professional football
quarterback
. He was an All-American at FSU
, where he led the nation in touchdown passes in 1971 and 1972. Huff played in the first annual Fiesta Bowl in 1971, passed for three touchdowns, and for the first time in college history had three receivers catch over 100 yards in the same game (Barry Smith 8 for 143 yards, Rhett Dawson 8 for 108 yards, and Kent Gaydos 5 for 101 yards).
Huff was draft
ed with the 7th pick in the second round (33rd pick overall) by the Chicago Bears
in the 1973 NFL Draft
. He played with the Bears for four years (1973-1976), two years with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(1977-1978), and one year with the San Francisco 49ers (1980). He quarterbacked the first win in Buccaneers history in 1977
. He finished his 13-year playing career in 1985 as a player-coach for the USFL Memphis Showboats
.
, before going into coaching. His coaching career included Indiana University (1983) as offensive coordinator, the Memphis Showboats
(1984 - 1985) as passing coordinator, the Houston Oilers (1986) as quarterbacks coach, and the University of Kansas
(1987) as offensive coordinator. In 1987 he became the CFO of the Los Angeles Raiders, where he served for six years (1987 - 1993). He was one of only three people during that time to have played, coached, and worked in administration in professional football. (Jim Finks
and George Young
were the other two). Huff left football for a position with a cellular telephone company as VP of Operations for eight years (1993 - 2001) and also worked as the CFO for the largest IBM
international reseller in the world for four years (2002 - 2005). Huff currently is the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Florida State University
where he was the first Academic Football All-America in school history.
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...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, was a professional football
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...
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...
. He was an All-American at FSU
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
, where he led the nation in touchdown passes in 1971 and 1972. Huff played in the first annual Fiesta Bowl in 1971, passed for three touchdowns, and for the first time in college history had three receivers catch over 100 yards in the same game (Barry Smith 8 for 143 yards, Rhett Dawson 8 for 108 yards, and Kent Gaydos 5 for 101 yards).
Huff was draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
ed with the 7th pick in the second round (33rd pick overall) by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He played with the Bears for four years (1973-1976), two years with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
(1977-1978), and one year with the San Francisco 49ers (1980). He quarterbacked the first win in Buccaneers history in 1977
1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season continued the losing streak that encompassed the entire 1976 season, and extended it to 26 games, which as of remains a record in the modern National Football League. Fear of becoming the Buccaneers' first victim provided motivation to opposing teams...
. He finished his 13-year playing career in 1985 as a player-coach for the USFL Memphis Showboats
Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders...
.
Business career
After his NFL career ended, Huff worked as a certified public accountant with local and national CPA firms in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, before going into coaching. His coaching career included Indiana University (1983) as offensive coordinator, the Memphis Showboats
Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders...
(1984 - 1985) as passing coordinator, the Houston Oilers (1986) as quarterbacks coach, and the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
(1987) as offensive coordinator. In 1987 he became the CFO of the Los Angeles Raiders, where he served for six years (1987 - 1993). He was one of only three people during that time to have played, coached, and worked in administration in professional football. (Jim Finks
Jim Finks
James Edward Finks was an American sports executive, primarily for American Professional Football.-Biography:...
and George Young
George Young
George Young may refer to:In politics:*Sir George Young, 6th Baronet, UK Conservative Party politician*George Young, Lord Young , Scottish politician and judge...
were the other two). Huff left football for a position with a cellular telephone company as VP of Operations for eight years (1993 - 2001) and also worked as the CFO for the largest IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
international reseller in the world for four years (2002 - 2005). Huff currently is the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
where he was the first Academic Football All-America in school history.
External links
- bearshistory.com http://www.bearshistory.com
- Gary Huff at databasefootball.com http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HUFFGAR01