re: R.I.P. Steve Van Buren

Posted by rpg37

Ocean Springs, MS

Member since Sep 2008

47372 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 6:03 am to The1TrueTiger

:RIP:

Posted by VanRIch

Wherever

Member since Sep 2007

10367 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 6:48 am to rpg37

He was from Belize. He moved to BR when he was 17 but can't remember if he had lived in another part of the US before that. He's in the LSU and NFL HOF. I'm sure they'll announce something at the first home game. He was tough as they come as where his brothers and sisters(my mom is one of them

) He's got a brother and sister that still lives in BR and my mom in Covington. All his other siblings have passed away. He was one of eleven.

2 ...

Posted by Mindenfan

Minden

Member since Sep 2006

4786 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 7:00 am to The1TrueTiger

RIP Steve!

Posted by TigerintheNO

New Orleans

Member since Jan 2004

41158 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 7:17 am to The1TrueTiger

RIP

Posted by I-59 Tiger

Vestavia Hills, AL

Member since Sep 2003

36703 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:17 am to The1TrueTiger

For whatever reason he is the most 'under-valued' LSU great of all time. Granted he played at LSU during the 'War Years' but van Buren's play in and of itself was one reason the Orange Bowl picked LSU to play in the '44 game.

Posted by themunch

Earth. maybe

Member since Jan 2007

64587 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:18 am to TigerintheNO

RIP

Posted by TexasTiger89

Houston, TX

Member since Feb 2005

24246 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:23 am to The1TrueTiger

RIP

Posted by I-59 Tiger

Vestavia Hills, AL

Member since Sep 2003

36703 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:36 am to jlc05

Yea, he was born in Honduras and his family moved to New Orleans when he was very young.

Posted by scbengal

greenville, sc

Member since Feb 2008

170 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:37 am to TexasTiger89

An NFL hall of famer. Not many of those went to LSU. I agree LSU should have devoted more Recognition to him. Others like YA and Jimmy Taylor should be celebrated as former greats.

Posted by tigerpimpbot

Chairman of the Pool Board

Member since Nov 2011

66890 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:42 am to The1TrueTiger

RIP.

Posted by I-59 Tiger

Vestavia Hills, AL

Member since Sep 2003

36703 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:42 am to scbengal

quote:
I agree LSU should have devoted more Recognition to him. Others like YA and Jimmy Taylor should be celebrated as former greats.

Yes, while they are still alive to enjoy. LSU has Dan Borne' holler out and recognize more BS for "Tiger Fans (to) direct your attention to the North 20 yard line" than any team in America. Kickball team, water polo, but hey, NFL Hall of Famer? Tough noogies.

Posted by nicholastiger

Member since Jan 2004

42367 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 8:45 am to I-59 Tiger

Just another underutilized player at LSU, LSU used him as a blocking back.

The former LSU star, nicknamed "Wham-Bam" for his quick and punishing running style, joined the Eagles in 1944 as a first-round pick. He led the NFL in rushing four times and finished his eight-year career with 5,860 yards rushing and 77 TDs.

With the Tigers, Van Buren was used primarily as a blocking back until his senior season, when he led the nation in scoring with 98 points and rushed for 847 yards.

The five-time All-Pro player was selected to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team in 1994, and was the first Eagles player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I've seen them all - Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski," Greasy Neale, Van Buren's coach with the Eagles, told the Philadelphia Daily News in 1957, "but he's the greatest."

Posted by Bobby Moore

Red Hill, Mississippi

Member since Jun 2005

17751 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 9:04 am to The1TrueTiger

I had the privilege of teaching and coaching his two nephews at WCCA. They were both very good football players. They didn't attend LSU. Bobby VB got a football scholarship to LA Tech. They were both fond of their Uncle and praised him all the time.

2 ...

Posted by stonedbegonias

Member since Jan 2010

11577 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 9:31 am to VanRIch

quote:
VanRIch

Sorry for your loss.

Posted by VanRIch

Wherever

Member since Sep 2007

10367 posts

Posted on 8/24/12 at 9:59 am to I-59 Tiger

quote:
his family moved to New Orleans

No, he moved up alone. My mom was born in Belize a few months after he moved away and they lived in Belize until she was about 14 and then they moved to Tampa for a few years and then moved to BR, but he was already up in Philly. She's never actually met him, but she was upset when I spoke to her this morning. I think there was some family issues there, one reason he left, but I don't think my mom really knows or she doesn't want to talk about it. I've recently become facebook friends with some of his grandkids. She wanted to meet him for a while, but they just never got around to it. He kinda had already built his own life and family before they moved up here. Sad, but he lived a long life. Just wish they could have met at least once. I really should have taken her up there.