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Posted on 7/16/09 at 9:13 am to Lakebound
Never gets enough credit really because of the time he played but truly one of the great Tigers of all-time.
Im curious how many people even knew he played at LSU
Posted on 7/16/09 at 9:16 am to Lakebound
quote:
A couple years ago, NFL Films was doing a story on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and they had a lunch-in at the Hall of Fame. And all the guys were mingling and the room got real loud. Then Steve walked in the room, and the place went silent. And all these great players like Jim Brown, Jim Taylor, every single person in that room wanted to shake Van Buren's hand. That to me spoke volumes about the respect everyone had for Steve and his place in NFL history. I'll never forget that moment."
This story has always given me chills and I don't know anything about the guy.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 9:23 am to Lakebound
Thanks for the links. 
Posted on 7/16/09 at 9:44 am to Lakebound
Many didn't know he was born in Honduras. An many didn't know he was the first LSU player taken in the first round of the Pro Football draft.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:11 am to JollyGreenGiant
quote:
Jim Taylor
I was on a flight from Btr to Atl one time, he and his wife were on the same. He was sitting next to me. Before takeoff, I just asked what he thought the Tigers were gonna do. We ended up talking for the hr + flight. By the way, he was heading to Canton, Ohio. Oh, he did do most of the talking.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:42 am to LSUDad
I happen to have some video of Van Buren playing at LSU.
I'm telling you, that guy was something special. He could do it all.
All you young Tigers should do yourselves a favor sometime and watch some games played before 1960. It's really an incredible experience.
I'm telling you, that guy was something special. He could do it all.
All you young Tigers should do yourselves a favor sometime and watch some games played before 1960. It's really an incredible experience.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:43 am to LSUDad
Check Van Buren's stats while in the NFL..........
He had 9 interceptions. Must have played DB as well.
He had 9 interceptions. Must have played DB as well.
This post was edited on 7/16/09 at 10:45 am
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:44 am to Lakebound
He was the most effective player in LSU's first ever bowl win - 1/1/44 vs. A&M in the Orange Bowl.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:51 am to Sid in Lakeshore
Didn't he coach high school ball in New Orleans after his playing days were over? I thought he coached either at Easton or Jesuit.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 12:41 pm to danfraz
quote:
Im curious how many people even knew he played at LSU
FWIW, I knew that. One of the great LSU Tigers,you never hear much about him, and that's too bad.
to Steve Van Buren.Posted on 7/16/09 at 2:09 pm to Lakebound
My Dad has always maintained that in his era Van Buren was the biggest star in the league. He was nationally renowned and one of the first running backs to run a sub 10 second 100 yard dash, consistently clocking 9.8 coming out of LSU. He is to this day known as one of the most humble sports superstars of all time. Chuck Bednarik, an Eagle HOF'er whose name is on the trophy for the best collegiate defensive player every year, says his sports hero was Van Buren. Steve was the best player in the league and won two World championships before a knee injury cut his career short.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 2:52 pm to RANDY44
I love this part of the story:
During a four-year stretch from 1940-43, the Eagles accumulated a combined record of 10-31-2. However, in Van Buren's rookie season the squad went 7-1-2 under head coach "Greasy" Neale. In 1948, Van Buren would lead Philadelphia to the championship as the Eagles won their first NFL title in a blinding snowstorm at Shibe Park. Ironically, Van Buren almost missed the game figuring the game would be postponed due to the inclement weather. However, when he was informed by Neale that the game was still on, Van Buren took public transit and then walked an additional seven blocks in knee-deep snow to get to the game.
During a four-year stretch from 1940-43, the Eagles accumulated a combined record of 10-31-2. However, in Van Buren's rookie season the squad went 7-1-2 under head coach "Greasy" Neale. In 1948, Van Buren would lead Philadelphia to the championship as the Eagles won their first NFL title in a blinding snowstorm at Shibe Park. Ironically, Van Buren almost missed the game figuring the game would be postponed due to the inclement weather. However, when he was informed by Neale that the game was still on, Van Buren took public transit and then walked an additional seven blocks in knee-deep snow to get to the game.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 3:08 pm to triplesauce
quote:
Ironically, Van Buren almost missed the game figuring the game would be postponed due to the inclement weather. However, when he was informed by Neale that the game was still on, Van Buren took public transit and then walked an additional seven blocks in knee-deep snow to get to the game.
Yeah. Dad says that was the sports story of the year and really cemented Steve as a legend.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 5:00 pm to Lakebound
My father had a football scholarship to LSU as a tailback in the early 40's. When he reported to spring practice and was waiting in line for weigh-in, daddy said he turned around to look at who was behind him. He said the guy behind him looked like he was chiseled out of granite. It was Steve Van Buren. Now my father was one of the top high school players in the state at that time. But he said after a few weeks of practice, it was obvious he was going to spend a lot of time on the bench behind Van Buren. So he quit LSU, joined the Marines, and was sent to the Pacific for the rest of the war. 
Posted on 7/16/09 at 7:03 pm to SpqrTiger
quote:The dude was a BEAST in his day...it's really difficult for young fans to take into consideration the era he played and his ability, truly one of greatest players ever...
I happen to have some video of Van Buren playing at LSU.
I'm telling you, that guy was something special. He could do it all.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 10:55 pm to danfraz
quote:
Never gets enough credit really because of the time he played but truly one of the great Tigers of all-time. Im curious how many people even knew he played at LSU
I wonder, too. LSU is dropping the ball on Y.A. and SVB by not propping their names up as Tiger greats. For Gods sake, when they unveiled the Billy Cannon name on the lip of the Upper East Deck, they had Y.A. in the Suite right above and introduced him. Why the hell aren't SVB and Y.A. on that recognition row?? IT'S JUST WRONG, and stupid on LSU's part if we are waiting on another Heisman winner to be put up there. Billy Cannons name will be up there all alone for a long while and it'll look like he's the only great player we've ever had.
Posted on 7/16/09 at 11:06 pm to bgtiger
quote:
Why the hell aren't SVB and Y.A. on that recognition row?? IT'S JUST WRONG, and stupid on LSU's part if we are waiting on another Heisman winner to be put up there. Billy Cannons name will be up there all alone for a long while and it'll look like he's the only great player we've ever had.
Didn't they just put up Y.A.'s name this year?
Posted on 7/16/09 at 11:15 pm to JollyGreenGiant
In the off season? They put Cannon up at the Ole Miss game and his was the first and only one i remember.
Posted on 7/17/09 at 8:47 am to Lakebound
Never saw any clips of him playing. It is a pitty today not to be able to relive some of the memories of great athletes who are forgotten.
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