Wally Highsmith

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Wally Highsmith
Born: (1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 (age 80)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Career information
Position(s) Offensive line
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight238 lb (108 kg)
College Florida A&M
High school Roosevelt School (Lake Wales, Florida)
Career history
As coach
1989–1993 Texas Southern
As player
1968–1969 Denver Broncos
1970–1971 Montreal Alouettes
1972 Houston Oilers
1973 Montreal Alouettes
1974–1975 Memphis Southmen
1976–1977 Toronto Argonauts
Career highlights and awards
  • Grey Cup Champion (1970)
  • 1974 All-WFL Team

Walter "Buzz" Highsmith (August 27, 1943) is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World Football League (WFL), and National Football League (NFL) as an offensive lineman. Highsmith served as the head football coach at Texas Southern University from 1989 to 1993, compiling a record of 19–34–2.

Contents

Highsmith started his career with the Denver Broncos of the AFL, playing 23 games in two seasons. He next played with the Montreal Alouettes for two years and 22 games, winning the Grey Cup championship in 1970. He then headed to the Houston Oilers of the NFL, playing nine games in one season. Highsmith returned to the Montreal Alouettes in 1973, playing only one game. The Memphis Southmen of the new WFL called, and he played two seasons with them. He finished his career back in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, playing 21 games over two years. [1]

Highsmith has also coached at Florida A&M University and for the Toronto Argonauts.

Highsmith is the father of former NFL player Alonzo Highsmith and uncle of former NFL player Ali Highsmith. [2]

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Texas Southern Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference)(1989–1993)
1989 Texas Southern 3–7—13–3–15th
1990 Texas Southern 4–72–4T–5th
1991 Texas Southern 5–5–13–3–1T–4th
1992 Texas Southern 5–63–4T–4th
1993 Texas Southern 2–91–67th
Texas Southern:19–34–212–20–2
Total:19–34–2

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References

  1. Swanson, Ben (February 19, 2021). "Mile High Morning: Looking back on Walter Highsmith's pioneering stint with the Broncos as the first Black starting center". denverbroncos.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. "Wally Highsmith Pro Football Stats, Position, College, Transactions". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.