Roland Richard "Tuffy" Nabors (July 22, 1924 – December 3, 1999) was an American football player who played at the linebacker and center positions. He played college football for Texas Tech and professional football for the New York Yankees.
Nabors played college football at Texas Tech in 1942, 1946, and 1947.[1][4] He received numerous accolades for his college football career, including the following:
He was "named by every foe picking a team as the best center to oppose it."[3]
He was also rated as "one of the nation's best pivot men",[3] and "one of the greatest linemen in Texas Tech history."[6] He also lettered in basketball at Texas Tech.[7]
Nabors' athletic career was interrupted by service in the Army during World War II. He entered the Army in June 1943 and served in the Pacific theater of operations. He returned to the United States in July 1945.[8][9]
Professional football
Nabors was selected by the New York Yankees in the seventh round (55th overall pick) of the 1947 AFCA Draft.[1][10] He played for the Yankees during their 1948 season. He appeared in a total of 10 AAFC games.[1][2]
Later years
In August 1949, he was hired as the line coach for the Texas Western Miners (later renamed UTEP) football program.[4] Nabors served as the line coach at Texas Western for three years, ultimately resigning in January 1953 to enter private business.[11] In June 1953, he opened the 'Tuffy' Nabors Service Station in Lubbock.[12] He later worked for 20 years at the Texas State Comptroller's Office. He later operated a Coors beer distributorship in San Antonio.[7]
Nabors' son, Rick Nabors, later played college football for the Texas Longhorns.[13]
