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Bill Ellenbogen

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Bill Ellenbogen
No. 65
Position:Guard / Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1950-12-08) December 8, 1950 (age 73)
Glen Cove, New York
Career information
College:Buffalo (1969–1970)
Virginia Tech (1971–1972)
Undrafted:1973
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:23
Games started:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

William A. Ellenbogen (born December 8, 1950) is a former American football player. He was an offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants during the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He also played in the Seaboard Football League (1973), the World Football League (1974–1975) and the Canadian Football League (1978–1979). He played college football at the University at Buffalo (1969–1970) and Virginia Tech (1971–1972).

Early years

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Ellenbogen was born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1950. He attended New Rochelle High School.[1]

College football

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Ellenbogen played college football for the Buffalo Bulls football. He was a member of the 1969 and 1970 Buffalo Bulls teams that compiled records of 6–3 and 2–9 under head coach Bob Deming. He played at offensive tackle in 1969 and was moved to defensive end in 1970.[2][3] When the University at Buffalo terminated its football program after the 1970 season, Ellenbogen transferred to Virginia Tech where he played at the defensive tackle position for the 1971 and 1972 teams that compiled records of 4–7 and 6–4–1 under head coach Charlie Coffey.[4]

Professional football

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In 1973, Ellenbogen signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. During the 1973 preseson, the Chiefs used Ellenbogen as an offensive lineman.[5][6] He was waived by the Chiefs in early September 1973, prior to the start of the regular season.[7] After being waived by the Chiefs, he played semi-professionally for the Albany Metro Mallers of the Seaboard Football League as a defensive lineman, receiving $25 per game.[8]

Ellenbogen was signed by the Houston Oilers in 1974. He also was drafted by the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League (WFL). He requested a release from the Oilers to join the Bell and played with them that season. He spent time with the Washington Redskins in 1975 but did not make the final roster, later returning to the WFL to play with the Shreveport Steamer before the league folded.[8][9]

Ellenbogen played on the offensive line for the New York Giants during the 1976 and 1977 seasons when the clubs compiled records of 3–11 and 5–9. He appeared in 23 games for the Giants, two of them as a starter.[1][10][11]

Ellenbogen was cut by the Giants prior to the 1978 season and signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.[11] He played for the Argonauts for a portion of the 1978 season.[12] As his playing career came to an end, The Buffalo News in November 1978 summarized his career as follows: "Pro football has been a bumpy road for Ellenbogen. He was never drafted and did not receive a cent of bonus money with his initial contract. A football nomad, he has played for eight teams in three leagues."[11]

Ellenbogen had tryouts with the Ottawa Rough Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in June and July 1979.[13][14] He played three games for the Blue Bombers in the 1979 season.[15] He also attempted a comeback with the Atlanta Falcons in 1980, but he was cut by the club in mid-August.[16]

Later years

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After his football career ended, Ellenbogen operated a bar in Blacksburg, Virginia, known as Bogen's.[17] He was also a developer involved in other business projects in Blacksburg.[18]

Ellenbogen's daughter, Courtney Ellenbogen, was an amateur golfer at Duke.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bill Ellenbogen". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ellenbogen Aids Buffalo Frosh's Second Victory". The Standard-Star. October 3, 1968. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Deming Still Making Moves". The Buffalo News. April 22, 1970. p. 78 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Former Buffalo Star Turns Tiger at Tech". The World-News. October 4, 1972. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bill Richardson (August 10, 1973). "Pounds on, Not Off Rookie Chance". The Kansas City Star. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tale of UB Gridder's Trail to Pros". The Buffalo News. August 17, 1973. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Chiefs' Notes". The Kansas City Times. September 6, 1973. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Miller, Stuart (2005). Where Have All Our Giants Gone?. Taylor Trade Publishing. pp. 158–165. ISBN 1-58979-266-1.
  9. ^ "To Ellenbogen, Pro Football Is Fun". The Shreveport Times. September 28, 1975. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Another Shot at 'Never Land' for Ellenbogen". The New York Times. September 23, 1976.
  11. ^ a b c Jack Etkin (November 4, 1978). "'Play Hard, Hope It Works Out'". The Buffalo News. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "All-Time CFL Player Roster". cflapedia.com. February 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Riders break camp and, none too soon". The Citizen. June 16, 1979. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Ellenbogen". The Ottawa Citizen. July 14, 1979. p. 23.
  15. ^ "William Ellenbogen football statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  16. ^ "NFL Clubs Trim Rosters". The Atlanta Journal. August 19, 1980. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Cyberbar in Esquire". Roanoke Times. January 29, 1996. p. C5.
  18. ^ "A trail of goodwill: Developer looks back at his contribution to Montgomery County". The Roanoke Times. January 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "Ellenbogen making a devil of a comeback". Golfweek. January 22, 2010.
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