Mike Long

Quarterback (1977-1978)

Growing up in Coffeyville, Mike Long knew what to expect when he became a Red Raven; a lot of pressure on the quarterback to be successful and to lead the team to a conference championship.

In his senior year at Field Kindley High School he completed 45 of 78 passes for eight touchdowns and 827 yards.  He also was an outstanding baseball and basketball player.  Mike came to Coffeyville from Broken Arrow, OK, when he was five.  He started out playing sports because “There wasn’t much else to do.”  He quit football in the fourth grade and he would have never gone out for football at the high school, if not for the influence of Tornado Head Coach, Doug Lee.  In an interview his sophomore year in college, Mike said four people helped him to become the football player he was, his parents, Doug Lee and Dick Foster.

“I think my parents taught me humility, teamwork and the ability to work hard every day to get better.  My mom and dad watched every game I ever played in which meant a lot to me.  Coach Lee talked me out of quitting football when I wasn’t doing well.  Coach Foster instilled confidence in me even after a bad night against Hutchinson my freshman year when I threw four interceptions.  The next week we came back and beat the number one team in the nation, NEO 43-14, and I had 12 completion for 248 yards and four TD passes.”

Mike had an outstanding college career. He started every game leading the Ravens to 17 wins and only four losses.  He was the all time leading passer as he had 131 completion out of 286 attempts for 1981 yards and 14 TD passes his freshman year.  In 1978 Mike had 296 attempts and 146 completions of 2177 and 23 touchdowns.  He finished the season as the top passer in junior college football and lead his team over Iowa Central, 38-6, in the first Coca Cola Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“There has never been a quarterback to wear the Red Raven uniform that has done the things Mike has done this past two years.  I believe the records he has set will take a great quarterback to break because he is the best that has played for the Red Ravens,” stated Dick Foster at the football banquet after Mike’s sophomore season.

Mike attended South Carolina and finished his degree at the University of Kansas.  He is in private business in Plano, TX.  Mike and his wife Cindy have three children, Morgan, Brooke, and Alexandra.