Kevin Long obit

Gamecocks mourn the Passing of Hall of Fame running back Kevin Long

 He was not on the list.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Kevin Long, a member of the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame and the State of South Carolina Hall of Fame, passed away September 10 at the age of 69.

Long, a native of Clinton, S.C., was a four-year letterman for the Gamecocks at running back from 1973-76 and remains 10th on the all-time career rushing list with 2,372 yards.

In 1975, Long became the first Gamecock to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season with 1,133 yards. He had six games with more than 100 yards, including a career best 160 yards against North Carolina State in 1975.

In the Gamecocks’ 24-13 win over #18 Baylor in 1975, Long rushed for 133 yards. The following year, in Carolina’s 10-7 win against #17-ranked Ole Miss Rebels in 1976, Long rushed for 91 yards on 10 carries.

Long helped lead the Gamecocks to a 7-5 record in 1975 and the program’s third bowl game in history against Miami (Ohio) in the Tangerine Bowl.

Long was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL Draft and played there five seasons, rushing for 2,190 yards and 25 touchdowns, while catching 74 passes for 539 yards and three touchdowns.

From 1983-85, Long played in the USFL for the Chicago Biltz, Arizona Wranglers, and the Arizona Outlaws.

However, he is probably best remembered as a former USFL player. He played three seasons in the newly formed league, first for the Chicago Blitz in 1983, and then for the Arizona Wranglers in 1984. Due to the full-team trade that occurred during the first off-season between Chicago and Arizona, the 1984 Arizona team was basically the same team that had played in Chicago in 1983. After the 1984 season, Arizona then merged with the Oklahoma Outlaws franchise, and he played for the new Arizona Outlaws team in 1985.

Long met his wife, Frankie, as students at USC, both earning their degrees, and were married for 46 years. They had four children, Kevin, Latifah, Alisa and Salia; and six grandchildren.