Willie Buchanon played college ball at San Diego State University under the tutelage of the legendary NFL coordinator Ernie Zampese.  Zampese would go on to help develop the famed NFL version of the "Air Coryell" attack as the wide receivers coach of the Chargers from 1979-1982.  Speaking of Coryell, he was the head coach of San Diego State during Buchanon's playing days there, and with Brian Sipe at the helm, Buchanon was NFL ready from day one, as he faced, day in and day out, a pro style offense.

Buchanon was picked seventh in the first round by the Green Bay Packers, and went on to win Rookie of the Year honors.  Famed Green Bay Packer GM Ron Wolf, while working as a top dog in the Oakland Raider personnel and scouting division, later called Buchanon the best cornerback prospect he ever scouted.  Buchanon's solid career was nearly ruined by two broken legs occurring early in his career, one of which threatened to be career ending.  The feisty cornerback persevered over the odds, though, and what he lost in speed, he said he made up in studying the game.  In all 'Willie B' would go to three Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro selection for the 1978 season, a year that witnessed him intercept nine passes.  To top off Buchanon's personal accomplishments he still holds the NFL record for most interceptions in a game with four, a feat met in 1978 against the San Diego Chargers in one-hundred and two degree weather.  Being a San Diego native Buchanon said he was 'charged up' for the game, and so he gathered his teammates to ensure they played their best game to date.  Buchanon says it was that game which sparked the interest of the Chargers, the same team he would play for the very next season, and finish his career with.

 

 

    

The TLL Buchanon is an original member.  He gained his first interception during the 1977 season, but 1978 would be his breakout year, as he grabbed 8 interceptions.  This season Buchanon has 6 interceptions to his name to go along with 61 tackles and 2 sacks, clearly his best overall season to date.  TLL79 will also most likely mark Buchanon's first trip to the playoffs. 

In Week 12 against the Oakland Raiders, the two teams unexpectedly combined for only 13 points, with the Chargers losing the contest 7-6.  However, with such a low scoring affair one would expect the defenses to be on point, and that is exactly the case.  In what probably has never happened previously, Buchanon picked off Stabler's first, second to last, and last passes of the game, and threatened to return the last interception for a game winning TD before he was finally corralled near midfield. 

San Diego was influenced to sign the former Packer after his 4 INT outing against them in the NFL, so perhaps in an alternate universe the Raiders will sign Buchanon, pairing him with their own legend Lester Hayes.

Congrats to Willie Buchanon.