Les Goble
Lester Bois Goble was an American professional football halfback who played two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League. He was selected by the Cardinals in the thirteenth round of the 1954 NFL draft after playing college football at Alfred University.
Early life
Lester Bois Goble was born on July 23, 1932 in Waverly, [Tioga County, New York], and attended Waverly High School. He participated in football, basketball, and track in high school.College career
Goble played college football for the Alfred Saxons of Alfred University. He was on the freshman team in 1950 and the varsity team from 1951 to 1953. He set a school record forlongest run from scrimmage with a 92-yard touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls in 1952. Goble earned Associated Press second-team Little All-America [college football team|Little All-American] honors his senior year in 1953.
Goble also ran track for four years at Alfred, setting school records in the short sprints and the 400-meter dash. He was the Eastern Intercollegiate Low Hurdle Champion his senior year. Goble also played basketball as a freshman at Alfred. He was an inaugural member of the Alfred University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1973.
Professional career
Chicago Cardinals
Goble was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the 13th round, with the 146th overall pick, of the 1954 NFL draft. He was the first player from Alfred to be selected in the NFL draft. He was also the third, and most recent Alfred player, to play in the NFL overall, with the others being Ray Witter and Frank Trigilio. Goble returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown in his NFL debut. He played in all 12 games, starting two, for the Cardinals during his rookie year in 1954, totaling 27 kick returns for 749 yards and two touchdowns, 22 punt returns for 51 yards, 30 rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown, five fumbles, one interception, and one reception for negative one yard. Goble's two kick return touchdowns were the most in the league that year. He also led the NFL with 27.7 yards per kick return.Goble played in nine games during the 1955 season, recording eight kick returns for 160 yards and seven rushes for 11 yards. He was released by the Cardinals in 1956.