Category Archives: University of Texas

NFL, University of Texas

Loeffler, Cullen

Panini UT 2015, #15

CARD: Panini UT 2015
ACQUIRED: 2022, Gift

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Cullen played high school football in Texas, so he grew up wanting to play for the University of Texas.
  • Declining scholarships to other schools, he opted to walk on at UT in 1999.
  • Worked his way into the lineup as a longsnapper, while moonlighting at TE graduating in 2004.
  • Free agent signee of the Minnesota Vikings that year, and he quickly became the team’s starting longsnapper.
  • Cullen held the position down until 2010, when a back injury sidelined him.
  • Returned to the Vikings and played for the team through 2014.
  • He’d retire after being cut in 2015.

NOTES:

Longsnappers hold a certain ‘lunchpail’ lore to fans of football. The most unsung skilled player position in the NFL, if you don’t have someone who can 100% snap that ball from the line of scrimmage to a punter or holder’s hands, you’re taking a risk at it being blocked. As such, the position has become a sort of ironman position in the league. It’s not a glorified $20 million dollar a year job- as such, these guys once they get locked in, many of them play 10-15 seasons easy for the franchise, exclusively doing longsnapping.

My friend Mark has sort of cornered the market on Cullen. Apparently he has mutual acquaintances through him and was able to get this autograph on an off and on set need for me.

NFL, University of Texas

Atessis, Bill

CARD: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011
ACQUIRED: 2020, EBay
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Bill played defensive end from 1968-70 and was considered one of the most dominant DL of the SWC during that era.
  • Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
  • Injured and later cut by the Colts, joining the Patriots later that season.
  • Converted to LB, seeing action in 5 contests.
  • Traded to Cardinals in 1972, and moved to the OL.
  • Converted back to DL by the Jets in ’73 but was cut before the season began.

ACCOLADES:

  • UT Ring of Honor
  • All-time UT team

NOTES:

After failing on Bill back in 2019, I just figured I’d grab him on his certified card instead.

NFL, University of Texas

Houston, Lamarr ‘Marr’

Panini UT 2015, #36
Topps 2013, #123

CARDS: Panini UT 2015, Topps 2013
ACQUIRED: IP 2022, NFL Alumni Bowling Event

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played four years at the University of Texas from 2006-09.
  • Kicked inside to DT after playing DE after two years.
  • Started 33 games, recording 170 tackles, 43 TFL, 15 sacks, 65 pressures, 13 pass breakups, 1 FF and 2 fumble recoveries.
  • Second round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2010.
  • Played both Defensive end positions over 4 years with Raiders.
  • Had 228 total tackles, 37 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, and 1 pick.
  • Signed with Bears in 2015, playing the next 3 seasons and 5 games.
  • Started just 2 games in 2015 (16 played) but recorded a career high 8 sacks.
  • Split 2017 between the Bears and Texans, playing 5 games for each team.
  • Signed with the Texans to help ailing defensive front, posting a sack, 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
  • Also recorded first TD, returning a fumble 34 yards in his final game with the team.

NOTES:

I mean the evening wasn’t a total disaster at the bowling event. I was very excited when the Texans signed Lamarr to bolster their defensive front after JJ Watt went down with an injury. I thought he delivered, and in his final contest I thought the light really went on, but the franchise saw otherwise and cut him.

When I got his autograph on these cards, I asked him what happened and he told me that, “They told me I was too old.”

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