Category Archives: University of Texas

Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Ricky “Little Earl” (2)

Cards: Donruss Rookies & Stars 09, UT Upper Deck 2011 MM x2
Acquired: In person, Ricky Williams Tailgate 9/8/2012.
See Also: Ricky Williams, Ricky Williams (3), Ricky Williams (4)

Late in August, I got an email in the evening from the Ricky Williams Foundation.  When I opened it up I couldn’t believe my eyes. The Foundation was holding Ricky’s First Tailgating event, for only a small donation of $25.00. Included in the price was BBQ, beer, games, meeting Ricky, and getting a few autographs.  It was a no brainer for me, and I bought two tickets immediately, so that I could drag Josh along this time. We arrived a bit after twelve, and parking was a hassle because of the pregame stuff going on for New Mexico. After a lot of blind wandering, we located his event that was being treated very low key. The BBQ was great, and eventually we got Ricky’s autograph on a few items. I was really pleased to get him on these 3 cards this time.

Ricky was very friendly with fans and many of them he was happy to speak to or allow to pet his Heisman. He allowed everybody to take photos and grab autographs.  I got to share Ricky’s Heisman with him which is a bit unwieldy. I’d guess the trophy was about 20 pounds or so, and there was some nicks and tears to the foundation of the base. Still it was very kind of him to let me do it, since I have been getting into doing poses with players other than the normal conventional, ‘stand there and smile pose’. Overall I think it was a great PR move by him and his team, and since I had a great time volunteering at a Christian Okoye Foundation event, I volunteered to help Ricky Williams Foundation at other events, if they needed assistance.

A bit about these cards. I really like the treatment that the Rookies & Stars went through for 2009. It still remains one of my favorite modern day sets and this card is exceptional. I got an idea after witnessing a Texans fan at a Mario Williams signing last year toting around jersey card, that I should consider getting a few of them signed. The red cards, are jersey cards and they are absolutely beautiful with it placed right below the player’s image on the card. It’s a very well integrated design, even if they use the type font ‘Birth of a Hero’.

With the UT Upper Deck Monumental Moments cards, we have two cards that frame Williams’ contributions to the history of Texas football.  First
up is the card in which he broke Tony Dorsett’s career rushing record against A&M. It’s not a bad card at all.  The action is framed well and you get the point of the card in its summation of his achievement. The second card, which highlights his school record 350 yard stomping of Iowa State,(which broke the record previously held by Roosevelt Leaks) is an equally nice card with the same warts. It really showcases how hard Ricky as to take down as 4 defenders are frantically in frame trying to catch him. I did have to use the baby powder on both cards to remove the sheen, but it worked like a charm so there was no marker loss there.  I did not like how
they used the ‘fat T’ logo on the right hand side of the card. It feels too University of Tennessee. (Any well minded UT fan would’ve used the combined UT logo to differentiate from the Volunteers.) In the meantime, I had a great time and look forward to going to and or working other events and getting a few more cards signed by Ricky in the future.

CFL, College Football HoF, University of Texas

Royal, Darrell (1924-2012)

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011 Coach, UT Upper Deck 2011 Stadium
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o The University of Texas Athletic Department
Sent: 7/9     Received: 8/7   (29 days)

Darrell Royal is considered a coaching legend and figurehead at the University of Texas, where he helped shape the program into a national power.  While serving in the Air Force during WWII, Royal was discovered by recruits from the University of Oklahoma. He’d attend college there and play both defensive back and quarterback for the Sooners from 1946-1949. Mentored by Bud Wilkinson, Royal posted a 16-1 mark as a part-time starter at quarterback, while recording 18 interceptions as a defensive back in his time there at the school. With professional football not a firm career option at the time, Royal opted to jump into coaching at the college level serving as an assistant in 1950 at NC State, Tulsa in 1951, and Mississippi State in 1952. After a brief stop as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1953 (where he posted a record of 12-4), Royal returned to Mississippi State in 1954 to be head coach for two seasons posting identical back to back 6-4 records.  Continuing to puddle jump, Darrell spent a year as head coach of the Washington Huskies in 1956 and recorded a pedestrian 5-5 record.

A hungry Texas Longhorn program liked what they saw in Royal and hired him in 1957. He’d immediately turn around the program and coach them to the Sugar Bowl. Over his time at the University of Texas Royal brought the school 11 Southwestern Conference championships (’59,’61-’63,’68-’73, & ’75), 3 National Titles (’63, ’69-’70), and numerous coaching awards. He’d post a record of 167-47-5 at UT, and a mark of 109-27-2 in the SWC.  Also of note is that Darrell was considered an offensive mastermind, and is credited with two offensive formations: the ‘Flip-Flop’ Winged-T and the Wishbone offense. He’d retire in 1976 as the winningest coach in UT history, but remained a constant figure on campus at the institution through 2012, as a watchful during the current highly successful Mack Brown era. The school renamed the stadium in 1996 from Memorial Stadium to Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium to honor his contributions to the institution further. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.  Coach Royal also has a huge coaching tree. While Fred Akers quickly came in and established himself as head coach after his departure, many of his other coaches had prodigies that later became NFL and successful college coaches from them. Among those distant relatives are RC Slocum, Mike Sherman, Gary Kubiak, Greg Davis, Tommy Tuberville, Spike Dykes, Dave McGinnis, Al Groh, Ray Perkins, Jackie Sherril, Jimmy Johnson, Dave Wannastedt, Dom Capers, Ron Zook, and even Jon Gruden.

royalI was really happy to get Darrell Royal. Even my parents were excited to hear I got him on two cards.  I opted to have him sign his coach card and the stadium card, over the additional cards I had and it was all done in under a month’s time. My uncle had previously gotten him for me before on a postcard back in the late 90s while they were on a flight together. Coach Royal encouraged me in the note to go back to school and finish my education.

On Wednesday, November 7th 2012, Darrell Royal passed away at the grand old age of 88. He is survived by his wife Edith and 3 kids. In his latter years, Darrell enjoyed golf and philanthropic activities immensely. On a side note, Royal’s passion for golf spilled over into the college, and while athletic director there, he helped bring the sport to the National limelight as they captured 2 titles under his encouragement with headliners Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

NFL, University of Texas

Dawson, Doug

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011, Topps Stadium Club 1993
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Work
Sent: 7/9      Received: 8/7  (29 days)

Doug Dawson was an acclaimed lineman at the University of Texas where he received All-American Honors. At 6’2″, 288, he graded out extremely well as both a run and pass blocker, and displayed the versatility and intelligence to play guard and center.  Dawson was taken in round 2 with the 45th pick by the then St. Louis Cardinals. He’d almost immediately be tabbed by the team as a starter and by all accounts appeared to be a steal for the team. Doug started 15 games in 1984, and 16 in ’85, before a calamitous knee injury ended his career 1 game into the 1986 season- or so we all though.

Dawson thought his playing days were over, but the desire was always there to play. Over the next few years he took up insurance, but medical technology made a huge jump during that period, and his doctors were confident they could rebuild Dawson and medically clear him to play again. Doug was given a tryout by his hometown Houston Oilers. The Oilers were particularly deep on the line, with Hall of Famers Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews manning the front along with Dean Steinkuhuler, Jay Pennison, and David Williams. Don Maggs and Erik Norgard also were waiting in the wings to get on the field at the drop of a hat, but somehow, Doug with his versatility, veteran presence, (and probably affordability), won a spot on the roster with the team after essentially a 4 year layoff. Despite his heroic comeback (-even starting a game for the Oilers during the 1990 season,) Doug was snubbed for comeback player of the year honors in favor of Ottis Anderson.

In 1991 Doug returned to full form in the run ‘n shoot offense, blocking for Warren Moon full time. The running game also slowly picked up steam during his tenure with the team, culminating with 1,000 yard seasons for Lorenzo White in 1992, and Gary Brown in 1993.  Doug enjoyed some of my favorite seasons as an Oiler, helping to raise the AFC Central Division Championship banner in 1991 and 1993 in Houston. He played one final season for the Browns in 1994 and retired.

I never found a card of Doug, even though I was aware of him when they signed him. Since he was drafted in 1984, Topps was the only brand on the market, and although he was a second round choice who did make an impact on the Cardinals squad, he was still playing in a siberian wasteland. Last year I was happy to find him in a box of the University of Texas Upper Deck cards and noted him for a short list. I wrote him courtesy of his business, Dawson Financial Services, – a catalyst for customers to manage, clarify, and plan towards their financial goals. I was really happy to get a response, but surprised as Doug apparently read my letter that mentioned that I couldn’t find any cards of him until 2011, and touchingly included the Stadium Club 1993 card autographed as well in his response.