NFL

Givins, Ernest “EG” (3)

ap90 givins

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card: Action Packed 1990, Topps Stadium Club 1990
Acquired: 11/23/2012, Fiterman Autograph Event, 2012 Canton Acquisition.
See Also: Ernest Givins, Ernest Givins (2)

Ernest Givins after all these years still remains one of my favorite players not only as an entertaining professional who understands the relationship between player and fan but also as an avid TTM signer. If there was a an award that could be handed out for sincerity and kindness, this guy would be near the top. He was rumored to have stepped out during pregame warmups and go up into the stands to greet fans. That’s the sort of guy he is. It’s a good thing he is because Givins had no shortage of very photogenic cards during his playing days for the Oilers from 1986-1994. EG and his teammate Haywood Jeffires have a lot of love for each other- and almost seem to be the Yin and Yang when paired together especially in public. He’s also an accomplished semi-pro coach where he was with the Jacksonville Sharks for many years. In 2011, he took over the reins of the Sarasota Millionaires. Along with Givins quest to have his jersey retired at Louisville, he recently has expressed an interest in having his jersey retired with the Titans. I personally, would love to see the Texans stick it to the Titans and offer him a Texans Ambassadorship.

 

NFL

Fulcher, David

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1990, Fleer 1992
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

An incredible talent, David Fulcher was a safety best known for his hard hitting play, ball hawking skills, and gifted abilities in Tecmo Super Bowl.  At 6’3″, 238, Fulcher was of a rare breed of safety whom could line up and play as an extra linebacker, or fade back into coverage with his speed. After his Junior season at Arizona State in 1986, he’d declare for the ’87 draft.  The Bengals liked what they saw, and handed him the starting job out of the gate at Strong Safety after taking him with the 78th pick out of the 3rd round.

It didn’t take him long as he made his first two interceptions, picking off Warren Moon of  Houston during week 7 in a 31-27 win. By 1988, Fulcher had emerged as one of the most dangerous defensive backs in the AFC, earning the first of 3 consecutive Pro Bowl nomninations. A cornerstone of the Bengals defense, Fulcher’s emergence as a dominating defensive presence coincided with the Bengals second Super Bowl appearance after the season. In 1989 he won All Pro honors after notching 8 interceptions and recovering 4 fumbles. Fulcher was a fixture for the Bengals through 1992 when injuries limited him to just 12 games that season.At the time of his departure, he was ranked 3rd on the Bengals all time interception list. Exposed to free agency, he moved on to the Raiders in 1993 but retired after the season due to lingering injuries.

David has given a lot of his time back to the sport he loves. He runs a football camp in Ohio, and conducts many youth and charitable events in the Cincinnati area.  David currently spends time as a head coach for a local Christian school and also with the NFL and the Bengals. Fulcher is infamously memorialized as one of the best defensive backs on the classic Nintendo game “Tecmo Super Bowl”.

G/Gs 103/98    Tac  N/a    Sac 8.5    Fum 9
Int 31      Yds 246      Avg      Td  2    Lg 28t

 

AFL

Groman, Bill (1936-2020)

Cards: Fleer 1961, Fleer 1962
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 3/4   Received: 3/11   (7 days)

Bill Groman was one of the original AFL Houston Oilers hailing from tiny Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH.  During his time at the school he showed versatility playing End, Flanker, Offensive End, and Split End. Bill earned All-American Honors in 1957.

He signed with the upstart AFL Houston Oilers in 1960 and was a part of a powerhouse offense that included George Blanda, Charlie Hennigan, and Billy Cannon. The offense lit opposing teams up scoring 379 points that season in only 14 games.  Early on Bill became a star on the team and in the league. He’d dispense with opposing team’s defensive backs with ease. In 1960, he recorded 1473 yards on 72 receptions, to go along with 12 touchdowns- one of them for 92 yards.  His yards, yards per reception, yards from scrimmage, and long catch, all led the league. He was a shoe-in for All-AFL his rookie year, and the team walked away that season with the championship.  In 1961, he only had 50 receptions, but for a mind boggling 23.5 yards per reception, and 17 touchdowns to lead the league- in only 12 games. Again he was named All-AFL and the team won its second championship. Between he and Hennigan over those two years, they combined to be one of the best duos in early modern history with over 5,000 yards and almost 50 touchdowns. Groman’s rookie season for yards, combined with his Sophomore season, have never been bettered, even by modern pass-happy offenses with guys like Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss last taking their shots.

Groman suffered a grizzly knee injury during the 1962 AFL Championship Game, and an equally bad surgical repair that next year. He later signed with the Denver Broncos, playing there for one season in 1963, and the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965, where he provided depth for the young receiving corps. The Bills won the AFL Championship those two seasons as well. Groman all told, appeared in 5 AFL Championship games in his 6 seasons in the league, winning 4 of them. He is the only player in the history of the league to be able to make that statement.

G 66     Rec 174        Yds 3481      Avg  20.8       Td 36        Lg 92t

UPDATE: 6/22/20- Bill Groman passed away of natural causes this week at the age of 83.

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.