Over his college career he intercepted 10 passes for 80 yards.
Undrafted in 1983, he went into coaching.
Worked his way up as a graduate assistant (Iowa) all the way to defensive coordinator (Florida 1996-’98).
Took the reins as head coach at Oklahoma at 1999, and restored to the school as a national powerhouse.
Won the National Championship in 2000.
In all 17 seasons at the helm of Oklahoma, Bob took the Sooners to a bowl game.
He finished with a 191-48 college coaching record.
Retired from college coaching in 2017.
Opted to return to football for the XFL in 2020 as one of their flagship coaches leading the Dallas Renegades.
Returned in 2023, after the league reorganized due to COVID, coaching the now Arlington Renegades.
After a difficult start, Bob pulled off a trade for Luis Perez, and led the 4-6 Renegades to upsets over the Roughnecks and Defenders to win the XFL Championship Game.
Returned to the Renegades for the ’24 season, and while the team was competitive in every game, they ultimately finished with a disappointing 3-7 record.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
AP Coach of the Year 2000
Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Award 2000
Walter Camp Coach of the Year 2000, ’03
NOTES:
Stoops is technically a member of the Hayden Fry coaching tree. Stoops himself has a growing resume of young and upcoming coaches who served under him.
I think what sticks out to me the most, other than Bob’s excellent and well practiced autograph adorning this card, was his response to my request.
Recently I’ve been sending out note cards, to ask coaches to draw me up a play. I love collecting plays and getting an idea of their ‘coaching DNA’- y’know what’s on their mind.
I asked Bob to draw me up a play, and his response was simple and succinctly written on the note card:
Kerry Collins played QB at Penn State from 1991-’94.
Over his college career his stats increased across the board.
In his Senior campaign in 1994, he completed 176/264 passes for 2,679 yards, 21 TDs to 7 INT.
He’d be the first pick in the history of the Carolina Panthers franchise at #5 overall.
In a historic 1996 season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship in just the franchise’s second season.
During 1998, he struggled with alcoholism and considered quitting the game.
The franchise cut him and he finished the season on the roster of the New Orleans Saints.
Over 3 seasons with the Panthers, Kerry threw for 7,295 yards, 39 TDs, and 49 INT and completed 52.6% of his passes.
He briefly played for New Orleans, winning 2 games in 7 contests, while throwing just 4 TDs to 10 INT in 1998.
In 1999, Kerry joined the Giants, and later in the season took over as starter, going 2-5 the rest of the way out.
Kerry led the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, as he finished the season 12-4 and threw for 3610 yards (311/529), 22 TDs, and just 13 INT.
He played for the Giants through the 2003 season after the team decided to go in another direction with Kurt Warner and Eli Manning waiting in the wings.
After two middling seasons as a starter in Oakland in 2004 and ’05, the journeyman phase of his career began- but not without controversy.
Collins signed with the Tennessee Titans, who secretly were not completely sold on Vince Young.
He and Vince traded starting duties for the team under HC Jeff Fisher through the 2010 season.
In 2008, he led the team to a 12-3 record completing 242 of 415 passes for 2676 yards and 12 TDs.
After the 2010 season, he announced his retirement.
Signed with the Colts in 2011, and became first quarterback to start for the Colts other than Peyton Manning since 1997 (Jim Harbaugh).
A concussion sustained in late October of that year, ended his season, and ultimately he decided to hang up his cleats.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Bowl 1996, ’08
Davey O’Brien Award 1994
Sammy Baugh Trophy 1994
PFWA All-Rookie Team 1995
NOTES:
Kerry owns multiple passing records for both the Panthers and Giants franchises.
Kerry had some really nice cards near the end of his career and I adored all the stuff that came out in 2009 and 2010. Once I saw that he was signing it was a no-brainer to send these cards out and hope for the best.
Kerry’s struggle with alcoholism should not be understated. Although much of it went public, it allowed him to get the help he needed to address his problem, and he aggressively sought treatment in 2000 while with the Giants, and continued to do so over the next 3-4 years.
A talented baseball player, Kerry was selected by both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, but opted to play football instead.
Brian Westbrook played RB at Villanova from 1997-01.
In 46 college games, he carried the ball for 4,298 yards, with 84 TDs, caught 219 passes for 2,582 yards (11.79 avg.) and gained 2,289 yards and four TDs on kick returns.
He holds the all-time NCAA record with 9,512 all-purpose yards.
Selected in the 3rd round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Worked his way into the starting lineup in 2004.
Had back to back 1200+ yard rushing seasons in 2006-’07.
A gifted receiver out of the backfield, caught 50+ passes in 5 straight seasons, with a career high 90 for 771 yards in 2007.
Played with the Eagles through 2009, concluding his career with a final season with the ‘9ers the following season.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 2004, ’07
All-Pro 2007
Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame
Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team
College Football Hall of Fame
Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame 2016
Walter Payton Award 2001
Senior Bowl Hall of Fame
NOTES:
I had heard that Brian was a player rep for the league. I had packed cards on occasion and kept hoping he’d appear. Along the way I had lost the two cards I wanted signed the most. Knowing the XFL Championship was coming up and that’d be the best chance I’d have at getting him, I packed these three cards.
When I got inside the stadium I found my seat, and IDed him almost immediately, but I wasn’t 100% sure. He was in a crowd so I Googled him to be sure, and then called out his name. He looked surprised a fan IDed him in the stands and ambled over. He signed my three cards for me and asked me what team I was cheering on. I told him that I thought the Renegades would win. I had a good feeling. The energy was with them and they were surging. Westbrook shook his head and said no way! It’s gotta be the Defenders. They had a solid season and are stacked!
-The Renegades ended up winning 35-26.
Unfortunately after the USFL and XFL merged, Brian’s position was considered redundant.
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
1385
6335
4.6
41
71
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
442
3940
8.9
30
62
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
