Category Archives: Heisman Trophy Winner

Dorsett, Tony ‘TD’ (3)

Upper Deck College Legends 2011, #76

CARDS: Upper Deck College Legends 2011, Panini Contenders 2017, Topps Fire 2015
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 4/23/20 RECEIVED: 4/27/20 (4 days)
SENT: 4/16/21 RECEIVED: 4/26/21 (10 days)
Donation Enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

Topps Fire 2015, #18 Panini Contenders Draft Picks, #96

NOTES:

After he smudged one of the cards I wanted him to sign that I had previously sent to him, I waited a year and gave him another shot on two more cards. He did however return that Upper Deck College Legends in almost record time in just 4 days flat.

Topps really had come a long way over the years, and their Fire branded entry was really high end stuff. When I got this card, I knew I wanted to eventually get it signed. Tony appears in most of the Panini stuff, and I still need to possibly go back and get him on one last card or two, but who knows if he will still be signing by then as CTE has really taken its toll on the former stalwart back.

White, Jason

Card: Upper Deck College Legends 2011
Acquired: EBay, 2020

It’s an interesting footnote that Jason White is the last Heisman Trophy Winner since the 40s not to be drafted to play professionally in the NFL. Largely though, most of his accomplishments are embodied in his college career, where he won the National Championship in 2001, and then he later won the Heisman in 2003, and multiple other trophies and accolades throughout his playing time in both 2003 and 2004. Much of White’s lack of NFL interest could be attributed to his injury history, pertaining to his knees, losing both his 2001 and 2002 campaigns largely to ACL injuries.

Jason threw for 3,846 yards on 278 of 451 passing, with 40 TDs to 10 interceptions in his Heisman season of 2003. He attempted to become one of the rare back to back Heisman winners in 2004, throwing for 35 TDs and 3,205 yards- but ultimately lost out to Matt Leinart.

Although going undrafted, Jason eventually was signed by the Tennessee Titans, but thanks in part to his injury history opted not to play. Jason continues to stay close to the sport. He has run a memorabilia and a shoe store for sometime, and his alma mater has honored him with a bronze statue on campus. Eventually Jason has expressed a desire to go into coaching. Largely however, White has flown under the radar.

I like this set, not only because it has a lot of great players in it otherwise not covered, but because it’s really a companion piece to me of Upper Deck Legends 1997. This card didn’t set me back any to acquire, which was surprising because Jason was a Heisman winner.

Rozier, Mike (2)

Cards: Score 1990, Action Packed 1990, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Panini Contenders 2018
Acquired: 2012 Akron Acquisition, TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 1/15/19 Received: 1/22/19 (7 days)
See Also: Mike Rozier

Slowly I had been working my way back around to Mike after about a 9 year layoff or so. I had been sold the Score 1990 card as part of a big lot of cards from the Akron Acquisition- so I needed a few more to fill out the ranks. Mike is another one of these players I didn’t want to see in his other NFL uniform (Falcons in this case). He still had some great Oilers cards I wanted to get signed- and once I got the Upper Deck 1997 card -in 2018, I made the decision to write him again. To seal the deal I also pulled this Panini Contenders card of him and put it aside for send out since I’ve gotten a few autographs recently around that set.

High grades for his Legends card from Upper Deck. Love the sports photography and how its got that nice action blur in the background. Far too often I’ve noticed photos where the people in the background are clear as day and distract from the player. In this case- this photo feels like a training or mini camp shot. I think the bushy trees give it away. Still, it’s a nice piece.

Mike’s Action Packed 1990 card is okay. I think it’s typical of AP at that time with that distance of framing images, but in this case, I feel like the image should’ve been pulled back a bit. Was Mike diving for a TD? Reaching out from a pile? Struggling to get back to the line of scrimmage? The design like all AP from 90 was simple and elegant however.

The Score 1990 set was a letdown from 89. I mean nothing could top what they did in that first set. The design here is nice, but the bordering with the logo is a bit heavy. The neon green marquee feels a bit unnecessary and forced. I kept wondering, “What does purple have to do with the Oilers?” It’s a decent action shot but I question Mike’s sense of dress as his thermal shirt sleeves are quite dated.

No question the Panini Contenders Draft Picks set has grown on me over the last… year or so. While I find it a bit over designed it’s a set that has a good selection of names in it. This shot however of Mike is terrible. He just looks like he’s jogging off the field to the sidelines.