Tag Archives: college football HoF

Arena, College Football HoF, NFL, wfl

White, Danny


Card: Photo Memorabilia
Acquired: Austin City Wide Garage Sale 1996

Danny White was originally a 3rd round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 (during the heyday of Tom Landry) after graduating from Arizona State but opted to play for the Memphis Southmen in the WFL.  After winning All WFL honors after the season, he’d sign with the Cowboys in 1975 as backup to Roger Staubach and the team’s punter. When Staubach finally retired in 1980, White would have to be one of the many bearers of the Staubach legacy. He’d get in more trouble by siding with owners during the strike shortened 1984 season, finally culminating in a quarterback controversy with Gary Hogeboom. White would continuously battle back, posting a 62-30 record as a starter for the Cowboys during the 80s, but while the team was a perennial playoff contender through a great deal of the decade, fans typically remember only what you’ve done for them lately. An injury plagued 1988, coupled by the team’s woeful 3-13 record would lead to Tom Landry’s dismissal after Jerry Jones purchased the franchise. White would retire in 1989 shortly before the franchise drafted Troy Aikman to lead them into the Cowboys’ “Second Golden Age”.

Danny White has never truly gotten his due, perhaps in part because he had to follow up Roger Staubach, or that his touchdown (5.3) to interception (4.3) were uncomfortably close. White also was only named to the Pro Bowl 1 year- in 1982 where he did double duty as starting quarterback and punter.

Danny went right into coaching for the AFL with the Arizona Rattlers from 1992-2004, and the Utah Blaze from 2005-2008. His Rattlers would always contend for the title, winning Arena BowlVIII and XI and is currently involved in public speaking. His 141-65 record with the Rattlers is 2nd all-time in AFL history and he was inducted into the AFL HoF in 2002. Arizona would later honor him with the “Sportsman of the Century” award and in 1997 he was inducted into the College Football HoF.

G/Gs 166/92    Att 2950   Comp 1761     Yds 21959    Pct 59.7     Td 155     Int 132     Rat 81.7
Rush 159     Yds   482    Avg  3.0     Td 8     Lg   48
P  610           Yds  24509     Avg 40.2      Blk 5    Lg   73

 

College Football HoF, NFL

Kinard, Terry

Card: Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: In Person 1990, Houston Oilers Training Camp

Terry Kinard was a highly regarded safety coming out of Clemson in 1983. A top 10 selection of the draft, he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup for the New York Giants. A two time first team All American, Kinard has more interceptions (17) in his career than any other player in Clemson history. (He is the only player in the history of the school that was a two time selection.)

A solid defensive back during his time with the Giants, Kinard would have 3 picks his rookie season.  In 1985 he’d have a career high  5 interceptions for 100 yards and a fumble recovery. He’d tie these numbers again 2 more times during his career, -in 1987 when he had 5 picks for 163 yards and a td, and in 1989 when he lodged 5 picks for 135 yards and a td as well.  Over his time with New York, Kinard would start 99 games and make 27 interceptions and play in one Pro Bowl (1988). In his final season, Terry would sign with the Houston Oilers via Plan B.  Kinard in his final season would have 4 interceptions for 75 yards and a fumble recovery for a 75 yard touchdown.

Named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996, the #3 player in Clemson’s history, Clemson’s HoF in 1992, and Sports Illustrated’s College Football Centennial Team in 1999. Terry Kinard was also inducted into the College Football HoF in 2001 and the South Carolina HoF in 2002.

G/Gs 121/115     Sac  3.0   Tac   N/a   Fum 7    Int    31       Yds   649    Avg  20.9     Td  2    Lg 70t

NFL

Robinson, John (1935-2022)

Cards: Proset 1990, ProSet 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 5/5   Received 5/18 (13 days)

Probably best known for his work at the college level with 2 stints at USC, I prefer to remember for his days with the Los Angeles Rams, Eric Dickerson, Jim Everett, and the years in which the Rams were the only challenge to the 49ers in the NFC race.  A solid proponent of the ground game, Robinson is considered an offensive mastermind.

He began his career shortly after he graduated from Oregon where he played end in 1958. As an assistant he’d stay with the college from 1960- 1971. In 1972 he joined John McKay at USC where Robinson served as offensive coordinator through 1974. 1975 would see Robinson reunited with his boyhood friend John Madden in the NFL at Oakland coaching runningbacks. He’d stay there one season before returning to USC to take over as head coach for recently departed McKay (who left to become head coach of the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

After a successful tenure at USC and 3 Rose Bowl appearances, it did not take long for another NFL franchise to take notice of John Robinson’s accomplishments, and in 1983 the Los Angeles Rams would snag him. John turned around a disastrous 1982 franchise, and coached the team to the playoffs the following season. He’d continue to build winners, as the team would in fact make the playoffs in 4 consecutive seasons. The Rams started as an offensive ground juggernaut under Eric Dickerson, and then mutated under Jim Everett and Ernie Zampese into a pass happy machine. John would also steward the team under both the Eric Dickerson trade and the Jim Everett trade. His career record ended in the NFL at 75-68, but its a misleading number as the majority of his losses came in back to back double digit seasons at the end of his time in the NFL.

In the rugged NFC West, John’s teams won 2 division franchises and qualified for the playoffs in 6 of his 9 seasons playing against the hated 49ers twice a year. His teams went to the NFC championship twice during his tenure, losing to the Bears in 1985 and the 49ers in 1989.  After a rough 1991, Robinson would be released from his contract with the Rams. At the time of his dismissal he had the most wins in franchise history at 79 and as of 2011, he still remains the franchise’s winningest coach. Also of note is that Robinson is 2-0 coaching in the Pro Bowl.

Robinson took a year off but returned to coaching at USC in 1993. He’d turn the college program around and build a remarkable team. In his five years with USC he’d lead the Trojans back to 3 more bowl game wins. In 1999 John took over at UNLV and was quickly promoted to Athletic Director in 2002. He resigned after the 2004 season.


John then did double duty as an occasional commentator for the Sports USA Radio Network and also as defensive coordinator for San Marcos High School. In 2009 he was named to the College football Hall of Fame.

I was having a hard time getting a response from Rams initially with a failure from Greg Bell, and no response from Kevin Greene, Jerry Gray, Henry Ellard, Flipper Anderson, or Roman Phifer for that matter- so I was surprised that the last 3 I sent for, Robert Delpino, Jim Everett, and John Robinson, quickly responded to my requests.

Once again 2 more nice cards from Pro Set here. At the time they were the only card set that made head coach cards, and while the left one has John bundled up in what looks like Buffalo in a stylish starter jacket from the era I always wanted in a portrait format, the Pro Set 1991 card has him in a landscape shot- something that was considered cutting edge for the time.

Many card vendors filed suit after this and it became quite en vogue for a few years afterwards. Of note the right one appears to be a night shot, and the lens required to make this beautiful photo must have been fairly expensive, however the landscape shot to me just feels like something that ProSet did for novelty sake.

G 154       W 79      L   74     T 0       Pct  .516