Tag Archives: detroit lions

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL

Sims, Billy “Kung Fu”

udcollgd11 simsCards: Topps 1984, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Upper Deck College Legends 2011, OU Upper Deck 2011 MM.
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home.
Sent: 1/2     Received: 1/21   (19 days)

Billy Sims had a relatively short NFL career due to injury, but he left it all on the field, and harnessed accolades and awards along the way. Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, rushed for 1,896 yards and 22 touchdowns that year,  and would later be selected with the first pick of the 1980 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.

ouud11 sims mmThe tiny dynamo took the #20 that he made so famous at OU during his college career and won NFL Rookie of the Year Honors that season, leading the NFL with 16 touchdowns (13 rushing and 3 receiving). In 1981, he’d up his numbers with 1,437 yards and another 13 TDs rushing in 14 games. While the 57 day long strike reduced Sims contribution to only 9 games, he’d still have 639 yards, and the team made the playoffs for the first time in 20+ years in 1982. Billy took the NFL by storm his first three seasons earning All-Pro honors from the NFL in each of those years. He’d have his final 1,000 yard season in 1983 rushing for 1,040 yards in 12 games. During the season he rushed for to82 sims replaya career high single game 189 yards against the Packers. The one man wrecking crew was beloved by the people of Detroit, and led the Lions to its first division championship in also over 20 years.

1984 was a catastrophic season for Sims and ultimately the Lions. In the 8th game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings, Sims took a routine handoff and got his foot awkwardly caught in the Metrodome turf.  Unbelievably his season was over- and the Lions spiraled out of control. The Lions were 23-11 since Sims joined the team. Without him, Detroit went the rest of the way 1-6-1 that year.  Sims had ligament damage to his knee, and the injury was so severe that he failed every physical he took after rehab.  As fast as Sims established himself as the Lions career leading rusher, both in yardage and touchdowns, Billy’s career was over.  He was only 30.

Sims has been held with reverence since by the franchise. Detroit likes to unofficially retire jerseys from circulation for extended periods of time, and such is that, the Lions refused to issue his #20 jersey until NFL great Barry Sanders asked to wear it. Billy was also well known for his celebratory high stepping as he scoredudldg97 sims touchdowns, and his strong and creative running that allowed him to pick a hole and make 3 yard gain out of nothing. There was just about nothing Sims could do. Leaping over a pile (like in his Upper deck Legends card), or catching a pass out of the backfield. Sims averaged 11.1 yards on 186 career receptions.  Despite playing only one full season in his short lived 5 year NFL tenure, Billy averaged over 1,000 yards per year.

While Sims has had a share of well publicized financial missteps much like Earl Campbell, Billy has bounced back and currently has chain of Billy Sims BBQ restaurants. He also spends time as a motivational speaker and is involved in sports marketing.

mem simsInducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995, Sims has also had his likeness immortalized as a statue on the OU campus as a Heisman Hero. His nickname was given to him by Chris Berman from ESPN, because during the highlight of a game against the Houston Oilers, Sims lept through the air over a defender and kicked cornerback Steve Brown in the head.

Billy is a wonderful signer through the mail for fans. He signed these
4 cards in less than a month for me, and also enclosed a free drink coupon for his restaurant in case I was ever in the area.  You can visit his restaurant site at billysimsbbq.com.

G/Gs 60/58    Rush 1131  Yds 5106   Avg 4.5     Td 42    Lg 81t |
Rec 186    Yds  2072   Avg 11.1   Td  5   Lg 87

NFL

Arnold, Jim

sco90 arnoldflr91 arnoldCards: Fleer 1991, Score 1990
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012

Jim Arnold played college ball at Vanderbilt for the Commodores and then made his way to Kansas City in 1983. He’d punt 98 times in 1984 and 93 times in 1985, probably setting the NFL record for most punts in consecutive seasons. Jim surprisingly was cut by the Chiefs in 1986, but was snapped up by the  Lions later in the season, playing in 7 games, cementing his legacy as the starter.  Jim then proceeded to place himself on top of many career punting marks in the Lions record books. Throughout his career, Arnold established himself as a good punter with a consistent, strong, accurate leg. He earned Pro Bowl nominations in both 1988 and 1989. He also has the team record for punts in a season with 97 in 1988. His 39.6 yard net punting average in 1987, is the highest in recorded NFL history.  During Jim’s eight seasons with the franchise, he punted more times (536) and for more yards (22,893) than any other punter in team history.  In 1994, he finished out his career playing in 12 games for the Miami Dolphins and then retired.

At the time of his retirement Arnold was ranked in the NFL top 10 for career punts and yards. He is a very active member of the SotL site. (Since the restructuring of School of the Legends, I am not sure of his activity, since I no longer go to the website.) Arnold made waves when he joined the NFL concussion lawsuit in 2012.

G  174      P    866    Yds  36637      Avg   42.3       Lg  71       Blk 5

NFL

Gibson, Dennis

Card: Topps 1988
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Dennis Gibson is best remembered by Charger fans as being the savior of the team in the 1994 AFC Championship Game, when he blocked a TD pass from Steelers’ QB Neil O’Donnell in the endzone to win the game. The play propelled the Cinderella Chargers of 1994 into the SuperBowl- their only SuperBowl appearance to date.

A home grown Iowa product who went to school at none other than Iowa, Gibson went to the bright lights of the city of cars and industry, as Detroit took him in the 8th round of the 1987 draft. Considered a budget find, Gibson stepped right in and contributed almost immediately, and later went on to play beside both Michael Cofer and Chris Spielman at right inside linebacker for the Lions 3-4 alignment. Gibson also appears alongside his teammates in the classic football game Tecmo Super Bowl. He saw some of the better glory days of the reborn Lions under Wayne Fontes and started 7 seasons for the Lions defense. In 1988 Gibson had a career high 116 tackles, and in an injury shortened 6 games in 1989 he recovered 3 fumbles. He’d sign with the Chargers in 1994 and play there through the 1995 season before retiring. At last glance in 2013, Gibson runs Encore Pizza in near obscurity outside of Des Moines, Iowa.

G/Gs 121/120    Tac 582    Sac 2.5   Fum 6     Int 3     Yds  15   Avg 5.0   Td 0    Lg 10