CARD: Hamburg Sea Devils Team Issue 2005
ACQUIRED: 2022, Private Acquisition
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 57 | 14.2 | 0 | 34 |
Card: Playoff Contenders 2003
Acquired: 2016, EBay
Tony Hollings’ career has experienced some peaks and valleys. He arrived at Georgia Tech as a defensive back in 2000. Needing a runningback, the Yellowjackets converted Hollings over to the offense. In only 4 games he displayed electrifying Heisman potential, running 92 times for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’d suffer a season ending ACL injury against BYU. Hollings declared for the Supplemental NFL draft in 2003. The Texans fell in love with him and coughed up a 2004 2nd round pick.
The Texans were looking to improve their offensive skillset. With James Allen and Jonathan Wells in the backfield, the braintrust that was in Houston expected Hollings to be the home run hitter that they desperately needed.
This has been a hallmark of the franchise, and over time has cropped up time and time again. The Texans have always felt they have been a player away, and they reach for talent whether through the draft (Hollings) or through Free Agency (Ex. Ed Reed, Ahman Green, Eric Moulds, and Brock Osweiler).
What the Texans really didn’t see was that Tony had lost the burst to the ACL injury that just made him so electrifying. Snakebitten, Hollings also experienced knee and toe injuries that limited his production. The first game he played in was the first game I went to- the Texans home opener against the Chiefs. He finished
2003 with a woeful 102 yards on 38 carries. He’d follow that up with an equally disappointing 2004 with a stat line of 47 yards on 11 carries. A change of management in 2005 signaled the end for Hollings. He’d dress for 2 games before being shelved indefinitely and never see the field again for the Texans.
After getting nibbles from both the Bears and Colts respectively, Tony reappeared on the football radar in 2007, running hard for the Hamburg Sea Devils of the NFLE. There he experienced a renaissance of a sense, collecting 100 carries for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns. After the NFLE was folded, Tony’s effort earned him some NFL time briefly on the roster of the New York Jets in 2008. Tony closed out his career in the German Football League playing for the Berlin Adler in 2009.
A frequent tailgater at Georgia Tech events, at last glance Tony lives in Georgia and works for a distribution company. I liked Hollings and hoped that his career might work out in some way. I might try to get him on a WLAF custom at a later date.
Playoff made some nice cards, and this 2003 entry was endemic of design during the time. Everything was really bold going into the 2000s. With that giant ROOKIE pasted 3 times in the background, it sure does grab my attention, but this to me is a card that sells itself well but does not finish. I really wish that they had used the rest of the right side of the card. It feels so blank out there, and the ticket just blends in black with the steel blue which doesn’t help. The artifact from the certification stamp makes the card look like it is damaged, but among the plethora of ugly cards that were still being pumped out at that particular time, there were much worse designed cards to choose from.
NFL G/GS 23/1 RUSH 49 YDS 149 AVG 3.0 TD 0 LG 17 |
REC 7 YDS 71 AVG 10.1 TD 0 LG 27
NFLE RUSH 100 YDS 389 AVG 3.9 TD 5 LG 40 |
REC 8 YDS 94 AVG 11.8 TD 0 LG 39
Cards: TNT UFL 2011, Upper Deck MVP 2002
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 5/22 Received: 5/31 (9 days)*
*Failure: RTS 2013, C/o Home
Eric Crouch is a hometown football hero, playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and winning the 2002 Heisman Trophy. There he became as well known for his passing, as he was for his rushing, out of the wishbone offense. He set numerous records there including the career touchdown leader with 88, most TDs rushing by a QB with 59 (NCAA record), and the school’s career total offensive yardage leader with 7915 yards. He also became one of 3 quarterbacks to rush for over 3000 yards and pass for over 4000.
Draft pundits were unsure of the final position he should play, but overall he was generally regarded as a well rounded athlete. The Rams drafted Eric in the 3rd round of the 2002 draft to play receiver, but with his heart not in the position change, Eric packed his bags. Later he’d resurface on the roster of the Packers from 
2003-2004, and the Chiefs in 2005. Eric then took a stint to play in the NFLE with the Hamburg SeaDevils in 2005. There he played free safety notching 25 tackles and 2 passes defensed.
Returning across the pond, Crouch went to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 2006. There he’d finally be taken seriously as a quarterback, where he could hone his skills. He completed 6 of 13 passes, for 127 yards, and a pick. The next season, Crouch was expected to compete for the second string job, but injuries derailed his CFL career, and he’d be released midway through the 2007 season.
A new league, the AAFL (All American Football League) appeared in 2008 with teams scheduled to play in 6 markets. The league hastily put a draft together, and Eric Crouch was the 3rd overall pick by Team Texas, coached by former UH coach John Jenkins. Unfortunately the AAFL never took to the field due to ‘softening financial markets’.
With Eric’s rights released, he decided to give an open tryout a shot with the UFL’s Omaha Nighthawks. He signed with the team in June of 2010, and played during the regular season, but in a September contest suffered a torn miniscus, ending his career.
He’s currently retired and lives in Nebraska with his wife and 2 children.