Card: ProSet Power 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992
Considered a local legend for Lamar University, Eugene Seale went undrafted coming out of college in 1986. (The USFL New Jersey Generals drafted him in the 5th round of the USFL draft, but the league ceased operations shortly afterwards.) Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville was looking for headhunters during the 1987 NFL work stoppage- and had to look no further than the undersized special teams demon. Eugene Seale would become the Houston poster child for replacement players and fans. He’d get the majority of his starting time at linebacker out of the way in his first two seasons, making 2 interceptions (one for a touchdown) and recording a safety in 1988. While the Oilers would be slowly stripped away by Plan B, Seale would remain with the team, leading the team regularly in special teams tackles and leaving a trail of crushed kick returners and blocked punts in his wake. It was once even said, “Eugene Seale doesn’t tackle people. He uncoils and explodes into them.” Eugene would retire after 6 seasons with the Oilers in 1992. He lives in Orange, Tx and is a big fan of Lamar football.
Card: Fleer 1990
Acquired: In Person 1995, Houston Oilers Training Camp
James Thornton was an able bodied tight end with fairly soft hands where his first touchdown catch from Mike Tomzcak was a critical game winner in 1989. A Cal State Fullerton grad in 1988, “Robocop” (as team mates nicknamed him because of his biceps,) was a shrewd 4th rounder during the heyday of Ditka and the Bears. He’d have his best season in 1990 grabbing a career high 24 balls for 392 yards and 3 touchdowns. Robocop also averaged well over 14 yards a grab while with the Bears during his 4 seasons there. Greener pastures would call to Thornton and in 1993 and 1994 he’d play for the Jets, before finishing it out with the Oilers in 1995 where I got his autograph on this great Fleer 1990 card at training camp that year.
Card: StarPics 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992
Bernard “Big Daf” Dafney was a popular player at the University of Tennesee- scoring a touchdown on a trick play (‘fumblerooskie’) against Mississippi State where he gallopped for 32 yards. A verified man-mountain who had the physical size to translate to the next level (6’5″, 325), Dafney played in the Senior Bowl in 1992 before being drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round. The Houston Oilers had an imposing and established offensive line and while Bernard played well in training camp, he wasn’t able to crack the lineup and was cut after training camp. He’d be signed by the Vikings, and remained with the team from 1992 through the 1994 season before continuing his journeyman career playing for the Cardinals, Steelers and Ravens and Panthers, before retiring in 1997. Bernard would take what he learned and apply it to coaching starting at the high school level, where he had a passion for teaching and learning seeing some time with two local campuses- before he was sadly struck down by a heart attack in 2006.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
