Tag Archives: new orleans saints

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL, Pro Football HoF, University of Texas

Campbell, Earl ‘The Tyler Rose’


Cards: Score 1991, Proset 1991.
Acquired: TTM 1993, c/o University of Texas
See Also: Campbell, Earl (2) “The Tyler Rose”

I got Earl’s autograph courtesy of the University of Texas, at Austin. I sent a picture I drew of him in all his glory with it, and he autographed these two pictures for me in exchange for the art. The other I won at an end of High School party. I met him at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament earlier in the year. He was a stocky, but huge man. His thighs were literally bigger than my waist, however he drove around in a golf cart for the majority of his time there, limited by the amount of wear he suffered from the sport.

Earl Campbell won the Heisman in 1977 for the University of Texas and was the definition of ‘powerback’. He could literally run over anybody and anything, once even stunning the Longhorn mascot Bevo after a touchdown run. The Houston Oilers, led by Bum Phillips traded to get the #1 pick of the 1978 draft and selected ‘The Tyler Rose’.  They could’ve stopped drafting right there… Campbell would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors and MVP honors, while officially the Luv’ Ya Blu era in Houston had begun. The Oilers became the most difficult opponent for the Pittsburgh Steelers that year, due in major part by the cog that was Earl Campbell. From 1978- 1985 Campbell dominated the rushing charts racking up 5 Pro Bowl selections, 3 All Pro selections, 3 offensive player of the year honors, and NFL MVP in 1979. During his 1980 season Campbell ran for a career high 1934 yards, while over the first 4 years of his career rushed for almost 6500 yards and 55 touchdowns. He punished defenders across the board with his rugged play, but by 1982 it began to take a toll on his body. In 1984 he found himself traded to the New Orleans Saints to play for his old coach and mentor Bum Phillips, where he retired after the 1985 season.

Campbell since football has conquered a variety of issues as he has dealt with back pain and injury from his playing days but he has managed to reforge himself as a successful businessman.  UT utilizes him also as an ambassador and Earl has had success with his own meat and BBQ company.

Games 118   Att  2187   Yds 9407  Avg 4.3   Td 74

NFL, WLAF

Johnson, Undra

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Work.
Sent: 5/10  Received: 5/17  (7 days)

Undra Johnson played college ball for the West Virginia Mountaineers where he led them in rushing as a senior to the Fiesta Bowl in 1989. Johnson then earned a 7th round choice out of the strong 1989 draft pool. Selected by the Falcons, he played for the Saints and Cowboys also that season. He’d then be drafted by the Riders with their #1 choice of the WLAF positional draft for runningbacks. Undra was a shifty halfback, and worked well in tandem with the power of Ricky Blake, eventually finishing the season with 258 yards and 2 touchdowns in 1991. He was also the team leader in kickoff returns. Undra had already started selling real estate and dabbling in finance and left the league behind for it full time in 1992. He currently is a securities advisor in Bridgeport, WV.

The first season of the WLAF in San Antonio had the Riders playing in dilapidated Alamo Stadium, (home of the Gunslingers of the USFL who even thought it was old,) where they went 4-6. It took them a bit of time to discover their defensive rhythm, and establish consistency under center, but once this had been done, season 2 was a vast improvement as Undra would finish behind teammate Ricky Blake in rushing that season. I sent out for his autograph after discovering his address with the help once again of Wikipedia and a small bit of detective work. He responded quite quickly signing this card that I had enclosed.

Games 10    Att  76    Yds 258     Avg 3.4   Lg 17    Td 2
Rec 10    Yds 55       Avg  5.5    Lg 12   Td 0
Ret 14     Yds 305     Avg 21.8   Lg  36   Td 0

NFL

Shepard, Derrick (1964-1999)

Cards: Fleer 1990
Acquired: In person, Dallas Cowboys training camp 1990.

I got Derrick on day two or three at my first Cowboys training camp. He was more than happy to stop and sign any cards that fans had and was genuinely a nice guy even though the players were engaged in blisteringly hot two a days.

Derrick was basically trying to live the dream and find a home in the NFL after not being drafted into the league. He was signed as a free agent by the Redskins, and made an impression as a backup kick returner/ punt returner winning a Superbowl in 1987. A speedster, Shepard was signed via free agency by the Saints in 1989 and played 4 games before hitting waivers again, where the Cowboys signed him immediately to fill a utility role. Derrick got valuable playing experience at WR  and in special teams, starting 8 games, making 18 catches, and scoring the only receiving touchdown of his career.  In both 1989 and 1990 he’d lead the team in punt returns, but his role would be shifted to back up in 1991.

Transitioning out of his life as a player, Shepard began a coaching career at the high school level and then later returned to the University of Oklahoma, (his alma mater) before becoming the wide receivers coach at Wyoming in early in 1999. A few weeks later while playing racquetball Derrick suffered a fatal heart attack and died. He was only 35. Derrick Shepard is survived by his wife and three children.

G 36   Rec  20   Yds  304    Avg  15.2    TD 1   Lg 37
KR 51  Yds  1007   Avg 19.7    TD 0     LG 44
PR  75    Yds 679     Avg  9.1     TD 1      Lg  73