Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

CFL, College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFLE

Ware, Andre “Air Ware”

pset90 wareCards: Pro Set 1990 Heisman Winner, Pro Set 1991 Heisman Hero, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 9/7     Received: 12/12   (96 days)

Way back in the days of the SWC (SouthWestern Conference) the Houston Cougars were continually struggling for attention under the heels of the traditional powerhouses of the conference. While peppering occasional league titles and bowl appearances, the team went some 10 years without a top 25 finish from the late 70s through the mid-late 80s. It’d be with the arrival of Jack Pardee that the team experienced a renaissance, and return to the national stage. Andre Ware stepped up at quarterback to command Pardee’s Run ‘N Shoot offense in 1989. Despite being under pressure from NCAA sanctions limiting scholarships, and a bowl and TV ban, the Coogs posted a 9-2 record.  Ware lit the offensive record books on fire, including a 95-21 drubbing of SMU, where Andre threw 6 TDs in one quarter. Andre went on to set 13 NCAA records, including most yards passing in a season (4,699),pset91 ware HH while his 46 TD passes fell one short of Jim McMahon‘s record. Ware won the Heisman in 1989 after the season during 4th closest vote- ahead of RB Anthony Thompson (Indiana),  QB Major Harris (West Virginia), and QB Tony Rice (Notre Dame).  Initially Ware intended to stay for his Senior season at UH, but with Jack Pardee bolting for the Houston Oilers down the street- Andre changed his mind and declared for the 1990 NFL draft.

When the draft rolled around I had hoped the Oilers would take Ware to become quarterback Warren Moon‘s heir apparent but Andre did not last long enough for the Houston to nab him. The Lions took Ware at #7. (The Oilers later in the round took another UH alum instead- linebacker Lamar Lathon.)

The Lions ran the ‘Silver Stretch’ Run ‘N Shoot variant under head coach Wayne Fontes, and offensive coordinator Mouse Davis. At quarterback the team had Rodney Peete, and Bob Gagliano, but the Lions were truly built to run with Barry Sanders in the backfield. Ware only started 1 game over the next two seasonssco90 ware rarely getting a chance behind Peete and later Erik Kramer. He was rumored to have alienated players and coaches with his attitude, but Ware, just wanted to play. The Oilers in the meantime attempted to trade Cody Carlson on two occasions to the Lions for Ware, but failed.

After the 1994 season, Andre began the journeyman phase of his career. Over the next few years, Ware saw offseason stops with the Vikings, Raiders, and expansion Jaguars, before finally landing in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1995. Later he signed with the BC Lions in 1996, and then found himself backing up Doug Flutie on the Grey Cup Championship winning Toronto Argos in 1997.

Andre last played football in 1999 for the Berlin Thunder in the NFLE, finally retiring after the season due to a fractured shoulder.

Andre has kept to his hometown area, working in the Houston media. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He currently works for the Houston Texans as a radio color analyst.

Ware marks another in a long line of players that I really wanted on aprks90 waretheir cards. With an abundance of amazing shots, it is easy to notice that many of the companies had Andre tabbed as one of the next big superstars and did not want to have their set left in the cold. I had previously attempted to get Andre through my Houston Texans connection, but that obviously failed when he was cut. It took me some time but with some responses popping up occasionally through sports collectors, I jumped at the opportunity to sign the former Cougars’ signal caller. I really couldn’t decide which cards to send to him. His ProSet 1990 Lions card, and Andre’s Score 1990 Supplemental card also deserved some mention along with these 4. Even his Pacific entry had a nice, dynamic look to it. Feeling guilty about sending these four cards, I sent a check for the autographs, but Andre voided the check, and signed and inscribed all of them, in a bit under 100 days.

G/Gs 14/6    Att 161   Comp 83     Yds 1116    Pct 51.6
Td 5   Int 8    Rat 79.4  |
Rush 38     Yds  217    Avg  5.7    Td 0    Lg 32

CFL 29     Att  252    Comp 134   Yds 1542   Pct 53.1    Td 10  Int 10  |
Rush 40   Yds 316    Avg 7.9      Td 1    Lg 39

WLAF    Att 121   Comp 54   Yds 715   Pct  44.6
Td  4   Int 4   Rat 61.1
Rush 16   Yds  170   Avg  10.6    Td 2     Lg 45

 

NFL

Mauck, Carl

Cards: Topps 1971, Topps 1980
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 9/7    Received: 9/13   (6 days)

In the Jurassic Era of AFL football, even before offensive linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews roamed the gridiron for the Houston Oilers, perhaps one of the most solid technicians to play OL for the team was Center Carl Mauck.  Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts way back in 1969 in the 13th round of the NFL draft, Carl bounced around his first 3 years in the league. After only 4 games under his belt in 1969, Carl moved to the Dolphins for a season for another 3 games experience. It’d be in his time in San Diego in ’71 he’d finally position himself as an outstanding lineman, leading the Chargers from center for the next 4 seasons.

The Oilers signed him in 1975. With a new head coach in Bum Philips, the team was trying to change its losing ways and signing Mauck was a way of stopping the revolving door on the offensive line. The 6-4, 243lb, offensive lineman had 55 games under his belt, and immediately became a guiding force in young quarterback Dan Pastorini‘s football life. Mauck was also a road grader, providing great inline blocking for Earl Campbell. In 1978 the offense set an NFL record with the least sacks allowed on the season with 17. He’d also succeed in stabilizing the line woes starting 94 games over the next seven seasons, retiring after the ’81 season.

Carl went straight into coaching, following Bum to New Orleans. Considered a virtuoso at coaching offensive line blocking, Carl spent the 1982 through the 1985 seasons with the Saints, before coaching with the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Chargers, Cardinals, Bills, and Lions. In his first coaching stint with the Chargers, Carl was reunited with Bum Philips’ son, Wade, where the team appeared in Super Bowl XXIX following the 1994 season.  From 2006-2007 he coached tight ends at his Alma Mater, Southern Illinois. Carl is an active NFL alumni and frequently gives his feedback on the state of the NFL, players and coaches. He also appeared at Fan Fest II in Houston. Currently he lives outside of Dallas, Tx.

 

AFL, College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Griese, Bob

Card: Pro Set 1990
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 2/22     Received: 12/8   (290 days)

At 290 days, -a wait well worth it I’d say, as another HoF headliner joins the club, in the name of Bob Griese.  I had given up on Bob, and when I got the envelope back I must admit that I was surprised and pleased with his response. Bob had an impressive career at Purdue for the Boilermakers playing football, basketball, and baseball. He’d play quarterback for the Boilermakers from 1963-1966. It wasn’t until his Sophomore season in 1964 that Bob took the reins and start as the team’s quarterback, punter, and kicker.  In 1965 he led Purdue to a 25-21 upset of #1 ranked Notre Dame. As a starter he’d post a 22-7-1 record. In his senior season, Griese led the team to a Rose Bowl victory over USC 14-13 in what is considered the school’s signature victory. Bob was a smart QB and what he couldn’t do with his arm, he’d frequently do with his legs. His final numbers set precedence for the school’s modern era quarterbacks such as Jim Everett and Drew Brees to break.

Griese was drafted in the first round of the 1967 AFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.  He’d have 15 TDs passing,  2005 yards, and 157 yards rushing his rookie season- good enough to earn All-Star Honors, despite starting the season originally on the bench, and for an expansion franchise. He’d grab All-Star honors the next season as well with 21 TD passes. Still, the team continued to struggle with winning, and Griese was becoming known as a good quarterback on a bad team. Don Shula was brought in to coach the team in 1970, and Griese guided the team to a 10-4 record. At the conclusion of the season, Bob was named MVP of the league, but the team fell in Super Bowl VI against the Dallas Cowboys. The Dolphins came back with a vengeance the next season, and steamrolled opponents in 1972, going 14-0. While Earl Morral came in to replace Griese during the season due to injury, the team returned to Bob in the playoffs to help them win the Super Bowl. Griese capped off Super Bowl VIII as well with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings.  By 1977 Bob began wearing those iconic black rimmed glasses on the field, but new powers began to rise in the AFC in the Central division, with the indomitable Steel Curtain in Pittsburgh and the Houston Oilers ground game led by Earl Campbell. While Griese continued to post good numbers and the Dolphins posted solid records, they wouldn’t return to the Super Bowl again.  After the 1980 season, Griese retired. The Dolphins had David Woodley waiting in the wings, and he’d guide the team to another Super Bowl loss, before Dan Marino took the reins in 1983 and rewrote all the record books for the franchise.

Griese kept close to the game and did color commentary for many years at the college level. He also handled color for the Dolphins’ preseason games as well. He’s enjoying now full retirement, in Florida and was inducted into the Pro Football HoF in 1990, the College Football HoF in 1984, the Dolphins Honor Roll, and had his number retired by the franchise as well.

G/Gs 161/151     Att 3429     Comp 1926         Yds 25092      Pct 56.2%      
Td  192   Int 172    Rat 77.3  |

Rush 261   Yds 994    Avg  3.8     Td 7     Lg 35