Tag Archives: Upper Deck UT 2011

University of Texas

Mitchell, Hodges

Card: Upper Deck UT 2011
Acquired: Box Breaker, 11/9/11 Card Traders of Austin UD 2011 UT Football Card Launch Party

I find the fade effect on this card to be passe. Also I question if a landscape card was the right choice for this subject as a portrait shot probably could’ve been much more dynamic. I liked the names that were included in the set, but there is little statistical information included, and the design on the back feels… lazy, along with the numbers and information which feel too small and hard to read, even with someone with great eyes such as myself. Overall it’s a weak effort by Upper Deck, and I think The University of Texas could’ve done better in house.

Hodges Mitchell had the unenviable position of following up Ricky Williams at runningback. A 2 time All-Big 12 selection, he is seventh on the school’s career rushing list with 2,664 yards. A versatile, quick and explosive four-year running back he was one of the Big 12’s top offensive weapons, both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. Mitchell played in 48 career games and started the final 26 contests of his career, participating in three bowl games (1999-2000 Cotton Bowls; 2000 Holiday Bowl). A two-time UT Darrell K Royal Most Valuable Offensive Player and Outstanding Offensive Back (1999-2000), three-time Frank Denius Award Winner and the first player in UT history to post more than 1,000 yards rushing and 300 receiving yards in a season (1999-2000). Hodges was ranked fourth on UT’s career all-purpose yards list with 4,945 yards at the end of his career and 7.0 yards per touch during his career.  Mitchell scored 20 career touchdowns and holds the record for most rushing attempts in a game with 45, which came in a 29-17 win over Texas Tech in 2000.  Mitchell looked headed for a promising NFL career but in his final game against Oregon, he blew out his knees. Hodges still attended the combine on crutches but being undersized at 5’7″, 180 and also injured, no team was willing to take a flyer on him.

Mitchell earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Texas in 2002 and works as a supervisor for Dallas Utilities Paystation. He is single and counsels young people at the Inspired Body of the Christ church in Dallas. He loves to watch soccer, one of his childhood hobbies.

NFL, ufl, University of Texas, usfl, WLAF

Bradley, Bill “Super Bill”

Card: Topps 1972, Upper Deck UT 2011
Acquired: In Person, 11/9/11 Card Traders of Austin UD 2011 UT Football Card Launch Party

A tried and true athlete that found his position of calling while at the University of Texas, “Super Bill” as he was dubbed (for having ambidextrous passing skills) came in originally as a quarterback to the vaunted school in 1965. Unable to crack the lineup there or at wide receiver, he found his true calling at defensive back for the Longhorns. He’d go on to become perhaps one of the best secondary personnel in the history of the school and make an SWC record 4 picks in one game.

Super Bill was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd  round of the 1969 draft. The rest is history. The multi-purpose Bradley was inserted into the lineup at free safety, but along the way would play as a kick returner, punt returner, and punter for the Eagles who truly got their money’s worth out of Bradley.  Unfortunately these were also some of the leanest years of the Eagles’ storied franchise.  His 1970 and 1971 seasons stand among the best in NFL history, recording 11 picks in 1970 for 248 yards and making 2 FR leading the NFL, and then following it up in 1971 with 9 picks for 73 yards to lead the NFL again in interceptions. (No other player in history has lead the league twice in picks.) In 1973 he’d add 4 picks to the total but teams would begin to look the other way in fear of Bradley’s ball-hawking skills. For the 3 seasons, he’d be awarded AP or Pro Bowl honors. He’d again make 5 picks in 1975 before finishing out his career with Philadelphia the following year. Bill would sign with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977 playing one final season and retire. He is tied as the franchise’s all time leader in interceptions with 36.
He’s been active in coaching working with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL, crossing paths with me briefly as a defensive backs coach of the San Antonio Riders, and along the way as well with the Bills, Chargers, and Jets (in no specific order).  He also served as defensive coordinator of the Baylor Bears for 2004-2006.  As of late, Super Bill has also worked in the UFL with the Florida Tuskers and the Hartford Colonials as a secondary coach and is a member of the ‘suspended operations staff’ in Hartford.  Bradley has been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and also into the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.

I had been following Sports Cards Traders of Austin for a few weeks and it really paid off. When they posted up that Bradley was going to be appearing, I did not hesitate to call them and have the store pull a few cards of him from the racks. I grabbed a Topps 1972, and then heard that he would be in the UT set. After breaking open a few packs, I was happy to find Bradley inside one of them. I gave an extra to him which made him really happy since it was the first time he saw it. The photo that they used was from his Freshman year at UT. He knew it because he was wearing a helicopter pilot’s helmet and apparently they had run out of ones for their players. We also talked about the Riders, and he told me that Coach Riley owns a house down the street from him. Bradley also loved talking about the hail storm game with me against the Ohio Glory back in 1992. It was a great interaction with a great player who was willing to personalize my cards. Here is Super Bill’s statistics:

G 114      Tac  N/a      Sac  N/a     Fum  7    Int   34    Yds  536   Avg 15.8      Td  1    Lg 56t
KR 27      Yds 564       Avg 20.9         Td 0    Lg 42
PR 122    Yds 953       Avg 7.8         Td 0       Lg 60
P  213      Yds 8316     Avg  39.0     Lg 61

 

NFL, University of Texas

Walker, Johnny (WR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card: Upper Deck UT 2011, photo memorabilia
Acquired: In Person 11/9/2011, UD UT 2011 Release Party

Johnny Walker was a beast of a receiver in the dying days of the SWC playing for David McWilliams at the University of Texas. He’d team up with Oklahoma beater Peter Gardere, diminutive speedster Tony Jones, and Eric Metcalf to make high flying acrobatics. Some of my earliest memories of watching College Football on TV was when my friend Josh would come over and instead of watching cartoons, we watched Saturday football on the Raycom Sports Network. A UT All-SWC wide receiver in 1989 and 1990, Walker was also a standout baseball player and had been drafted by the Cubs in 1987 and the Braves in 1990.  After graduating from UT he’d be drafted in the 8th round of the 1991 draft by the Green Bay Packers, but would not make the team.  He currently works in sports radio out of San Antonio where he gives his no-holds barred perspective on the Longhorns and the national sports scene. He also handles Medicare work as well.

I really like this card. There are some players in the history of your favorite schools that just don’t get the national exposure after they graduate that you’d like them to. I went to the appearance with the idea in mind that Walker would not have a card, but to break open a box and find his in there along with legends like Bill Bradley and others, made it all the while for me to get the set. My only complaint was the high gloss that is insisted upon by companies like UD. When will they learn that many fans WANT to get these cards autographed and the gloss only makes it harder for the autograph to take. The backs of the cards are, -well underwhelming. Where are the stats and player information?

When I met Johnny I had an extra of his card that I immediately gave to him. He had not seen it yet so it made him very excited. There was never a card of Walker produced. I also had him sign a piece of photo memorabilia, to which he wrote across it “O Who? Johnny Walker #1 Hook em 28-24” which was the score of the infamous game they won in 1989 when Johnny caught the game winning touchdown (pictured) against the Sooners.