Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Have Every 2013 NFL Rookie....So Far

I received my first Dion Sims card in the mail today:

2013 Score

With this, I am now up to date with having every MSU  2013 NFL rookie that has cards released.  The list includes: Johnny Adams, Le'veon Bell and Sims.  I am hoping that will be a Will Gholston coming out this year.  Never a guarantee with him being a mid round defensive player.
Also, Sims is now my 202nd MSU football player that I have a card, 149 of them have played a game in the NFL.



Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Thanks Bro!

I received a package of MSU Spartan cards in the mail yesterday from my brother.  Here is some of the highlights:
A couple Kirk Cousins rookie cards:
2012 SP Authentic
2012 Topps Platinum


My first ever Le'veon Bell card (he will fit in nicely between Anthony Bell and Myron Bell in the binder):
2013 Press Pass

and for hoops, a Draymond Green Panini Past and Present rookie card. (I love the story of his first NBA points on the back)

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Last Time vs Youngstown St

The last time MSU played Youngstown St was the 2011 season opener.   MSU won the game by the score of 28-6.  One of the stars of the game was senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham.
2012 Upper Deck #59
He had nine receptions and 130 yards with a touchdown also.  By the end of the game, his nine receptions tied Matt Trannon for the all time lead in MSU for receptions at 148.   Cunningham is the current all time leader at MSU with 218 receptions and 3,086 receiving yards.
2007 Playoff Prestige #220


It gives me a chance to show you a B.J. Cunningham and Matt Trannon rookie card that I own.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

2013 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

Today is the ceremonies for the inductions of the new members of MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. They are: former volleyball star Jenna Wrobel, football player and coach Hank Bullough,

2000 Press Pass Autograph
Morris Peterson(1995-2000): One of the Flintstones, an All-American and the leading scorer on the 2000 National Championship team.

2002-03 Bowman #118
Ryan Miller(1999-02): 2001 Hobey Baker winner and holds the NCAA record with 26 career shutouts. Finished his career with a 73-19-12 record and a goals against average of 1.54

1990 Collegiate Collection #144
Kip Miller(1987-1990) 1990 Hobey Baker winner. Led nation in scoring as a junior and senior. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Domata Peko

Keeping up with the theme of current or future Spartans with family members who played at MSU prior. I will give you another.  Current offensive lineman Fou Fonoti is the cousin of former gridiron stars, Tupe and Domata Peko.
2011 Bengals Season Ticket renewal set

Domata Peko was a starting defensive lineman and one of the few bright spots on defense during John L. Smith's tenure at MSU.  Biggest highlight is his fumbe recovery for a touchdown against Michigan in 2005:

He, currently,  has been a fixture on the Cincinnati Bengal defensive line since being drafted by them in 2006.  Despite having his own bobblehead as a Bengal, he has no mainstream NFL card. His only card I could find is a six card set as a part of season ticket renewal package.
Domata's older brother, Tupe, was a starting offensive lineman for MSU in 1999-2000 and went on to play for Indianapolis Cots for three years.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Jim Morrissey

In my last post, I mentioned that Byron Bullough has verbally committed to play for MSU starting in the fall of 2014.  He is not the only son of a former Spartan star to announce his commitment to MSU.  Joining Bullough in the class is Matt Morrissey.  He is the son of former MSU linebacker Jim Morrissey
1991 Upper Deck

The elder Morrissey was a linebacker from 1981-84 and made an All-Big Ten team.   He went on to play for nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Chicago Bears.  He was a part of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl 1986 championship team.

Morrissey also is the last Chicago Bear to wear #51 before retiring it for good in honor of Dick Butkus.  Also of note, Matt's older sister, Anna, is a member of MSU's womens basketball team.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Bulloughs

This fall, the MSU football team is lead by captain Max Bullough on defense and will feature his brother, Riley, as a running back.  They are not the only Bulloughs to play football at MSU.
2003 TK Legacy #7  #8  #6

Their father, Shane, was a star linebacker from 1983-86 and earned All-Big Ten and Academic All American honors.
Uncle Chuck was also a linebacker and starred from 1988-1991.  He also won All-Big Ten honors during his tenure at MSU.  Chuck played briefly in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
Grandfather, Hank, is the patriarch of the family tradition.  He played from 1952-54 as a guard. He helped lead MSU to their undefeated national championship season of 1952.  Later he would become MSU's defensive coordinator during 1965-66 national championship seasons at MSU.  He also became a defensive coordinator in the NFL and had a brief stint as a head coach for the Buffalo Bills.
Not pictured(because he doesn't have a card) is Bobby Morse. He is an uncle of Riley and Max.  He was a running back during the 80s.  Longtime Spartan fans will always remember his punt return touchdown at Michigan in 1984 that helped propel MSU to a victory.  Morse played several seasons in the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.
One other note, Max and Riley's younger brother, Byron, has verbally committed to play for MSU beginning in 2014.