Pauline was almost home when I called her asking her to run to the store, she had already grabbed the mail and dropped it off at home before going to the store. We was both in a football pool and just like last year they made t-shirts for the event and we received those, but we also had another “bag†in the mail, which had “football fanatic†on the return label, so I just assumed it was another t-shirt from some other pool I got in.
I didn’t expect a Mike Alstott Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey.
I have been a huge Alstott fan since he was at Purdue, he was there at the end of the 13 year losing streak, and in fact he was one of the few bright spots at Purdue in a very long time.
I had just got out of the Navy and was working in a fine jewelry and surplus store. (You would have to see this place to believe it, downstairs fine jewelry upstairs army surplus) and I was working upstairs on a slow boring day when this college kid came up there, since this place was a surplus store for over 40 years, it had a huge stock of unique items, so it got more “looky lous†then buyers.
Anyway, this kid came in and we started talking about anything and everything, for well over 30 mins we just stood and talked and then he left. The next night watching the Purdue press day, for the first time, I saw Mike Alstott without his helmet and realized I was talking to him. This was the spring of his Senior year, and he went on to Tampa in the 2nd round of the NFL draft (35 over all) and was rumored to be going to Pittsburgh in the first, but they skipped him, then he got the call from Tampa and the rest is history.
He for sure is one of, if not THE best, Full Back in NFL history and I will miss him playing on Sundays, I am just pleased he is actually able to “walk†away, since he has had some serious neck injuries.
Here are some of his stats:
“During his 42-game career at Purdue, Alstott rushed 644 times for 3635 yards (5.6 per carry average) with 39 touchdowns, and had 93 receptions for 1075 yards (11.2 per reception average) with 3 touchdowns. He was Purdue’s Most Valuable Player in each of his last three seasons, the only player ever to accomplish that feat for Boilermakers. He’s also the school’s all-time leader in rushing TDs, total TDs and points. He left Purdue as the school’s all-time leading rusher.â€
“Alstott is the leading scorer among the Buccaneers and he leads his team in touchdowns as well. One of his most famous touchdowns came against the Minnesota Vikings in 1997 when he carried six defenders into the endzone with him, backwards. Alstott holds the Buccaneers team record for touchdowns scored with 68.â€
Anyway, he is one of my all time favorite players in football and I am very happy I FINALLY got his jersey.
Now if I could just get an autographed framed authentic jersey and maybe a helmet I will be VERY happy. (Hint!)
- Mood:
happy
