Yep! You win the cigar. John David crow also won the Heisman, quite a player in his day. Here is a writeup on him:
1957 Heisman Trophy Winner John David Crow: Autograph Guest at Arlington, TX Show in July '99
by Ross Forman
October 29, 1999
He hasn’t worn a pro uniform since 1968, his last of 11 NFL seasons, yet John David Crow is still sought after for his autograph.
And that fact really amazes him.
"Truthfully, I think it’s kind of embarrassing," he said. "I’m a grandfather and people come here to (a card show) to get my autograph for something I did many, many years ago. I can’t believe it."
What’s the appeal? Well, Crow rushed for 4,963 yards on 1,157 carries in the NFL. He also passed for 759 career yards (33-of-70).
Oh yeah, Crow also was the 1957 Heisman trophy winner, edging Alex Karras (Iowa), Walt Kowalczyk (Michigan), Lou Michaels (Kentucky) and Tom Forrestal (Navy).
Autograph-signing sessions, Crow said, "are a wonderful way for people like myself to visit with our fans."
Crow, though, is not a collector.
"It’s funny," he began, "After my last game, I threw my uniform on the middle of the (locker room) floor. I remember telling the equipment manager, ‘There you go; you can have; that’s it for me.’"
Sure enough, the equipment manager keep it … and actually returned it to Crow years later. However, Crow today has no clue where it’s at. Perhaps his son used to for a game in the neighborhood, he said.
Crow, though, does have a jersey that his oldest daughter used to sleep in. "That’s in threads now," he said.
"Ya know, if I had my old jerseys or helmets, I’m not sure I’d know what to do with them. I wouldn’t sell them; I guess I’d save them for my grandkids," Crow said. "I appreciate the people who collect stuff, but I’m not too in to that.
"I don’t mind (signing) autographs if someone wants to go through the trouble of asking. If they do, I’m more than obliging. It bothers me, though, when people take advantage of a situation and want so many (autographs) that you know that they are just going to sell them and make a profit off you. I guess that’s the reason we now have (card shows)."
Crow’s memorabilia collection now includes signed relics from Stan Musial and Yogi Berra, among others.
"When I played, (football) wasn’t the production it is today; it was more of a game for us. Today’s players are getting paid according, which they should. I’m glad I was part of it, but the game was a lot different than it is today," he said.
Crow suffered some early-season injuries in ’57, but ultimately carried the ball 129 times for Texas A&M, collecting 562 yards. He scored six touchdowns and an extra-point for 37 points. He also intercepted five passes, caught two passes and passed for five TDs.
He was a Scholastic All-American as a senior, and named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
"Football was a very tough and demanding game in those days because you had to play both ways. I played many game in which I never came off the field. That meant offense, defense and special teams," he said. Texas A&M was an all-boys military school at the time. "I think we had a lot of fun, but I don’t think we had the opportunity to have as much fun as the kids there now.
"The game now is a better game, if only because it’s an easier game to play. That’s mainly because you have the chance to freshen up (during the game); you don’t have to play the whole game. Today, when the guys score, they can jump around, yell, scream and holler. But when we scored, it was kind of relief, but then we had to bust down on the (ensuing) kickoff and play defense.
"I got a lot out of the game. I had a good time at A&M, but I will say, I was ready to leave when I got out of school."
Crow’s collegiate coach was none other than Paul Bryant, later of Alabama fame.
"My memories of Coach Bryant were: I loved him to death. He was the fairest and kindest man to be as rough and tough as he was," Crow said. "He’d cry at the drop of a hat, but he was a very demanding, tough coach. That’s how you won in those days – it was three yards and a cloud of dust; you played defense first……if you were in better shape than the other team, you’d have it a lot easier; that’s what he preached all the time. And that’s how it is in life – when you get a little tired and things go bad for you, and so on, the people who are conditioned better to move forward … well,they are more apt to be successful. That’s what he believed in, and I do too.
"I never envisioned (Bryant) would go to Alabama and do the things he did there. Sure he turned the program around at A&M, but … "
Crow returned to the college game in ’68, as the offensive backfield coach for Bryant. He then moved to the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers (in similar capacity) until he was named Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Northeast Louisiana University in 1975, a post he held until 1980.
Crow’s post-football career also included a stint as Associate Athletic Director and then Athletic Director at his alma mater.
Winning the Heisman Trophy, Crow said, "wasn’t nearly as big as it is today."
"It was a great award; I’m not taking anything away from it … but nothing like it is today."
Heck, Crow found out he had won the award when Heisman representatives called his mother.
Crow, though, still wasn’t impressed at the time.
His mom told him, ‘You better belief it’s a nice award … because they’re going to pay for my plane ticket and your dad’s place ticket to New York for you to get the award.’
That’s when he officially knew the Heisman was a happening.
"It’s grown through the years," Crow said of the award. "I guess that’s what makes things good – if they can withstand the test of time, like a good bottle of wine."
Crow now serves as the school’s Director of Development for Athletics.
In his freetime, the 64-year-old enjoys golfing. He has a 10 handicap. "I play now more than I ever have, so it’s no surprise that I’m a better golfer than I ever have been. Playing (regularly) definitely does make a difference in golf. If you play a lot, you’re bound to be better."
Crow joined the Chicago Cardinals in 1958. He rushed for 221 yards that year, then 666 the following fall.
In 1960, the team moved to St. Louis – and Crow had his best season: 1,071 yards on 183 carries. He also rushed for three TDs and tossed two others.
Crow joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1965, where he stayed for his final four seasons.
"I guess I fooled ‘em for 11 years," he said, smiling. "Well, I guess I could play a little bit; I guess that’s the reason they kept playing me and kept paying me. I look at the players I played with and against, and they were great athletes. So I’m just proud to have been part of that great group.
"I have so many fond memories, such as just playing in old Sportsman’s Park, a (converted) baseball stadium where, when it rained, you’d end up ankle-deep in mud. Then there were the Chicago years – and we never really felt like a team until we were out of there, into St. Louis. That’s probably because Chicago had the Bears, and we were always fighting it out to see who was gonna get the press. And the Bears always won.
"St. Louis was a good experience, but not as good as San Francisco. I became good friends with some good people in San Francisco. I really enjoyed my four years out there; I really, really did."
Crow’s pro career spanned 125 games, highlighted by 78 career TDs.
"Today, I’d say the highlight of by football career was winning the Heisman Trophy. But it wasn’t at the time," he said. "I really couldn’t pick out one particular thing that would be a highlight from my athletic career because I had so many good things happen to me."
Like being the No. 1 draft choice.
Or, the first time he touched the ball at Comiskey Park, Crow ran it for 83-yards. And that’s still a team-record.
Or maybe his 203-yard rushing performance.
Or maybe one of his 258 career receptions for 3,699 combined yards.
"Playing in – and winning – the World Championship is the ultimate. I would have given up all my other accolades to have accomplished that," Crow said. "Sure, I got paid, but I played because I liked to play; I liked the game; I liked practicing; I liked hanging out as a team in the dorm."
During the season, Crow, like most of his contemporaries, worked a "real-world" job in addition to football. He had many, including jobs for oil-drilling and real estate development companies.
"It’s a different life today for the pro player," Crow said. "Who’s to say what we would have been like in my day if we had worked year-round to improve our game. No doubt we would have been better, but we didn’t do that."
Heck, he only earned $20,000-$50,000 annually, which some players today make in a quarter.
No complaints from Crow, though.
"It’s been a very good, rewarding life … and football has made all that possible," he said.
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