Doug Atkins autographed cards

[vol94]

I thought I’d share a gift I received from one of my clients - two autographed Doug Atkins TN football cards.

Her husband and Doug were friends and college roommates. They remained friends until Doug’s passing.

 

[vol94]

Douglas Leon Atkins (May 8, 1930 – December 30, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers under head coach Robert Neyland. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

[DixieVol]

He must have had some huge hands. In that one card, his hand literally swallows that helmet.

 

[GoVols1961]

I wish I had clients like that. That's absolute treasure right there.

 

[vol94]

I wish I had clients like that. That's absolute treasure right there.

It warmed my heart as my client lost her spouse about five yrs ago. I promised him I would help his wife after he passed.

She wrote me a thank you letter and enclosed was the two trading cards. She shared numerous stories about her husband, a TN football player, too, and Doug.

 

[GoVols1961]

It warmed my heart as my client lost her spouse about five yrs ago. I promised him I would help his wife after he passed.

She wrote me a thank you letter and enclosed was the two trading cards. She shared numerous stories about her husband, a TN football player, too, and Doug.

Doug was a little before my time, but my Dad saw him play. Said he was the best player to ever come out of Tennessee is his opinion.

 

[Hacksaw]

Wow! Very nice.

 

[dduncan4163]

WOW I'm jealous. That's a collectors dream

 

[savannahfan]

He must have had some huge hands. In that one card, his hand literally swallows that helmet.

He was huge period! Back in the late seventies at the "triangle" hotel the night before the saturday game the Hamilton Bank (as I remember) held a an open reception. I remember standing on steps leading to the Miz level and looking out over the crowd. Every game I attended looking from this point, you could see Doug standing out in the crowd, at least a head taller than anyone else and add shoulders for most. I'm sure he just seemed that much taller than everyone else but his presents made it appear so.

 

[tn4elvis]

He must have had some huge hands. In that one card, his hand literally swallows that helmet.

I am a fairly large person and met Doug at a charity golf outing 25 years ago. At 6.3 295 I don’t feel undersized around many people. Doug was one of those people.

 

[tn4elvis]

I thought I’d share a gift I received from one of my clients - two autographed Doug Atkins TN football cards.

Her husband and Doug were friends and college roommates. They remained friends until Doug’s passing.

If you ever want to sell one of those to someone who will absolutely never resale it . I am your huckleberry.

 

[tennrich1]

Doug was a little before my time, but my Dad saw him play. Said he was the best player to ever come out of Tennessee is his opinion.

Doug Atkins is rarely given the credit and respect his game deserved. HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY DOMINATE IN TODAY'S GAME! He was that great a player!

 

[malibuvol]

Didn't he come to play basketball initially? Or is that my imagination??

 

[Allvols1996]

Doug Atkins is rarely given the credit and respect his game deserved. HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY DOMINATE IN TODAY'S GAME! He was that great a player!

Really? I’ve seen nothing but mega respect for Atkins. The biggest thing is the lack of stats kept from those times.

 

[tennrich1]

Really? I’ve seen nothing but mega respect for Atkins. The biggest thing is the lack of stats kept from those times.

I didn’t say he was disrespected. CLEARLY he’s not talked about on a regular basis like all the other “greats”. Some of that may simply be the age of most posters. I agree with the posters dad…he may very well be the greatest Vol of all time. But I usually steer away from those fruitless conversations anyway.

 

[vol94]

If you ever want to sell one of those to someone who will absolutely never resale it . I am your huckleberry.

I plan on framing them and then hand down to my son along w my autographed Manning (TN) football, etc.

 

[vol94]

Doug was a little before my time, but my Dad saw him play. Said he was the best player to ever come out of Tennessee is his opinion.

Before my time, too. He apparently was an even better person than football player, which says a lot to me.

 

[tn4elvis]

I plan on framing them and then hand down to my son along w my autographed Manning (TN) football, etc.

Good Dad. I hope he grows up to realize what a player Doug was.

 

[vol94]

Good Dad. I hope he grows up to realize what a player Doug was.

He’s off to a good start. He wore TN clothing amclose to birth and his first game at age 3. He’s a 19yr sophomore @ the Hill, though he could’ve attended many other schools like UNC, Vandy, etc. We talked about it and he said “why do you want me to go somewhere else. TN is my dream school and I’ve always wanted to go to college there.” He loves it there so I Hope he embraces the history of the university, esp Neyland. We’ve discussed the TN history, so hopefully our conversations will resonate. Hopefully we have a great season and more to come in the future.