Saturday, October 7, 2017

The Mountaineer Mine #4 - Bruce Irvin


2013 Topps - Black #81 Bruce Irvin 

WHO:  Bruce Irvin

WHEN:  2010 - 2011

WHERE:  from Atlanta, GA

WHY (this card):  One of the biggest disappointments in the hobby ever, for me, is that the card manufacturers missed the boat on Bruce Irvin.  No card of him in a WVU uniform exists that I know of.  Irvin endeared himself to the Mountaineer faithful and he is one of the most popular players of the last decade.  I chose this one because of it's low numbering, and it's a normal size card.  Irvin's Topps rookies pictured him in jersey #00.  That's cheap garbage.  My favorite Irvin card won't fit into a standard sheet.  You'll see it in the next few days.



LINK:  Super Bowl 2014: Bruce Irvin, once a high-school dropout with no home, finds himself a key cog for Seahawks

LINK:  Bruce Irvin can relate to Adam Jones' story

LINK:  Don't Judge Bruce Irvin For His Super Bowl Brawl, One Sad Moment In A Great Story

LINK:  Bruce Irvin storms court after West Virginia basketball win

LINK:  Bruce Irvin Sets Example, Gives Back to Mountain State

LINK:  West Virginia Football: Seattle Seahawks Rookie Bruce Irvin Shows Love for WVU

HOW (he's remembered):  Bruce Irvin is one of the most beloved men to ever wear the ol' gold and blue.  I just wish he'd played more than his final two years at West Virginia.  He was a speed pass rusher that you just don't see often.  His first season he had just 21 tackles, but 14 sacks.  Teams realized they had to double and triple team him when they could and he registered just 8.5 in his senior season.  Every time he made a play at Mountaineer field, the mountains reverberated with fans cheering "BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!!!!"

When he was drafted 15th overall in the 2012 draft and there were plenty of people asking "who" and.or criticizing the pick.  Well, he's registered 30 sacks in his career, three interceptions and two touchdowns.  Some of the players drafted ahead of him - Robert Griffin, Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon.  I guess it wasn't that bad of a pick, eh? 

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