2014 COMC purchases: starting 11, or 1K is OK!

Today's the last post of this series which means I'll finally have covered the rest of my 2014 purchases from late December.  I'm going to be brief about today's cards for reasons that will soon be obvious.  Today's theme is offense, specifically QB, RB, and OL since I already covered the WRs.  Enough talk, let's get to it!

Mike Hart 2009 Score Inscriptions Red Zone Autographs auto (#11/30)

This here is a Red Zone parallel of Hart's "base" autograph from the '09 Score Inscriptions set.  It's one of four 2009 Hart autos I own and my 56th of him overall, tying him with Braylon Edwards for third place.

Chad Henne 2008 Donruss Threads College Gridiron Kings Materials dual jersey (#147/250)

Chad Henne 2008 Topps Triple Threads Emerald triple patch auto (#16/50)

Chad Henne 2010 Topps Magic auto

This is a super exciting trio of Hennes for me.  First you have a great dual-swatch Michigan uni relic, then you follow it up with a triple patch auto (with some sick patches!), and you finish things up with an art-tastic Magic auto.  Believe it or not, I landed the Triple Threads card for a pretty good price.  These three give Henne a new total of 73 as he reigns as the once and future king of my football PC.

Taylor Lewan 2014 Leaf Originals '48 Autographs auto

Taylor Lewan 2014 Leaf Valiant Rising Stock Autographs auto

Taylor Lewan 2014 Upper Deck Star Rookies Autographs auto

I showed off one collection newbie the other day in Jeremy Gallon, and today I present to you the other in the form of T Taylor Lewan, the 187th member of the collection.  I waffled on adding him after his senior-year legal difficulties but went for it in the end and scored a trio of Michigan uni cards.  The Leaf versions have a bit of airbrushing of the helmet but are close enough for me, and the UD is a typically beautiful entry from their brand, just like the Gallon.  Hopefully the 2014 first-rounder gets to show what he's made of next year for Tennessee.

Chris Perry 2004 Upper Deck Finite HG Rookie Fabrics jersey

Chris Perry 2007 Artifacts NFL Facts Autographs auto

I would be remiss if I was talking about Michigan RBs and didn't include Chris Perry!  This time I found a rookie-year orange jersey relic from UD, then followed it up with a solid sticker auto from 2007 Upper Deck Artifacts.  Perry is obviously a big part of my collection as he now has 42 cards to his name, good for a tie with Jason Avant for 7th overall.

Denard Robinson 2013 Bowman Sterling Jumbo Rookie Relic jersey (#0009/1200)

Denard Robinson 2013 Topps Strata Clear Cut Autograph Rookie Relics jersey auto

Who would buy just one shoelace?  I scored the Sterling "jumbo" relic for a pretty cheap price late in the game after making a concerted effort to get the cool Strata auto/jersey for under $10.  The latter is a bit gimmicky but kind of a cool concept, and I just can't say no to a Robinson autograph.  These two give me a grand total of 15 Denards, and the way that number keeps growing surprises me.  Hopefully his touches, yards, and TD count go in the same direction this year!

All right, you've seen all 31 cards I grabbed at the end of 2014, and now it's milestone time--the biggest one I've met to-date.  When I put together this latest package I had exactly 969 hits in my football PC.  Simple math that's so easy even an English major could do it tells me I now have--HOLY SMOKES, I HAVE 1000 MICHIGAN HITS!!!  This is a goal I never would have dreamed of before I started blogging and focusing more attention on this part of my collection.  Now, a few years later, after a bunch of purchases at shows and online, and especially thanks to a ton of insane trades with awesome collectors, I've met that mark, and actually smashed past it thanks to new trade posts I haven't gotten around to yet!  Thank you everyone that contributed once again--I can't express how much I appreciate the many great Wolverines you sent my way.

With that out of the way let's have a bit of fun.  Enough numbers for a bit--here's a more in-depth look at this collection:

All my UM football stuff is now housed in these two monster boxes so I can allow for room for future growth.  All of the first box and the first two rows of the second are hits while the third row of the second box includes all of my TK Legacy autographs and a few base cards from the set.  The last two rows are reserved for all the football base and inserts I've accumulated, including rookies and vintage stuff.  I remember when I had barely enough cards to fill a shoebox-style box!

Here's a closer look at box 1, which goes from Jamar Adams to Mario Manningham.  This box includes PC heavyweights Adrian Arrington, Jason Avant, Braylon Edwards, Mike Hart, Chad Henne, Jake Long, and Manningham.

And here's the second box which starts with Mike Martin and goes through Charles Woodson, then moves on to the TK Legacy autographs, including the M Go Blue set I'm working on (currently at 124 and counting!).

And now I'd love to show off some highlights of the first 1000 cards in my football collection:

These Absolute plaque/autos: 

The nameplates I've completed so far:

Coaches past and present, including the immortal Bo Schembechler:

Some Michigan-themed multiplayer fun:

These legends whose names will echo throughout Ann Arbor for all time:

And finally, this guy, who was a freakin' astronaut!:

What a crazy ride.  But I certainly don't intend to stop here, so please keep 'em coming because you know I will!

To close things out, for those of you who are numerically inclined (or actually interested), here's a few relevant stats:

• 187 different players
• Top 10:
• Chad Henne (73)
• Jake Long (67)
• Braylon Edwards and Mike Hart (56)
• Mario Manningham (49)
• Adrian Arrington (43)
• Jason Avant and Chris Perry (42)
• David Terrell (38)
• Anthony Thomas (37)
• Relics:  258
• Autos:  622
• Autographed relics:  53
• Patches/manupatches:  20
• Auto/patches and auto/manupatches:  58
• Plates and 1/1s:  2
• Multi-player hits:  34
• Michigan uniform cards:  362 

Thank you once again to those that actually read this blog and give me a reason to show off my favorite collection, and GO BLUE!