Alabama Coach Nick Saban’s historic title chase could spark new interest in already hot autographs

With a victory tonight, University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban would equal a giant not only in the history of college football but a giant in his school’s history.

His Crimson Tide plays in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Paul W. Bryant Drive down the road from the Paul W. Bryant Museum and the Bryant Conference Center — all reminders of Bear Bryant and his NCAA-record six national championships and 323 career victories. (Saban is at 285.)

Tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship is Saban’s sixth title-game appearance in the last nine years and with a win he’ll have his sixth season title for his career. Saban had his chance at tying Bryant last season when his undefeated team lost in the final seconds on the final play of the game against Clemson, which Alabama knocked off in a rematch this year to advance to tonight’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Both of Alabama’s postseason foes this year are coached by former Tide assistants, Dabo Swinney at Clemson and Kirby Smart at Georgia, but neither has autographs and football card appearances as easily found as the legend of today, Saban.

Buzz Break: 2011 TRISTAR Obak football cards (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2011 TRISTAR Obak football cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one jumbo T4 box-topper)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 144
Base set completion: 
101 of 110 (94 percent)
Duplicates: 9

Notables on base cards – Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Tim Mara, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Johnny Unitas, Paul Hornung, Terry Bradshaw, Earl Campbell, Morten Andersen, Roger Staubach, Gale Sayers, Jim Otto, Jim Parker, Norm Van Brocklin, Vince Lombardi, John Heisman, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Doak Walker, Darrell Royal, Bo Jackson, John David Crow, Hopalong Cassady, Johnny Lattner, Charlie Ward, Tom Dempsey, Lem Barney, Dennis Byrd, Edgar Allen Poe, Bob Lilly, “Crazy Legs” Hirsch, Emlen Tunnell, Walter Camp, Fritz Pollard, Thomas Riddell, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Eddie LeBaron

Buzz Break: 2012 Upper Deck University of Alabama football cards

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2012 Upper Deck University of Alabama Crimson Tide football cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: Check online.

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
100 of 100 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 20

Notables on base cards – Nick Saban, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Lee Roy Jordan, Ken Stabler, John Hannah, Ozzie Newsome, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Thomas, Shaun Alexander

SCP Auctions to sell George Blanda memorabilia collection in January

A number of championship rings, awards and game balls from the career of a Hall of Fame quarterback are headed to the auction block in January.

George Blanda‘s 26-year career as a quarterback and kicker included three AFL championships and a league MVP award — and the spoils of those successes will be sold via Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based SCP Auctions.