A Johnny Rodgers story

B

bennychico11

All-Conference
I just thought I might share this story with you all, as I'm still pretty amazed by it.

I had lunch with my dad today and he brought along a late Christmas present for me. He told me on Christmas he was waiting for one gift still, but it hadn't arrived yet. I actually kind of forgot about after a month. Anyway, supposedly Johnny Rodgers had written a book called An Era of Greatness following the final four seasons of Devaney (some of you may know it). It discusses his career then, has interviews with coaches/players/opponents and a forward written by TO. Apparently if you bought the book before December 15th you could get it autographed. My dad thought I would like that so he ordered me one.

Well, it never came. After Christmas my dad tried e-mailing and calling the publisher but no one would return his calls. He even called the CEO of the company on his cell phone and left a message trying to get me this book. And if you know my dad, he's not one to let this drop, lol. Basically thinking someone just screwed him out of his money. He ended up going to Johnny's web site and noticed an e-mail address for him on there. He sent him an e-mail explaining the situation to him. I guess they talked through several e-mails and Johnny told him to let him know if the publisher still doesn't contact him after awhile. No call came so my dad wrote him to tell him that he hadn't heard anything. My dad said it wouldn't normally be such a big deal, but this was important to him because I was such a huge Husker fan and he knew this would be the perfect gift for me. Johnny wrote back and told him he would take care of it.

Well, he did stay true to his word and sent my dad a copy of the book. And right on the inside of the book, on the first page, he wrote:

To Ben

A true Husker fan.

Your friend,

Johnny "The Jet" Rogers

Heisman Winner '72

Player of the Century

It's now my favorite piece of Nebraska memorabilia in my house. And best of all, it has a story to go with it.

:)

 
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That is cool!

I have a friend with a similar story. After we won the NC in 1994 my friend ordered a print of a photo from the World-Herald. He ordered an 11x14. After getting the photo he sent it to the athletic department to get Tom's autograph. It took a while to get it, but now he has this cool photo with Tom's signature.

 
Yeah, my brother has a good story of Johnny Rogers. He bought a car and won a trip for two with Johnny Rogers as his escort to the Heisman trophy ceremonies. I guess at the function Johnny took him by the arm and got everyone of the former Heisman winners to sign a football for him. He got everyone's autograph except the person that won it that year (Ron Dayne). Seem like all the Heisman winners all get along with Johnny and he's friendly with everyone, where some past winners are in love with themselves a little to much.

I guess at the dinner my brother and his wife sat and ate with Steve Spurrier and his wife and said they were very nice, so not sure where the hatred comes from some Nebraska fans about him.

 
I'm jealous on these stories about Johnny Rodgers because I had one of the worst experiences from Rodgers.

A few years ago I took a trip down to Omaha to watch a Concert which featured Saliva, Trapt, Breaking Benjamin, Head P.E., Seether, and Godsmack (Godsmack is my favorite band). Well we arrived early in Omaha because I have relatives in Omaha and they were going to the concert too.

When we got into Omaha we had gotten word that Johnny Rodgers was at Younkers signing autographs. So we drove to Younkers and we had to find something for him to sign. So we went to a husker store in the mall and found those small authentic football helmets with the plastic facemask which cost us $20-25. So I picked one up and we ran to Younkers. He charged us $10 to sign these helmets that we just bought and we asked if we could get our picture taken. He agreed and after that we asked if he could sign one thing for free and he told us, "I just got my picture taken with you for free!" WTH was that all about. After that moment I've never really cared for the guy. He's a great athlete but to this day I wish that I wouldn't have meet him that day. Johnny Rodgers in my opinion on that day was all about the money.

I've met Eric Crouch twice and he's signed everything that I've put infront of him FREE OF CHARGE even his #89 Rams jersey and I met Mike Rozier at the Grand Opening for Menards here in Sioux City, IA and he was awesome and he even talked to my dad all the way from the parking lot to the entrace of Menards. He signed everything FREE OF CHARGE and he even would bullsh*t with you while signing your item and even after he's done signing it. I know that Eric didn't really have the greatest career but he is one of the nicest people i've met that was a former Husker as well as Mike Rozier.

 
huskerjock said:
I'm jealous on these stories about Johnny Rodgers because I had one of the worst experiences from Rodgers.

A few years ago I took a trip down to Omaha to watch a Concert which featured Saliva, Trapt, Breaking Benjamin, Head P.E., Seether, and Godsmack (Godsmack is my favorite band). Well we arrived early in Omaha because I have relatives in Omaha and they were going to the concert too.

When we got into Omaha we had gotten word that Johnny Rodgers was at Younkers signing autographs. So we drove to Younkers and we had to find something for him to sign. So we went to a husker store in the mall and found those small authentic football helmets with the plastic facemask which cost us $20-25. So I picked one up and we ran to Younkers. He charged us $10 to sign these helmets that we just bought and we asked if we could get our picture taken. He agreed and after that we asked if he could sign one thing for free and he told us, "I just got my picture taken with you for free!" WTH was that all about. After that moment I've never really cared for the guy. He's a great athlete but to this day I wish that I wouldn't have meet him that day. Johnny Rodgers in my opinion on that day was all about the money.

I've met Eric Crouch twice and he's signed everything that I've put infront of him FREE OF CHARGE even his #89 Rams jersey and I met Mike Rozier at the Grand Opening for Menards here in Sioux City, IA and he was awesome and he even talked to my dad all the way from the parking lot to the entrace of Menards. He signed everything FREE OF CHARGE and he even would bullsh*t with you while signing your item and even after he's done signing it. I know that Eric didn't really have the greatest career but he is one of the nicest people i've met that was a former Husker as well as Mike Rozier.
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:hellloooo

H-J, Man, I'm from SC. Ever had a beer at Charlie Mile's Inn?

>>>T_O_B

:hellloooo :corndance :hellloooo

 
huskerjock said:
I know that Eric didn't really have the greatest career but he is one of the nicest people i've met that was a former Husker .
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Really??

I would think being a Heisman Trophy Winner would constitute a decent career.

 
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Well, I liked JR when he played...wasn't impressed when the drug deal came down....but was impressed that he seemed to tun his life around and gives a lot of time to kids in Omaha...

So, I am not sure what to think now.

 
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