My Custom Oregon Ducks Card Set

So, I have long been interested in creating custom cards of my own...the goal being to create a card for someone who never really had one and maybe using it for a TTM autograph.

A while back, I decided I wanted to give it a try. Plus, it seemed like a good way to learn photoshop...which I have always wanted to do. So, first I had to decide exactly what I wanted it to look like. I kicked around the idea of creating my own design...but I ultimately decided to try and re-create a classic design. My favorite card set of all-time is 1967 Topps football...I just love the design. So, I decided that would be the design I would re-create.

So, the first thing I did was search through my '67 Topps set and look for the right colors. In an attempt to make it as authentic looking as possible, I wanted to use real cards as a template. I decided that the boarder around the photo should be the green used on the Miami Dolphins cards (pictured below) and the box around the name and yellow font should be the yellow from the Chiefs cards (not pictured). So, I made scans of several cards to use as shape templates as well as source of color (here is an example of the authentic card scans I used).



My goal was to make the fronts as original to the 1967 Topps design as possible. On the backs, I wanted an "authentic feel" but I took some artistic liberties as well. For one, I wanted to include a full career set of stats...not just one year and a career. This plus a bio left no room for the cartoon...so I don't have the cartoon on mine.

Once I had created my design...which took some time, I decided to create my first card. My goal this whole time was to create a card of a specific player. That player is former Oregon QB Danny O'Neil. He was the Ducks QB when I was a kid and outside of 3 Oregon team issues (all of which I have and are oversized cards)...he never had a card produced. I wanted a standard sized card for my autograph book. So, I created the design...and I thought it looked fantastic. I was extremely proud of what I had done.

Once the design was finished...I realized I really liked it and it had been fun. I also realized that with the way I had designed the card...it could easily be used as a template to make other players. I decided I should make a whole Oregon set. It sounded like a ton of fun. So, I set out to do just that.

I gave it some thought and I decided to create an Oregon set of players that I remember. I was born in 1985...and the earliest memories of Oregon football I have is from around 1989/90. This is actually perfect because 1989 is when Oregon made the transition from a terrible program and begin to win (1989 was their first bowl appearance in 26 years...they have only missed bowl games 4 times since). So, I decided the set would include players from 1989-present.

I decided to assemble the set somewhat randomly so the different uniforms really stand out. It has been a fun project. I am currently working on the 17th card.

I am currently in the process of testing the printing process. I have spoken with several people online about different techniques and materials. But, the next step is to go from digital designs to actual printed cards. I hoping I will get all the testing and scaling done over the next few weeks and start printing soon.

I will post the cards here as I create them...I will start with 3 today. I decided to take my original Danny O'Neil card and re-number it the #3 card in the set. I wanted cards #1, and #2 to be bigger name players in Oregon history. I felt the players I choose are the biggest two names of this era.

The Danny O'Neil below is identical to my original prototype design except the card number was changed from 16 (his uniform number) to 3.

Here are the cards, let me know what you think:

#1 Marcus Mariota (Quarterback 2011-2014)

This card design is extra special because I took the photo!

#2 Kenny Wheaton (Cornerback 1993-1996)


#3 Danny O'Neil (Quarterback 1990-1994)


I will post more later.

 

Here are the next 3 cards:

#4 LaMichael James (Halfback 2008-2011)


#5 Tony Graziani (Quarterback 1992-1996) - My Favorite Duck!


#6 Haloti Ngata (Defensive Tackle 2002-2005)

 

nice!!!!!

 

Here are cards 7-9

#7 Rich Brooks (Head Coach 1977-1994)


#8 Cristin McLemore (Wide Receiver 1991-1995)


#9 Joey Harrington (Quarterback 1997-2001)

 

Joey was a Duck? ... how the heck did we end up with that loser Stafford?

 

Yeah, he was one of the all time greats. He was known for leading 4th quarter comebacks and as a senior led us to a 11-1 record and a #2 final ranking. In fact going into the bowls, Oregon was ranked #2 in both major polls but the BCS had us as #4. They sent non-Big XII champ Nebraska to the national title as #2.

The final pre-bowl BCS rankings were:
1 Miami (11-0) Big East Champs
2 Nebraska (10-1) - only loss was Colorado (62-36)
3 Colorado (10-2) Big XII Champs
4 Oregon (10-1) Pac-10 Champs

Oregon played Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and won 38-16 (and pulled their starters late in the 3rd). Miami obliterated Nebraska in the Rose Bowl and won the national title. I honestly doubt the Ducks could have beaten Miami...but I have always felt like we should have had the chance. We were the next best team in the nation.

 

Here are cards 10-12

#10 Ricky Whittle (Halfback 1991-1995)


#11 Keenan Howry (Wide Receiver 1999-2002)


#12 Josh Wilcox (Tight End 1992-1996)

 

So, I haven't posted any of the Oregon cards in a while...so here is a big thread to get it all caught up.

#13 De'Anthony Thomas (Halfback 2011-2013) - Currently with Chiefs


#14 Bill Musgrave (Quarterback 1986-1990) - Currently Raiders OC


#15 Rashad Bauman (Cornerback 1997-2001)


#16 Jeremy Asher (Linebacker 1991-1995)


#17 Jonathan Stewart (Halfback 2005-2007) - Currently with Panthers


#18 Josh Huff (Wide Receiver 2010-2013) - Currently with Eagles


#19 Mike Bellotti (Head Coach 1995-2008) - Currently with ESPN


#20 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Cornerback 2011-2014) - Currently with Dolphins


#21 Saladin McCullough (Halfback 1996-1997)


#22 Rich Ruhl (Lineback 1991-1995)


#23 Kellen Clemens (Quarterback 2001-2005) - Currently with Chargers


#24 Patrick Chung (Safety 2004-2008) - Currently with Patriots


I will post more as I make more.

 

your custom cards of Oregon players just quacks me up... (yeah, early morning humor...)

 

So, here's a fun update. I sent one of my custom's to former Oregon QB (and current Raiders OC) Bill Musgrave and he signed it for me. I also sent an 8x10 photo which he kindly signed as well. Not a bad day!

 

sweet!

 

Well, I haven't been designing for a few weeks because I have been recovering from a horrible flu...just don't have the extra energy. But, a fun card came in the mail yesterday. My third custom Oregon signed card.

 

Glad to see the are signing and returning

 

Here are a couple others that have come back signed recently. The Mariota might be an autopen...there is a rumor he uses one but it doesn't match the examples I've seen exactly. So...I'm not sure. Still a fun return.

 

not sure about the "auto pen".. looks different than most of his autographs.

either way.. great add to the collection!

 

So, I haven't updated this thread with new cards from this set for a while...and I have several new ones. I went ahead and assumed the players on cards #25 and 27 won't get drafted. I may have to update those if they do (but I doubt it) and I wanted to try and TTM them as soon as possible. So, here they are:

#25 Devon Allen (Wide Receiver 2013-2016) - 2016 Rio Olympic Team


#26 Maurice Morris (Halfback 2000-2001)


#27 Dakota Prukop (Quarterback 2016)


#28 Justin Wilcox (Safety 1995-1999) - Currently Wisconsin DC


#29 Samie Parker (Wide Receiver 1999-2003)


#30 Chip Kelly (Head Coach 2009-2012) - Currently SF 49ers HC


#31 Tommy Thompson (Kicker/Punter 1990-1993)


#32 Dennis Dixon (Quarterback 2004-2007)


#33 Peter Sirmon (Linebacker 1995-1999) - Currently Mississippi St. DC

 

Tommy Thompson... barefooted kicker... one of a kind!

 

I really miss those guys. It was really stupid...but when you are 10 years old and the pros are doing it, you gotta give it a try. I think I did that once. Haha

 

How many toes did you break?