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goose impersonator found!

Last year I posted a message about the wrong guy appearing on a Goose Gonsoulin card. Here's Goose's 1961 Topps card, which pictures Goose, and his 1961 Fleer card, which pictures someone else:

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No one could tell me who the imposter was--until today. This morning I got this email:

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Came across your site recently and love the concept! Looking for a specific card this morning (1961 Fleer football, #152), I noticed that your notes regarding this card state, "not really goose gonsoulin", which is indeed a fact. As a bit of a Broncos' historian, was recently asked who it was that was pictured on this card. As I know him from some past charitable activities, I went straight to the source and called Goose.

Probably more than you need to know, but here's the scoop.... On this card, he is shown wearing uniform #46, a number which he wore during the 1960 pre-season only. He later gave up the uni # to former Packers running back Al Carmichael and switched to #23, which he wore for the remainder of his Broncos' career (Carmichael, by the way, later switched to #40 for the regular season). Also in the Broncos 1960 training came was yet another #46--the player who erroneously appears on Goose's card. His name was Darryl Rodgers, and while he would never make a AFL/NFL roster as a player, he went on to a pro coaching career, including a stint at the helm of the Detroit Lions from 1985 to '88.

Best regards,
Patrick W. Scoggin


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Mystery solved! Here is a picture of Darryl from the Lions' web site.

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I also found Darryl's college coaching record at footballfoundation.com:

Cal State-Hayward (1965)
Fresno State (1966-72)
San Jose State (1973-75)
Michigan State (1976-79)
Arizona State (1980-84)

- Took Fresno State to two bowl games. Achieved an unprecedented national ranking at San Jose State. Was BIG TEN Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 1978. Won the BIG TEN title in 1978.


Though he never played in the pros, it seems that Darryl earned his place on a card, even if it was on someone else's.

Mike

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