2001 Topps XFL Gridiron Gear #8J Chuck Clements

Chuck Clements was a very prolific passer for the University of Houston from 1993 to 1996 during a very difficult stretch for the football team.

• Chuck is 9th and 10th for most completions in a season (245 in 1995, 223 in 1996)


• 6th in most attempts in a season (437 in 1995)


• 10th in TD passes in a season (21 in 1996)


• 10th in plays in a season(474 in 1995)


• 4th in career completions (683)


• 4th in career pass attempts (1,192)


• 6th in career passing yards (7,112)


• 6th in career TD passes (43)


• 4th in career plays (1,284)


• 6th in career total offense (6,893)

In 1995 he was first team All-SWC and in 1996 he was first team All-CUSA.

In 1996, he led the Coogs to the 1st C-USA Conference Championship and the Liberty Bowl against Syracuse.

In 1997, he was drafted by the New York Jets in the 6th round where he played one season.

In 2000, Clements was the 5th pick in the XFL draft for the Las Vegas Outlaws. Unfortunately he was injured in the pre-season and didn't get to play before the league folded.

In 2002 he played for the Ottawa Renegades in the Canadian Football League.

Today's card is a fun but strange collectible, the 2001 Topps XFL Gridiron Gear #8J. It features a piece of practice worn mini-camp jersey. It also features a practice picture with Chuck getting ready to throw the strange looking XFL ball.

The back features another picture of Chuck in practice along with a description of the memorabilia piece.

I love the layout of this card. It's a bit over the top, but this is the XFL we're talking about so I expect something crazy. The only disappointing aspect to me is the lack of statistics. I guess that can be expected though because what stats would be shown? It was the first year of the XFL. Most players in the XFL were guys who couldn't make an NFL roster. The best choice for stats might be college, but there's a several year gap between his college days and the XFL. So no stats was really the only option.