1978 Profile: Doug Kotar

Running Back

No. 44

Kentucky

"Blessed with great quickness and deceptive speed, Doug is a fine runner and superb receiver. As a receiver he tied an all-time Giant club record with 11 catches in one game during the 1976 season. He led the Giants in rushing in 1976."

Doug won three varsity letters at Kentucky."

-1978 Topps No. 119

1978 Profile: Brian Kelley

"Brian has been a solid hitter for the Giants, both on defense and on special teams. He came up with a key interception in 1975 against the Chiefs that led to a touchdown. He had a 36-yard touchdown run with an interception in the 1976 preseason.

Brian works as an instructor in a health spa."

-1978 Topps No. 291

R.I.P. John McVay

1978 Profile: Jerry Goldsteyn

Quarterback

No. 12

Northern Illinois

"Jerry suffered a knee injury in 1976 and missed most of the season. Before being injured he quarterbacked the Giants to preseason wins over the Oilers, Steelers and Packers. He guided the club to three touchdowns in one period against Houston, including a touchdown pass.

Jerry was the team MVP at Northern Illinois in 1975. He is one of six brothers, all of whom share the first initial 'J'."

-1978 Topps No. 432

1978 Profile: Joe Danelo

Place Kicker

No. 18

Washington State

"Perhaps Joe's best game for the Giants came in a 12-9 upset of the Redskins late in 1976. He booted four field goals to tie the club record including a 50-yarder which represented the margin of victory.

Joe was the place kicker at Washington State for three seasons and played in the All-America Bowl at Tampa.

Joe's hobby is playing the concertina."

-1978 Topps No. 472

1978 Profile: Kyle Chandler

Center 

No. 61

Princeton

"Signed by the Giants as a free agent after an impressive performance in a 1974 pre-season tryout camp at Fordham, Karl proved to be a valuable addition to the club in his rookie campaign. He stepped right in and did a solid job, starting four games and assisting the specialty teams as well.

Karl earned varsity letters in both football and wrestling at Princeton, playing offensive tackle with the tackles. He lost only two wrestling matches in three years. Karl is a fine squash player."

-1978 Topps No. 99

1978 Profile: Bill Bryant

Cornerback

No. 21

Grambling

"Bill won himself a spot on the Giants' roster with his solid hitting and his rugged specialty teams play during the 1976 pre-season. He is a good open-field tackler.

A three-year starter as a defensive back at Grambling, Bill caught the eye of pro scouts at the Senior Bowl after 1973.

-1978 Topps No. 412

1978 Profile: Ron Mikolajczyk

Offensive Tackle

No. 62

Tampa

"Only to be taken seriously if you are a defensive lineman. Off the field, he deals in silliness. Of his name (pronounced Mik-o-LIE-chick) he says, 'In Poland it's just like 'Smith' in the phone book. I think it translates to 'Dead Cattle.' Or is it 'Fallen Angel?' ' Ron says he wants 'to be loved by little kids and puppies.' He says he wants 'to be a quarterback.'

Ron was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and played at Tampa University, the Canadian League and the World Football League before joining the Giants. He's a pro wrestler in the off-season, and his teammates swear he's the villain."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

R.I.P. Hugh McElhenny

1978 Profile: Jack Gregory

Defensive End

No. 81

Delta State

"Coaches have been dabbling with ways to replace him for a few years, simply for purposes of youth, but in 1976 No. 1 draft choice Troy Archer was moved to tackle so Gregory could remain, and last season No. 1 draft choice Gary Jeter never threatened. He had 21 sacks when he first came to the Giants in 1972 from  Cleveland and hasn't matched that again, but 1977 was his best year in a while.

Gregory was born in Okolona, Mississippi, where he still lives on a soybean farm. He's the defensive captain and a kind of self-appointed Big Brother to fellow defensive linemen."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The Giants acquired Jack from the Browns in 1972 and he enjoyed a banner campaign that season. He led the NFL in quarterback sacks with 21 and was named to the 1st team All-NFL squad by both UPI and Pro Football Weekly.

Jack has produced numerous blocked passes, quarterback sacks and fumble recoveries during his six seasons in New York. A four-year starter in Cleveland, he won All-AFC honors and a Pro Bowl selection for 1970.

Jack raises cotton and soybeans on his ranch."

-1978 Topps No. 159

R.I.P. Erich Barnes

1978 Profile: Joe Pisarcik

Quarterback

No. 9

New Mexico State

"'I'm very big in Calgary,' he says. That's where he played for almost three seasons in the Canadian League. Pisarcik was a free agent who started as the Giants' No. 5 quarterback in summer camp a year, but by the fourth regular-season game had won the starting job.

Pisarcik would prefer showing off his arm more than his coaches allow. Born in Kingsport, Pa., he went to New Mexico State 'because they had a pro-style offense, and I wanted to be a pro.' He has none of the doubts about his talent that others may have.

He lives off-season in Fort Lauderdale. 'Do you know many bikinis and belly-buttons there are down there?' he asks."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"One of the NFL's most outstanding rookies of 1977, Joe was rewarded with selection as the quarterback on the all-rookie team last season. A three-year starter for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, he has a powerful arm. Joe worked with the Giants during the club's spring trip to Mexico City in 1977."

-1978 Topps No. 7

R.I.P. Gary Brown

1978 Profile: John Mendenhall

Defensive Tackle

No. 64

Grambling

"Happier as a Giant last year than he'd been in a while. Mendenhall demanded to be traded in both 1975 and 1976. He played too well in 1974 for the Giants to consider such a demand.

Mendenhall is more unpredictable off the field than on, where's he's quick and knowledgeable, though not exceptionally big. He constantly wonders aloud when the Giants are going to get a better offense.

Born in Cullen, Louisiana, he's another former Grambling football hero. He was a close personal friend of defensive end Jack Gregory in his first few seasons, and he and Gregory are the only remaining defensive starters from as far back as 1972."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"John has enjoyed an awesome career with the Giants. He won due recognition in 1974 when he was named to the UPI All-NFC team, to the New York Daily News All-NFL first team and to the Pro Football Writers' All-NFL second unit. A starter since his rookie year, he was named to the All-Rookie team that season.

He was an AP Little All-American. He excelled in the 1972 College All-Star Game.

John combines great strength with quickness and agility and usually requires double-teaming."

-1978 Topps No. 75

1978 Profile: Dave Jennings

Punter

No. 13

St. Lawrence

"More dependable, maybe, than any other Giant the past four years. His 100 punts (for a 39.9 average) set a team record last season (breaking Tom Landry's record, by the way).

Jennings has a radio sports talk show in New Haven, Conn., and is a favorite off-season speaker. He was once asked, 'Why are you so terrible?' and says, 'I was flabbergasted; I thought he meant my punting. But he clarified it. He said, 'Why are the Giants so terrible?' '

Born in New York City, Jennings was a walk-on at St. Lawrence College. Now a crazed Boston Celtics fan, and a Red Sox fan, too. He wouldn't mind throwing or catching a pass someday, so he practices both."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Dave has steadily become one of the premier punters in the NFL. Adept at kicking the ball out of bounds and inside the 20-yard line, he has had some of his biggest games against such Giants' rivals as the Redskins and Cowboys since 1974.

Dave is a fan of the Boston Celtics."

-1978 Topps No. 248

1978 Profile: Bobby Hammond

Running Back-Kick Returner

No. 33

Morgan State

"Before last season, Hammond failed two previous tryouts, with the Giants and then New Orleans, and was selling shirts at a My Man Clothing Store in his hometown Queens. That was before last season when he was the Giants' most exciting and most productive runner (577 yards) and was second in the NFC in punt returns (10.4 average). Hammond was dependable enough that Doug Kotar, who had led the team in rushing in 1976, had to either sit or play fullback to make room.

Born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, he played at Morgan State. He's found returning kicks to be 'like a gunfight: When you draw, you don't have time to look, only to react.' "

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The Giants' leading rusher in 1977, Bobby has also proven to be a valuable kickoff return artist for the club. He originally signed with the Giants in 1975 and was very impressive as a return man in pre-season games.

Bobby was an all-purpose back at Morgan State winning three letters. He was an all-city standout in high school."

-1978 Topps No. 352

1978 Profile: Brad Van Pelt

Linebacker

No. 10

Michigan State

"All-Pro the past two seasons. Van Pelt is stuck with several cliched characteristics: Blond hair, the accepted 'perfect athletic build,' All-American college player. But life has been bumpy at times, and the death of his father magnified his insecurity. For several years he felt more comfortable around the team's ball boys rather than with teammates.

Born in Owosso, Michigan, he was a football and baseball hero at Michigan State and even had some serious baseball offers as a pitcher. Brad has never been entirely comfortable with the Big City; he still lives in Michigan."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"Another fine season was 1977 for Brad as he was named to the All-NFC squad. A two-time participant in the Pro Bowl, he won All-NFC first-team honors from both the AP and New York Daily News in 1976.

Brad won the Maxwell Trophy at Michigan State in 1972. He had major league offers as a pitcher after setting a Spartan strikeout record."

-1978 Topps No. 270

-Named to All-NFC squad, capping an outstanding 1977 campaign for the Giants.

-Was winner of the Maxwell Trophy, highlighting a brilliant collegiate career.

-Received major league baseball offers after setting Michigan State strikeout record.

-1978 Topps Holsum No. 22

1978 Profile: Harry Carson

Middle Linebacker

No. 53

South Carolina State

"In the pick-up games as a kid in South Carolina, he says he was one of the last ones picked, but he grew suddenly at age 13 and by the time he was in college, his size and apparent frown 'scared people' he said. Carson was a defensive end at South Carolina State, where he was twice the most valuable player in his conference. Teams started running to the opposite side of the line so much that Carson was finally moved to middle guard.

Born in Florence, South Carolina, where he still visits but, well, 'I like New York. New York is a young man's town.' In college, he studied 'women and physical education.' "

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"A defensive lineman for four seasons at South Carolina State, Harry has proven to be a premier draft selection by the Giants. Moved to middle linebacker by the club, he learned the position swiftly and took over as the starter midway through his rookie campaign of 1976.

Harry was credited with 119 tackles as a rookie with two quarterback sacks, and helped save a 12-9 upset of the Redskins with a key fumble recovery after a devastating hit. He's a future All-Pro.

Harry lists music as his favorite hobby."

-1978 Topps No. 393

1978 Profile: Troy Archer

Defensive Tackle

No. 77

Colorado

"The Giants' coaches predict he'll be All-Pro within two years. 'Nobody can block him now,' says assistant Joe Galat.

Drafted No. 1 in 1976, Archer was one of 11 seniors taken in the first 10 rounds of that draft from the University of Colorado. With a humble college career, he was the least publicized player on his team, but once made 31 tackles in one game against Missouri.

Born in Whittier, California, he played fullback for one year in high school, but says he and his coach 'mutually agreed, to make him a defensive lineman. Troy never says much. He never has to, really."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"A strong, quick and determined player, Troy is an outstanding competitor, considered to be of future All-Pro calibre. He excels at getting to the ball carrier.

The Giants' first draft selection for 1976, he enjoyed a powerful rookie season for the club. Troy stepped in as a starter midway through the campaign and provided superb play. At season's end, he was named to the Pro Football Writers' Second Team All-Rookie squad and was Giants' rookie of the year.

Troy lists chess as one of his many interests."

-1978 Topps No. 492

1978 Profile: Larry Csonka

Running Back

No. 39

Syracuse

"Sensitive, sometimes overly so, to the thought of retirement. 1977 might have been a total loss had he not gained 100 yards for the only time in the season finale (and even then it took an overtime period to do it). Madison Avenue was even losing interest in him until that game, but now he's back on the tube with a word from various sponsors.

Born in Stow, Ohio, Csonka played at Syracuse in the midst of that school's methodical production of top backs.

Do you that this man once elbowed a bear during a camping trip? But the Giants fear he isn't that imposing anymore."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The all-time leading rusher among active NFC runners, Larry starred for the Dolphins in three Super Bowl games. He does television commercials for a shaving company."

-1978 Topps No. 25

R.I.P. Dan Reeves