Card: Topps AAF 2019 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o The St. Louis Battlehawks Sent: 2/18 Received: 2/29 (11 days) Failure: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Tim Lewis was an imposing defensive back out of Pittsburgh. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with their 1st round pick in 1983. Lewis’ career was off to an incredible start. He started just 7 games in his rookie year at right corner, but recorded 5 interceptions for 111 yards while forcing 3 fumbles. In 1984 Tim returned a pick 99 yards for a TD, en route to adding 7 more interceptions on his resume, and 4 more the following year in 1985. It’d be then that Lewis’ football playing career came to an end during 1986, when he suffered a terrible neck injury against the Bears.
In 1987, Tim went into coaching, first at Texas A&M, then later at SMU, Pitt and then back into the pro ranks with the Steelers in 1995. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000 with Pittsburgh, then joined the Giants in that same capacity from 2004-2006. Since that time, he saw stops with the Panthers, Seahawks, Falcons, and 49ers.
2019 was an interesting year in football. With the Alliance of American Football on the radar, Tim took the coaching reins of the Birmingham Iron. They’d finish 5-3, as only the second team to clench a playoff berth in the short lifespan of the AAF. The team very much reflected Tim’s style with a smash mouth defense that begrudgingly gave up yards.
Unable to get his autograph through his home address, I sent this card to the Battlehawks where he was coaching the defensive backs of that solid squad, before COVID wiped out the XFL in 2020.
Trey Williams hails from Texas A&M- a school full of rich history in producing runningbacks. While playing for the Aggies, he ran 204 time for 1343 yards and 18 TDs in 3 years (2012-2014). What was most impressive was his gaudy 6.6 yards per carry. He also caught 38 passes for 330 yards and a TD as well. Although he had a solid combine, Williams ultimately was not selected in the 2015 draft.
He’d sign with his hometown Houston Texans after the draft, then quickly join the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, the Patriots, the Dolphins, and finally the Colts- all before 2015 came to a close. After being cut by the Colts in mid-2016, Trey kept hustling. He signed with the Steelers early in 2017, then briefly joined the Argos in the CFL. In November of 2017, Williams signed with the Dallas Cowboys again where he’d be waived in final cuts during 2018.
I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to have highlight film that made preseason sportscenter.. such as scoring a TD on his first ever preseason carry from 20+ yards out, or returning a punt for a 64 yard TD with the Steelers- but somehow miss out on making the squad.
Trey opted to head to the new frontier of the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He’d be assigned to the San Antonio Commanders. After missing the first two weeks of the season for personal reasons, Trey played in the next 6 finishing with 40 carries for 205 yards and a TD. He’d also catch 9 passes for 71 yards and a TD as well.
An exciting sparkplug, Williams provided a change of pace to lead back Kenneth Farrow II in the Commanders backfield. An outside the tackles kind of guy, Williams is very good at dodging people in space. This makes him quite effective at screen passes and out in the flat. He quickly became my favorite player just behind Greg Ward Jr.
His finest moment in the AAF came in Week 7 against the formidable Salt Lake City Stallions. The Stallions had a very stubborn defense. After trading field position for most of the game and keeping it close, QB Marquise Williams dropped a screen pass out to Trey. He bobbed and weaved through the SLC defense 36 yards and then dove into the endzone for a TD. It was really incredible to watch!
After the AAF folded, Trey joined the XFL 2020, where he was the first player selected in the open portion of the draft by the Seattle Dragons. He’d be reunited with his coach from the Commanders, Mike Riley, and a bevvy of former teammates including Kenneth Farrow. He ran 34 times for 122 yards and a TD for the Dragons, and catch 8 passes for 44 yards and a TD- before the league folded after week 5.
I first missed out on an in person signing in Houston during 2019. I would’ve driven there just to get his autograph on a bunch of cards and meet him, but I had been to in person events frequently that year, and I did not wish to antagonize my wife. I also had the Topps AAF Now card I was worried about risking, so these just sat, and then I added a few more to the stack including the XFL card.
After a while I just decided to buy a few certified cards of Trey, thinking I’d call it a day, but a few months later my partner in crime, Mark, acted on an address I had long suspected of being Trey’s- and hit pay dirt. It took me a bit to get back to Trey. I miss the Commanders and the AAF a lot, but frankly, we all know it wouldn’t have made it probably through 2020 – because of the pandemic. (See the XFL 2020.) Still after being stuck in the mud the last few months on AAF/XFL send outs, I went back to it taking the risk that Trey would ink these cards. I would have preferred a different color than silver- but I can’t look this gift horse in the mouth.
Card: Topps AAF NOW 2019 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home Sent: 5/9 Received: 8/22 (105 days) Pending: TTM 2020, C/o Work
Karter Schult was the darling of the Salt Lake City Stallions defense in the Alliance of American Football. The tweener defensive end/ linebacker paced the stubborn Stallion defense with 7 sacks, 25 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He graces the cover of this Topps AAF Now card- the only one oddly enough the Stallions and Karter ever appeared in. For his 2 sack, 4 QB hit effort, Karter was named AAF Defensive Player of the Week. It should also be noted that this takedown of Zach Mettenberger ended his season.
Schult is Northern Iowa’s all-time leader in tackles for loss and second in sacks as just a two year starter. His final season there in 2016 was a tour de force, as he earned the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive FCS college football player. With a non-stop motor, Karter had 74 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 2 forced fumbles and a pick that year.
He wasn’t selected in 2017, but spent time in camp with the Cleveland Browns where he had a very good preseason, with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 4 games. He’d be inexplicably cut, and join the Spring League, recording 3 sacks in two contests, and then after his barn burner 2019 season with the Stallions, was in camp with the Vikings.
I was surprised that Karter was not selected by any XFL squads during the 2020 draft. I ever talked to some personnel on the Roughnecks, who told me that they wanted to select him, but were prevented to do so by the league’s main offices which really made me shake my head.
I contacted Karter through email, and he kindly offered to sign his card for me. It took a bit longer than expected because of COVID, but he did get it done. He liked the custom I did as well, and I was flattered he wanted one so after a few months, I got this out to him, but I’m still waiting for one to come back.
I’d say- outside of his adorable wife- I am one of his most ardent supporters, and I hope that he will get another shot and keep plugging away at his pro dreams.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
