Cards: Topps 1977, Topps 1978 Acquired: 2/16/2013, Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament See also: Roosevelt Leaks
After having success getting Roosevelt Leaks through the mail back in 2012, I thought I’d pull a few more cards just in case I ran into him at a Longhorn function. Rosey had also done a Longhorn Legends luncheon at Fogo De Chao later on that I wasn’t able to attend, but I only had to wait a few months more, as he was at the Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament at Highland Lanes. He signed these 2 cards, which match the Longhorn cards I sent him back in 2012 exactly. While he was signing these two cards I asked him if he’d ever grow his lambchops back. He chuckled at me and said that “No, those days are long gone.”
Kahlil Hill was a 2002 6th round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons from the University of Iowa, where he displayed consistency, tallying at least a catch in all 35 contests he was active for. At the end of his career for the Hawkeyes, he recorded 152 receptions, 1892 yards, and 15 touchdowns and also received the Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Player of the Year Honors in 2001. Hill provided quarterbacks a large, slender target, at 6-3, 195, but his 40 speed didn’t showcase his game speed that well, so he slipped to the Falcons as the 16th best rated receiver. Unable to crack the Falcons squad in ’02 after playing in one game, he spent his time on the rosters of the Saints, Lions, and Bills through 2004. Kahlil experienced some mild success when he went to the CFL to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2005 and 2006 as a punt returner and back up receiver. A brief off-season with the Jags later in 2006, returned him to the CFL this time as a member of the Roughriders in 2007, and finally the British Columbia Lions in 2008 before he retired.
Martin Nance played wide receiver alongside future Steeler quarterback Ben Rothlisberger at the University of Miami, Ohio. At 6’3″, 213 Nance virtually towered over the smaller defensive backs of the MAC. In his Sophomore season (2003,) Nance absolutely dominated competition posting 90 catches for 1,498 yards and 11 touchdowns. While his junior season was marred by a knee injury, Martin returned his Senior season and posted another 80 receptions, 1,107 yards and 14 TDs. He ran a 4.58 40 and struggled at the combine. Martin was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a free agent contract in 2006, but did not make the squad. The Vikings snapped him up soon thereafter, and he remained on their practice squad through the 2007 season. During this period Martin logged 4 receptions for 33 yards. He’d be reunited with Rothlisberger in Pittsburgh in 2008, winning a Super Bowl and staying with the Steelers through 2009.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
