Tag Archives: frankfurt galaxy

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Wright, Willie Don

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/23 Received: 7/30 (7 days)

Willie Don Wright walked onto the Wyoming football team where he played outside linebacker and defensive end for the Cowboys. He was signed in 1990 as a free agent by the Phoenix Cardinals, who then allocated Wright to the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League in 1992. During the season Willie recorded 5 sacks for the Galaxy before returning stateside to the Cards.

Willie was placed on the practice squad and then was converted successfully from linebacker to tight end. -He was active for 9 games but didn’t see any playing time. The following year in ’93, Wright was cut after the team decided to go with less tight ends on the roster, and then found himself again on the short end of the stick in 94 and 96. He’d briefly play in the CFL with the Las Vegas Posse in 1995, before he finished his degree at Wyoming in music education.

He wrote me a nice note thanking me for my letter. Wright currently lives in Wyoming where he teaches music at the Junior High level.

NFL, WLAF

Frank, Garry

psetwlaf91 gfrank

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  5/16    Received: 10/26      (163 days)

Garry Frank was a valued offensive lineman at Mississippi State, where he demonstrated versatility playing center and guard on offense, and nose guard on defense.   Frank was also a distinguished shotput and powerlifting champion.

He’d be selected in the 7th round of the 1988 draft by the Broncos. After being released by Denver, Frank signed with the Atlanta Falcons, but spent his entire season on injured reserve.

In 1991 Frank was selected by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF during the first round of the offensive line portion of the draft. It was a homecoming of sorts for Garry as he was born in Germany. After the season he’d earn First-team All World League Honors. After the season he signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, but did not make the squad. He’d play again for the Galaxy in 1992 and return stateside when the league decided to reorganize after the season.

Frank returned to the weight room where he became a force in the weightlifting community setting world records in power lifting.

CFL, NFL, NFLE, XFL

Barnes, Pat

to00 barnesCard: Topps 2000
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

Pat Barnes played for Cal during the late 90s, and was a second team All-American, under future NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Putting up great numbers in the West Coast offense and defining himself as a future star, Barnes was a 4th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. He’d get lost in the shuffle behind Rich Gannon and Trent Green, and sign with the Oakland Raiders the following year.

Pat is best remembered for his time in the NFLE for the Frankfurt Galaxy, where he defined himself as perhaps the best quarterback in that franchise’s extended history. He’d lead the team to a World Bowl victory in 1999 throwing 3 touchdown passes in the win over the Dragons.

In between his two stints with the Galaxy, he’d return stateside to ride the bench for the 49ers in 1999.

Perhaps Pat would have etched his name more definitively into the Galaxy record books if he just had some more time, but with a new league on the horizon, Barnes jumped at the opportunity to play for the San Fransisco Demons of the XFL in 2001, backing up former Cal QB Mike Pawlawski. The Demons played in the Million Dollar Game, but lost to the Los Angeles Xtreme 38-6.

Pat again dabbled in another league, heading North to the CFL, this time to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in 2002. Another short run on the offseason roster of the Browns the following year, returned him to Winnipeg in 2003 where he retired after the season. Currently he lives in Los Angeles.

NFLE    Att 414     Comp 232    Yds 3422      Pct 56.0      Td 30    Int 18    Rat  89.3   |    Rush  38     Yds   179    Avg  4.7      Td  3      Lg   24