Tag Archives: tampa bay storm

Arena, NFL, NFLE

Agee, Mel “Big Bopper” (1968-2008)

Card: Star Pics 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Indianapolis Colts

Widely regarded as one of the best defensive lineman to come through the University of Illinois at 6’5″, 300,  Mel Agee was a stand out player while playing for the Fightin’ Illini notching 15 sacks. With a nice burst and a good first move off the line, the Colts made the “Big Bopper” their 6th round draft choice in 1990, and he’d make the roster of the team making 29 tackles and a forced fumble mainly on mop up duty and starting in just one game his rookie season.   His 1992 season was pretty much lost in the lineup or injured as Mel suited up for one game but did not make a tackle.

1993 saw a shift of addresses to Atlanta for the Bopper. He’d have his best season playing in Atlanta’s 3-4 set up, making career highs with 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 7 starts.  1994 and 1995 would see Agee slide into the background again, and by the end of that season he’d retire.

In 1998 his number was dialed up by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFLE and Agee made 2 sacks before returning stateside to play for the Arena Football League. Over a 5 year career with the Tampa Bay Storm Mel made 8 receptions for 51 yards and 5 TDs. He’d also make 25 tackles, 9 pass blocks and 3 fumble recoveries before finally retiring in 2002.  Tragically, in 2008, Mel passed away of a sudden heart attack.

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Orlando Thunder
See Also: Stacey Simmons (2)

Drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by Indianapolis, Stacey Simmons was a long bomb threat and return man for the Florida Gators. He’d spend one season with the Colts, starting 1 game, making 3 receptions for 25 yards against the Chiefs in in week 5 and 1 catch for 8 yards against the Giants that year.  Contributing primarily on special teams, Stacey had 19 kick returns for 348 yards, but would fail to make the roster of the Colts in 1991.

Signed by the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992, Stacey would make 6 catches for 55 yards for the Thunder.   While I was scanning through the player rosters I missed Stacey on my original run through that season. Being the obsessive compulsive geek I was, it drove me nuts enough that I wrote the Thunder for his autograph. The Thunder kindly forwarded my card to the 49ers, whom he had recently signed with, and he signed my card there. Simmons would continue to play football in the Arena leagues for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 2 championships with them.

Since football Simmons has become a shrewd businessman opening up his own training facility in Florida that specializes in boot camps for many sports, conditioning, and speed. (staceysimmons.com).

G  N/a       Rec  6     Yds   55      Avg   9.2      Td 0      Lg  15

Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE, WLAF

Ervin, Corris

Cards: ProSet WLAF Helmet Card 1991, ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o work.
Sent: 10/15  Received: 10/26 (11 days)

Corris Ervin would be an outstanding defensive back for the Central Florida Knights- being so good as to be drafted by the Denver Broncos with their 5th round pick in the 1988 draft. Ervin would spend time on the San Fransisco 49ers developmental squad in 1989 and would walk by me a few times in Dallas Cowboys Training camp in 1990. In 1991, the London Monarchs would draft Corris first in the WLAF positional draft for the defensive secondary. He’d form a cornerstone of the Monarchs #1 defense and secondary, helping the team win the World Bowl in 1991. After winning All-World League honors, he’d return to the states after the 1991 season, but in 1995 decided to take another shot- this time with the NFLE playing for the Scottish Claymores. Corris would make another 2 interceptions playing for the team and return back to the United States to play in the CFL for the Baltimore Stallions and in Canada with the Blue Bombers. In 1996 Ervin would go to the Arena Football league playing for both the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators that year. He’d hang onto the roster of the Predators through 1999 where he was then traded to the Florida Bobcats, retiring after the season. Corris would also make an appearance as a defensive back in the movie “The Waterboy”. I started trying to track down players through social network sites and quickly found Corris after I was able to acquire teammate Howard Feggins. He kindly signed 3 cards for me and currently runs his own cabinetry business out of the Orlando area. Below are his statistics from the London Monarchs in 1991.

G/Gs  10/10   Tac  37  Sac 0  Fum n/a    Int 2   Yds 13  Avg 6.5  Td 0  lg 13