Category Archives: CFL

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Mitchel, Eric

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The New England Patriots

A backup runningback to Barry Sanders, Eric Mitchel was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1989 during the 6th round from Oklahoma. A tremendous athlete with deceptive speed Mitchel would not make the final roster of the Patriots. Instead he’d go onto greater glory in the WLAF drafted in the 2nd round of the positional draft by the Orlando Thunder in 1991. Mitchel would be used primarily as a receiver through the first half of the season, but soon thereafter was inserted back into his native runningback position. He’d tear it up- rushing for an impressive 6.7 yards a carry. Eric even got some kick return time in with 276 yards on 8 returns, and a whopping 34.5 yards. The Ultimate 1992 card also depicts him making a throw- which he completed for a touchdown of 53 yards. His impressive all around 1991 season would ultimately result in Eric being named 2nd team All World.

Eric would return to the NFL in 1992 signing with the Cowboys, but was waived in March of that year. Mitchel would move up to the CFL where he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos helping them win the 81st Grey Cup in 1993. In 1994, Mitchel would play for the Las Vegas Posse in the CFLUSA, -unfortunately the most unsuccessful CFLUSA team. After 9 seasons in football, Mitchel retired but has spent time in real estate in and around Dallas, Tx.  Of note, you probably have seen the former Thunder player on late night TV as if you look closely at the security detail- you may just see him on the TV show “Cheaters” as one of the blurred out private investigators.

G 10   Rush 42    Yds  281   Avg  6.7    Lg 58   Td  3   |   Rec  26    Yds  312    Avg 12.0   Lg  75    Td 1
Kr  8   Yds  276   Avg 34.5     Lg  96t    Td  1   |  Att 1  Comp 1  Yds 53  Pct 100  Td  1   Int 0  Rat 158.3

CFL

Smith, Demetrius “Pee Wee”

Card: Jogo 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o CFL

Pee Wee was signed by the Calgary Stamps as a free agent in 1990 where initially he was utilized as a kick and punt returner. (He’d have 1 kick return and 4 punt returns for touchdowns over his career including 2 in 1991.) Smith over the next 5 seasons would be utilized more and more as a receiver culminating in 1994 where he had a career high 840 yards including a 106 yarder for a touchdown. Perhaps Smith’s most important moment was the catch he made in 1991 from Danny Barrett that took the Stampeders to the Grey Cup for the first time in 20 years – and 1992 Pee Wee would help bring the cup home to Calgary. He’d be with the team through 1997, but an injury would sideline him for the entire season 1996 effectively ending his career.

G  90     Rec  207     Yds 3136        Avg 15.1     Td 11      Lg 106t  |
KR 105        Yds  2458      Avg 23.4    Td 1   Lg 89t |
PR  231        Yds  2451      Avg 10.6    Td 4   Lg 87t

AFL, CFL, NFL, wfl, WLAF

Stephenson, Kay

Card: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Sacramento Surge

Kay Stephenson would get his break playing backup quarterback in the AFL for the San Diego Chargers in 1967 and the Bills in 1968. Stephenson played in the WFL and was the starting quarterback in the first game of the league’s existence for the Jacksonville Sharks. In 1975 he’d be named player personnel director and offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Express. After the WFL  folded he’d be hired on by legendary coach Chuck Knox to be an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Rams where he’d follow Knox to the Buffalo Bills, becoming a member of Knox’s coaching tree.

Stephenson was named head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1983, replacing Knox who was hired by the Seattle Seahawks. He is most notable in his stint as the man behind the Bills helmet color change from white to red. It is rumored that the reason behind this was a need to differentiate the Bills from the rest of their division to help the team cut down on interceptions. (At that time the Patriots, Dolphins and Colts all had white helmets.) After an ignominious debut with the Bills where the team posted a  10-26 record, Kay would be fired in 1986. He’d actually be selling real estate when the  WLAF approached him in 1990 to coach the Sacramento Surge. While the team had a rough inaugural season- Stephenson would guide the team in its second season to a World Bowl II with a dynamic offense led by former NFLer David Archer.  After their thrilling victory over the Riders– I got Kay’s autograph on his two cards as they were leaving the locker room. I remember quite distinctly that he smoked like a chain smoker.

After the WLAF folded, he’d hop over to the Sacramento Gold Miners of the CFL to coach there for the 1993 and 1994 season. Stephenson during his time with the Gold Miners would post a 16-19-1 record before the franchise relocated to San Antonio and renamed itself the Texans. With the Texans the team posted a  12-6 record and qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the semi-finals. With the disbanding of the other CFLUSA teams after the 1995 season, Kay would find himself in the assistants’ chair again until he was promoted to head coach for the Edmonton Eskimos for the 1998 season where he resigned after a 9-9 season. Interesting tidbit about Stephenson is that he has been involved with 5 teams that experienced major downturns, contractions, or all together folded (Surge, Goldminers, Texans, Express, and Sharks). Below are his WLAF coaching statistics:

G 20    W  11     L   9     T  0     Pct .555