Category Archives: usfl

Corso, Lee

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Helmet Insert
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 11/12 RECEIVED: 11/22 (10 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2021, C/o ESPN

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Lee Corso was a great athlete and after high school was immediately identified by the Brookyn Dodgers as a baseball prospect to play short stop.
  • Opted to go to college instead at Florida State, where he played both defensive back and quarterback in college from 1953-1957.
  • Possessing great speed and anticipation, Corso set the school’s career interception record at the time with 14.
  • Although he had a successful college career, he was not selected in the NFL draft.
  • Went into coaching at the college ranks almost immediately, spending time at Maryland (1959-65) and Navy (1966-68) as a positional coach.
  • From there in 1969 Corso served as head coach of Louisville through 1972.
  • He’s perhaps most iconically known as head coach of Indiana, a role he served in from 1973-82.
  • Led the Hoosiers to two winning seasons, including an upset victory over the Brigham Young Cougars in the Holiday Bowl.
  • Finished 41-68-2 at Indiana.
  • Spent one year at Northern Illinois University going 4-6-1.
  • College coaching record is 73-85-6.
  • Head coach of the USFL Orlando Renegades in 1985, where he went 5-13.
  • Lee then joined the WLAF where he served as general manager of the Orlando Thunder for the 1991 season.
  • He was very excited to be a part of the venture, but due to ongoing commitments to ESPN, probably couldn’t return to the squad for their 1992 campaign.
  • Has been an analyst since 1987 for ESPN.

NOTES:

Lee Corso to me, is like the Dick Vitale of college football. He’s beloved by all and everybody loves his quips and antics. I tried him first via ESPN, but after that latest (and multiple other) failure(s), I think the door on TTM through the network is now closed. He has very few cards. I think he had a Press Pass Legends or something like that. -I think I flushed that on the first attempt that failed.

Truesdell, Nick

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played TE for the University of Cincinnati and Grand Rapids Community College.
  • Went undrafted in 2013.
  • Played Arena ball with the Colorado Ice and Bemidji Axemen of the IFL in 2014.
  • Spent the next 3 seasons playing with the Shock (2014-15) and Steel (2016).
  • After not catching on with the Colts in 2016, Rattlers (2017), Stampeders and Gladiators (2018), made the practice squad of the Vikings in 2018.
  • Signed with the AAF Salt Lake City Stallions in late 2018 and had a solid season for the team, hauling in 24 passes for 269 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Joined Jets, and later the Vipers during 2019 playing in the XFL’s 2020 campaign.
  • Spent time in The Spring League with the Aviators in late 2020.
  • Selected by the New Jersey Generals of the New USFL in 2022, but was released before the season due to a groin injury.

ARENA

RECYDSAVGTDLG
127152712.038N/a

AAF

RECYDSAVGTDLG
2426911.2339

XFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
99110.1027

Parilli, Babe (1930-2017)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-152

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Had a marvelous journey as a quarterback playing through 18 seasons for 3 leagues and 8 teams from 1952-69.
  • Played for Kentucky from 1949-51.
  • In an era not renown for passing, threw for 1627 yards (114/203) and 23 TDs to 12 INT in 1950.
  • 4th pick of the 1952 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
  • Joined CFL Ottawa Rough Riders in 1954, playing there through 55, and also again in 59.
  • Returned to NFL for a one year stint with the Browns in 56.
  • Again, played for Packers in 57 and 58.
  • After one year stint with the CFL again in 59, played for the Oakland Raiders in 1960.
  • After middling success with Oakland, was traded as part of a blockbuster deal to the Boston Patriots.
  • Played for the Patriots from 1961-67.
  • At time of departure from Boston, owned all the franchise’s passing records and many AFL ones as well.
  • Retired after winning Super Bowl III as Joe Namath‘s backup in Super Bowl III.
  • Had extensive coaching career.
  • Passed away in 2017 at the age of 87 after a battle with cancer.

NOTES:

In an age of more sexy names, I really hadn’t considered the legacy of Babe, compared to guys like Tom Brady (of course), or even Drew Bledsoe or Steve Grogan for that matter. -That being said Babe paved the way for those guys.

AFL/NFL

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
333015522268146.617822059.6
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
38315224.02333

CFL

*Stats not available pre-1959

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
522337344.244N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
4205.0015
PYDSAVGLG
65249738.458