Category Archives: WLAF

NFL, WLAF

Jackson, Patrick “Action”

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  10/7   Received: 10/15  (8 days)

Patrick Jackson went to Stephen F. Austin in Nacodoches, Texas where he set receiving marks for the school. Playing in the shadow of many larger institutions including LSU, UT, and even A&M at the time, players from SFA really didn’t receive much attention coming out of college. He’d be a free agent signee of the Falcons in 1990, playing in the Red Gun offense, but he would not make the squad.

The Ohio Glory would take him during the 1992 WLAF draft and along with receivers Walter Wilson and Melvin Patterson they’d make one of the most prolific receiving corps in the league that season, despite being quarterbacked by the triumvirate of  Babe Laufenberg, Glen Frey, and Pat O’Hara. Nicknamed “Action Jackson”, due in part to the movie with the similar title starring Carl Weathers, and a personal motto of “Make it happen,” Jackson would chip in 16 receptions for 167 yards that season, but his further football adventures would be derailed by an ankle injury and the end of the WLAF.

Since football Action has become an insurance agent, a motivational speaker, and has written quite a few books. I’ve been using Sotl.com recently, and found his profile through the site where we
reminisced about the Riders-Glory game from 1992 with the hail storm.  With a few extra cards in the mail for him to keep, he kindly personalized one for me in 8 days and also wrote me a really nice note and encouraging me to keep in touch.

Rec 16      Yds 167     Avg  10.4     lg  27      Td 0   |
Rush 2         Yds   35      Avg   17.5       lg 27      Td 0

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Bowick, Tony

Autograph Memorabilia
Stampede Inaugural Magazine Austin Wranglers
Acquired: Gift 2004

My cousin got me a game program full of autographs back in 2004, that I found recently when digging through some boxes.

Originally a 12th round selection of the Atlanta Falcons in 1989, Tony Bowick’s 13th and final season was with the Austin Wranglers in a career that spanned 3 professional leagues (WLAF, NFL, and AFL) playing for the Birmingham Fire, Charlotte Rage, Albany Firebirds, Grand Rapids Rampage, and Chicago Rush.

 

NFL, WLAF

Riley, Andre

Card: Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Washington IMG Marketing
Sent: 8/6    Received: 9/1  (25 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, KSBG Radio

A legend of the Washington Huskies program during the late 80s and early 90s, Andre Riley was the first player to ever surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the college. His senior season at Washington Andre led his team with 53 receptions for 1039 yards and 4 touchdowns. Initially a runningback, Riley converted to wide receiver and helped galvanize the squad towards their 1990 Rose Bowl Championship.

Andre would be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 12th round of the 1990 draft, but with a log jam at wide receiver behind Eddie Brown and Tim McGee, Riley would not make the squad.  He wouldn’t be out of work long when the London Monarchs would dial his number up in the second round of the wide receiver portion of the WLAF positional draft in 1991.

Finding a home on the London Monarchs, Andre would be part of a dynamic wide receiver pool of Dana Brinson, Jon Horton, and Tony Sargent. With quarterback Stan Gelbaugh throwing the rock all day, Riley would finish 3rd on the squad in 1991 with 30 receptions for 506 yards, a 16.9 yard average and 4 touchdowns- a number that would be considered starter quality anywhere else in the league. His best game perhaps came against the Knights, in a contest where he had 6 catches for 78 yards and a TD. At the conclusion of the season, he’d help his team down the Barcelona Dragons and win World Bowl I 21-7 in London.

He’d return stateside after the season, briefly playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and retire. Since that time Andre has been involved in marketing, working as a General Sales Manager for KBSG radio in Seattle and currently works for Washington IMG Marketing. I sent off for his card earlier this year to KBSG but got a response back from them indicating that he was no longer with the station. After doing more research I found another address at Washington IMG Marketing and took a stab there. Riley was kind enough to reply under a month, thanking me for remembering him and the league, and the extra card that he had already given to his daughter.  -A really nice return. Below are his WLAF statistics:

G 10   Rec 30    Yds  506     Avg 16.9     Td  4      Lg 62t