Category Archives: WLAF

Arena, WLAF

O’Hara, Pat

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM, 2010. C/o Orlando Predators
Sent:  4/28   Received: 5/28  (31 days)

Pat O’Hara was allocated to the Ohio Glory (from Tampa Bay) to back up starting quarterback Babe Laufenberg for the 1992 season but it turned into a full blown quarterback controversy between Laufenberg, Glen Frey, and Pat O’Hara for the starting job. After the season was over he was picked up by the Chargers and thenRedskins, before moving into a starting capacity in the AFL playing for the Orlando Predators from 1995-2000. From 2001-02 he played for the Toronto Phantoms, and then finally the Tampa Bay Storm from 2003-2006 before retiring. It was during his Arena career he built his playing resume winning 3 Arena Bowls in 5 tries.

The onetime backup to Rodney Peete and Todd Marinovich at USC, spent time at a variety of head coaching and coordinator jobs in the Arena league before being promoted to head coach of the Orlando Predators in 2010. Oddly enough Pat has also spent some time consulting for movies and actors to assist in authenticity of football films. I received his autographs courtesy of the Predators in about a month.

Glory   Games n/a       Att 201       Comp 116     Pct 57.7     Yds 1118
Td 3    Int 11     Rat  57.0

WLAF

Norseth, Mike

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o  home
Sent: 6/11  Received: 6/18  (7 days)

Mike Norseth played for Kansas during the mid-eighties and could flat out throw the rock, being named the MVP of the 1986 Blue Gray game. Unfortunately being drafted by the Browns in the 7th round after Bernie Kosar took the reins, meant Norseth would ride the bench. He signed with the Bengals and played in one game, rushing for 5 yards but never moved into the starting role in stops in additional cities in Houston or Green Bay.

In 1992, Mike was drafted by the Birmingham Fire and was named starter after the departure of Brent Pease to the Knights. Mike saw starting action in 10 contests but rarely had time to settle and was forced to scramble regularly.  Regardless he would still lead the Birmingham fire to their best record at 7-2-1 and the team into the playoffs for its second season.

Currently Mike resides in Sandy, Utah does announcing for KU games.  He also sits on the board of directors for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. I got Norseth’s autograph on his cards after locating his home address, in a short 7 days.

Games 10   Att 259     Comp 144   Pct 55.5      Yds 1634       Td 4      Int  12      Rat 60.5

WLAF

Johnson, Ricky

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991.
Acquired: In Person, San Antonio Riders v. Montreal Machine

After leading the Terrapins in both rushing and kick returning as a Junior, Ricky was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in 1990, and then was drafted by Montreal in the 5th round of the WLAF positional draft.  All-purpose tailback Ricky Johnson would lead the Montreal Machine attack from the backfield, as the team’s major weakness was a propensity for its quarterbacks to get injured. Because of this Ricky finished as the team’s career leader in rushing. In season two Ricky appeared to be off to a fast start as he was ranked second in the league in rushing behind San Antonio runningback Ivory Lee Brown. The team continued to rely on him heavily but his season was ended prematurely when Johnson suffered a catastrophic knee injury against the Ohio Glory.  -Montreal dropped their last seven contests.

Games  14        Att  159         Yds 687          Avg  4.3             TD 2               Lg 56