Tag Archives: all world league 1992

NFL, WLAF

Brown, Ivory Lee (2)

phomem ibrownCard: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: IP 2015, Adrian Peterson Day, Palestine,Tx.
See Also:  Ivory Lee Brown
Failure:  TTM 2011, C/o Home

I had tried- and failed to acquire the bell cow of the Riders offense TTM a few years ago.  Knowing that Ivory Lee Brown was Adrian Peterson‘s uncle, I hoped to track him down at the Peterson event.

wcwlaf92 ibrownI got Adrian early, but Ivory arrived in style- late. There were intermittent downpours in which I’d get soaked, and then dry out long enough to baste, but it was totally worth it. Ivory was really nice and gave me his autograph on this card and photo that I had.  He’s the same giant man mountain- maybe a bit more reticent and quiet from his playing days; However, he flashed that clever smile when I asked him about his gaudy yards per carry from his college days at Arkansas Pine Bluff. He also very much liked when I brought up how he was the World League’s leading rusher in 1992.

The photo he signed was from a set given away in Central Texas’ HEB Super Markets promoting the Riders 1992 season. The 1992 Wild Card WLAF card was the only issued card that featured him in a San Antonio Riders uniform. I got it many years after the league disbanded and had him pen the card at the event.

From what I understand, he still lives in the Palestine area.

NFL, WLAF

Brantley, John ‘Rambo’ (2)

wclwaf92 brantleyCard: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:   Received:  (days)
See Also: John Brantley ‘Rambo’

I had to work very hard to get John Brantley, since he has a very strong family line of football playing sons, and John III who plays quarterback for Florida sucks up the Google hits. I finally got an updated Meiselman list with John Sr.’s address, and shot the last card out I had of him. He’s still considered a legend at Georgia where he played college ball, but he is also well regarded for his time with the Birmingham Fire of the WLAF, of which he spent two seasons with.

After playing a season with the Fire, he returned to the NFL, but did not stick on the roster of Cardinals. It is said only some slim 3% of WLAF players stood a chance at returning to the NFL,  His second season with the Fire was even more impressive than the first, as Brantley had 77 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. Brantley became one of the few players that was able to make it back to the NFL however, sticking on the roster of the Washington Redskins for the 1992 season.

John has also been recognized by the Bulldogs for being an outstanding contributor to the Florida-Georgia rivalry and has been inducted to the rivalry game’s Hall of Fame.

 

NFL, WLAF

Clack, Darryl “Darryl Clackers”

to88 clackCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Topps 1988.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Texas Autograph Club Promotion*
Sent: 7/1      Received: 9/28  (89 days)
Failure:  TTM 2010, C/o Home

Darryl Clack had an outstanding career for the Arizona Sun Devils. His freshman season he ran for 606 yards on 111 carries and followed it up with 932 yards and 9 touchdowns his sophomore year. Running for 1052 yards his junior year, it looked like everything was on the up and up for Darryl Clackers, but with a broken leg, he’d be sidelined for nearly his entire senior season.

The Dallas Cowboys were looking for an heir apparent to aging runningback Tony Dorsett in 1986. The Cowboys used their second round pick to select the electrifying Clack (who was still rehabbing from that broken leg that he sustained during his senior season). Still things looked great for Clack, until fate intervened -and the USFL imploded. You see the Dallas Cowboys had shrewdly invested a 6th round pick in runningback virtuoso Herschel Walker, hoping that wcwlaf92 clackhe’d become available, so instead of becoming the Cowboys back of the future, Darryl became the kick returner of today with the arrival of Walker in camp. Clack was seldom used during his rookie season. He’d lodge 19 kick returns for 421 yards including a 51 yard long.

In 1987, with Dorsett and Walker firmly entrenched now as starters, Clack didn’t see anytime at runningback but in 1988 with Dorsett signing with Denver, Clack made 17 receptions for 126 yards and his first professional touchdown. Darryl also had 690 yards on kick returns for the Cowboys, marking a career high 870 yards from scrimmage. After the season with Jerry Jones in place as the new owner, longtime coach Tom Landry would be fired after a  3-13 season, and with Jimmy Johnson in as head coach, the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings. While playing only half the season for the team in 1989, Clack did not see any significant playing time, and was cut. Darryl signed with the Browns in 1990, however he did not make the squad.

Out of football for a whole season, Darryl was given a second ult92 thunderchance to play by the WLAF’s Orlando Thunder in 1992, who were retooling after a mediocre 5-5 season under new head coach Galen Hall. Clack put up great numbers for the Thunder and finished as the league’s 3rd leading rusher, helping the team make an appearance in World Bowl II. He’d earn All World League honors for his efforts. As the league reorganized after the season, Darryl officially hung up his cleats and retired.

He’s spent time in the banking industry for a while there at Compass in Arizona. I had tried in vain to get him but had gotten no response. Recently the Texas Autograph Club hosted a signing through the site and I jumped at the chance to get him on 3 cards. I had hoped that Clack would answer my questions for me about his playing time in the WLAF, but all I got back were the autographs.

NFL     G/Gs  51/1     Rush 29    Yds 113     Avg  3.9      Td 2      Lg  17
Rec  22  Yds 213  Avg 9.7   Td 1   Lg 44
Kr 83    Yds 1802   Avg 21.7    Td 0   Lg 51

WLAF  Rush117     Yds 517    Avg 4.4   Td 6    Lg 23t
Rec 27   Yds 250    Avg      Td 0   Lg 22