Tag Archives: las vegas posse

CFL

Volpe, Jon

Cards: All World 1991, Jogo 2018 CFL Alumni
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 10/23 Received: 11/2 (10 days)

At 5’7″, 200, I think it’d surprise people that Jon Volpe toted the rock at Stanford and in 1988 rushed for 1,027 yards on 228 carries for the Cardinal. He graduated with a BS and an MS in Industrial Engineering and earned honors as a 3 time All-Pac 10 Academic, and a Rhodes Scholar Nominee.

After not being selected in the 1991 NFL draft, Jon was selected by the British Columbia Lions of the CFL with the 4th overall pick. He earned CFL Rookie of the Year Honors, rushing for 1,395 yards and 16 TDs. He’d add another 941 yards and 13 TDs to CFL All-Star Honors in 1992. After a brief holdout and a down year in 1993, Jon joined the Las Vegas Posse of the CFLUSA initiative for 1994. He’d have another 182 yards on 43 carries and 3 TDs.

In 1995 Jon signed with the Pittsbugh Steelers, but a devastating shoulder injury ended his playing career during the preseason.

Jon lives in Tuscon, AZ and as of 2020 is the CEO of NOVA Home Loans, the largest privately held mortgage company in Arizona. He signed the All-World card for me, and tossed in the CFL Jogo Alumni card for me as well in 10 days flat.

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CFL, NFL, WLAF

Wright, Willie Don

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/23 Received: 7/30 (7 days)

Willie Don Wright walked onto the Wyoming football team where he played outside linebacker and defensive end for the Cowboys. He was signed in 1990 as a free agent by the Phoenix Cardinals, who then allocated Wright to the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League in 1992. During the season Willie recorded 5 sacks for the Galaxy before returning stateside to the Cards.

Willie was placed on the practice squad and then was converted successfully from linebacker to tight end. -He was active for 9 games but didn’t see any playing time. The following year in ’93, Wright was cut after the team decided to go with less tight ends on the roster, and then found himself again on the short end of the stick in 94 and 96. He’d briefly play in the CFL with the Las Vegas Posse in 1995, before he finished his degree at Wyoming in music education.

He wrote me a nice note thanking me for my letter. Wright currently lives in Wyoming where he teaches music at the Junior High level.

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Hart, Roy

psetwlaf91 hartCards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o work
Sent: 2/7    Received:  3/4    (24 days)

Roy Hart was a 6th round selection by the Seattle Seahawks out of South Carolina  in 1988. After injuring his hamstring in the opener, Roy didn’t see action on the field until the next year in 1989, where he played in 16 games and recorded 2 sacks and 18 tackles.

The London Monarchs drafted Roy in 1991, and he’d become an integral part of their monster defense as the starting nose tackle in the team’s 3-4 alignment.  The Monarchs were a relatively well received curiosity in London, and the defense was nicknamed “The Hart Attack Defense” after Roy. He’d finish the season with 10.5 sacks (2nd in the league behind teammate Danny Lockett) and a team leading 84 tackles.  The team finished 9-1 and cruised to a 21-0 victory over the Barcelona Dragons, powered largely by the team’s defense.Dick Vermeil during the World Bowl noted that Hart is a dangerous nose guard when he is allowed to use his quickness to jump around the center. Roy was named to the All-World League First team after the season.

ultwlaf92 tvsched 1Roy returned to the NFL as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders later that year, and then the Jets in 1992. He’d then play for the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1993, and the Las Vegas Posse in 1994.

Another difficult name to locate, I got lucky when I saw a photo from a person’s recent trip to Vegas that mentioned him, his NFL pedigree, and what he was currently up to. Cross referencing the information led me to a networking site, and gave me his job. Looking at his job’s website, revealed many emails, but not his, – however taking one last leap of faith I emailed him based on the format of his co-ultwlaf92 monarchsworkers’ emails, and amazingly got a hold of him where he was honored to sign a few cards for me. When I got the envelope back it had been meticulously taped back together. Apparently either the mailman or Roy had torn this envelope to shreds, but I have to give them props for getting it back to me.

NFL  1/0     Tac N/a     Sac 2.0   Fum 0
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WLAF     Tac        Sac  11.0     Fum  0
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