Tag Archives: new york-new jersey knights

NFL, WLAF

Burbage, Cornell

psetwlaf91 burbageCards: Proset WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  2/10  Received: 2/27
Failure: TTM 2012, C/o Home

Cornell Burbage graduated from Kentucky in 1987, where he had 994 career receiving yards playing for the Wildcats. Although he went undrafted, Cornell’s timing couldn’t have been any better as the NFL Players’ Strike happened. As many teams had already scouted the college ranks for draft prospects, some teams went a step further and identified players that they could sign if the strike happened. Cornell was one of the replacement players the Dallas Cowboys brought into camp. He’d make 7 receptions for 168 yards and 2 TDs, playing for the ‘Rhinestone Cowboys’. His first TD would be the first scored by a replacement player during the strike. Burbage would be one of those rare players who made the cut after the strike was over. and play with the Cowboys through the 1989 season.
wcwlaf92 burbageThe New York-New Jersey Knights were a Run ‘N Shoot team in the WLAF, so receivers were a bigger part of the team’s offensive game plan. Cornell was drafted by the Knights in the first round of the league’s initial pool of wide receivers in 1991. Despite the team’s instability at quarterback and rotating door offensive line, Burbage hauled in 22 catches for 419 yards and a TD. His 19 yards per reception ranked 4th in the league. He’d play in 1992 for the team as well, recording career highs with 35 catches for 478 yards, and see duty as the team’s primary kick returner with 22 kick returns for 592 yards, a 26.9 yard average and a 101 yard TD.

Cornell briefly coached at Eastern Kentucky and posted a 7-4 record. He lives in Lexington and has worked for the Parks and Recreations department there.

NFL    Rec  26            Yds 352       Avg 13.5       Td  2        Lg  77t
KR  23         Yds 503       Avg 21.9       Td  0       Lg  53
Pr  8              Yds  34        Avg  4.2        Td 0        Lg 13

WLAF  Rec  57            Yds  897       Avg 15.7         Td 2       Lg 49
Kr  30          Yds  728        Avg 24.3        Td 1       Lg 101t
Pr  11            Yds 48           Avg 4,4          Td 0       Lg  14

Arena, WLAF

Fletcher, Cecil

ult92 fletcherCard: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 7/22    Acquired: 8/6    (16 days)

Cecil Fletcher was one of three members of the Marshall Herd that played in the WLAF from 1991 to 1992. A fearsome pass rusher and staunch run stopper, Fletcher still holds the school single-season mark for sacks with 17 along with 19 TFL that he posted in 1986. A team captain at linebacker for the 1987 team that went 10-5 under George Chaump and finished as NCAA I-AA runner ups, Cecil was one of the leaders of the “Killer Bs” defense. His 1987 was equally impressive, as Fletcher finished with 99 tackles, 11 TFL, 6 sacks, and 2 FR. After the season he was named to to the East-West Shrine Game,- the first member of the Herd since 1941. Cecil’s career totals at Marshall included 247 tackles and his 23 career sacks still rank in the top 5 in school history.

After going undrafted, Cecil signed with the Pittsburg Power of the AFL in 1988. His best season with them came in 1990 when he recorded 6 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 pass blocks, and 2 forced fumbles. A 7th round pick of the New York-New Jersey Knights of the WLAF in 1991, Cecil enjoyed a fine season for the team, recording 41 tackles and .5 sacks. He returned for the 1992 season and posted another sack before the league reorganized. Cecil returned to the AFL where he joined the Cincinnati Rockers in 1993. He’d post his best season of his AFL career with 15 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 PB, 2 blocks, and a FR- retiring after the season.

Cecil since retirement has had a wonderful life with his wife of 20+ years and 2 wonderful children. He coached High School football winning a State Championship, and as of 2013 is an estimator with Roadside Traffic. He wrote me a wonderful handwritten letter. In it he thanked me for the card that he could sign for his children to witness, as when he found out that he had a card back in 1992 it was one of the happiest days of his professional football life. – Such a great heartwarming memory to share. Another great response from a player who had a fun career.

NFL, WLAF

Sancho, Ron

pset91 sanchoult92 sanchowcwlaf92 sancho

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wildcard WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 8/15   Received: 8/21 (6 days)
Failure: 2010, C/o Home

An LSU linebacker from 1985- 1988, Ron Sancho earned Honorable Mention All-American and 2nd Team All-SEC after recording 77 tackles, 10 TFL, and 5 sacks in 1988. Ron was selected in the 7th round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs but did not survive the final cuts. Ron signed with the Broncos later that season. He re-upped with Denver again in 1990, but did not make the squad.

The WLAF New York-New Jersey Knights selected Ron during the 2nd round of the league’s positional draft in 1991. He’d go on to record a banner year for the team scoring 3 defensive TDs (recovering a fumble against Frankfurt in the endzone, blocking and recovering a punt against Montreal, and returning a fumble 14 yards against the Skyhawks). The Knights went on to lead the league with 8 defensive touchdowns that season behind Ron’s impressive season. Ron finished second on the team with 69 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 6 sacks. His nose for the endzone earned Sancho Second Team All World Honors in 1991.  Ron returned to the Knights for the 1992 season where he’d add another 4 sacks to his career totals, but the league under pressure from the NFL owners (who did an about face on supporting the league) elected to suspend the operations of the WLAF.

Ron retired in 1993 and currently owns his own company- Cardio Health Solutions LLC, and has been married to his high school sweetheart for some 25 years, while raising 3 wonderful children. He kindly took the time to write me a short letter thanking me for updating him on the status of his friends and teammates, -many of which he hadn’t seen or heard from in 20 years.

WLAF      Tac   N/a      Sac 10.0     Fum N/a    Int  0   Yds 0   Avg -.-   Td 0