Tag Archives: proset wlaf 1991

CFL, WLAF

Rice, Tony ‘Antonio Arroz’

psetwlaf91 riceCards: Pro Set World League 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent: 9/10/13   Received:   5/17/14   (250 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o Blue & Gold Magazine

An amazing quarterback at Notre Dame, Tony Rice finished with an incredible 28-3 record for the Irish. When the nation was in full bloom love the Notre Dame football during the late 80’s, if Rocket Ismail gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated, they were talking about Rice’s ability to come alive and win games with his will and sheer athleticism. During that period, Tony led the Irish to the National Championship in 1988 and narrowly missed one in 1989.

The college ranks were a completely different animal back then. Players weren’t scouted and groomed for NFL success like they are today.  Rice was looked down on by scouts because he was an option quarterback with great rushing stats, but not so amazing passing stats. He did not get drafted in 1990, so Tony played in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Unable to crack the lineup ult92 ricebehind starter Kent Austin, Rice elected to join the WLAF in 1991. Drafted by the Barcelona Dragons, the league attemped to lean on the Dragons to trade Rice to the Knights, because he was still popular in the states, but Barcelona refused. In the meantime, he’d split time with Scott Erney as the team rolled to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  During the season the Spanish translation of his name became quite popular and he was referred to in the media as ‘Antonio Arroz’.  Again, much like his time at Notre Dame,  Rice would demonstrate his ability to wreck opposing defensive gameplans with oppritune scrambling. He’d rush for 210 yards and 2 TDs in 33 carries. The Dragons finished as European Division Champs in 1992, but lose to the eventual World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge. While the WLAF would reorganize after the season, Rice decided to hang around in Europe for an additional season, playing for the Munich Thunder of the Football League of Europe.  At the time of the league’s suspension, Tony was the leading rusher in WLAF history, at the quarterback position.

He worked for the Notre Dame “Blue and Gold” magazine publication for a few years, and I had heard rumors through the grapevine as to where he was at. Currently he’s with HUB International. Cross referencing with other sources I was able to peg down his actual location and shot these cards out to him last year. After failing previously in 2011, I was gunshy about giving him another shot, but when it comes to TTM autographs, -with no risk, there is no reward. I was pretty happy to get this one back with a small note inside “Apologizing for the wait, Your Friend, Tony Rice”, and the two autographed cards.

WLAF    Att 186     Comp 91     Yds 1228      Pct 48.9%        Td 1     Int 5      Rat  61.0  |
Rush 44      Yds 312    Avg 7.1     Lg 24     Td 3

 

NFL, WLAF

Johnson, Jason

ultwlaf92 jjohnsonCards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent: 2/17    Received: 3/4  (14 days)

Jason Johnson played wide receiver and runningback for the Illinois State Firebirds. He’d be a free agent find of the Denver Broncos in 1988. After spending the first half of the season on injured reserve, he’d return 14 kick offs for 292 yards in 8 games. The Steelers signed Johnson in 1989, and again he’d be relegated to primarily kick and punt return duties.Later Jason would have a try out with the New Orleans Saints but not make the squad.

In 1991, Jason was drafted by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF in the 3rd round of the league’s positional draft. As Mike Perez‘s favorite target, the speedy receiver caught 38 balls for 635 yards and 4 touchdowns.   Against the Skyhawks that season, he’d catch a 59 yard bomb to set up the go ahead score.  Johnson also stepped up as Frankfurt’s primary punt returner, fielding 24 kicks for 89 yards. Jason even saw time as an emergency defensive back, intercepting one pass and returning it 17 yards.  While the Galaxy finished 7-3, the team did not make the playoffs in 1991.

pset91 jjohnsonHe’d return to the Galaxy for the 1992 season, but with Perez splitting time with Alex Espinoza behind a leaky offensive line, Johnson saw less looks and consequently- less targets, and the team slumped. Still Jason managed to haul in 22 receptions for 268 yards and a 47 yard touchdown, before the league went on hiatus after the season.

He returned back stateside after that, and his hometown of Gary, Indiana. He worked his way into coaching, and is now a head coach at West Side High School.  He wrote me a really nice note on the back of the envelope, telling me that his son was soon going to be in the NFL and that he himself loves Austin and is looking forward to moving here when he retires.

NFL  Rec   1          Yds  6         Avg 6.0        Td 0        Lg 6    |
KR  17     Yds 335       Avg 19.7         Td  0         Lg 34
Pr  3         Yds 27          Avg 9.0           Td  0         Lg 13

WLAF  Rec 60       Yds   903        Avg 15.1       Td   5          Lg  59
Kr     5           Yds   107        Avg   21.4          Td 0               Lg 26
Pr    24         Yds      89        Avg  3.7              Td 0               Lg 15

 

Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

McGowan, Paul

pset91 mcgowanCards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 1/24     Received: 2/18  (25 days)

Paul McGowan led all Florida State defenders in tackles for 3 straight seasons from 1984-1987. In his Senior season he was a First Team All-American as he made 150 tackles including 13 for losses, and won the Butkus Award as the nation’s preeminent linebacker, however he waited until the 9th round to hear his name called by the Minnesota Vikings. A final cut in the preseason, McGowan joined the Browns but was also cut as well. At 6’0″, 222, many teams felt he was undersized and slow for the position, but the numbers said otherwise.

Paul was signed by the Ottawa Roughriders of the CFL in 1989 and made 42 tackles, and ended up being cut early in 1990. He was drafted by the Birmingham Fire in the first round of the WLAF’s linebacker draft in 1991, and was a force to be reckoned with in the team’s 3-4 alignment. The team’s tenacious defense led the Fire into the playoffs, psetwlaf91 mcgowanand McGowan was charged with leading the linebacker corps with 59 solo tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Head coach Chan Gailey called McGowan a ‘glue guy’; Basically, a player who makes sure that every player is lined up right and ready. Equally impressive linebacker teammate John Brantley, however won the WLAF Defensive MVP award. McGowan returned in 1992, and so did the Fire to the playoffs, losing again to Barcelona in the first round. Paul expressed interest in returning to the Fire for the 1993 season, however the WLAF reorganized shortly there after.

Paul joined the Orlando Predators of the AFL in 1993. As an ironman league at the time McGowan got to play both sides of the ball in the league’s traditional LB-FB switch off. He’d play for the team through 1997 when he decided to go into firefighting instead. In 1998 Paul was inducted into the Predators Ring of Honor and at the time of his abrupt retirement was the team’s career leader in sacks. In 2010, McGowan was ranked in a poll as the 11th greatest Florida State player of all time.

wcwlaf92 mcgowanI followed the internet rabbit in order to find this one and struck gold. Paul signed these cards and also included a nice note with them, thanking me for the reminder of the great memories.

WLAF     Tac  N/a     Sac  1.0    Fum N/a
Int  3    Yds  29     Avg  9.7    Td    0   Lg 12

AFL   LB   Tac  97   Ast  39    Sac 17    Fum 6
Int  0    Yds  0   Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg -.-

FB   Rush 139    Yds  555      Avg       Td   11
Rec  25     Yds 227     Avg     Td 2