Tag Archives: Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks

CFL, ufl, usfl, WLAF

Popp, Jim

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Helmet Insert
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Popp played DB at Michigan State from 1983-’86.
  • A knee injury ended his pro playing career before it started, so he transitioned into the front office as a graduate assistant at MSU.
  • After a year at NC in ’87, Jim spent the next three years working with The Citadel.
  • He then got a taste for the spring league circuit as a man of many hats working for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the WLAF in 1991.
  • This led to the PSFL, where Jim was the Director of Player Personnel from ’91-’92.
  • Jim joined the CFL in 1992, working for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the same capacity through ’93.
  • With the CFLUSA in full swing, Jim got his first taste of the GM job with the Baltimore Colts winning the Grey Cup in 1995.
  • After the Ravens moved into town, the team was relocated to Montreal where they became the second incarnation of the Alouettes.
  • Popp again assumed a lion’s share of roles for the franchise and rebuilt the team from scratch.
  • The Alouettes made 8 Grey Cup appearances under his management, winning 3 times.
  • In 2019, was lured to be GM of the Toronto Argonauts.
  • It immediately paid dividends as the Argos pulled off a stunning Grey Cup win.
  • Jim worked at Alabama State in 2020 as an assistant coach, before resigning in 2021 to join the USFL.
  • He was retained in his position as Vice President of Player Personnel during the merger between the XFL and USFL in 2024.

NOTES:

I knew about Jim years ago when I was researching the success of former members of the WLAF. I got it in my brain that at some point he played QB for the Skyhawks but once I refreshed my memory I learned I was completely wrong. I did remember correctly that he has been a man of many, many hats. He’s had no qualms in doing anything and everything to absorb football knowledge. He even has taken over as head coach when he had to relieve them of their duties. He’s posted a 22-36 record, and led the Alouettes to the Grey Cup in 2006.

When the Brahmas played the Defenders in 2024, I saw him wandering up and down the sidelines. I immediately kicked myself because I had nothing for him to sign. Still I stopped him and struck up a conversation about the ‘good ol’ days’ of Spring football. It was at that moment he and I stopped in unison to take in the game, and Brad Wing faked a punt, throwing a TD to long snapper Alex Mollette. As the building shook with stunned excitement, we agreed this was a seminal moment for the team.

I was prepared this time for him in 2025- and after a long wait the Brahmas had their first home game. I caught him doing his laps, making notes during the pregame and doing his thing. He came over and signed this card for me. I don’t think he’d ever seen it before as he flipped it over in shock of something from the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. It was a nice short visit and he was on his way. A great, under the radar WLAF find.

NFL, WLAF

Wulff, Paul

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Work
SENT: 5/23 RECEIVED: 6/21 (29 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Skilled offensive lineman saw time at guard and primarily at center over college career playing at Washington State.
  • Went unselected in the 1990 NFL Draft, but saw time in camp with the New York Jets.
  • Selected by the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks during the World League of American Football 1991 positional draft.
  • After the dissolution of the Skyhawks following the 91 season, Wulff played in 1992 for the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League.
  • Climbed the college coaching ranks plying his trade as a positional coach for Eastern Washington in a variety of jobs over the next few years.
  • Named head coach at EWU in 2000 where he returned the school to prominence.
  • Won two conference titles and finished coaching career at EWU with a 53-40 mark.
  • Head coach of alma mater Washington State from 2008-11, compiling a 9-40 record.
  • Worked as an offensive assistant with the 49ers from 2012-13.
  • Has served in a variety of college offensive coaching positions since 2014 for South Florida, Iowa State, Sacramento State and Cal Poly.

ACCOLADES:

  • Big Sky Coach of the Year 2001, 04-05

NOTES:

Paul wrote me a nice note thanking me for my letter and that the World League was some fun times.

NFL, WLAF

Maye, Mark (QB)

CARD: ProSet 1991 WLAF Insert
ACQUIRED: 2018, Amazon.   2017, C/o Home
SENT:  6/10/17      RECEIVED:  5/25/26    (3271 days)
FAILURE:  TTM 2017, C/o Home 

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

An exceptional all around athlete in basketball, football, and baseball, Mark Maye came back from rotator cuff surgery to turn things around for the Tar Heels in 1986. In his first start he’d break a school record throwing for 311 yards. Over the next year and a half, Mark broke that school record 3 more times, including a school record 406 yards and 4 TDs in a 30-23 win over Georgia Tech.  Maye finished as the school’s second leading passer in history.

Going undrafted in 1988, Mark was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent the season as the 3rd string QB. Due to injury Mark spent his 1990 back at his Alma Mater helping out the Tar Heels’ coaching staff.  Mark opted to play in the WLAF in 1991. He’d be selected in the first round by his home state Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks.  It seemed like a perfect match, and Maye was the uncontested starter in camp.

After an underwhelming opener against the Sacramento Surge ended in a 9-3 loss, Mark was injured during a brutal hit in Week 2 against the Orlando Thunder. He’d be placed on season ending injured reserve and essentially his football career was over.  The Skyhawks didn’t really have a good offensive line or a back up QB plan. Joe Pizzo and Bobby McAllister battled it out the remainder of the season, but the franchise finished a woeful 0-10. After the season the franchise was dissolved and replaced by the Ohio Glory.

NOTES:

Mark lives in North Carolina. I’ve tried him twice now at least with no such luck. The first time I got a body bag from the USPS. The second has been in the mail for sometime. At this point I just threw up my hands and decided to take a shot. Seeing a WLAF autograph on an auction site is a rarity, so I just took it at face value that this one was authentic.

UPDATE:



5/24/26- Today I received a conspicuous envelope at my old address. Hand written with no return address in a greeting card sized envelope. Thick and sturdy. When I opened it, I was touched to have received, an albeit slightly damaged autographed card from Mark Maye. No explanation, just the card. Thanks Mark! (Looks around suspiciously wondering if he read this post.)

So here’s the conundrum. Since Mark has only one ‘officially licensed card’, I’m just going to update this post, and push off the purchase pic.

This success from Mark officially pushes him to the top of longest waits, beating out the former champion Matt Hasselbeck by almost half a year. Mark clocks in at 8.98 years.

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WLAF (rush 2 yds 2 avg 1.0 TD 0 LG 2)