I think that when I got Mike a few years back, I was later thumbing through my Skybox 1992 binder and realized he had a card. Thankfully my friend Rick came through in a pinch for me. He asked me if I needed him and sent him to me unprompted.
I think one of the hardest things to take from a hobby- especially things like autograph collecting, is not to become jaded, not to become insular to making new friends or helping others. Rick and I met through the autograph group that I manage on Facebook. He and Jake have been constant contributors and fast friends. I always pay it forward, so I am always thankful when I get something. This is really what the hobby is about, and I am so thankful that others think of me.
Robert ‘Bull’ Wilson played RB/FB for Texas A&M from 1988-90.
Ran 343 times for 724 yards (5 TDs) and had 32 catches for 277 yards and 3 TDs.
The premier FB of the 1991 NFL Draft, Robert was selected in the 3rd round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
An outstanding blocker, Robert started 15 contests his rookie year, scored 2 TDs on pass receptions, and led the team with a 4.3 yard per carry average (42 carries).
With the franchise going through some turmoil between coaches, (Richard Williamson to Sam Wyche), Robert didn’t see any playing time again until 1994, splitting time with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
He’d spend the 1995 and ’96 campaigns with the Dolphins playing special teams and as a blocking fullback.
Retired and lives in the H-Town area, and recently wrote a book ‘Big Hits & Politics’ – about his time in the NFL.
Thanks to Richmond Webb, I was able to track down Bull. I had some very insightful conversation and comments back and forth with Richmond, when all of a sudden Robert started following me. Staying true to the rule I have of not trying to scare players by immediately engaging them on Twitter, I got really excited when I saw that Robert was releasing his book ‘Big Hits & Politics’. When I asked about a book signing, he and Bam Bam told me to stay tuned.
A non-signer TTM, I considered this one a major coup and a jump start to my 2022. Robert and I talked and he graciously signed the cards I brought. I even gave him a few and put them in a nice binder, since the ones he had were quite beat up.
It was a nice event. Not only was Richmond and Robert there, Kevin Smith also popped in- and I just happened to have cards of him too. Now I gotta say I stuck out like a sore thumb, but everyone was really impressed I made the journey to come down to celebrate his book and his playing career. It was a nice event, and although my phone almost died I was able to navigate my way back out of town.
Ernie Mills played WR for the Florida Gators from 1987-90.
Posted 81 receptions for 1585 yards, a whopping 19.6 yards per reception, and 15 TDs over 4 years in Gainesville.
Best year for the Gators came in his Senior year, when he had 41 receptions for 770 yards and 10 TDs.
Originally started as a DB but quickly transitioned to WR, hauling in his first career reception of 49 yards from Florida QB legend Kerwin Bell.
Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
Mills spent his time on special teams and started two games at WR his rookie year.
He’d finish first in special teams tackles, and scored his first TD on a punt that hit the opposing team’s blocking back. (See Eugene Lockhart)
But things never really materialized for Ernie in Pittsburgh, who had a nascent passing attack, and he was battling for a roster spot with other fresh WRs, Chris Calloway and Jeff Graham.
He had his best season in Pittsburgh in 1995, catching 39 passes for 679 yards and 8 TDs.
It was a titanic year actually for Ernie as he quietly put up 2,024 all-purpose yards, including 1,304 on kick returns.
He’d be injured during Super Bowl XXX, tearing his ACL and being lost for most of the following 1996 campaign.
In 1997, Ernie signed with the Carolina Panthers and played one season for them.
The final two years of his career were spent in Dallas, as a key roleplayer for the Dallas Cowboys under head coach Chan Gailey, whom he’d played for previously in Pittsbugh.
Mills was oft injured, but still managed to post solid numbers as a reliable #3 option behind Michael Irvin and Rocket Ismail.
After a brief hiatus from the sport, Mills was spotted at Jacksonville University coaching WRs with his former college QB Kerwin Bell, holding the position from 2007-2012.
Then he coached WRs at Florida A&M from 2013-2015.
Star Pics 1991, #66Action Packed Rookies 1991, #58
NOTES:
Well, there’s Ernie Mills, with an incredibly long orbital trajectory. I had given up on Ernie basically on two separate occasions, but after noticing a few successes, I figured the one for 2021 was in the works to return to me. After some patient waiting, it indeed finally came through, and I added the Action Packed Rookies 1991 card finally to my collection.
Ernie frustrated me as he tended to sign in spurts, sometimes responding to people immediately, while on other occasions-such as mine, languished in wait. I was pretty happy to get the entry sent out in 2021 back early in 2022, but lo and behold, some 8 months after that, the original entry I sent from 2017, also arrived, rocketing up the longest wait charts officially to #5, at a cool 1806 days.
I don’t talk about Pacific 1991 enough right? To me the set was a bold design choice, but quite laughable. For some reason, it just stood out as being… simplistic, with the gradient and the 1970s style typeface. The back was again bold, but a bit wild, as the entire canvas of information was set at a 45 degree angle! I thought that the photo on this Pacific card really nailed it, so I thought it’d make a nice card to get autographed.
With these cards, I can firmly close the door on Ernie. I love his autograph. Well worth the wait and very original. A strong ‘E’, ‘M’, and ‘S’ punctuate his unique signature with great stroke, pen pressure, and placement.
Score Supplemental 1991, #56TPro Set 1991, #802
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
196
2934
15.0
20
62
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
80
1818
22.7
0
57
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.