Tag Archives: tampa bay storm

Arena, NFL

Willis, Peter Tom

 

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, ProSet 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 5/4 Received: 7/2  (59 days)

A strong-armed, mobile quarterback with outstanding accuracy and touch, Peter Tom Willis served as backup on the Seminoles from 1987-1988 before he received his break to become a starter in 1989. In only his first true season as leader of Florida State’s offense, he threw for 3124 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 6 TD passes against Memphis State would set a school record and he would be voted MVP of the Fiesta Bowl when he threw for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns over Nebraska. At the time of his graduation, his 4291 career passing yards ranked 3rd on the school’s all-time list.

The Chicago Bears drafted Willis in the third round of the 1990 draft. He’d be the fourth quarterback off the board after Jeff George, Andre Ware, and Tommy Hodson. Expected to be the quarterback of the future, he sat on the bench behind Jim Harbaugh and Mike Tomczak seeing a little mop up action his rookie and sophomore seasons. In a 27-14 loss to Cleveland in 1992, Willis threw for two touchdown passes and 279 yards in relief of Harbaugh, however his 5 game performance and 0-2 record as a starter still meant the jury was out. In 1993 with new head coach Dave Wannstedt in place Peter Tom would see backup duty again throughout the season, in a lackluster performance against Tampa Bay.

In 1997, Willis resurfaced in the AFL with the Tampa Bay Storm playing 3 commendable seasons with the franchise.  In 1998 he’d throw for 70 Tds and only10 picks, and follow that up in 1999 with 65-8. He’d retire from the sport after the season and enter into the radio booth with the Seminoles where he did radio color commentary from 1998 to 2008. He currently resides in the Tampa area.

I sent to Peter about 2 months ago and where he signed these 3 cards. I was a bit disappointed in the signatures. They appear to be from a dried up sharpie. I don’t think it’s a stamp however because the the ink of the signature would pool recognizably on the Action Packed card.  Action Packed, Pro Set and Score were the 3 companies that I enjoyed collecting cards of back in the early 1990s. I especially like this Score card of Peter in his college uniform.  Below are Willis’ NFL statistics:

G/Gs   21/3    Att  183   Cmp 104   Yds 1261   Pct 56.8     Td   6     Int 15    Rat  54.9 |

 

Arena, NFL, NFLE

Agee, Mel “Big Bopper” (1968-2008)

Card: Star Pics 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Indianapolis Colts

Widely regarded as one of the best defensive lineman to come through the University of Illinois at 6’5″, 300,  Mel Agee was a stand out player while playing for the Fightin’ Illini notching 15 sacks. With a nice burst and a good first move off the line, the Colts made the “Big Bopper” their 6th round draft choice in 1990, and he’d make the roster of the team making 29 tackles and a forced fumble mainly on mop up duty and starting in just one game his rookie season.   His 1992 season was pretty much lost in the lineup or injured as Mel suited up for one game but did not make a tackle.

1993 saw a shift of addresses to Atlanta for the Bopper. He’d have his best season playing in Atlanta’s 3-4 set up, making career highs with 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 7 starts.  1994 and 1995 would see Agee slide into the background again, and by the end of that season he’d retire.

In 1998 his number was dialed up by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFLE and Agee made 2 sacks before returning stateside to play for the Arena Football League. Over a 5 year career with the Tampa Bay Storm Mel made 8 receptions for 51 yards and 5 TDs. He’d also make 25 tackles, 9 pass blocks and 3 fumble recoveries before finally retiring in 2002.  Tragically, in 2008, Mel passed away of a sudden heart attack.

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Orlando Thunder
See Also: Stacey Simmons (2)

Drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by Indianapolis, Stacey Simmons was a long bomb threat and return man for the Florida Gators. He’d spend one season with the Colts, starting 1 game, making 3 receptions for 25 yards against the Chiefs in in week 5 and 1 catch for 8 yards against the Giants that year.  Contributing primarily on special teams, Stacey had 19 kick returns for 348 yards, but would fail to make the roster of the Colts in 1991.

Signed by the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992, Stacey would make 6 catches for 55 yards for the Thunder.   While I was scanning through the player rosters I missed Stacey on my original run through that season. Being the obsessive compulsive geek I was, it drove me nuts enough that I wrote the Thunder for his autograph. The Thunder kindly forwarded my card to the 49ers, whom he had recently signed with, and he signed my card there. Simmons would continue to play football in the Arena leagues for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 2 championships with them.

Since football Simmons has become a shrewd businessman opening up his own training facility in Florida that specializes in boot camps for many sports, conditioning, and speed. (staceysimmons.com).

G  N/a       Rec  6     Yds   55      Avg   9.2      Td 0      Lg  15