Tag Archives: ttm autograph

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Schlichting, Craig

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 8/9    Received:  8/17

A monster defensive lineman, Craig Schlichting played for the Wyoming Cowboys in college. As Team Captain, there he’d amass 135 tackles, 19 sacks, and 5 fumble recoveries over 4 years. He also won Weight Lifter of the Year honors from the college in 1989. The Minnesota Vikings scouts liked the 6-5, 270 pounder, and drafted Craig in the 8th round of the 1990 draft. Although he didn’t make the team, he eventually spent 5 games on the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers that season. The WLAF’s New York- New Jersey Knights drafted Schlichting in the 2nd round of the league’s 1991 positional draft.  Craig ended up starting all 10 games for the Knights that season at defensive end, raking in 28 tackles, 6.5 sacks,  and a recovered fumble. His 52 yards for losses, led the team. Perhaps his best day came against the Montreal Machine, where he manhandled their line for 4 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 33 yards in losses. Craig returned for the 1992 season, and put up another 3 sacks. After the WLAF reorganized following the 1992 season, Craig headed over to the Arena leagues, playing for the Cincinnati Rockers for one season recording 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Oddly along with Paul Berardelli (who I received back on the same day), Craig entered into the educational system and has been with the Triton Public School System since 1993. He’s earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership and is currently a Principal at a Dodge Center Middle School in Minnesota. He wrote me perhaps the longest and kindest letter I’ve received to date from a player talking to me about his experience in the WLAF. In his letter he discusses the ‘quality of experience’ (ie. allowing fans onto the field and the affordability) that the league brought to the table. Craig went on to tell me about a fan who said he couldn’t get a Giants ticket for even $100.00, but for the Knights, he could get tickets, parking, and a hot dog for less than that. Craig also agreed that the WLAF could have been successful if the NFL had just committed to the WLAF’s success instead of just letting it die on the vine in North America. Such a shame really, because based on the fan’s reaction to Craig, it sounds like there were a few crazed fans out there just like myself that appreciated what WLAFers were doing. I gave Craig an extra card, that I hope that he takes the time to frame somewhere for the great memories.

Tac N/a   Sac 9.5   Fum N/a  Int  0    Yds  0    Avg  -.-   Td 0   Lg  -.-

CFL, College Football HoF, University of Texas

Royal, Darrell (1924-2012)

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011 Coach, UT Upper Deck 2011 Stadium
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o The University of Texas Athletic Department
Sent: 7/9     Received: 8/7   (29 days)

Darrell Royal is considered a coaching legend and figurehead at the University of Texas, where he helped shape the program into a national power.  While serving in the Air Force during WWII, Royal was discovered by recruits from the University of Oklahoma. He’d attend college there and play both defensive back and quarterback for the Sooners from 1946-1949. Mentored by Bud Wilkinson, Royal posted a 16-1 mark as a part-time starter at quarterback, while recording 18 interceptions as a defensive back in his time there at the school. With professional football not a firm career option at the time, Royal opted to jump into coaching at the college level serving as an assistant in 1950 at NC State, Tulsa in 1951, and Mississippi State in 1952. After a brief stop as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1953 (where he posted a record of 12-4), Royal returned to Mississippi State in 1954 to be head coach for two seasons posting identical back to back 6-4 records.  Continuing to puddle jump, Darrell spent a year as head coach of the Washington Huskies in 1956 and recorded a pedestrian 5-5 record.

A hungry Texas Longhorn program liked what they saw in Royal and hired him in 1957. He’d immediately turn around the program and coach them to the Sugar Bowl. Over his time at the University of Texas Royal brought the school 11 Southwestern Conference championships (’59,’61-’63,’68-’73, & ’75), 3 National Titles (’63, ’69-’70), and numerous coaching awards. He’d post a record of 167-47-5 at UT, and a mark of 109-27-2 in the SWC.  Also of note is that Darrell was considered an offensive mastermind, and is credited with two offensive formations: the ‘Flip-Flop’ Winged-T and the Wishbone offense. He’d retire in 1976 as the winningest coach in UT history, but remained a constant figure on campus at the institution through 2012, as a watchful during the current highly successful Mack Brown era. The school renamed the stadium in 1996 from Memorial Stadium to Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium to honor his contributions to the institution further. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.  Coach Royal also has a huge coaching tree. While Fred Akers quickly came in and established himself as head coach after his departure, many of his other coaches had prodigies that later became NFL and successful college coaches from them. Among those distant relatives are RC Slocum, Mike Sherman, Gary Kubiak, Greg Davis, Tommy Tuberville, Spike Dykes, Dave McGinnis, Al Groh, Ray Perkins, Jackie Sherril, Jimmy Johnson, Dave Wannastedt, Dom Capers, Ron Zook, and even Jon Gruden.

royalI was really happy to get Darrell Royal. Even my parents were excited to hear I got him on two cards.  I opted to have him sign his coach card and the stadium card, over the additional cards I had and it was all done in under a month’s time. My uncle had previously gotten him for me before on a postcard back in the late 90s while they were on a flight together. Coach Royal encouraged me in the note to go back to school and finish my education.

On Wednesday, November 7th 2012, Darrell Royal passed away at the grand old age of 88. He is survived by his wife Edith and 3 kids. In his latter years, Darrell enjoyed golf and philanthropic activities immensely. On a side note, Royal’s passion for golf spilled over into the college, and while athletic director there, he helped bring the sport to the National limelight as they captured 2 titles under his encouragement with headliners Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

NFL, University of Texas

Dawson, Doug

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011, Topps Stadium Club 1993
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Work
Sent: 7/9      Received: 8/7  (29 days)

Doug Dawson was an acclaimed lineman at the University of Texas where he received All-American Honors. At 6’2″, 288, he graded out extremely well as both a run and pass blocker, and displayed the versatility and intelligence to play guard and center.  Dawson was taken in round 2 with the 45th pick by the then St. Louis Cardinals. He’d almost immediately be tabbed by the team as a starter and by all accounts appeared to be a steal for the team. Doug started 15 games in 1984, and 16 in ’85, before a calamitous knee injury ended his career 1 game into the 1986 season- or so we all though.

Dawson thought his playing days were over, but the desire was always there to play. Over the next few years he took up insurance, but medical technology made a huge jump during that period, and his doctors were confident they could rebuild Dawson and medically clear him to play again. Doug was given a tryout by his hometown Houston Oilers. The Oilers were particularly deep on the line, with Hall of Famers Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews manning the front along with Dean Steinkuhuler, Jay Pennison, and David Williams. Don Maggs and Erik Norgard also were waiting in the wings to get on the field at the drop of a hat, but somehow, Doug with his versatility, veteran presence, (and probably affordability), won a spot on the roster with the team after essentially a 4 year layoff. Despite his heroic comeback (-even starting a game for the Oilers during the 1990 season,) Doug was snubbed for comeback player of the year honors in favor of Ottis Anderson.

In 1991 Doug returned to full form in the run ‘n shoot offense, blocking for Warren Moon full time. The running game also slowly picked up steam during his tenure with the team, culminating with 1,000 yard seasons for Lorenzo White in 1992, and Gary Brown in 1993.  Doug enjoyed some of my favorite seasons as an Oiler, helping to raise the AFC Central Division Championship banner in 1991 and 1993 in Houston. He played one final season for the Browns in 1994 and retired.

I never found a card of Doug, even though I was aware of him when they signed him. Since he was drafted in 1984, Topps was the only brand on the market, and although he was a second round choice who did make an impact on the Cardinals squad, he was still playing in a siberian wasteland. Last year I was happy to find him in a box of the University of Texas Upper Deck cards and noted him for a short list. I wrote him courtesy of his business, Dawson Financial Services, – a catalyst for customers to manage, clarify, and plan towards their financial goals. I was really happy to get a response, but surprised as Doug apparently read my letter that mentioned that I couldn’t find any cards of him until 2011, and touchingly included the Stadium Club 1993 card autographed as well in his response.