Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL

McDowell, Leonard “Bubba”

Cards: ProSet 1990, ProSet 1991, Score 1990, Score 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Prairie View A&M
Sent:  9/2  Received: 9/15
Previous Failure: C/o The Houston Cougars 2010
See Also: Bubba McDowell (2)

Bubba McDowell is one of the few Oilers that I never had any luck with at training camp, but I always saw that others had. As one of my favorite players, he was a fearsome hitter that also had the occasional knack for finding the end zone with his ball hawking skills.

As a member of Jimmy Johnson‘s Miami Hurricanes, McDowell played strong safety for their 1987 National Championship team. The team was loaded with talent on both sides of the ball that included: Michael Irvin, Wesely Carroll, Randall Hill, Steve Walsh, Jimmie Jones, Cortez Kennedy, Danny Stubbs, Cleveland Gary, Brian Blades and Bennie Blades. Even their punter, Jeff Feagles was able to make it into the pros.  During the monstrous 1989 draft, McDowell would be taken in the 3rd round by the Houston Oilers.

Bubba would lay down the law immediately, replacing long time veteran Keith Bostic at safety. He’d start all 16 games and have a great rookie season recording 97 tackles, a sack, 4 picks, 4 forced fumbles, and a safety. Right before half time in a 1992 Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears at the Astrodome, Bubba picked off Peter Tom Willis and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.  He also notched the last score for the Oilers in their notorious meltdown against the Bills in the playoffs later that season. As Houston slumped in 1994, McDowell would be injured and only start 3 contests.

The Oilers would leave Bubba exposed to free agency and the expansion Panthers snatched him up in late April 1995. He’d finish out his career there with one final pick, but not before being immortalized in both the Nintendo Tecmo Super Bowl and the Super Nintendo Super Tecmo Bowl. After retiring he’d begin coaching and also participated in the Minority Fellowship Program. He remains an active speaker and gives time to charity where he lives outside of Houston, Texas with his wife and family. He is also a member of the Houston Texans Ambassador Club, and was a second team AP in 1991.

So Bubba is another failure turned success for me as last year I wrote him courtesy of the Houston Cougars, but he had already left the organization by then. Doing a bit more research I saw that he had resurfaced at Prairie View A&M as their secondary coach. He would sign all 4 of the cards plus an extra, even though I offered it to him. He also told me that I could keep in touch with him and other players through SoTL.com (School of the Legends). Bubba had some great cards, but both ProSet and Score bought the exact same photo in 1990. I lost a good deal of the other cards I wanted signed, including an Action Packed, GameDay, and his rookie Score 1989 Supplemental cards, but I was happy to get him on these other ones including this spectacular ProSet 1991, and this great looking (but loathesomely designed) Score 1992.

G/Gs 102/83   Tac 470    Sac 5.0     Fum  6      Int  17    Yds 223    Avg 13.1     Td 1    Lg 33

NFL, WLAF

Erney, Scott

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Pro Set WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Work.
Sent: 7/19   Received: 8/17  (29 days)

Scott Erney and fellow quarterback Stan Gelbaugh played high school football within a stones’ throw of each other, and while Gelbaugh would go to Maryland and Erney attended Rutgers- they would ironically cross paths again as starting QBs in the WLAF.

During Scott’s career at Rutgers from 86-89, he set the school passing record for completions (614), attempts (1128), and yards (7,188). In one remarkable game Scott threw for 436 yards against Vanderbilt and led the team to upset victories over Penn State and Michigan State.  Going undrafted in 1989, he’d sign with the Denver Broncos, – however, facing stiff competition, Scott would be cut before the end of training camp.

As the WLAF opened up shop in 1991, Erney would be the 5th quarterback taken in the draft by the Barcelona Dragons. Under Jack Bicknell, he would establish himself as the starting quarterback over Notre Dame star Tony Rice. In 7 games Erney would throw for 1186 yards and 8 touchdowns, to 2 picks, – leading all starters at that position and setting a league benchmark. During the season he’d throw for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns in a victory over the Orlando Thunder and guide the team into the playoffs with an 8-2 record.  Despite a nagging separated shoulder that caused him to miss 3 games, Scott would finish second in passer rating with an 86.6 quarterback rating.

The team would beat the Birmingham Fire and play the London Monarchs for the championship game, but lose 21-7.  During the game Scott was tacked by Marlon Brown and tore a muscle in his leg. On the plane ride home he suffered from compartment syndrome which aggravated the injury further. Tissue in his leg actually died. Doctors suspected that Scott might never play again, but amazingly he recovered and returned for the following season.

Riding high into the 1992 season, the Barcelona Dragons offensive line was in shambles. Erney would suffer 27 sacks on the season, (roughly 3 a game)  and his quarterback rating would plummet to a 61.5 rating. Still Scott would help the team enter the playoffs again at 5-5, on the back of his 315 passing attempts, and narrowly lose out in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge, 17-15.

After the reorganization of the WLAF in 1992, Scott would retire. He currently works for the Erie insurance group. I got these cards postmarked back from Harrisburg, PA in roughly 30 days, and was super happy to finally add another Dragon to my collection.

G/Gs 17/20   Att 473   Comp  247   Yds 2840   Pct 52.2   Td  14   Int 12   Rat 69.9

 

NFL, WLAF

Valerio, Joe

Cards: StarPics 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o www.joe73.com
Sent: 8/27/10    Received: 8/18/11  (356 days)

Originally selected by the Chiefs in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft along with Harvey Williams (1st) and Tim Barnett (3rd) Joe Valerio was a small school product out of Pennsylvania that made waves at the combine with his 6-5, 292 frame. A two time NCAA I-AA All-American he’d be allocated by the Chiefs to the WLAF for the 1992 season.

The Chiefs -pleased with the progress of linebacker Tracy Simien, felt that Joe would be a good fit in the World League. He’d get valuable starting time with the Birmingham Fire, under head coach Chan Gailey, blocking for quarterback Mike Norseth and runningback Elroy Harris that season as the team made the playoffs with a 7-2-1 record. After the league was reorganized in 1992 he’d return to the Chiefs and start 3 games that season.  Valerio would remain on the line of the Chiefs as a valuable back up through 1995, before signing with the St. Louis Rams in 1996, and retiring after that season. Throughout his career he’d play every position on the offensive line, including tight end.  He’d also make 4 receptions for 7 yards and 4 touchdowns on tackle eligible plays for the Chiefs, (-all from Joe Montana which is the most that Montana threw to any lineman).

Since then Joe has gone into motivational speaking through Gridiron Concepts. He’s also a manager for Wells Fargo, coaches, and works avidly on his foundation. A popular member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Valerio also did radio and tv for a stint. I sent off for his autograph through his website at joe73.com last year, and gave up after about 6 months, so I was really pleased to open up an envelope and find these two cards autographed for me, in just a shade under a year.