Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL, WLAF

Alexander, Jeff

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1991, Proset WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF TV2 1991.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:  8/7  Received: 8/19  (12 days)

When you talk to historical football pundits about the WLAF and you ask them who ran for the most yards in the London Monarch’s offense, nine times out of ten people will get the question wrong and tell you it was Judd Garrett. Jeff Alexander was the leading rusher of the London Monarchs in 1991 and 1992. The plodding hard nosed fullback would rack up 391 yards in 1991 and 9 rushing touchdowns.  (His 9 touchdowns rushing would lead the WLAF.) In 1992, the Monarchs would rely on him even more as he would run for a team best 501 yards and be 5th in league rushing. Jeff would only score 1 touchdown that season, but that would be good enough to tie him with Eric Wilkerson for the WLAF career lead, before the league reorganized in 1992.

He’d finish up his career where he started in 1989 with the Denver Broncos (in 1992) and soon thereafter retire. He currently lives in Colorado. I sent him these cards and he graciously signed them in about 10 days.

Games 20     Att 212    Yds 892    Avg  4.2   Lg  41T      Td 10      |
Rec 28    Yds   251     Avg  9.0    Lg  47T     Td 2

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Colbert, Darrell

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home (12 days)

Darrell Colbert was originally a free agent pick up of the Kansas City Chiefs, and in 1987 was the only rookie to make the roster that season where he nabbed 4 catches in 15 games over the next two seasons. He’d catch a 40 yard bomb against the Oilers in the 1987 preseason, keying the Chiefs 32-20 victory. After being cut in 1988, Colbert would remain in shape, playing with the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1990.

In 1992, he was drafted by the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF who utilized him as a wide receiver and primary punt returner. Colbert finished as the team’s leading receiver with 464 yards and second on the team with 33 receptions. (In the short history of the franchise, his 464 yards would be a team season record.) He’d also have the team’s longest play from scrimmage in 1992 with a 63 yard catch.  Darrell played a part in the ‘Do or Die’ game against the Sacramento Surge, catching a pass and racing down the sidelines for an apparent TD that was called back, and also catching a two point conversion during the second quarter to tie things up. The league reorganized after the 1992 season.

In 2010, Darrell was inducted into Texas Southern University’s Hall of Fame as an 80’s All-American  inaugural member where he is the college’s all time leader in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns. I tracked down Darrell outside of Waco, Tx recently, where he signed my card in roughly 12 days. Below are his statistics from the WLAF.

Games 10   Rec 33     Yds   464   Avg  14.1  Td 1  Lg 63    |
Pr  21  Yds  142   Avg 6.8  Td 0  Lg 18

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Gelbaugh, Stan

Cards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 LL, Proset WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1991 ll, Ultimate WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1991 Team Card, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o work
Sent: 7/30   Received: 9/3  (34 days)
Stan Gelbaugh is one of a long line of noted quarterbacks that came out of the University of Maryland. A sidearm quarterback drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 6th round of the 1986 draft, Gelbaugh ended up punting for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL that season. Later he signed with the Buffalo Bills where he was backup for 4 seasons. Finally after a short off season with the Bengals in 1990, he found himself out of football and giving up the sport for good.  The ‘gods of football’ had different plans for Stan Gelbaugh though when former teammate Jim Haslett convinced Stan to take another shot when the WLAF opened its doors for business.
Drafted by the London Monarchs in their supplemental draft in 1990, Stan would get his second chance. Mentored by coach Larry Kennan, Stan started the season as the backup quarterback, but by the end of the first game he laid his claim to the starting job. He never relinquished it, grabbing MVP honors from the league and leading the Monarchs  to an 11-1 record and the first World Bowl championship.
After a rough political offseason between the WLAF and the NFL, Gelbaugh found himself on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, then quickly back in the NFL on the Phoenix Cardinals. Before the end of that 1991 season, he’d then be signed to the Seattle Seahawks, where former coach Larry Kennan was now offensive coordinator. As his roundabout tour continued, Gelbaugh exasperatedly returned to the Monarchs for the 1992 WLAF season, where the team collapsed under a new coach and a 2-7-1 record. (Gelbaugh  still turned in almost 2000 yards passing and 11 touchdown passes.) After the 1992 WLAF season, Gelbaugh returned to the Seahawks, where in one MNF contest, he ignited the Seahawks to an improbable comeback victory over their rival Denver Broncos. Stan retired after the 1996 season.
Gelbaugh since retirement has been involved in coaching and now works full time for a construction company in Washington DC and loves golfing. He finished his London career as the team’s leading quarterback in almost every category. Gelbaugh also finished as the WLAF’s career leader for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. He’d also be the only quarterback in the league to throw for two 90 yard plus touchdown strikes.
I took a stab in the dark at Stan Gelbaugh, utilizing the power of the internet (Google) to find his address. His name isn’t the most common in the universe, and after about 20 minutes I was able to track him down. I broke a major rule when I mailed Stan: I sent more than 4 cards. In fact I sent seven, (every WLAF card he ever had). I told him he could sign what he wanted and return it and that would be fine. He kindly signed every one for me.  Included below are his WLAF career statistics.

Games 20   Att   582    Comp 336      Avg  57.7   Yds 4622     Td  28    Int 24     Lg 98T     Rat  82.1