Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

NFL, WLAF

Witkowski, Dean

wcwlaf92 witkowskiCard: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 3/4  Received:  3/27  (24 days)

Dean Witkowski was an outstanding player at North Dakota. He arrived at the college in 1987, and was the school’s all-time leading tackler at the time of his departure in 1990, with 548.  He is also notable for holding the single season school record for tackles in a season with 185 in his final season.  Witkowski was selected in the 9th round of the 1991 draft by the Green Bay Packers, and joined a selected handful of North Dakota players who have been drafted into the NFL.

In 1992 Dean was selected by the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football in the 11th round. Coach Galen Hall was rebuilding after the Thunder defense collapsed late in the 1991 season.  Among his moves was bringing in Witkowski.  The defense indeed saw an improvement over the 1992 season, culminating in an appearance in World Bowl II against the Sacramento Surge.

He was inducted into the North Dakota Fighting Sioux Hall of Fame in 2004. Dean sent me a nice note along with the autograph.

WLAF     Tac  N/a     Sac 1.0     Fum N/a
Int  0      Yds  0     Avg -.-     Td 0    Lg 0

Arena

Reece, Brett

tnt15 breeceCards: TNT Talons 2014, TNT Limited 2015
Acquired: TTM, 2014 & 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 7/24/14 , 6/2/15
Received: 9/8/14 (42 days) , 10/8/15  (128 days)

Brett Reece Jr. is a great example of why leagues like the AFL and CIF need to exist.  Playing for a school like Ouachita Baptist out of Arkadelphia, Arkansas shouldn’t prevent you from realizing your dreams as a football player, and Reece has continued to play at every opportunity that has been afforded to him.

During his sophomore season, Brett recorded a team high 825 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 46 receptions. In 2011, he led the Tigers in receiving with 30 receptions for 489 yards and 3 TDs en route to an All-GAC Second Team Selection.

tntafl14 reeceBrett has continued to play in different Arena style leagues since then. He made 5 receptions for 43 yards for the San Antonio Talons, before being reassigned back to the Texas Revolution. In 2015, he was off to a fast start before suffering a season ending foot injury. Still he finished as the Revs leading receiver in 2015 with 34 receptions for 424 yards and 9 TDs in just 6 games- earning CIF Offensive Player of the Week Honors in Week 6.

I had created Reece’s card shortly before he was reassigned by the Talons. Since I didn’t have a good photo of Reece, I worked over an old photo of his from Ouachita. Pretty darn good if I say so, and Reece loved it. Brett contacted me again in 2015 and told me that he liked the Talons card so much, he wanted me to do one of him in his Revs uniform. I literally cranked this Revs design out in a day or two, and it too looks amazing.

College Football HoF, NFL, usfl, XFL

Millard, Keith

sco89 millardCards: ProSet 1990, ProSet 1990 Defensive Player of the Year, Score 1989.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 7/7   Received: 7/18   (11 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Considered one of the top defensive talents from the Pac-10 when he arrived on the pro scene in 1984 from Washington State, Keith Millard was drafted by the Vikings in the first round, but opted to sign with the USFL Jacksonville Bulls instead for the 1985 season. There in his only season he recorded 12 sacks to lead the team and its improved defense.  Later that year, Keith joined the Vikings.

pset90 millard dpotyHe was listed as a nose tackle, but kicked out to defensive tackle frequently, starting 5 games, and nabbing 11 sacks alongside equally formidable defensive end Chris Doleman. In 1986, he recorded his first interception, and again hit double digits with 10.5 sacks. After the strike shortened 1987 season, Keith returned to form for Minnesota with his first All-Pro season in 1988. 1989 was a year for the ages, as he recorded a record 18 sacks from the defensive tackle position. In addition, he had a 48 yard interception, and a fumble recovery that he rumbled, bumbled, and stumbled 31 yards with for a TD. The gargantuan year netted him NFL Defensive Player of the Year Honors for 1989. During the 4th game of the year in 1990, Keith jumped over a cut block, but tore his ACL- ending his season. The injury wore on Millard. He would not return to the field until 1992 for the Packers and Seahawks. After a brief rennaissance in 1993, playing for the Eagles, Keith decided to hang up his cleats for good.

Keith is quite the accomplished veteran positional coach.  He got his start with the Los Angeles Dragons of the shortlived SFL, then joined the San Fransisco Demons of the XFL in 2001. This was followed by  three year stints on the Denver Broncos (2001-2004) and  Oakland Raiders (2005-2008).  After a brief return to the college level, Millard coached with Tampa Bay in 2011 and Tennessee in 2012.

pset90 millardWell decorated, Millard is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame,  the NFL All-1980s team, a member of the All-Time USFL Second Team, and in 2010 was named one of the Top 50 Minnesota Vikings of all time.

I had been after Keith Millard for quite sometime, and it finally paid off. Millard is a solid signer actually. I just didn’t have the right luck with him. I though that I had already failed with him on two previous occasions but the records only showed one. He was kind enough to write me back on Titans stationery, thanking me for the letter, apologizing for the previous trip-ups, and enclosing an additional card. I really appreciate players who take TTM very seriously, and those who take it seriously enough that they need to ensure that their reputation remains solid with their fans. Class act!

USFL   Tac N/a   Sac 12.0   Fum N/a
Int N/a   Yds N/a    Avg   N/a    Td N/a   Lg -.-

NFL  93/69    Tac  N/a     Sac 58       Fum  10
Int 2     Yds 65     Avg 32.5      Td  0      Lg 48