Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Wilkerson, Eric

Card: ProSet 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o New York/ New Jersey Knights
See also: Eric Wilkerson (2)

Okay, unlike most fans, I don’t care if a player signs with a ball point pen. It’s not really a big deal and as far as I know it could be a part of that player’s style. I know it technically ‘ruins’ the card, but I am just happy to get the autograph.

The all time leading rusher at Kent State, (and MAC player of the year in 1987) Eric Wilkerson ran for 3,830 career yards (before the mark was broken in 1997). Wilkerson was a free agent signee by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989. Unable to crack the starting lineup he was out of football for the next season when he was drafted by the New York/ New Jersey Knights of the WLAF. The Knights under Mouse Davis were a Run and Shoot offense, where you pass first and run second. It became evident by week 2 though that Wilkerson was going to handle the load for the team as he rushed for 121 yards on 11 carries against future World Bowl Champion, the London Monarchs. Wilkerson in fact went on to lead the WLAF in 1991 with 717 rushing yards, placing him on the Second-Team All World League. He tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 11, and second in total yards (990). He also was third in the league in rushing average, and had 3 touchdowns in one game against Orlando. His 4 touchdowns receiving topped the team as well.

His Sophomore season would not be as spectacular as Reggie Slack emerged as a force at quarterback for the team. Wilkerson still finished 8th in the league in rushing with a respectable 4.4 yards per carry but the WLAF reorganized shortly thereafter and Eric became the short lived original league’s career leading rusher. His 72 yard scamper in 1991 would also stand as the league record. He’d play one final season of football for his hometown Cleveland Thunderbolts in the Arena leagues as a WR/DB and then retire.

Since football, Wilkerson had his number retired at Kent State, and was inducted into the Varsity “K” Hall of Fame in 1995. He also was inducted into his local high school’s hall of fame at Central Catholic High.  In 2007, Wilkerson was stabbed in the arm and was in critical condition, however there is no follow up information after this. His current whereabouts are unknown, but I was able to reach him a few years later via the Kent State Alumni Association.

Games n/a  Att 208  Yds  1121   Avg 5.4  Td 10  Lg 74 |  Rec 37  Yds 414  Avg 11.2  Td 6  Lg 31

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Feggins, Howard

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o South Carolina State University
Sent: 9/21     Received:  10/2   (11 days)

An equally adept cornerback and safety in college at UNC, Howard Feggins would be signed by the woeful New England Patriots in 1988, where he played in 11 games, making an interception in 1989. After a preseason with the Giants in 1990, and his mind already on coaching,  Howard wasted no time joining the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship in the summer of 1991, with the New York Giants.

The WLAF came calling and the London Monarchs had other plans for Howard in the team’s already dominating secondary. He’d earn a World Bowl ring playing for the team in 1991 and in 1992 would see his playing time increased, pulling down 2 interceptions for the Monarchs. After the reorganization of the WLAF, Feggins play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, but would continue coaching and return to the pros by 1999 as an assistant coach for the New England Patriots. In 2004, he’d take over at Northwestern, coaching wide receivers through 2006 at the university. Currently Howard is an assistant coach at South Carolina State. Under his tutelage at every stop since returning to the college ranks, Feggins’ teams have seen exponential growth at the receiver position.

I have turned to other methods to locate players from the WLAF recently, and was able to find Howard through a social networking site and ask for his autograph. He quickly responded in 11 days, signing this card I had of him from the Wild Card corporation. He wrote me a nice note, which always makes me feel good about my enthusiast hobby.  Below are Howard’s statistics from the WLAF.

G/Gs  N/a     Tac   N/a      Sac  N/a   Fum   N/a   Int  2      Yds  48    Avg 24.0   Td 0   Lg 46

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