Tag Archives: ultimate wlaf 1992

NFL, WLAF

Riley, Andre

Card: Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Washington IMG Marketing
Sent: 8/6    Received: 9/1  (25 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, KSBG Radio

A legend of the Washington Huskies program during the late 80s and early 90s, Andre Riley was the first player to ever surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the college. His senior season at Washington Andre led his team with 53 receptions for 1039 yards and 4 touchdowns. Initially a runningback, Riley converted to wide receiver and helped galvanize the squad towards their 1990 Rose Bowl Championship.

Andre would be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 12th round of the 1990 draft, but with a log jam at wide receiver behind Eddie Brown and Tim McGee, Riley would not make the squad.  He wouldn’t be out of work long when the London Monarchs would dial his number up in the second round of the wide receiver portion of the WLAF positional draft in 1991.

Finding a home on the London Monarchs, Andre would be part of a dynamic wide receiver pool of Dana Brinson, Jon Horton, and Tony Sargent. With quarterback Stan Gelbaugh throwing the rock all day, Riley would finish 3rd on the squad in 1991 with 30 receptions for 506 yards, a 16.9 yard average and 4 touchdowns- a number that would be considered starter quality anywhere else in the league. His best game perhaps came against the Knights, in a contest where he had 6 catches for 78 yards and a TD. At the conclusion of the season, he’d help his team down the Barcelona Dragons and win World Bowl I 21-7 in London.

He’d return stateside after the season, briefly playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and retire. Since that time Andre has been involved in marketing, working as a General Sales Manager for KBSG radio in Seattle and currently works for Washington IMG Marketing. I sent off for his card earlier this year to KBSG but got a response back from them indicating that he was no longer with the station. After doing more research I found another address at Washington IMG Marketing and took a stab there. Riley was kind enough to reply under a month, thanking me for remembering him and the league, and the extra card that he had already given to his daughter.  -A really nice return. Below are his WLAF statistics:

G 10   Rec 30    Yds  506     Avg 16.9     Td  4      Lg 62t

 

Arena, CFL, WLAF

McGuirk, Patrick ‘Pat’

 

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 9/2 Received: 9/12 (10 days)

After playing in Junior College at San Mateo and raking in an All-Golden Gate Conference choice and team MVP honors,  Patrick McGuirk would play at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) making 42 tackles and a pick. He’d sign with the Blue Bombers of the CFL in 1990 but not make the squad.

In 1991, the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, coached by Roman Gabriel, selected Pat in the 8th round of the league’s positional draft.  Despite the team’s woeful 0-10 record, McGuirk had a banner season, with 37 tackles, 9 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries and tied for third in the league with 6 interceptions. He would be snubbed for All-World honors.

After the season, the Skyhawks were euthanized by the league, and the players were put back into the WLAF’s draft pool. The Frankfurt Galaxy selected him in the 5th round of the league draft in 1992. He’d play for them that season, but did not notch a turnover.  (His Ultimate WLAF card is considered a major error card, as they note that he is a rookie, and omit his previous season’s statistics, even though he played for the Skyhawks.) The WLAF would be reorganized after the 1992 season but Patrick found new life, -in the AFL.

The young Arena Football League was the perfect landing spot for Patrick. In 1994 he’d sign with the Fort Worth Calvary, crushing ball carriers with 54 tackles, 21 pass blocks, 2 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions. Patrick quickly moved back to his home area in 1995 signing with the San Fransisco 49ers and was assigned to their practice squad.  He’d continue playing in the Arena leagues in the interim, but this time for the San Jose Sabercats where he’d have another impact season with 9 picks for 202 yards and a td. Pat’s followup 1996 season would culminate with 7 picks and 15 pass breakups which earned him first team All Arena honors, and earned him another shot to play on the roster of the 49ers and their practice squad. After the 1998 season, McGuirk would retire from football. He’d finish his career in the Arena leagues with 5 seasons under his belt, 258 tackles, 81 pass blocks, 3 forced fumbles, 29 interceptions for 317 yards and a touchdown.

He didn’t have far to go, as he retired to the San Fransisco area where he was born and currently works in the telecommunications industry.

Finally got another Facebook response. I started off really hot with contacting players through Facebook and getting their permission to send to TTM to their address (Howard Feggins, Corris Ervin, and Jon Horton,) and then just went stone cold. I shot out an email to Patrick in July since he is of the elusive Raleigh-Durham Skyhawk family, that I am woefully short of autographs from, -as they only lasted one season. In late August he got back with me and gave me his address, so I quickly turned around and sent him two cards to sign and a few to keep as momentos. He kindly responded in 10 days.  A real nice return on a hard to find team.

WLAF
Tac N/a   Sac 0       Fum 3   Int   6     Yds    60   Avg 10.0    Td  0    lg  34

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