Category Archives: AAF

Erickson, Dennis

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 5/16 Received: 5/24 (8 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Dennis Erickson took over at Miami (FL) (after the departure of Jimmy Johnson) coaching the school to the National Title in 1989 and 1991.

  • He departed Miami (FL) in 1994 and was named head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

  • Erickson compiled a 39-41 record with the Seahawks over the next 4 years.

  • After a successful stint at Oregon St, Dennis returned to the pros again, to coach with the San Fransisco 49ers in 2003.

  • He coached at Idaho and Arizona State after that and at Utah briefly as a positional coach, retiring in 2016.

  • Erickson compiled a 179-96-1 record as a college coach.

  • Dennis heard the siren’s call one last time, and was lured out of retirement by the Alliance of American Football in 2018, coaching the Salt Lake City Stallions to a 2-5 record before the league fell apart.

ACCOLADES:

  • State of Washington Hall of Fame 2017

  • NCAA National Champion   (89/91)

  • College Football Hall of Fame inductee

NOTES:

This is an absolutely terrible card of Dennis. They could have actually airbrushed his face a bit more, but instead he looks like a craggily zombie with that green filter. Dennis has a pretty interesting coaching tree under him that includes Jim Zorn, Tommy Tuberville, Dan Quinn, Ed Orgeron, and Jim Mora Jr.

WLTPCT
40560.417

Tupou, Tani ‘Tongan Thor’

CARD: Topps AAF 2019
ACQUIRED: 2019, Box Breaker

Tani Tupou played college ball for the Washington Huskies from 2010 to 2015 at defensive tackle. He recorded 59 career tackles and was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Seahawks liked what they saw out of Tupou during mini camp and invited him back. He made the roster and saw action briefly during the season opener but didn’t record any stats, and be released about a month later. In 2017, he successfully transitioned from the Spring League back to the NFL signing with the Atlanta Falcons. Tupou would be on and off the roster through the season and into early 2018.

After a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Tani signed with the Alliance of American Football. He’d be assigned to the San Diego Fleet for the 2019 season, and recorded 13 tackles, 4 QB hits and a sack in the Fleet’s 3-4 alignment. In April of that year, the AAF folded, so he played for the XFL with the Seattle Dragons in 2020, and then later for the Jousters of the Spring League, during their showcase in San Antonio.

In 2021, Tani made the transition to play for the Colorado XO’s of the World Rugby League and is considered one of the top prospects.

McKay, Mekale

Cards: Panini Contenders 2016, Leaf Draft 2016, Panini Prism 2016
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim

The Commanders big signing event of the season came at Dick’s Sporting Goods and with big names from the team appearing, it made total sense for me to go. Even though the event said NO OUTSIDE ITEMS, I figured I would take my chances and show up with my cards. It turned out nobody cared and I was able to go through the line 2 times to get all my cards covered. Mekale was next to Derron Smith, and they argued over which had the better cards. Mekale was sold on his Prism card, but he got trumped by Derron who had a Prism die cut card that looked like a fence. Overall it was a great event and I was happy with getting all the players’ autographs that were in attendance, as about two weeks later the league would disappear. Mekale’s autograph is very unique. I have never seen an M shaped quite like that.

Mekale was not drafted coming out of Arkansas (2012)/ Cincinnati (2013-2015), where he posted 108 receptions for 2034 yards and 19 TDs over his time between the two schools. A huge target stepping in at 6-5, McKay averaged an improbable 30.3 yards per reception in 2013 when he hauled in 16 catches for 485 yards and 7 TDs. He’d sign with the Colts after the draft in 2016, but be cut after training camp. Mekale then bounced around between the Jaguars, Broncos, Titans, Bears, and Cowboys over the next two years.

In 2019 McKay signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the now defunct Alliance of American Football. He’d post 22 receptions for 375 yards and 4 TDs including 1 2 point conversion. Mekale’s 17 yards a reception also was among the league leaders in that category. After the league ‘suspended operations’, Mekale drew interest from the Buffalo Bills and attended minicamp with the Browns.

Mekale was then selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL 2020, during the second round of the initial phase of the player draft. Over the course of the season he caught 12 passes for 184 yards and a TD, before the COVID pandemic cancelled the season. Two months later, McKay signed with the Blue Bombers of the CFL, but roughly a month later the league suspended play due to COVID as well.