Tag Archives: edmonton eskimos

Trull, Don

Card: Topps 1964
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 3/18 Received: 3/24 (6 days)

Don Trull played football for the Baylor Bears from 1961 to 1963 where he was one of the top quarterbacks in the SWC, if not the nation. He set SWC records for completed passes (174) and yards (2,157) in one year. He capped his 1963 season with 2,157 yards and 22 TDs (which led the nation) and a 14-7 win over LSU in the Bluebonnet Bowl. A smart and alert quarterback, Trull excelled at calling plays and audibles at the line of scrimmage.

Don was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1964 NFL Draft. He’d be groomed to be the heir apparent of the Oilers behind ageless George Blanda for the next 3 years. In 1966, Don saw action in 5 starts, posting 1200 yards and 10 TDs to just 5 picks, however he finished 0-5. He also rushed for 7 TDs on 38 carries. After 3 more games in 1967, he’d be traded to the Boston Patriots for the remainder of the season.

Trull returned to the Oilers in 1968, where he really had the best season of his career as a starter- posting a 3-1 record, with 864 yards passing, and 10 TDs and 3 interceptions.

After a down year in 1969, Don played in the Canadian Football League the next two years for the Edmonton Eskimos. Allowed to take the starting reins for the Esks, he threw for 2455 yards and 12 TDs on 364 attempts to 185 completions. After one last season in the CFL, Don was off the football grid coaching at Arkansas until he was lured back by the WFL in 1974, where he saw limited action for the Houston Texans/ Shreveport Steamer.

Don lives in Houston now where he is an ambassador for the NFL Houston Texans organization. In 2013, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he was involved with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show for many years. I got Don’s card after I found out he was an ambassador for the Texans. I hoped to catch him at one of the team functions where they sign for fans, but since nothing every popped up, I just went ahead and sent this out right at the beginning of the COVID crisis.

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McKnight, Dennis ‘Conan’

Card: ProSet 1989
Acquired: IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Bay Vipers Joint Practice

After graduating from Drake University, Dennis McKnight signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1981, but didn’t make the squad. The following year, he signed with the Chargers. A gem in the rough, McKnight possessed versatility that allowed him to see action at every position on the offensive line (except at left tackle) over his time in San Diego. A gym rat, Dennis also was the team’s long snapper, and was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1988. He joined the Lions and played for them in 1990 and 1992, with a short stint in Philadephia in between during ’91. Over his football career he played in 141 contests, starting 100.

Dennis enjoys the sport so much that he went into coaching in 1999. As a positional coach he’s seen stops in college at Hawaii, Grossmont CC, San Diego State, SMU, and Lamar University. McKnight has also coached in the CFL for the Esks, and Ti-Cats. In 2020 he joined June Jones’ coaching staff for the Houston Roughnecks as Offensive Assistant/ Special Teams coach.

I completely missed Dennis on my inventory of Roughnecks players and coaches. Thankfully Lance was going with me to the joint practice, and brought an extra card for me. Dennis still posesses a strong and powerful build. When he speaks, its excited and loud, like a professional wrestler.

We watched him work with the kids after practice. I was very impressed by how he was handling them, and at one point exclaimed, “The whole point of this is to have fun!” As he was exiting, we stopped him and asked him for his autograph, where we talked about the current state of things. He thanked us for coming and how much it meant to the players. We also talked briefly about how the NFL is out of touch with fans and that they are missing out on the game of football.

Rogers Jr., Glenn

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Work
Sent: 9/27 Received: 10/8 (11 days)

Glenn Rogers played defensive back for Memphis from 1988 through 1990. A speed merchant by trade, Rogers moonlighted on punt returns tallying 23 returns for 178 yards, and at defensive back wrangling in 12 interceptions for 229 yards over 33 games. After not being selected in the 1991 NFL Draft, Glenn was able to latch onto the roster of the Buccaneers for a season, where he appeared in one game.

In 1992, Glenn joined the Orlando Thunder of the World League. He’d record 4 interceptions for 87 yards, and a TD (57 yards) to lead the team, and help pace their defense towards World Bowl II.

Glenn joined the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL after the World League folded- for the 1993 season. He stepped in as an immediate starter for the Esks over the next 5 seasons- missing just one game. From 1995 to 1997 he was a All-Canadian selection. His best season came in 1996 when Glenn recorded 49 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 7 interceptions for 139 yards. He finished in Edmonton with 24 career interceptions. In 1998, Rogers signed with the British Columbia Lions. While with the Lions he had another outstanding season adding another 6 interceptions to his resume, but was traded to Montreal after the season. Released before the season began, Glenn played one final season in Saskatchewan in 1999 and then retired.

Glenn signed his card and wrote me a small note, thanking me for being a fan and that he was happy there were still some World League fans out there! He currently lives in the Memphis area.

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