Category Archives: Arena

Walker, Wayne ‘Bug’ (2)

Wild Card World League 1992, #28

CARD: Wild Card World League 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 2/1 RECEIVED: 4/13 (71 days)
FAILURE: TTM C/o Home, 2010, 2017, 2018

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well as you see here, 4th time’s the charm with Wayne. I knew I had a pretty decent lead on him. Meiselman pegged him down in Waco, but he moved and then I tracked him down on Facebook with no response. There I discovered he was doing work for the city. I then hit up two more addresses, and one of them it just sat in his mailbox until it was returned. The third time it took 2 months to be returned as a bad address. Staying persistent is the key, and finally I was able to get Bug on this last card of his after using a white pages crawler.

So many years have passed. As I drive back on the highway from San Antonio, it is without fail I pass through San Marcos, where the Riders played in 1992. Despite all the growth, all the construction, all the change, the memories still remain.

My dad would take me to and from those games. And after each game, we’d stop at a little convenience store (Ballard’s) just a bit out of the way going north back to town.

We’d stop in late in the evening after the game, walk in and I’d grab an ice cream sandwich and a drink to tide me over. When I’d get back to the car, I’d get in- and regardless of how dark it was- I’d take the time to thumb through my booty one more time, thinking about those autographs, the game, and the players I met.

Hall, Galen

1991 Pro Set World League Insert, #7

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/31 RECEIVED: 6/10 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college football at Penn State from 1959-1961 where he was starting QB for the Nittany Lions.
  • Completed 48.2% of his passes for 1619 yards, 15 TDs, and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 318 yards and 3 TDs on 104 carries.
  • Played briefly in the NFL for the Redskins in 1962, and the Jets in ’63.
  • Jumped into coaching working in the college ranks as a positional coach for West Virginia (TE 64-65) and Oklahoma (WR/OC 66-83).
  • Started out as OC at Florida in ’84, but quickly took the reins as HC, coaching there through ’89.
  • Posted a 40-18-1 record over career with Gators.
  • After a year off, returned to coaching as OC of the WLAF Orlando Thunder in ’91.
  • Recommended and quickly reunited with his former college QB Kerwin Bell.
  • Orlando became well known for its explosive Spread offensive formations.
  • Became head coach of the Thunder in ’92, leading the franchise to World Bowl II, claiming an 8-2 record.
  • After a year’s stint with the AFL Charlotte Rage in ’94, returned to the rebooted World League in 1995, coaching with the Rhein Fire.
  • Coached through 2000, compiling a 34-26 record, winning two World Bowl Championships (1998, 2000).
  • Came back stateside in 2001, as head coach of the XFL Orlando Rage posting an 8-2 record.
  • Coached RBs with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.
  • Returned home to Penn State in 2004 as OC and RB coach, working with the Nittany Lions through 2011.

ACCOLADES:

  • SEC Coach of the Year (1984)
  • NFL Europe Coach of the Year (1998, 00,
  • XFL Coach of the Year (2001)
  • Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Galen didn’t have any cards of himself made. I considered making one, but at the time I was artistically uninspired, so after arming up with a few World League helmet cards, I decided to fire one off to him. Now, my big thing recently is getting coaches to draw me up a play. I also peppered him with questions about the spread offense and his time in the World League. Although he didn’t give me any insight into his time in the WLAF/ NFLE, he did author two plays for me. They are run plays, but I’m very happy nonetheless he took the time to put these together.

Truesdell, Nick

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played TE for the University of Cincinnati and Grand Rapids Community College.
  • Went undrafted in 2013.
  • Played Arena ball with the Colorado Ice and Bemidji Axemen of the IFL in 2014.
  • Spent the next 3 seasons playing with the Shock (2014-15) and Steel (2016).
  • After not catching on with the Colts in 2016, Rattlers (2017), Stampeders and Gladiators (2018), made the practice squad of the Vikings in 2018.
  • Signed with the AAF Salt Lake City Stallions in late 2018 and had a solid season for the team, hauling in 24 passes for 269 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Joined Jets, and later the Vipers during 2019 playing in the XFL’s 2020 campaign.
  • Spent time in The Spring League with the Aviators in late 2020.
  • Selected by the New Jersey Generals of the New USFL in 2022, but was released before the season due to a groin injury.

ARENA

RECYDSAVGTDLG
127152712.038N/a

AAF

RECYDSAVGTDLG
2426911.2339

XFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
99110.1027