Category Archives: Arena

Arena, CFL

Pierce, Doug

tntafl14 pierceCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: 2014, IP San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Doug Pierce is a lanky and large prospect out of Friends College. He’s joined the AFL to make his football dreams come true. Playing for the Falcons in college Doug recorded 91 catches for 1,693 yards and 20 touchdowns in two years.

After college, Doug had tryouts with both the Titans and Vikings, later joining the Sabrecats prior to the 2012 AFL season, but finally landed on Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he spent two seasons. In 2013, he played for the Wichita Wild, and later to the Pittsburgh Power, before joining the San Antonio Talons for 2014.

Getting some valuable playtime in during the Iowa Barnstormers game, he caught two touchdown passes, including a rainbow bomb from Shane Boyd.  He finished the season with 36 receptions for 462 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a 42 yarder.

Arena

Goodman, Dominick

tntafl14 goodmanCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: 2014, Trade

Dominick has been with the Cleveland Gladiators his entire career in the AFL. In each season, he’s recorded at least 1,200 yards, including a career high 1,782 yards and 170 receptions in 2012. 2014 was nothing less than another blockbuster year for Goodman, who cleared 1,500+ yards and 34 TDs, helping power the Gladiators to their first Arena Bowl game (XXVII).

Previous to his time in the Arena league, Dominick played for the Cincinnati Commandos (CIFL) in 2010, and was on the offseason roster of the Northern Kentucky River Monsters briefly in 2011. Dominick racked up incredible numbers while with the Commandos and earned multiple honors from the CIFL including Offensive Player of the Year Honors, and was the statistical leader both in yards and receiving touchdowns.  Goodman has also played for the Dresden Monarchs (German Football League) and the Kings Comets (Mid-Continental Football League).  In college at Cincinnati, Dominick caught 204 passes for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns during his career with the Bearcats.

A fan of my work who was going to the Gladiators season finale contacted me and really wanted to get some cards made and signed. The problem was I hadn’t made any cards of the Gladiators. I had struck strictly to the Talons. I saw this as a challenge, a great marketing opportunity, and a chance to get a few of these signed. I put together the cards as quickly and professionally as possible. I was really pleased with how they turned out, and in the end, my contact was able to get 4 of the 6 players that I had made sent back to me.

Arena

Weivoda, Mark

tntafl14 weivodaCard: Top Notch Talons 2014
Acquired: 2014 IP, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Mark Weivoda played collegiately at Idaho State, where he tied an NCAA record blocking 6 kicks in 2001, and 2nd in history with 8 overall. He joined the Memphis Xplorers (AF2) in 2006, and later in 2007 the Boise Burn. Mark moved to the AFL in 2010, starting for the Chicago Rush, and recorded 22.5 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He signed with the Talons in 2012, where he’s anchored the line ever since recording 5 tackles, 5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.

I tracked down the heavily tatooed Weivoda after the game, and he couldn’t have been nicer. When I gave him his card he said, “Wow! A card of me? I’ve got a whole box of trading cards sitting at my place. I loved these things as a kid!” Mark gleefully signed his card and thanked me for my time.

Weivoda finished his 2014 season with 7 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. None of his plays was more important than the fumble recovery that he made in the Talons season finale  against the Voodoo.  New Orleans was going to kneel the ball to set up the FG on the next down, but Weivoda slipped in and recovered the fumble at the 2 yard line.  Initially he rumbled and stumbled all the way back for a TD, but it was called back. Still, his play allowed the Talons to force overtime, and from there they beat the Voodoo 38-35. It was one of the most exciting games that I have ever witnessed.

With the suspension of the San Antonio Talons franchise in 2014, the much traveled Weivoda was assigned to the Las Vegas Outlaws expansion franchise for the 2015 season.