Tag Archives: saskatchewan roughriders

CFL, NFL, XFL

Coan, Jack

ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas Kickoff Party
FAILURE: TTM 2024, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jack Coan played QB from 2017-’20 at Wisconsin, and 2021 at Notre Dame.
  • While at Wisconsin he had a solid Junior campaign tossing for 2,727 yards and 18 TDs (5 INT) for the Badgers.
  • With a medical redshirt in play for his Senior campaign (2020) he transferred to Notre Dame for play in ’21.
  • There he set personal highs completing 253 of 386 yards for 3,150 yards and 25 TDs.
  • Jack was undrafted but saw time in camp with the Colts in 2022.
  • He was selected by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL23.
  • The Brahmas had a bad offensive line, and consequently Coan suffered, completing 158 of 254 passes for 1,471 yards and 6 TDs to 6 picks.
  • After the season he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL and saw limited action under center completing 10 of 21 passes for 100 yards and a TD.

NOTES:

I was annoyed as the Score card I ordered well in advance showed up… two to three days after the meet and greet concluded. It was obvious that Jack had earned the starting gig over Reid Sinnett, as Hines Ward proclaimed at the event that Jack was a team captain. Still they were eager to keep it under wraps. Unable to get a card in time, I printed out these nice photos of Jack and got them signed at the Alamo Brewing event.

Well later after the season ended, I sent out the card and a custom XFL 2023 card to Jack’s home address- but never heard back.

I felt like he got an extremely bad wrap in SA. Their offensive line was very porous in 2023, and Coan didn’t have a safety gap until later in the season when Nick Holley arrived.

I don’t know. It seems oddly fitting that I posted this first Brahmas autograph I got way back in 2023- now in 2025 after the franchise folded. The Brahmas were doomed on the field due to inconsistency at quarterback, and this reflected back on the state of the franchise.

CFL, ufl, usfl, WLAF

Popp, Jim

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Helmet Insert
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Popp played DB at Michigan State from 1983-’86.
  • A knee injury ended his pro playing career before it started, so he transitioned into the front office as a graduate assistant at MSU.
  • After a year at NC in ’87, Jim spent the next three years working with The Citadel.
  • He then got a taste for the spring league circuit as a man of many hats working for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the WLAF in 1991.
  • This led to the PSFL, where Jim was the Director of Player Personnel from ’91-’92.
  • Jim joined the CFL in 1992, working for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the same capacity through ’93.
  • With the CFLUSA in full swing, Jim got his first taste of the GM job with the Baltimore Colts winning the Grey Cup in 1995.
  • After the Ravens moved into town, the team was relocated to Montreal where they became the second incarnation of the Alouettes.
  • Popp again assumed a lion’s share of roles for the franchise and rebuilt the team from scratch.
  • The Alouettes made 8 Grey Cup appearances under his management, winning 3 times.
  • In 2019, was lured to be GM of the Toronto Argonauts.
  • It immediately paid dividends as the Argos pulled off a stunning Grey Cup win.
  • Jim worked at Alabama State in 2020 as an assistant coach, before resigning in 2021 to join the USFL.
  • He was retained in his position as Vice President of Player Personnel during the merger between the XFL and USFL in 2024.

NOTES:

I knew about Jim years ago when I was researching the success of former members of the WLAF. I got it in my brain that at some point he played QB for the Skyhawks but once I refreshed my memory I learned I was completely wrong. I did remember correctly that he has been a man of many, many hats. He’s had no qualms in doing anything and everything to absorb football knowledge. He even has taken over as head coach when he had to relieve them of their duties. He’s posted a 22-36 record, and led the Alouettes to the Grey Cup in 2006.

When the Brahmas played the Defenders in 2024, I saw him wandering up and down the sidelines. I immediately kicked myself because I had nothing for him to sign. Still I stopped him and struck up a conversation about the ‘good ol’ days’ of Spring football. It was at that moment he and I stopped in unison to take in the game, and Brad Wing faked a punt, throwing a TD to long snapper Alex Mollette. As the building shook with stunned excitement, we agreed this was a seminal moment for the team.

I was prepared this time for him in 2025- and after a long wait the Brahmas had their first home game. I caught him doing his laps, making notes during the pregame and doing his thing. He came over and signed this card for me. I don’t think he’d ever seen it before as he flipped it over in shock of something from the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. It was a nice short visit and he was on his way. A great, under the radar WLAF find.

AAF, NFL

Sanchez, Zack

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019 Certified, Score 2016
ACQUIRED: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim
FAILURE: TTM 2021, C/o Home
TTM 2023, C/o Home
TTM 2023, C/o Work

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played CB at Oklahoma from 2013-’15.
  • Finished with 134 career tackles, 15 interceptions – 3 of which he returned for TDs.
  • A 5th round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2016 NFL Draft.
  • Cut at the end of camp and resigned to the practice squad, promoted to the regular season roster, and shelved on IR all within 2 months.
  • Waived in 2017 and placed on IR and then then signed to the practice squad.
  • Waived again by the Panthers in Mid 2018.
  • Signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF in October of 2018.
  • Picked off a critical pass at the end of the first game against the San Diego Fleet ensuring the Commanders opening day win in 2019.
  • Finished with 7 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions on 8 game season.
  • Signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2020.
  • Released in mid 2021.
  • See also San Antonio Commanders Autograph Souvenir

NOTES:

Well I should count my blessings I got him once when the players were signing at Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Rim, but I really wanted him on his AAF base card. Buoyed by the success I had with Derron Smith, I figured I’d be able to square Zack away. Unfortunately it’s been nothing but a zero-burger from him. I even tracked down his work place and shot him a card, but no dice.