Tag Archives: saskatchewan roughriders

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Taylor, Eugene “Gene”

psetwlaf91 gtaylorult92 gtaylor

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate 1992, Ultimate WLAF Dragons card, Photo memorabilia
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o work
Sent:  8/1    Received: 8/19  (18 days)

Gene Taylor is a member of the ‘Fresno State connection’. Among the colleges that contributed players to the WLAF, the Bulldogs sent more than any other college to the young World League back in 1991. Head coach Jack Bicknell was looking for a long bomb specialist for the Barcelona Dragons. He’d select Gene near the top of  round 1 in the league’s positional draft. Gene didn’t disappoint, opening up the season with an electrifying 43 yard TD, en route to the team’s 19-7 thrashing of the New York-New Jersey Knights. Taylor saved his best game though for a contest against the Orlando Thunder however, when he caught 5 passes for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns, -including barn burners from 56 and 81 yards.  To put things in perspective: By season’s end, Taylor’s yards alone consisted of 35% of Scott Erney and Tony Rice‘s combined passing yardage totals. Gene finished the 1991 season 2nd in the league in YPR, and 4th in both receiving yards and touchdowns, helping the Dragons make an appearance in World Bowl I.  He’d be awarded with First Team 1991 All World Honors from the league, and was among the first WLAF players to sign a contract, after the season with the NFL.

ult92 dragonsGene was originally a 6th round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 1987, but not make the final roster. Instead he’d be signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he’d stay through the 1988 season, recording 7 receptions for 74 yards in 12 contests. He’d sign with the 49ers in 1989, but head up to the CFL to play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders later that year. Gene returned to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990, before being drafted by the Dragons in the WLAF. After his stop in the World League, Gene signed again with the team that originally drafted him, the New England Patriots in 1991. He’d suit up for 1 game that season but not see any significant game time.

mem gtaylorI was really happy to finally find Gene, thanks to a podcast by (a Raider faithful fan) RaiderGreg who did an interview with him about Taylor’s time in the leagues and also the player’s strike. RaiderGreg was more than happy to refer me to him, and after receiving my cards at the fire station where Taylor is a chief at, Gene was accommodating enough to sign the cards and also enclosing the additional piece of signed memorabilia. We chatted through email where amazingly, Taylor revealed that he had never seen his Ultimate WLAF card, probably since it was printed after his departure back to New England in 1991.  That’s 20+ years. I’ll probably buy and send out a few more to Gene to keep since he probably had given out the fair majority to his coworkers. I must admit, he was incredibly patient with me through our correspondence, considering I tend to ramble on about things I am excited to talk about, but it seems that after responses from guys like Gene and other players, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year TTM.

WLAF    Rec 35     Yds 745    Avg 21.3    Td 6   Lg 81t

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Goetz, Ron


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 5/29     Received: 6/7      (9 days)

Finally knocked out another elusive member of one of the WLAF European squads in Ron Goetz, linebacker for the Barcelona Dragons in 1991 and 1992. Goetz, played at the University of Minnesota where he got a reputation as a linebacker with a motor that never quit. Originally when he arrived at the institution he was a runningback, but got converted to linebacker by the end of his Freshman campaign. By his senior season in 1989, Ron had made quite a name for himself receiving All-Big Ten honors recording 68 tackles and 2 picks, – one of which he returned for a game winning touchdown against the University of Wisconsin.
This was good enough to receive attention from NFL scouts and the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the 12th round of the 1990 draft.  Though he did not make the team, the WLAF’s Barcelona Dragons made him their first pick at linebacker in 1991. Goetz did not disappoint. Playing at inside linebacker for the Dragons,  Ron led the league at linebacker with 4 interceptions on the team’s exceptional defense that helped propel the team to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  Although the team did lose the game 21-7, they were able to claim the division title outright in 1992, with again stellar defensive play keying the way. Ron had 2 sacks and 3 picks for the Dragons that season, but the league reorganized after the year and did not return until 1995.  Goetz returned stateside, but stayed North of the border, first signing with Ottawa Rough Riders in 1993, and then the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1994.  He’d remain with Saskatchewan through 1997 and retire back to Minnesota where he lives today.

Tac N/a     Sac  3     Fum       Int  7     Yds 33      Avg 4.7       Td 0     lg  26

CFL, NFL, NFLE

Stacy, Siran


Card: Classic 1992
Acquired: In Person 1992, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp
Failure: C/o Home, 2011
See Also: Siran Stacy (2)

Siran Stacy was one of many heralded runningbacks out of the University of Alabama, rushing for 2113 yards and 27 touchdowns over his career. He was also an able bodied receiver making 62 receptions for the Crimson Tide. The Eagles drafted Siran Stacy in 1992 in the second round of the draft, but after one season with the team, when he played in no games, he’d be on the street after being charged with assault. The Eagles wanted no part of this.

He signed with the Cleveland Browns the following season, but after being arrested for simple theft, the Browns cut him. This would be the wake up call Siran needed as he would be without football through 1995.

With the return of the World League, Siran Stacy saw a chance to redeem his professional football career. Drafted by the Scottish Claymores and their run based offense, Stacy would set new official marks for the league in rushing running wild for 785 yards and 5 touchdowns in 1995. He’d return to play for the team again in 1996, almost duplicating his numbers, (running for 780 yards and 3 touchdowns,) and for the hat trick in 1997, he’d run again for… 785 yards and 4 touchdowns! Stacy led his team to the World Bowl and was named the league’s MVP in 1997.

He’d retire in 1998, but play one final season in the NFLE and briefly for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL in 2000. Stacy is the career leading rusher of the Scottish Claymore franchise, and the NFLE with 2362 yards.

After retirement, Stacy went into corporate banking and became involved with the FCA, but in 2007 tragedy struck Siran’s life as his wife, 3 daughters and a son were killed in a collision with a drunk driver. This would lead Stacy to another rebirth, as he started his own ministry and became closer to Christ.

He currently runs Siran Stacy Ministries, to which you can visit his website at siranstacy.org. In 2008, he was named the honorary captain of the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn.

G/Gs  N/a      Rush   627        Yds   2362     Avg  3.8    Td 16    Lg  48   |
Rec 94       Yds 720      Avg  7.7       Td 2       Lg 43