Tag Archives: tampa bay storm

Arena

Schonbrunner, Jeremy

tntafl14 schonbrunnerCard: TNT AFL Talons 2014
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  8/16    Received: 9/6   (20 days)

With time running out on the Talons franchise to find an owner and the last few weeks of the season on the horizon, I was still cranking out cards for the team even through their final hours. I kept going to the games and cheering on the team, but they finished winless at home with some games ending in heartbreak, while others the team just got completely blown out of. The Talons had been completely decimated by injury, and by being only given the green light to play only a month or two before the season, the talent pool had been drained.

When promising prospect Colton Jones went down during the early part of the season, the Talons made a trade with the Iowa Barnstormers to grab Jeremy Schonbrunner. Since joining the AFL in 2012, Jeremy had spent time on the rosters of the Soul (2012), Talons (2013), and Barnstormers (2014). He’d also prove himself in the IFL with the Lehigh Valley Teelhawks gaining valuable experience and playing time. In college at Temple, Jeremy played in 38 contests along the line, and on special teams, with 9 starts coming at Center.

As I was getting the autograph of Shane Boyd for the umpteenth time after the game, Jeremy commented on my cards and said, “If you make one of me, I’ll pay you for it!”, so I set out to make it happen.  In person, with both legs in protective knee braces, Jeremy looks like a stout machine, but there were very few photos of him in action, so I really had to work hard to find something. Unfortunately I was not able to make the final game due to illness, so I contacted him directly and sent the cards to Jeremy via the mail. He signed this card and had it back to me in no time flat. After the Talons ‘suspended’ operations following the 2014 season, Jeremy was signed by the Tampa Bay Storm.

Arena

Sesay, Brandon

tntafl14 sesayCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.

A rangy and strong defensive end and linebacker who played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in college, Brandon Sesay joined the Barnstormers in 2011. As a rookie, he logged 13 tackles, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery. In 2014, Sesay signed with the San Antonio Talons and recorded 4 sacks, 10 tackles, 4 pass blocks, and 1 forced fumble. A veritable man mountain, Sesay liked his card so much he asked me if he could get one blown up into a poster.

Unfortunately the league suspended the operations of the Talons after being unable to secure a new owner. Brandon was picked up by the Tampa Bay Storm. He’d finish with 11 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 pass blocks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 blocked kicks.

 

Arena

Rutledge, Wondell (1983-2024)

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

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Lampasas’, Tx very own homegrown product, Wondell Rutledge played college ball at Toledo.
  • After playing for the Allen Wranglers, he joined the AFL in 2012, and saw stints with the Tampa Bay Storm, Orlando Predators, and the San Jose SabreCats over the next few years.
  • Well versed, Rutledge could handle playing DL, C, FB, and OL.
  • Played in 14 contests in 2014 for the San Antonio Talons.
  • Replaced Colton Jones at C after Jones went down with a season ending injury.
  • Signed with the Rio Grande Valley Sol of the X-League later that year, but ultimately ended up with the Duke City Gladiators of the CIF.
  • Afterwards, Wondell became an international ambassador of football, playing for the Qingdao Clippers of the China AFL.
  • In 2018, he returned stateside and played for the Bismarck Bucks, followed by a 2019 season with the Oklahoma City Aces.
  • From 2020-’23 he played for the West Texas Warbirds in Amarillo, Tx, winning his first championship in 2021.
  • Wyoming was his next stop in his indoor football journey in 2022.
  • Then he took his show to Columbus, GA where he helped the Lions win the league championship in 2023.

NOTES:

I walked up to Wondell on the field where he was chumming around with his friends. In an attempt to embarrass him with his card, I almost had it taken from me, as his mother went berserk when she saw it. As I explained to Wondell why I make these cards and how much I know it means to them as me, the card got passed further and further into the small crowd that had gathered. When she asked if she could keep it, Wondell explained to her, that he had plenty, since I gave him a stack of extras to keep. He excitedly signed my card and thanked me for my work. Later he friended me on Facebook where I continued to follow his exploits in football.

EPITAPH:

3/8/24- On the Columbus Lions’ Instagram feed it was announced with heavy hearts that Wondell had passed away. No cause of death was given. Wondell hoped to go into coaching after his football career ended using the depth of knowledge that he’d earned from his experiences around the world. He was just 41.