Picking up where we left off, Mike ended up back at Oregon State, where he became the school’s most winning coach. In 2014, he’d be pried off the Beavers by Nebraska. After a difficult tenure at Nebraska, Mike was welcomed back to Corvallis with open arms as an assistant coach.
When the Alliance of American Football was announced, I knew he’d be at the top of their list. I was excited to see Mike return to SA (from his days with the Riders of the WLAF) to coach the team. He was excited to take a walk down memory lane with me when I showed up with my Riders hat on at the Commanders unveiling. The team very much resembled the Riders, and finished 5-3 during the AAF’s season.
I had narrowly missed getting Mike’s autograph on his Topps AAF card during pregame warmups against the Salt Lake City Stallions. I had sideline passes and thought that he’d be a shoe-in to get later TTM. Oddly though, he’s dodged my TTM requests since then.
After the AAF folded, much to everyone’s dismay, Mike was hired on to be the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Dragons of the XFL in 2020- just because it wasn’t more local to Texas.
Recently it was brought to my attention that Mike and head coach Jim Zorn had a disagreement about who should be starting quarterback. The row was so bad between the two that Mike left the team for the first 3 games of the season.
He joined the new USFL as head coach of the New Jersey Generals, and led the team to a 9-1 record in 2022. The team zoomed out to a 2-1 record in 2023, before dropping their next 5, en route to a 3-7 record.
When the XFL and the USFL combined to form the new UFL, the Generals were not retained for 2024.
Rick Neuheisel played QB and after his playing days ended became renowned for his offensive coaching system and philosophy.
Rick’s storied college career began at UCLA as a walk on in 1979.
He eventually got to suit up to hold placekicks, then saw playing time in his Junior and Senior years.
In 1983 he was named starter, lost the job to Steve Bono, reclaimed the job after Bono got injured, then went out on top with a win over a Top 5 opponent in the Rose Bowl.
Rick signed with the USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers in 1984, and somehow managed to survive the legendarily cash-strapped franchise through 1985 (sacked a total of 120 times in two seasons).
During the 1987 Players’ Strike, he suited up for both the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a scab replacement.
Returned to UCLA and became a graduate assistant, and later a QB Coach- tutoring future NFL #1 pick Troy Aikman.
Served at UCLA through the 1993 season, leaving for greener pastures at Colorado in 1994.
Named HC in 1995, and stayed with the Buffs through ’98.
Then coached at Washington from 1999-02.
Made first stop at the professional level with the Baltimore Ravens, coaching there from 2005-07.
Returned to UCLA as HC from 2008-2011.
Has an 87-58 (.600) coaching record at the college level.
Team finished with a 5-3 record and a share of first place in the AAF West.
Topps AAF 2019, #40
NOTES:
Neuheisel is well known in coaching circles as a wild card, offensive madman, even adopting ‘The Pistol’ offense at UCLA. He also was an early proponent of the spread offense before it really became en vogue. He’s also got a really interesting coaching tree he’s developing, as well with some of his AAF progeny going on to become successful coaches in their own right.
Initially when the AAF was formed, Mike Martz was tabbed to be HC of Arizona, but when Neuheisel came on board, he wanted to stay close to home- so Rick became HC of the Hotshots and Martz went to SD.
During that ride, Rick was seen as the one coming up with the crazy and wild ideas in the room for the league. Rick even came up with an idea that players would choose their teams instead of the teams doing a territorial draft- sorta like the TV show ‘The Voice’. Apparently Bill Polian didn’t understand or like this, and at one point began to steam, before Charlie Ebersol stepped in and squashed the idea.
When I saw the Hotshots play the Commanders in the league’s final contest, a very, very enthusiastic Rick Neuheisel fan from his Gunslinger days came down in a jersey and helmet during the pregame. Rick was so enthusiastic and excited about it, he invited the fan over the end zone stands and onto the field to meet Rick and talk to the team. It was a very wholesome fan moment.
Rick was one of my early finds from the AAF Topps set. Although it took a bit to get back to me, he did sign it on the back. No harm, no foul. I’d hoped to get his certified autograph before I posted this one, and while I had seen them in the wild, they were for an exorbitant price. Thankfully my friend CFL Fan in Philly came through and offered to fill the rest of my set needs at a really nice price. Rick’s true rookie card- his USFL Gunslingers issue, continues to be a bit overpriced for my tastes, so I was happy to add him on these and close the book on him there.
Zach Mettenberg was a prototypical pocket passer with a strong arm who played at Butler Community College (2010) and LSU (2011-13).
Over time with Tigers, threw for 35 TDs and 5783 yards on 407 completions.
Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Mettenberger played at an interesting transitional time for the Titans, at the tail end of the short Jake Locker epoch and the beginning of the Marcus Mariota era in Tennesssee.
During his rookie year, Zach took over for Locker at QB throwing for 8 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and 1,412 passing yards.
Most memorably, Mettenberger had a short running feud with Houston Texans DE JJ Watt.
Mettenberger spent his second season backing up new starter Marcus Mariota.
Again stepping into the starting lineup in injury relief for Mariota, Zach threw for 4 TDs to 7 INT.
Spent 2016 on the rosters of the Chargers and Steelers but didn’t see any action.
After a year off from football, played in the Spring League in 2018 during their Austin showcase.
Later during the league’s QB draft in 2019, was the final selection off the board by the Express.
Joined a crowded QB room, but made the roster behind Christian Hackenberg and Brandon Silvers.
Started 4th game of the season against the San Diego Fleet, completing 18 of 25 passes for 174 yards, leading the team to its first win of the year.
The next week, was sacked multiple times and injured during the contest against the Salt Lake City Stallions.
Wasn’t selected in the 2020 XFL draft and returned to the Spring League.
Went into coaching and in 2022, joined the staff of Alabama as an analyst.
NOTES:
I had been waiting to pounce on Zach for sometime since his days in The Spring League. During that game that I saw him play in, a cold front came in dropping the temperatures at the outdoor event by 30-40 degrees. It was bitterly cold. The crowd treated the game more like a scrimmage. Hardcore fans like myself enjoyed the experience, but the majority of the crowd was dead silent and Mettenberger made sure to make a show of it screaming and yelling and having an insanely good time. I was too intimidated to ask him for his autograph. Also of note, sitting nearby and incognito was former Dallas Cowboys’ QB Babe Laufenberg that I missed out on. -I’m still kicking myself about that one.
ATT
CPD
YDS
PCT
TD
INT
RAT
LG
345
208
2347
60.3
12
14
75.4
80
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
