1957 (68 years today)
Ottawa Rough Riders re-signed Lou Bruce. The club was also casting around for a pair of shoulder pads big enough to fit 6-4”, 265 lb. lineman Tom Jones.
1965 (60 years today)
Red 38 Whites 15 in the Ottawa Rough Riders intra-squad game. Head Coach Frank Clair was not a fan of the game, but as he said, “It is a necessary evil.” Benefitting from the game was the South Ottawa Kiwanis Club who were in the midst of raising funds to build a new home for Ottawa’s senior citizens. The heavily loaded Red squad got two touchdowns from Dave Thelen. Don Gilbert also crossed the White goal line. Two holdovers, Jim Cain and Ted Watkins, got into a wrestling match in the third quarter which had them tossed from the game. There was concern for the future of tackle Bill Siekierski. He departed the game with a left knee injury.
1966 (59 years today
Gerald Wilcox, Ottawa Rough Riders’ slotback from1989 to 1991, born at London, Ontario.
1973 (52 years ago)
During 94-degree weekend workout temperatures, the Ottawa Rough Riders remained with Billy Cooper and eight others still unsigned. One who put pen to paper was defensive back Rod Woodward agreeing to a two-year deal.
1980 (45 years today)
Ottawa Rough Riders 26 Calgary Stampeders 20 at Lansdowne Park in the first game of the regular season before 21,064. Richard Crump ran for both Ottawa touchdowns. Gerry Organ kicked four field goals. The fourth one came in the final quarter after the teams entered the last 15 minutes deadlocked at 20-20. Tony Gabriel kept his consecutive game receiving string alive at 109 games. He caught four passes for 120 yards, on one a 53-yard scramble from Condredge Holloway. The Riders ran up 358 yards of offence to Calgary’s 250.
1983 (42 years today)
Ottawa Rough Riders 26 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 25 at Winnipeg before 18,995 in the first regular-season game. Skip Walker scored on a one-yard plunge and Gerry Organ converted the major with 40 seconds left on the clock. In total, Walker carried 15 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Organ was good on three field goals and punted 11 times for an average of 46.1 yards per punt.
1987 (38 years today)
Ottawa Rough Riders reached into the Arena Football League to help their quarterback position. Sean Payton, who had been leading Chicago Bruisers before Riders’ Director of Player Personnel, Wayne Giardino, went looking for help for a third QB on their depth chart, and signed Payton to a 21-day tryout. Payton is listed at 6’-1” and 190 pounds. After watching him, Riders’ Head Coach Fred Glick said, “He ain’t 6-1. If he was, he would be in the NFL.” (Payton is currently the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos. He previously spent 15 seasons with New Orleans Saints).
1993 (32 years today)
Ottawa Rough Riders 32 Sacramento Gold Miners 23 at Lansdowne Park before 23,916 in the opening game of the season. Riders had 435 yards passing, with Stephen Jones hauling in seven passes for 151 of those yards. Wayne Walker caught six for 96 yards. Slotback Jock Climie caught four including a 61-yard touchdown. The defense stepped up and sacked Gold Miners’ QB David Archer seven times. The game was to be blacked out, but club President Lonie Glieberman lifted the ban and paid the blackout cost of $7,200.00.
2016 (9 years today)
Ottawa RedBlacks 26 Calgary Stampeders 26 in overtime before a capacity crowd of 24,621 at TD Place. The clubs traded two field goals each in the extra time. The RedBlacks were undefeated after three games. Chris Williams led the RedBlacks with three touchdowns, all on receptions from Trevor Harris. Greg Ellingson pulled in nine passes for 101 yards. Harris was good on 39 of 50 passes for 396 yards. Bo Levi Mitchell completed 29 of 43 for 328 yards for the visitors.
