1956 (70 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders announced the signings of lineman Frank Sweeney and running back Don St. John from Xavier University. They also announced the signing of their first pick in the Canadian College Players’ Draft, Lou Bruce of Queen’s University.
1960 (66 years ago)
Art Schlichter, Ottawa Rough Riders quarterback in 1988, born at Bloomingburg, Ohio.
1960 (66 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders signed three members of last year’s club. Halfback Joe Kelly, defensive back Joe Poirier and tackle Gilles Archambault will all return.
1968 (58 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders open their training camp on the weekend of June 15 with more than 60 high school graduates taking part in the advance group. From that group, the Riders hope to find prospects for scholarships to US colleges. Next come Canadian and American rookies on June 19. Veterans check in on June 22. Newcomers with CFL experience include defensive back, backup quarterback and punter Bill Van Burkleo and linebacker Al Miller, both from Winnipeg, tackle Tom Beynon from Saskatchewan and fullback/halfback Lovell Coleman from Calgary. Also, Riders will have a new Assistant Coach in Jack Gotta.
1968 (58 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders are wooing a speedy halfback whom General Manager Red O’Quinn describes as “another Margene Adkins”. He is 21-year-old, 180-pound Vic Washington from the University of Wyoming.
1974 (52 years ago)
Health Minister Marc Lalonde announced the appointment of 15 members to the National Advisory Council of Fitness and Amateur Sports. One of the members is former Ottawa Rough Riders’ quarterback Russ Jackson.
1975 (51 years ago)
Oteman Sampson, Ottawa Renegades quarterback in 2002, born at Miami, Florida.
1975 (51 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders announced the signing of offensive tackle Joe Miller, a 6’-5”, 260 pounder from Shreveport of the World Football League.
1979 (47 years ago)
The chances of Tom Clements defecting to the NFL are diminishing daily, but where the Ottawa Rough Riders’ quarterback will play this season remains a mystery. Clements, entering the option year of his CFL contract, would like to try his arm south of the border and the Riders are willing to oblige. But first his playing rights would have to clear CFL waivers and that doesn’t appear likely to occur. The Riders have received enough calls from their CFL rivals expressing interest in Clements to draw that conclusion.
1983 (43 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders Head Coach, George Brancato, has just about given up hope of securing Ron Lancaster as the club’s Offensive Coordinator. Brancato was also interested in getting Tom Dimitroff, but he prefers to remain Head Coach at Guelph University.
1995 (31 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders signed NFL free agent quarterback Shawn Moore to battle Danny Barrett for the starting job. Moore was a finalist in the 1990 Heisman Trophy voting and a four-year Denver Broncos’ backup to John Elway. He signed a two-year deal over the weekend. Involved in the negotiations were Director of Football Operations Garney Henley and Head Coach Jim Gilstrap.
2002 (24 years ago)
At the CFL Draft, the Ottawa Renegades had the first two picks. Their No. 1 choice was 6’-7”, 322-lb. offensive tackle, Alexandre Gauthier of Universite Laval. They then took Simon Fraser’s fullback Mike Vilimek with their No. 2 pick. Among their other picks was Head Coach Joe Paopao’s son, Tyler, from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Renegades also obtained veteran non-import receive Andre Kirwan from Toronto Argonauts for their fourth-round pick, 28th overall, in a trade midway through the draft.
2015 (11 years ago today)
Condredge Holloway, Ottawa Rough Riders quarterback from 1975 to 1980, had his University of Tennessee baseball jersey No. 1 retired.
