1953 (73 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders received the signed contract of veteran lineman John Wagoner. The club executive also said they were prepared “to show our teeth” in their efforts to retain lineman John Kissell. Kissell signed with both Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Rough Riders. Both clubs were prepared to present legal cases for his ownership. The Cleveland club presented a writ of summons issued in the Supreme Court of Ontario asking for an injunction to restrain Kissell from playing football with Ottawa Football Club Inc. Kissell had nothing to say. He is the central figure in this international incident, but he intends sitting back and watching.
1962 (64 years ago)
At a Lions Club speaking engagement at the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa Rough Riders General Manager George Terlep related a story of asking Equipment Manager Frank Morgan for change for a dollar to call some friends. Morgan retorted: “Here’s a dime. Phone them all.”
1963 (63 years ago)
Alex Troop, Ottawa Rough Riders linebacker from 1986 to 1988, born at Toronto, Ontario.
1967 (49 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders 20 Saskatchewan Roughriders 7 before 19,375 at Lansdowne Park for their first win in four pre-season games. Ottawa’s touchdowns came from Don Gilbert and Whit Tucker.
1968 (58 years ago)
Joe Poirier and Wayne Giardino signed their contracts with the Ottawa Rough Riders, but five have not; Bo Scott, Doug Specht, Jay Roberts, Don Sutherin and Roger Perdrix.
1968 (58 years ago)
Andre Ware, Ottawa Rough Riders’ quarterback in 1995, born at Dickinson, Texas. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1989 and was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
1969 (57 years ago)
Emmanuel Martin, Ottawa Rough Riders’ cornerback in 1994 and 1995, born at Miami, Florida.
1972 (54 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders set their 1972 lineup by releasing Canadian veteran Tom Schultz to make way for Tom Pullen, back from a stint with Montreal Alouettes. Other moves included placing Al Marcelin on the 30-day injury reserve, dropping import Al (A-Train) Thompson and putting Canadian Jim Piaskoski on the injury list.
1972 (54 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders announced their starting lineup for the season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 2. On offence, Bob McKeown, centre; Roger Perdrix and Tom Schuette, guards; Doug Collins and Moe Racine, tackles; Billy Cooper, Hugh Oldham and Rhome Nixon, receivers; Art Cantrelle, running back; Bob Houmard, fullback; Terry Wellesley, slotback and Rick Cassata, quarterback. On defense, Charlie Brandon, Rudy Sims, Tom Laputka and Wayne Smith, front four; Dan Dever, Jerry Campbell and Wayne Giardino, linebackers; and Jim Elders, Wayne Tosh, Rod Woodward, Dick Adams and Ulysses Young, defensive backs.
1973 (53 years ago)
Toronto Argonauts 25 Ottawa Rough Riders 9 before 23,764 rain-soaked fans at Lansdowne Park in the opening game of the CFL season. Toronto’s touchdowns came from Eric Allen on a nine-yard pass from Joe Theismann, and a Tim Anderson 25-yard interception return of a Frank DiMaggio pass. In all, Allen caught six passes for 138 yards. Zenon Andrusyshyn booted 10 points for the visitors. Wayne Giardino scored for Ottawa on a 10-yard pass reception from Rick Cassata at 13:02 of the fourth quarter.
1974 (52 years ago)
Montreal Alouettes 20 Ottawa Rough Riders 17 in front of 15,732 at The Autostade in Montreal. Als’ Johnny Rodgers had five catches for 132 yards. Hugh Oldham caught a seven-yard toss from Jerry Keeling for Ottawa’s only major. Gerry Organ kicked three field goals, a convert and a single.
1979 (47 years ago)
Toronto Argonauts 18 Ottawa Rough Riders 16 at Lansdowne Park before 27,034. Ottawa scored 13 of their points late in the fourth quarter. Tony Gabriel scored a touchdown with 2:28 to play before Jimmy Jones found Peter Stenerson for a major when time ran out. Gerry Organ extended his conversion record to 142 without a miss. Condredge Holloway was hurt around the midway mark of the second quarter with a suspected separated rib cartilage.
1981 (45 years ago)
Bob McKeown, Ottawa Rough Riders centre from 1971 to 1976, was named as co-host of CBC’s The Fifth Estate. He joins Adrienne Clarkson and Eric Malling.
1989 (37 years ago)
Regional Council executive voted 4-3 to give the Ottawa Rough Riders a $500,000 loan The team, with a deficit of $1.9M, needs the aid to pay for operations, part of which consist of players’ salaries. Tomorrow Ottawa Council considers a Rough Riders request for the concessions from beer, food, parking and box seats at home games—money the city wouldn’t receive if the Riders folded—and a freeze on the $330,000 the club owes for use of Lansdowne Park.
1995 (31 years ago)
Ottawa Rough Riders acquired offensive lineman David Black from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a player on the Riders negotiation list. They also acquired quarterback Sammy Garza from the Bombers for future considerations and acquired LB Charlie Clemons on loan from the Bombers.
2003 (23 years ago)
Edmonton Eskimos 31 Ottawa Renegades 26 before 21,200 at Lansdowne Park. Eskimos scored 17 fourth-quarter points. Ottawa held a 19-14 lead when Lawrence Tynes kicked his third field goal of the day early in the final 15 minutes. Jason Tucker and Mike Pringle, with his second major the day, scored TDs before D.J. Flick scored late in the quarter to get the Renegades close. Josh Ranek scored Ottawa’s other major in the second quarter. Ranek began a six consecutive-game touchdown streak that continued until September 6. Ottawa’s net offence was 463 yards to the Esks, 293. Ricky Ray completed 19 of 30 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Renegades’ Kerry Joseph was good on 23 of 38 for 316 yards and two majors. Tucker caught seven passes for 114 yards, while Flick was the leading receiver for Ottawa catching five for 115 yards.
2003 (23 years ago)
Ottawa Renegades’ Demetris Bendross was named the CFL top special teams player for June and July. He returned 22 punts for 156 yards, 14 kickoff returns for 305 yards and returned three missed field goals for 228 yards.
2018 (8 years ago)
Ottawa RedBlacks kicker, rookie Lewis Ward, was named one of the CFL’s Shaw Top Performers after going seven-for-seven, and scoring all his team’s points, in a 21-15 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 29. He has been successful on 20 of his 21 attempts thus far this season. The RedBlacks have been successful as well, leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-2.
