Super Season 88!

The Ottawa Rough Riders' "Super Season '88" is considered by the majority of observers to be the worst season of a modern-era pro football franchise from the capital city. Ottawa was hosting the Grey Cup that year and looking to generate some excitement for fans who hadn't witnessed a winning record since 1979 and had just suffered through a 3-15 season in 1987.

As if the notion of a "super season" at this point wasn't already ripe for skepticism, it took little time for the hyperbolic title to blow up in their faces. Fans who thought things couldn't get worse learned a valuable lesson when the 3-win 1987 team was reduced to two victories in 1988.

Why bring this up now? Because the Ottawa Redblacks are challenging that team's level of ineptitude on offense.

The '88 RRs scored 278 points on the season. The 2019 RedBlacks currently have 238 with four games left. I'll leave you to figure out that math.

(To be fully factual, the 2014 Redblacks also only scored 278 for the year but as an expansion team, they get a pass)

It bears pointing out that the 1988 team also allowed 618 (!!) points. In other words, the average game for them was a 34-15 loss (give or take).

And yet, for all that, the 1988 was season wasn't without some positives.

Simon Fraser running back Orville Lee was drafted first overall that spring and provided some cause for optimism. He ran for 1075 yards (4.6 yard average per carry) and a couple of scores. This led to Lee being named the league's Most Outstanding Rookie.

(Lee also threw an interception but he had plenty of company on that level. Five RR Quarterbacks combined for 14 touchdowns against a staggering 36 picks.)

Receiver Gerald Alphin, a personal favourite at the time, also had himself a solid season with 64 receptions for 1307 yards and five scores.

Both were Eastern All-Stars and both were instrumental in helping the team achieve its first victory on August 13th in Winnipeg. The Citizen recap of that game is below. As usual, you can open the images in a new tab for a larger, easier-to-read version.

Also, Ken Evraire would make his debut this season and become a fan favourite until a bewildering bungle led to his departure and defensive back Troy Wilson snagged 10 interceptions.

Why would I hold on to a newspaper account of a team's one of two wins on the year? This was the game that made me a fan, as unbelievable as that may sound.

I'd left town briefly but moved back that year and was living on my own for the first time. Intent on enjoying all that the city had to offer, I sat down to watch this game. When the Riders won, I told myself "Man, these guys must be pretty good!"

Right.

It would not the last time I would be full of crap on a football prediction but this was equivalent to throwing a pick on your first pass attempt.