Nov. 20th, 1960: Ottawa Rough Riders 21 @ Toronto Argonauts 20

Companion to a post from earlier today, here is the summary to the second game of a two-game series against Toronto for the right to represent the East at the Grey Cup in 1960.

"Time Heals Wounds as Clair, Rough Riders Make Up"

There weren't many on-field highlights to the 1993 Ottawa Rough Riders season but the naming of the stadium after Frank Clair was a notable one off the field. 

Perhaps scheduling this event when the Doug Flutie-led Calgary Stampeders were in town wasn't the wisest choice. I doubt anyone was particularly stunned when the Stamps went on to spank the Rough Riders 47-22.

But there are far more heinous Glieberman missteps on what is a very long list. Fans got to see a wrong made right by the unlikeliest of sources. 

Dec. 11th, 1955: The Ottawa Rough Riders Hire Frank Clair

After a spell of spotty internet service, I was finally able to resume activity on this blog last night.

I spent a few minutes last night adding the results of the 1955 Ottawa Rough Riders season, one of the less inspiring showings for that club in that era. They won three games that year after winning only two in 1954.

A change was needed and it came in the form of Frank Clair.  Prior to moving on to adding the 1956 results, I wanted to share the article relative to his hiring at the end of 1955, being that it was a key turnaround point in the franchise's existence.

1968 Rough Riders

This post is inspired by the following tweet (and Facebook announcement) by the CFL Ottawa Alumni Association.

April 13th was a Friday, but that part is not relevant. ;-)  I'm going to track down the info I had gathered on my previous website about the 1968 team in particular and post it here. The post may be edited in the future if I come across new information.

I will not post the recap that had been included at the time on cfl.ca because it's a little light on details. It just so happens that I copied newspapers articles specific to that game while building the website years ago. I still have them, so I shall copy from them. See below.

In looking for a few more details, I found out that the REDBLACKS actually ran a Throwback Thursday series in early 2014 while leading up the start of their inaugural season. They had a nice graphic for it and everything! Let that be our banner.

Ottawa Rough Riders (9-3-2): 24
Calgary Stampeders (10-6):   21

Ottawa Head coach: Frank Clair
Calgary Head coach: Jerry Williams

                        1 2 3 4 Total
Ottawa Rough Riders 1 3 7 13 24
Calgary Stampeders 0 14 0 7 21

Date: November 30, 1968
Stadium: Exhibition Stadium, Toronto
Most Valuable Player: Vic Washington
Attendance 32,655


I don't recall were I located the information below. Probably from an Ottawa Citizen article from mid-season.

1968 Roster

(as of Aug. 22nd, 1968)

I = Import

##  Pos.  I  Name                    Notes 
11   HB      Ron Stewart             HoF
12   QB      Russ Jackson            HoF
14   DB   *  Don Sutherin            HoF
15   QB   *  Bill Van Burkleo
16   HB   *  Bo Scott
17   DB      Joe Poirier
20   DB      Barry Ardern
21   FB      Wayne Giardino
22   DB      Gene Gaines             HoF
23   FL      Bill Cooper
24   FB      Lovell Coleman
26   HB      Whit Tucker             HoF
27   HB   *  Victor Washington
30   FB      Rick Black
41   LB   *  Ken Lehmann             Most Outstanding Defensive Player
42    C      Jerry Selinger
43    C      Doug Specht
50   LB      Ken Shaw
51   DL   *  Roger Perdrix
52   DL      Jim Cain
53   DT   *  Marshall Shirk
54    G   *  LaVerle Pratt
55    G   *  Dave Braggins
56    G   *  Tom Schuette
60    T   *  Bob Brown
61    T      Tom Beynon
62    T      Moe Racine
63    G   *  Ed Joyner
65   DT   *  Billy Joe Booth
66    T      Doug Collins
71    E      Tom Pullen
73    E   *  Margene Adkins
76    E   *  Jay Roberts
77  DLB   *  Jim Reynolds
##   FL   x  Gino Berretta

LONG PLAY DOES IS AGAIN - Jack Koffman, Ottawa Citizen, December 1st, 1968.

Stymied and almost helpless offensively through the first half, Frank Clair's team changed the entire complexion of the game in the final 30 minutes.

It was a rather gloomy picture for the Ottawa supporters in the first half. Two Calgary fumbles opened the door for the Riders but they kept missing the boat. They could have been leading 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. Instead they trailed 14-4 at the half

The Western champs...stayed alive, though, because Don Sutherin's placement kicking was off target. In four field goal shots he made good on only one....This, couple with a single point on a blocked kick, gave Ottawa an early 4-0 edge.

...In the third period...Riders took over on the Calgary fifty-four and (Russ) Jackson began carrying the ball.

He raced 41, then got a circus catch by (Vic) Washington on a pass to the 15, to set up the first Ottawa TD. Russ himself finally went over from the one.

...Riders hit paydirt suddenly and explosively on the second play of the last quarter.

On a pitchout, Washington dropped the ball and picked it up again on the bounce...He raced down the touchline 79 yards and suddenly Ottawa was ahead.

Later, with five minutes to go, (Margene) Adkins ran a new pattern, cutting across from the right to take Jackson's pass on the Calgary 30 and race for the TD.

The stubborn Ottawa defence held Calgary off for two plays from the six, after a first down, then (Peter) Liske hit (Terry) Evenshen for the major. So only three points...separated the teams with 1:34 to go but Tom Schutte grabbed the short kickoff and that was that the end.