"REDBLACKS round out coaching staff with additions of Mike Phair, Paul Saint-Vilien"

OTTAWA (April 25th, 2022) - With CFL training camp on the horizon, the Ottawa REDBLACKS have rounded out their coaching staff with the additions of veteran defensive line coach coach Mike Phair and former Carleton Ravens interim Head Coach Paul Eddy Saint-Vilien joining as a defensive assistant. 

A native of Mesa, Arizona, Phair is no stranger to professional football. The 52 year-old, who spent 2021 as a defensive assistant at Stanford University, has served on the coaching staff of five different NFL teams since 2009, most recently as defensive line coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Before that, Phair spent 2018-2019 with the Indianapolis Colts, also as d-line coach. He has also coached with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (assistant d-line coach), Chicago Bears (d-line coach), and Seattle Seahawks (assistant d-line and linebackers coach), as well as the University of Illinois (run game coordinator and d-line coach), Tiffin University, and Arizona State.

Phair has also worked as a scout with the Buccaneers, and Seahawks, helping Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory in 2003.

As a player, Phair suited up as a linebacker with ASU from 1990-1992, after earning All-Conference honours with Mesa CC.

Saint-Vilien joins the REDBLACKS after spending the last four years with the Carleton Ravens, most recently serving as interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Prior to his time with Carleton, served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach with the Montreal Carabins between 2014-2017. The Montreal native won the Vanier Cup with the Carabins in 2014 while also capturing the Uteck Bowl in 2014 and the Mitchell Bowl the following season.

He played collegiately for the Spartans of Cegep du Vieux Montreal, as well as a year with the Laval Rouge et Or in 2000. Following his playing career he joined Laval as a video analysis coach in time for the school's Vanier Cup wins in 2003 and 2004. 

I was pleased to see Saint-Vilien's name come up. Again, said from the perspective of someone on the outside looking in, it felt like he got a bit of a raw deal in his the past few months from Carleton. Former Ravens head coach left rather suddenly and when Saint-Vilien assumed the position on an interim basis, many current and former players expressed that the post should be permanent.

In a matter of weeks, it was awarded to Corey Grant, which may turn out to be an excellent hire (he can certainly make a strong case) but Saint-Vilien stepped up when asked to and it's good to see him rewarded. 

Oct. 16th, 1976, Ottawa Citizen: "New Sooner Learns Strange Game Fast"

I spotted the article below about former Sooner Louis Dickenson while tracking down the results of the 1976 senior high school season. 

The body building program appears to have paid off as Dickenson made the 1977 all-conference team. After his playing days, his accomplishments were listed in an advertisement for a local event called  "Building The Body Beautiful" in 1984.

I believe he continued to compete through at least 1985. 

"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. 

The 1964 Laurentian High School Senior Team

Over the past few days, I've worked on adding far more detail to the high school page. Most seasons included little more than the championship game's score and a brief summary, but I'm now working from 1927 up to the present to add regular season results for the eventual champion, as well as playoff scores for the league. 

1964 got the bulk of the attention this morning. Photography in the local newspapers began to improve around this time so the images displayed with the articles tend to be easier to copy. We have a couple of examples below involving the eventual champion Laurentian. 

Joe Upton is back coaching the Laurentian senior football team. Upton, a former Rough Rider star lineman, took ill a few years back and had to take things easy. But he feels fine now and is anxiously awaiting the start of the senior league schedule. In the picture with Upton are, back row, left to right, Jim Foley and Doug Smith. Kneeling in front is Mark Ciavaglia. 

The above is from the September 22nd Ottawa Journal. The picture below is from two days later, but appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.

Upton was a former Rough Rider but Foley was a future one. The team drafted him in the first round, ninth overall, in 1969. He played for Montreal for a couple of years but finally joined the Rough Riders in 1973 and played through to the 1977 season inclusively, winning two Grey Cups along the way. He is a member of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.

In the image below, sporting a different number, Foley is getting some instruction from Upton during the Western semi-final game in November against Rideau.

The mention of Upton's illness in the first picture casts a bit of a shadow on that otherwise happy occasion. Upton had suffered a heart attack during a game in 1961 and while the caption states that he was feeling great, he would succumb to a heart seizure at only 42 years of age in 1967. His obituary appeared in the March 2nd Citizen that year.

One of several articles about his passing included the November 1964 image above as an illustration of Upton "in happier times". No doubt that's true, as they won the championship that year. They would win it under Upton's guidance as well in 1965 and, as if to honour his impact on the program, in 1967 following his passing.

"Ravens Announce Six Local Recruits"

OTTAWA – The Carleton Ravens football team is proud to announce they have added six local recruits for the 2022 season.

The six local recruits from the Ottawa-Gatineau region mark the first players announced ahead of the team’s ninth season since their return to OUA competition in 2013.

The Ravens have added defensive back Alex Boily, linebackers Andrew Christie and Ethan Boxall, offensive lineman Noah Fahey and wide receivers Daniel Sheehan and Nicholas Cerquozzi.

Defensive back Alex Boily joins the Ravens from Franco-Cité High School and the North Gloucester Giants. Boily grew up attending Ravens games and looks forward to the rush from Canada’s loudest and proudest fans this fall.

Andrew Christie of the North Gloucester Giants (NCAFA) was named to the All Ontario Community All Star team and was the leagues Top Defensive Player. A physical linebacker, Christie has the ability to make plays all over the field.

Sheehan joins the program from the highly successful John Abbott College Islanders team who were the 2017 and 2019 RSEQ Div 2 winners. A wide receiver, Sheehan had 22 catches for 300 yards in 2021.

Receiver Nicholas Cerquozzi joins the Ravens from the St. Marks Lions where he was voted 1st Team All-Star in the OHSFL. An incoming business student, Cerquozzi is a fast, twitchy slot receiver who will look to prove himself at the university level.

Rounding out the Ravens recruiting class are linebacker Ethan Boxall and offensive lineman Noah Fahey. Boxall and Fahey join the program from the Nepean Broncos and Holy Trinity Tornadoes but have long been members of the Carleton community. Both players are second-generation Ravens following in the footsteps of their fathers who played for the Ravens during their times at Carleton.

CJFL Spotlight on Gord Hudson

Following the announcement that Gord Hudson was named Head Coach of the Ottawa Sooners, the CJFL turned their spotlight on him and produced the interview below. Have a listen. 

Sept. 7th, 2008: "Sacobie Racks Up Record in Rout"

2008 Gee-Gees results are being added and since a significant record was set in the second game of the season, I wanted to dedicate a post specific to it. 

"Ravens Name Corey Grant as the New Head Coach"

OTTAWA – The Carleton Ravens are proud to announce Corey Grant as the new head coach of the Carleton Ravens football team. Grant becomes the 14th head coach in the history of the Ravens varsity football program.

Grant joins the Ravens from the McMaster Marauders where he has served as the assistant coach and offensive coordinator since 2019. In addition to his role with the football team, Grant was also an Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Lead within McMaster’s Department of Athletics and Recreation. Prior to joining the Marauders, Grant spent six years coaching with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he served in various roles including assistant offensive coordinator.

Over the past two seasons with the Marauders, Grant’s offences were consistently ranked at the top of the OUA in total offence, passing yards and first downs. In 2019 Grant and the Marauders won the Yates Cup as OUA champions.

...

A former teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Grant holds a Master of Science in Education and his teaching certification from Canisius College, along with a Bachelor of Arts, Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Prior to his career in coaching, Grant had an 11-year CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders. A two-time Grey Cup Champion, Grant was named the 1999 Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year after being drafted 7th overall in the 1999 CFL Draft.

In addition to his extensive football resume, Grant has a lengthy resume of community work, including being the Co-Chair of the OUA Black Biracial Indigenous Committee (BBI), Assistant Director of the Black Canadian Coaches Association, Chair of the Hamilton Black History Council, and the Founder of the Black Football Coaches of Canada, among many other highlights. His community leadership also includes having developed the OUA’s United Against Racism campaign idea and the Football Coaching Apprenticeship for Women at McMaster University.

"REDBLACKS sign three offensive players"

The REDBLACKS are catching up on announcing their signings, today drawing attention to signings made February 14th (Marshall), February 28th (Hardy) and McCrorey (March 8th).

OTTAWA - The REDBLACKS continued to fill out their offensive roster on Friday with the signing of three American players including receiver Justin Hardy, running back Byron Marshall and offensive lineman Kyle McCrorey. 

Hardy, 30, brings 73 games of NFL experience to the REDBLACKS, having played the bulk of his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. In all, Hardy has 95 receptions for 946 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in the NFL. The Falcons selected Hardy, who suited up for the 2017 Super Bowl, in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. 

HEIGHT: 5-10 | WEIGHT: 192 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1991-12-18 

HOMETOWN: Washington, DC | SCHOOL: East Carolina

Running back Byron Marshall (34) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Landover, Md., Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Marshall, 27, played 13 games in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles (2016) and Washington Football Team (2017-18), registering 31 carries for 105 rushing yards, 13 receptions for 76 receiving yards and 12 kick returns for 239 yards. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in 2019.

HEIGHT: 5-9 | WEIGHT: 205 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1994-02-13

HOMETOWN: San Jose, CA | SCHOOL: Oregon

McCrorey, 24, started all 11 games of his 2018 senior collegiate season, helping lift his team's running game to nearly 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns. While starting all but one game the year before, McCrorey helped an offensive line that allowed just 12 sacks all season. 

HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 296 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1997-03-07

HOMETOWN: Montgomery, TX  | SCHOOL: Southeastern Oklahoma State

"REDBLACKS sign American defensive trio"

The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced three player signings earlier today. Oddly, enough, they weren't the players I was expecting.  

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS on Thursday announced the addition of three American defensive players to the roster, including defensive linemen Jhaustin Thomas and Trevon McSwain and defensive back Denzel Rice. 

Thomas, 28, spent the 2021 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after kicking off his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 2019. In 11 regular season contests, Thomas has 14 defensive tackles and a sack, all coming with the Argos. 

HEIGHT: 6-6 | WEIGHT: 275 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1993-04-13

HOMETOWN: Atlanta, GA | SCHOOL: Trinity Valley

McSwain, 25, was revealed as a member of the REDBLACKS negotiation last December and has now officially signed with the club. In 49 career games at Duke, McSwain had 18 starts, 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. 

HEIGHT: 6-6 | WEIGHT: 285 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1996-11-04

HOMETOWN: Suwanee, GA | SCHOOL: Duke

 Denzel Rice by Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Rice, 28, joins the REDBLACKS after spending 2021 with the Spring League's Blues. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015, Rice spent time with Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and Baltimore, appearing in 19 total NFL games while recording 14 defensive tackles and an interception.

HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 187 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1993-03-31

HOMETOWN: Winston-Salem, NC | SCHOOL: Coastal Carolina

All right, so that's that. So why were these guys not the signing announcements I expected? Because they've been signed for weeks.

Rice appeared on the league website's transactions list on January 26th, McSwain on February 23rd and Thomas on February 14th. So the most recent of these signings took place on Valentine's Day.

Who did I expect to be included in the announcement? Well, Justin Hardy, finally. He signed February 28th so maybe they'll make that one official around April 3rd or so. And yesterday, two more guys appeared on cfl.ca. 

One is Randy Richards, an American offensive tackle who played his college ball at Missouri State. He turned 31 in January. Here's the info provided about him by the Elks when he signed with Edmonton last year. 

Randy Richards is a six-year CFL veteran with experience playing both the left and right tackle positions. In his career, Richards has played in 39 games between stints in Saskatchewan, Calgary, and Toronto. (He) has started in two Grey Cup games for the Calgary Stampeders (2017 and 2018), winning in 2018. Richards attended the College of the Sequoias before transferring to Missouri State from 2011-2012. The offensive lineman spent time in the NFL with both the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the CFL in 2014.

The other player is a linebacker from Florida State, named Terrance Smith. He'll be 29 in May and I believe this is his first CFL stint. He played in 34 NFL games, mostly with Kansas City, between 2016 and 2021, contributing 24 tackles, a sack and an INT.

Maybe there's a good reason it's taken between 4-6 weeks to announce these new acquisitions and perhaps other teams take several weeks to announce new players too. I don't track other teams so I can't say either way. But I remain baffled at how roster moves seem like an afterthought for this team.