Sept. 8th, 1937: Welcoming (back) Stan O'Neil

The image below is from an unusual source for this site: The North Bay Nugget!

O'Neil was among the first American players to suit up for the Ottawa Rough Riders. He did not participate during the 1936 season, however, because he did not meet the requirements to do so. The article below, also from the Nugget, explains. 

Following that ruling, O'Neil returned to the States. He spent the summer in Ottawa in 1937 in order to meet the criteria to play for the Rough Riders in the fall. He remained with the team through to the 1941 season inclusively, winning the Grey Cup in 1940.

There is an error in the article above, aside from the one-word spelling of Rough Riders. The other player ruled ineligible in 1936 was Tony Rosso, not Tommy. While O'Neil chose to head home, Rosso stuck around town and coached St. Patrick's to their first Eastern Ontario senior high school championship.

I don't believe that Rosso returned to the Rough Riders or to St. Pat's for that matter. The Ottawa Journal reported, in May of 1937, that Rosso had continued coaching but at Washington and Jefferson College in the U.S.

But in 1936, neither man could play for the Rough Riders because, in effect, they didn't spend enough time pretending to live in Canada.

Oct. 1907: Rough Riders and St. Patrick's Merge

The history of the Rough Riders includes a number of mergers and amalgamations with other local clubs. They absorbed the Ottawa Trojans in the mid-40s, combined with a St. Brigid's club in 1923 and merged with the University of Ottawa squad in 1913.

Much of the details of those events have been recorded here, so today we'll go even further back to the club's rebirth in 1907 as the IRFU (Big Four) was being formed. The Rough Riders and a club from St. Patrick's combined to join the new Union. 

It wouldn't be a an Ottawa football team restructure without a debate about the name!

I haven't come across a list of name suggestions as of yet. The Rough Riders name stuck, perhaps in part because most of the new roster was built from the previous year's version of that team. The articles above are from October 2nd, the one below is from October 11th.

Using the "professional" tag for this post is more a reference to what this team would become than how it operated at that point, based on the second item below. 

Their first season under the new structure would be underwhelming as they achieved two wins and four losses. The 1908 club, however, would win five out of six and take first place in the Big Four.

REDBLACKS Signings for the Week of Dec. 19th to 23rd.

A slower week of re-signings going into the holiday season but focused on the defensive line.

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS have re-signed national defensive lineman Kene Onyeka to a two-year contract, the team announced today. 

Onyeka, 26, is coming off his third CFL season, all with the REDBLACKS, in which he enjoyed the highest production of his career. The Lagos, Nigeria native, who grew up in Brampton, Ontario, appeared in 17 games, recording 26 total tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble.

"I'm very happy to sign on for another two years with the REDBLACKS," said Onyeka. "I'm just happy to get to do what I love in a place that I love."

A product of the Carleton Ravens, Onyeka was selected in the fourth round, 29th overall, by the REDBLACKS in the 2018 CFL Draft.

The Ottawa REDBLACKS have (also) locked up national defensive lineman Cleyon Laing for two more years.  

Laing will suit up for his 10th CFL season in 2023 and fourth overall with Ottawa. Laing previously played for the REDBLACKS in 2016, winning a Grey Cup, before returning to Ottawa in 2021. The Edmonton native had three of his 39 career sacks last season while playing in all 18 games. 

Laing broke into the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts in 2013 and spent three seasons there before his first stint with the REDBLACKS. He would go on to spend three more years with Toronto, winning the Grey Cup again in 2017, before once again deciding to call Ottawa home. 

July 12th, 1996: "Riders Rally For First Win Under Payne"

"REDBLACKS unveil 2023 coaching staff"

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS have announced their coaching staff in preparation for the 2023 CFL season. 

Head Coach Bob Dyce will be joined by Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach Khari Jones, Defensive Coordinator Barron Miles, Receivers Coach and Pass Game Coordinator Travis Moore, Offensive Line Coach Paul Charbonneau, Running Backs Coach Nate Taylor, Special Teams Coach Cory McDiarmid, Defensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator Mike Phair, Linebackers Coach Patrick Bourgon, and Defensive Backs Coach Alex Suber. 

"I'm thrilled to announce this new group of coaches for the Ottawa REDBLACKS.  I've worked side by side with all of these individuals in the past and, not only are they great coaches, communicators and teachers, they are also men of character," said Dyce. "This is a group that is committed to working together with players both in the meeting rooms and on the field to ensure success. They have won everywhere they have been and we're fortunate to have them all in Ottawa."

Bob Dyce enters his first full year as Head Coach of the REDBLACKS after being named to the position late last season. The Winnipeg native joined Ottawa in 2016 and would help lead the club to a Grey Cup championship that year. Dyce came into the CFL in 2003 as Receivers Coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and his CFL resumé includes seven years in Winnipeg (2003-09) as the receivers coach, six years with the Roughriders (2010-15) as the passing game coordinator/receivers coach, offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator as well as a stretch in 2015 as the team’s interim head coach.

Khari Jones will kick off his first year with Ottawa in 2023 after splitting last year between Montreal and Hamilton. Jones spent three years as Head Coach of the Alouettes, which followed a three-year stint as Offensive Coordinator with the BC Lions. Jones began his CFL coaching career with with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator from 2009-2011.

Barron Miles also enters his first year with the REDBLACKS this season. Before serving as Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach for the Bishop's Gaiters (U Sports) for the 2022 season, the Roselle, New Jersey native spent two years with the Montreal Alouettes - working alongside new REDBLACKS Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Coach Khari Jones - and was the team's defensive coordinator from 2021-2022. His CFL coaching career has also taken him to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and BC. 

Travis Moore returns to Ottawa in 2023 after initially coaching the club's receivers from 2014-2017, appearing in two Grey Cups and winning one in 2016. The 10-year former CFLer has coached with the Saskatchewan Roughriders since 2018. As a player, Moore played 10 seasons for the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, winning two Grey Cup championships with the Stampeders in 1998 and 2001.

Paul Charbonneau returns for his second season coaching Ottawa's offensive line. Before coming to Ottawa, he was the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Roosevelt University (NAIA), after stints with Washington University in St. Louis (NCAA), and Lindenwood University-Belleville (NAIA). Charbonneau was with the Montreal Alouettes from 2016-2017, as the team’s Running Backs and Offensive Line Coach.

Nate Taylor joins the REDBLACKS for his first season as a CFL coach. The Montreal native and former defensive back for the Concordia Stingers, was most recently the Offensive Coordinator and Receivers Coach for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. Taylor joined the school as full-time Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator in 2016. In 2019, Taylor became the team's receivers coach, while still serving as recruiting coordinator.

Cory McDiarmid is back for 2023 after joining the REDBLACKS late in the 2022 campaign as a Special Teams Assistant.  McDiarmid has coached in various capacities throughout the CFL during his career, winning Grey Cups with BC and Saskatchewan. McDiarmid most recently coached for the Panthers Wrocław in the European League of Football before making his way back to the CFL with Ottawa.

Mike Phair returns in 2023 for his second year as REDBLACKS defensive line coach, this year adding Run Game Coordinator to his title. Phair previously 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, Chicago Bears, and Seattle Seahawks, as well as the University of Illinois, Tiffin University, and Arizona State.

Patrick Bourgon is returning as REDBLACKS Linebackers Coach after coaching the defensive backs last season. He joined the team for their inaugural season in 2014, as a Football Operations Intern, before becoming a Football Operations Assistant in 2015, and briefly leaving the team to take on the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach roles for the Diables Rouges de Villepinte in France. Bourgon rejoined the REDBLACKS as an Offensive Assistant for their Grey Cup-winning season in 2016, and transitioned to Defensive Assistant in 2018, and Assistant Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coach in 2018, before earning his current role in 2020.

Alex Suber enters his third season with the REDBLACKS but first as Defensive Backs Coach after previously coaching the club's receivers. Before joining the REDBLACKS, Suber coached receivers at Murray State University. Prior to that, he served as Lyon College’s defensive coordinator. Suber wrapped-up his CFL playing career with 65 games played and 254 defensive tackles.

That's a lot of retention for a team that has performed so poorly in recent years, though with some shifting of responsibility thrown in as well. I admit to some trepidation on that retention basis (players included) but I suspect that we can expect to be quite active in free agency again in 2023. I certainly hope so. 

The 1961 Senior High School Semis

Redblacks Signings for the Week of Dec. 12th to 16th

Another busy week for the REDBLACKS FO. The team announced signings every day this past week with the exception of Wednesday when the 2023 schedule was released. Let's get going:

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS re-signed a pair of Canadians, today, with defensive back Justin Howell, and defensive lineman Nigel Romick rejoining the team for the 2023 CFL season.

"Choosing to re-sign in Ottawa for 2023 was a no-brainer for me. I am fortunate to have spent five years here since being drafted in 2018," said Howell. "We’ve got a great group of core guys, led by a tremendous coaching staff. My sole focus is on helping this team bring a Grey Cup back to the capital. I can’t wait to get back to TD Place, and play in front of the best fans in the CFL."

Howell, 29, has spent all four seasons of his career with the REDBLACKS, after a standout university tenure with the Carleton Ravens. The Bradford, Ontario native was limited by injury to just five games in 2022, but still came through with 16 total tackles, and a pair of forced fumbles.

"I’m ecstatic to be staying put in Ottawa for my ninth season," Romick added. "As I look to the 2023 season, I expect lots of fireworks, and plenty of wood cookies being cut. I’ve been fortunate to play for Coach Dyce since 2016, so I know the type of energy and leadership he brings to the locker room."

Romick, 31, is a veteran of eight seasons, and reached the 100-game milestone in 2022, all of which he has spent with the REDBLACKS. Though he appeared in just nine games due to injury, this season, the Thunder Bay, Ontario product chipped in nine total tackles, and is just one shy of 100 special teams tackles on his career.

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced, today, that they have re-signed national running back Jackson Bennett to a two-year contract.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity," said Bennett. "Ottawa has been home for a very long time, and holds a special place in my heart. To suit up again for the city that raised me is nothing but a blessing.”

Bennett, 26, arrived to the REDBLACKS in 2022, after spending the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 14 games, the Cumberland, Ontario native rushed for a career-high 234 yards on 50 attempts, and hauled in 15 catches for 86 yards. Bennett also contributed in the return game, racking up 160 yards on eight kick returns. 

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS have re-signed American offensive lineman Dino Boyd to a two-year contract, the team announced today.

Boyd, 26, joined the REDBLACKS in 2021, and appeared in 15 games during the 2022 season. Playing multiple positions on the Ottawa offensive line, the 6'4 300 lbs Newark, New Jersey native was a critical component of the REDBLACKS' front five. Boyd began his CFL career with Ottawa in 2021, suiting up for three games. 

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced, today, that they have re-signed national receiver Nate Behar to a two-year contract.

“I’m committed to this organization, this city and RNation. I’m committed to the vision of Coach Dyce and Burkey,” Behar said. “Getting this contract figured out for two more years of playing in the Capital is the best Holiday present I’ve ever had! Let’s build this thing!

Behar, 28, has spent the last three seasons with the REDBLACKS, and enjoyed the most productive year of his career in 2022. Through 13 games, the London, Ontario native hauled in 59 receptions for 727 yards, and a pair of touchdowns, to go with 254 yards after the catch.

A product of Carleton University, Behar was drafted fifth overall by the Edmonton Elks in 2017, before returning to Ottawa in 2019. 

Another player was signed during the week but as-yet-unannounced in defensive tackle Bryce Rodgers.  Being a league entry contract, I believe those are normally for two years as well.

Here's some information about him from a press release issued by his school, UC Davis, shortly after he signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons following the NFL draft. 

A mainstay on UC Davis' defensive line, Rodgers was a model of consistency in leading the Aggies' push into the backfield each week in 2021. He led UC Davis in quarterback hurries with eight and added eight tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. For his effort in the 2021 campaign the East Palo Alto, Calif., native was tabbed to the All-Big Sky second team.

Rodgers led all Aggie defensive linemen with 18 tackles (8 solos, 10 assists) while adding 2.0 TFLs (both sacks), two QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick in the 2021 spring season. In 2019, the 6-3 lineman was named All-Big Sky honorable mention after starting all 12 games at defensive tackle. He ranked fifth on the team and tops among defensive linemen with 49 tackles (35 solos, 14 assists). Rodgers also had 6.0 TFLs, including 4.0 sacks for 20 yards and added a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and team-leading seven hurries.

Oct 28th, 1989: "Gee-Gees Battle Past Stingers"

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.

Nov. 12th, 1960: Toronto Argonauts 21 @ Ottawa Rough Riders 33

This was the first of a two-game playoff series for the Eastern championship that year.