"Ottawa Sooners Under New Ownership"

The following article was written by Everett Hanmer. You can read the complete version on the Ontario Football Conference website.

The new owner of the Ottawa Sooners wants to bring a national championship to the city. Entrepreneur and Businessman Kevin Ling now owns the organization, taking over from John and Tammy Allaire.

Ling has been a fan of football his whole life and grew up playing the sport. Ling is from Burlington which is where he was first introduced to the Sooners. “We used to play the Sooners every year when I played junior ball. The Sooners were familiar to me as an opponent.”

Ling knows that the Sooners are a part of the football culture in Ottawa. “When people think about football in this town they think about the Redblacks and the Ottawa (Rough Riders) and if you’re not talking about them, you’re talking about the Ottawa Sooners.” 

Since taking ownership Ling has wasted no time, as he already has a number of candidates he is planning on interviewing for the head coaching position. 

Ling says that giving back will be a part of the Sooners. “I think as a team that will be a big part of what we do to rebuild this organization because the Ottawa Sooners are part of the City of Ottawa.”

Ling was recently on TSN1200 to talk about this. I tried, but failed, to embed the player into this post so I can only provide this link. 

This is comforting being that I feared the Sooners might be done for the foreseeable future. I would have hated to see a 60-year old club just disappear unceremoniously. I'm hoping the club can participate in other age categories as well, but one thing at a time. For now, welcome back to the junior ranks, Sooners! 

(November 25th) "REDBLACKS re-sign Norman, Salmon and Texada"

These are coming in so fast that I've fallen behind in posting them! 

The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced Thursday that they’ve re-signed a trio of defensive players for the 2022 season, with linebackers Dwayne Norman and Shaheed Salmon, and defensive back Ranthony Texada extending with the team.

Norman, 26 joined the REDBLACKS for his fourth CFL season, after spending three with the Calgary Stampeders. In a career-high nine games this season, the Jacksonville, Florida native recorded three special teams tackles, and three defensive tackles, along with his first career sack, and forced fumble.

In his sophomore season with Ottawa, the 26 year-old Salmon suited up for 12 games. Hailing from Tampa, Florida, he tallied 12 tackles on special teams, as well as a forced fumble, and four tackles on defence.

Texada’s first CFL season saw him appear in three games for the REDBLACKS. The 26 year-old Smyrna, Georgia, product recorded a total of 11 tackles, including a career-high of six against the Montreal Alouettes on November 19.

I like what interim GM Jeremy Snyder and interim assistant GM Jean-Marc Edme are doing here. Following the termination of Marcel Desjardins, the only person to work the role of general manager in the team's existence, re-signing their own free agents is the only method those two men have at the moment of demonstrating that they deserve to stick around. They are making the most of it.

I've seen some grumbles about essentially bringing back the same team that just went 3-11. By my count, they have 49 players under contract for 2022, some of whom are "futures" types that have yet to play for Ottawa. They can still bring in dozens of new faces to compete for spots.

To be honest, there are a few of the guys signed over the past couple of days that I could do without seeing in 2022 but until you've found a replacement, better the devil you know. Signing them now does not guarantee them a significant role in 2022, or any role for that matter.

What does irritate me with each announcement is the player salary cap implication. We'd been told numerous times that the team was spending right to the cap in 2021, as they always have. Yet a large part of the strategy in signing these players now is so a portion of the salary is applied against unused 2021 cap space.

I believe that this was the plan all along, with 2021 essentially being an audition for 2022. I think they were content to field what they perceived to be a decent club on the relative cheap in 2021 (as a result of revenues expected to be way down) with the goal to make a more legitimate attempt in 2022 when things are relatively back to normal.

2021 results were probably far worse than they'd anticipated though. By the time fans began to loudly question the team's effort to field a competitive product and the REDBLACKS tried to right the ship (when Kenny Stafford was added along with five other players at mid-season), things were too far gone to turn around.

Who knows if that mid-season "splurge" on Stafford and company and the money being spent now would have helped if it had been spent in June? Perhaps not. But it might have at least avoided the perception that the team was not putting in a full effort. Long-time fans here don't need to be reminded of those days and few things will turn off any fan base than the perception that the club is not committed. If nothing else, Snyder/Edme are dispelling that notion with every re-signing. 

(November 24th) "REDBLACKS re-sign Gosselin, Dubois, Onyeka"

The Ottawa REDBLACKS continued a busy off-season on Wednesday, signing three Canadians including fullbacks Anthony Gosselin and Marco Dubois and defensive lineman Kene Onyeka to contract extensions for 2022. 

Gosselin will return for a fifth season next year following another strong display as a key piece of Ottawa's special teams unit. The 29-year-old Sherbrooke product appeared in 12 games this year, also pulling in four of five passes for 20 yards. 

Dubois, also an integral piece of the REDBLACKS special teams unit, appeared in 13 games during his third CFL campaign in 2021. Dubois, who is from Lasalle, Quebec and went to school at Laval, also caught two passes for 29 yards. 

Onyeka took a big step forward during his sophomore CFL season. While appearing in all but one game in 2021, the 25-year-old former Ottawa Gee-Gee had 14 defensive tackles, eight on special teams, a forced fumble and the first two sacks of his career. 

"REDBLACKS re-sign defensive backs Sherrod Baltimore and Brandin Dandridge"

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS re-signed a pair of American defensive backs on Tuesday, locking up Sherrod Baltimore and Brandin Dandridge to deals for 2022. 

Baltimore, a veteran of 47 CFL games over four seasons with Ottawa, quickly became a fan favourite as a walk-on in 2017. Since then, he has recorded 112 defensive tackles, two interceptions along with one in the 2018 Grey Cup game, and a forced fumble. 

Dandridge, who played four games in 2019 with Ottawa before rejoining the team and dressing for eight games in 2021, impressed with four interceptions along with 11 defensive tackles. 

"REDBLACKS Enter Off-Season On High Note After Comeback Victory"

MONTREAL — The Ottawa REDBLACKS found a way to end a disappointing season on a high note.

The team snapped a six-game losing skid in their season finale by storming back late to claim a 19-18 victory over the playoff-bound Montreal Alouettes, and multiple players stepped up to give Ottawa hope heading into an important off-season.

Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans leaps over the pile to score a touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes during fourth quarter CFL football action in Montreal on Friday, November 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Quarterback Caleb Evans posted one of his best performances of his rookie season by rushing for two scores and throwing a pair of two-point conversions in the second half — including the game-winner with eleven seconds left.

...

Head coach Paul LaPolice saw his team finish with a 3-11 record, including just one win at home, but he said he was proud of the determined effort they sustained throughout the difficult season.

Getting the most out of a young offensive line while also trying to solidify the quarterback situation was just one of the challenges the team faced throughout the year.

“I’m humbled by what happened to our season and our record, but I’m proud of the men in this room,” LaPolice said. “The resiliency they have each week, how they showed up, and they didn’t turn fingers. They just tried to work to get better and continue to grow.”

Evans completed 18 of 29 passes for 173 yards while also adding 56 rushing yards in the Week 16 win. The 23-year-old quarterback shined on the game-winning drive by only missing one of his seven pass attempts with the game on the line.

Despite starting with the ball deep in their own end with just three minutes on the clock, Evans found a way to guide the offence the length of the field for the win.

...

Along with the play of Evans, Ottawa was also powered by a defence that didn’t surrender a single point in the second half.

The unit finished with three sacks and two forced fumbles, including a late turnover in the fourth quarter that led to the game-winning drive. Defensive lineman Davon Coleman pounced on both fumbles to secure possession for Ottawa.

Another major bright spot was the play of dynamic running back Timothy Flanders, who led the team in both rushing and receiving.

Flanders gained 62 yards on 10 carries while also contributing 67 receiving yards, and his 39-yard screen play with under two minutes remaining was the catalyst on the decisive drive. The 30-year-old CFL veteran finished the season as Ottawa’s leading rusher.

"REDBLACKS re-sign linebacker Avery Williams"

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS have locked in one of the stars of their defence, signing American linebacker Avery Williams to a one-year contract extension. 

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Williams has been among the CFL leaders in tackle all season, currently sitting in third place with 83. The 27 year-old also has posted a sack, and a forced fumble that he recovered, along with the first interception of his CFL career.

Rodney Estimé, Nathan Clark Named to OUA All-Rookie Team

The OUA named its rookie players of the year earlier today. Rather than list an entire line-up with players from the various programs, it appears they chose to name a single player from each team instead. 

In uOttawa's case, the selection was receiver Rodney Estimé. 

Photo Credit to Spencer Colby / The Charlatan

For Ottawa, Rodney Éstime came out of the gates on a mission, starting his university career with eight catches for 149 yards for an average of almost 19 yards per reception. He would finish the season with averages of five receptions and 70.5 yards per game, ranking sixth in the OUA in both categories. His 13.8 yards per catch and 359 total yards receiving also put the Montreal, Que. native in the top 10.

Defensive lineman Nathan Clark was the selection for Carleton. 

Nathan Clark, a defensive lineman from Kingsley, N.B., first found his footing in one of the biggest games on the university sport calendar, picking up a pair of assisted tackles in the Panda Game. He would chip in another three tackles in his following two games before capping of the regular season with his strongest outing to date (3.5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss).

A couple of names to file away for future seasons! The quoted text above is from the OUA's press release.

"REDBLACKS re-sign Canadian trio"

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS locked up three key Canadian contributors on Tuesday as the club announced contract extensions for defensive lineman Nigel Romick, running back Brendan Gillanders and defensive back Justin Howell.

Romick has been with the REDBLACKS since the club’s inaugural season in 2014 and has become one of the most effective and consistent special teams players on the roster. In 90 career CFL games, Romick has 91 special teams tackles, 14 defensive tackles and a sack, the latter coming this season.

Gillanders joined the REDBLACKS in 2016 after spending the first two years of his career with the Toronto Argonauts and a university career with the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Another critical piece of Ottawa’s  special teams game, Gillanders recently celebrated his 100th CFL contest. Since his rookie season in 2014, Gillanders has 61 carries for 282 rushing yards, as well as 338 receiving yards on 38 catches.

Howell, a former star with the Carleton Ravens, is wrapping up his third CFL campaign, all with the REDBLACKS. Playing a mix of special teams and safety, Howell has seen his role increase since his rookie season. Heading into Friday’s season finale, Howell has set new career highs in defensive tackles (20) and special teams tackles (9).

Oct 29th, 1949: Carleton 06 @ uOttawa 24

While appreciatively watching the OUA semi-final game between uOttawa and Queen's on OUA.tv, I also took some time to split some of the information about the garnet and grey between a few more pages specific to certain eras.

1949 to 1970 was selected as one period of time. The team joined the Ottawa-St. Lawrence Football Conference in 1949 so it felt like a good starting point. That time range includes the Matt Anthony-coached years and right through to an appearance in the National Championship game with Bob O'Billovich at the helm.

The smaller segments will make it easier to record the program's long history. I plan to include more game summaries on each dedicated page as well as individual and team honours and so on to the results that are already displayed. Having one page for a program that dates back to 1881 was becoming cumbersome.

The game below against Carleton, pre-Panda, is from that 1949 season. I thought it made a fine addition. A few more have been added as well here and there on this new page, with many more to come.

2021 NCAFA Midget Championship Highlights

A big thank you to the fine folks at HESN for putting this video together for a game I would have loved to get to but couldn't.