TheOttawa Renegadeswere aCanadian Football Leaguefranchise based inOttawa,Ontario founded in2002,six years after the storiedOttawa Rough Ridersfolded. After four seasons, the Renegades franchise was suspended indefinitely by the league due to financial instability, and its players were absorbed by the other teams in adispersal draft.
 | |
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Suspended | 2006 |
| Folded | 2008 |
| Based in | Ottawa,Ontario, Canada |
| Home field | Frank Clair Stadium |
| Division | East |
| Colours | Black, red, white, pewter, and tan |
| Nickname(s) | Gades |
| Mascot(s) | Ruffy the Beaver |
| Uniform | |
 | |
After two years in limbo, the Renegades franchise was awarded toJeff Hunt,best known as the owner of theOttawa 67's,in March 2008. The new franchise was revived in 2014 and rebranded as theOttawa Redblacks.[1]For historical purposes, the CFL classifies the Redblacks, Renegades and Rough Riders as one discontinuous franchise.[2]
History
edit
The Ottawa Renegades returnedCanadian Football Leagueaction to Canada's capital in 2002. Ottawa had been without a team since 1996, when theOttawa Rough Ridersfolded. The logo chosen draws similarities to the logo used by the Rough Riders for much of their existence up until 1992. The Renegades played four seasons and never qualified for the playoffs. In May 2005,Bernard Glieberman(former owner of the Rough Riders and theCFL USA'sShreveport Pirates) took ownership of the team, and made his son Lonie Glieberman team president, and many of the same names they had employed during the unsuccessful years of Glieberman's ownership of their previous teams started reappearing (for example,Björn Nittmo,by this point severely brain-damaged, almost 39 years old and out of football since 2001, was brought in as a potential kicker in the 2005 season). The team's only head coach wasJoe Paopao.On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announcedJohn Jenkinsas head coach and General Manager for 2006, withForrest Greggserving as the team's Executive VP for football. However, this did not occur because of the suspension of the team's operations.
On March 3, 2006, Lonie Glieberman resigned from day-to-day operations of the team, acknowledging that he made mistakes during his tenure.
With the team losing $3.8 million in 2005, and the possibility of losing an additional $2.3 million to $5.8 million in 2006, the organization requested financial assistance from the CFL, which the league was not willing to provide. On March 22, 2006, Bernie Glieberman decided to stop funding the Renegades. While the CFL previously took over operations of theToronto Argonautsand theHamilton Tiger-Catsin 2003, on April 9, 2006, the CFL's board of governors decided against doing the same for the Renegades, instead choosing to look for a new owner.[3][4]The CFL moved its easternmost-West Division team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, back to the East Division for the third time in its history to take Ottawa's place and to balance out the divisions (the Bombers played in the East from 1987–94, 1997–2001 and this time from 2006–13).
The players of the Ottawa Renegades were dispersed to the remaining eight CFL teams in adispersal draft,with QBKerry Josephgoing #1 to theSaskatchewan Roughriders.
Steelback BrewerypresidentFrank D'Angeloannounced in April 2006 that he was exploring opportunities to revive the team. The announcement was not cleared with the Canadian Football League, who indicated that they had had only one informal conversation with D'Angelo, in which no decision was made.[5]
On May 15, 2007, the CFL announced that it had ended discussions with a group led by William Palmer regarding the return of a CFL team to Ottawa for the 2008 season.[6]
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon stated "[s]everal parties have expressed interest regarding a franchise for Ottawa, and we have decided to concentrate efforts on these new opportunities. The CFL remains committed to the City of Ottawa, and we remain determined to return a franchise to the nation’s capital only at a time and under circumstances that will ensure strength and stability in the long run".[7]
However, in September 2007, the lower south side of Frank Clair Stadium was closed, due to cracks in the concrete structure. Ottawa mayorLarry O'Brienwas quoted at the time that this was an opportunity to do a review of the usage and the facilities of Lansdowne Park.
On March 25, 2008, the league ended the team's indefinite limbo by awarding the franchise toJeff Hunt,owner of theOttawa 67's.The team began play in2014,[8]and did not retain the nameRenegadesbecause of its troubled history (and could not use theRough Ridersname due to objections from theSaskatchewan Roughriders), instead being called theOttawa Redblacks.
Seasons
edit| Season | League | Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | CFL | 4th, East | 4 | 14 | 0 | No |
| 2003 | CFL | 3rd, East | 7 | 11 | 0 | No |
| 2004 | CFL | 4th, East | 5 | 13 | 0 | No |
| 2005 | CFL | 3rd, East | 7 | 11 | 0 | No |
| Season Totals (2002–2005) | 23 | 49 | 0 | 0 of 4 | ||
Players
editAs of the start of the2018 CFL season,Kyries Hebertwas the last active former Renegade player still on a CFL team roster. He is also the only former Renegade to have played for theOttawa Redblacks.Former RenegadesKorey Banks,Kerry Joseph,Yo Murphy,Marc Parenteau,andMarkus Howellhave also gone on to beGrey Cupchampions.[9]
Dan Crowleywas the team's first starting quarterback.[10]Throughout 2002, backup quarterbacksChuck ClementsandOteman Sampson,also saw some starting time.[11][12][13]However, in 2003,Kerry Joseph,was the quarterback to ultimately succeed Crowley.[14]During 2003,Romaro Milleralso started at quarterback.[15]During 2004 and 2005, Joseph functioned as the primary starting quarterback. However, backupsDarnell KennedyandBrad Banksalso saw time as the starter, in relief of Joseph.[16][17][18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Ottawa announces RedBlacks as CFL team's official nickname".tsn.ca.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-06-11.
- ^"CFL GUIDE & RECORD BOOK: 2017 EDITION"(PDF).cloudfront.net. p. 155.RetrievedOctober 29,2017.
- ^"CFL suspends operations of Renegades".TSN.ca. 2006-04-09.Retrieved2008-11-22.
- ^"Report: No CFL franchise in Ottawa in '07".TSN.ca. 2008-09-28.Retrieved2008-11-22.
- ^"CFL caught off guard with brewer's plans for 'Ottawa Steelback'".The Ottawa Citizen.2006-04-27. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-07.Retrieved2008-11-22.
- ^Renegades to RedBlacks: CFL's recent timeline in OttawafromOttawa Sunretrieved July 2014
- ^CFL ends talks on Ottawa bidfromCBC Sportsretrieved July 2014
- ^"CFL will return to Ottawa | Football | Sports | Toronto Sun".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-07-02.
- ^Busby, Ian (2009-08-04)."'Gades' parade of rings ".Toronto Sun.Retrieved2009-08-04.
- ^Zelkovich, Chris (2 July 2014)."10 reasons why the RedBlacks will be better than the Renegades".55 Yard Line.Yahoo! Sports.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Campbell: DeMarco patiently awaiting his turn".Ottawa Redblacks.11 June 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 10 November 2014.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Oteman Sampson".Just Sports Stats.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Renegades agree to terms with two quarterbacks".CBC. 17 April 2002.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Kerry Joseph".Canadian Football League Players Association.Retrieved11 November2014.
- ^"Romaro Miller".Just Sports Stats.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^Williams, Fred."Around the CFL: Time for Calgary to get started".The Sports Network. Archived fromthe originalon 10 November 2014.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"QB Darnell Kennedy rejoins Renegades".CBC. 12 June 2005.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Brad Banks".Just Sports Stats.Retrieved10 November2014.