Jack Abendschan
Encyclopedia
Jack Abendschan is a former Canadian Football League
offensive lineman and placekicker
who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
from 1965 through 1975.
in 1965 and remained with them throughout his 11-year CFL career. Abendschan played offensive guard and was a part of solid offensive lines, alongside center Ted Urness
from 1965 to 1970, blocking on runs for running back
George Reed
from 1965 to 1975 and on passes for quarterback
Ron Lancaster
throughout his career. Except for 1968, he played all 16 games of the regular season every year from 1965 to 1973.
Abendschan was also an accurate placekicker
, at a time, up to the 1970s, when kickers always knocked heads on the field, other notable examples being Larry Robinson
, defensive back
of the Calgary Stampeders
, Tommy Joe Coffey
, wide receiver
of the Edmonton Eskimos
and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, and Moe Racine
, offensive tackle of the Ottawa Rough Riders
. His best field goal percentage was 63.2% (24 of 38) in 1970, his next best 60.7% (17 of 28) in 1967, which was considered very good at the time, considering kickers were no specialists and lined up for kicks sometimes in freezing weather with bruises from blocking opposing defensive tackles and linebackers.
Abendschan was part of the 54th Grey Cup
championship-winning Saskatchewan Roughriders
in 1966 over the Ottawa Rough Riders
29-14, in which he converted their 4 touchdowns. He also played in the 55th Grey Cup
the following year, the 57th Grey Cup
of 1969, and the 60th Grey Cup
of 1972, losses to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in 1967 and 1972 and to Ottawa in 1969.
During Abendschan's time as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, he was named to the CFL's All-Star team 5 times.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
offensive lineman and placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
from 1965 through 1975.
Roughrider
Jack Abendschan began his career with the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in 1965 and remained with them throughout his 11-year CFL career. Abendschan played offensive guard and was a part of solid offensive lines, alongside center Ted Urness
Ted Urness
Harold Edward "Ted" Urness is a former offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1961-1970.-CFL career:...
from 1965 to 1970, blocking on runs for running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
George Reed
George Reed
George Robert Reed, CM is a former American college football and Canadian Football League player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history...
from 1965 to 1975 and on passes for quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ron Lancaster
Ron Lancaster
Ronald "Ron" Lancaster was one of the pre-eminent quarterbacks of the Canadian Football League during his playing career; after his retirement as a player, he was also coach and general manager in the same league, and a sports announcer for CBC Television...
throughout his career. Except for 1968, he played all 16 games of the regular season every year from 1965 to 1973.
Abendschan was also an accurate placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, at a time, up to the 1970s, when kickers always knocked heads on the field, other notable examples being Larry Robinson
Larry Robinson
Larry Clark Robinson is a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. Robinson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and is currently the defensive coach for the New Jersey Devils...
, defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
of the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, Tommy Joe Coffey
Tommy Joe Coffey
Tommy Joe Coffey was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and place kicker who played for the Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.-CFL:...
, wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
of the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, and Moe Racine
Moe Racine
Moe "The Toe" Racine is a former placekicker and offensive lineman for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1958-1974 of the Canadian Football League. He was a part of four Grey Cup winning teams with the Rough Riders.-High school:Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, Moe Racine attended St. Lawrence High...
, offensive tackle of the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
. His best field goal percentage was 63.2% (24 of 38) in 1970, his next best 60.7% (17 of 28) in 1967, which was considered very good at the time, considering kickers were no specialists and lined up for kicks sometimes in freezing weather with bruises from blocking opposing defensive tackles and linebackers.
Abendschan was part of the 54th Grey Cup
54th Grey Cup
The 54th Grey Cup was hosted at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia on November 26, 1966. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won their first Grey Cup after 53 years of competition for this trophy, losing eight times in the game itself, but defeating on this day with Eagle Keys as head coach the...
championship-winning Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in 1966 over the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
29-14, in which he converted their 4 touchdowns. He also played in the 55th Grey Cup
55th Grey Cup
The 55th Grey Cup was played between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders on December 2, 1967, at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, before 31,358 fans and was won by the Tiger-Cats by a score of 24 to 1.- Box Score :First Quarter...
the following year, the 57th Grey Cup
57th Grey Cup
57th Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League's championship game, was played November 30, 1969 and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 29 to 11 before 33,172 fans at Montreal's Autostade.-Box Score:First Quarter...
of 1969, and the 60th Grey Cup
60th Grey Cup
The 60th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1972 before 33,993 fans at the Ivor Wynne Stadium at Hamilton. It was the last Grey Cup played in December...
of 1972, losses to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in 1967 and 1972 and to Ottawa in 1969.
During Abendschan's time as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, he was named to the CFL's All-Star team 5 times.