Ottawa Renegades
Encyclopedia
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League
team based in Ottawa
, Ontario
founded in 2002
, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders
folded. 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 a dispersal draft
.
After two years in limbo, the franchise was awarded to Jeff Hunt, best known as the owner of the Ottawa 67's
, in March 2008, with a tentative revival date of 2013. It is unknown whether the new Ottawa team will retain the Renegades name as technically it still remains as the franchise never folded.
action to Canada
's capital in 2002. Ottawa had been without a team since 1996, when the Ottawa Rough Riders
folded. The logo chosen draws similarities to the logo used by the Rough Riders for much of their existence up until 1992. As of 2008, the Renegades have played four seasons and never qualified for the playoffs. In May 2005, Bernard Glieberman
(former owner of the Rough Riders and the CFL USA
's Shreveport Pirates
) took ownership of the team, and made his son Lonie Glieberman team president. The team's only head coach had been Joe Paopao
. On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announced John Jenkins as head coach and General Manager for 2006, with Forrest Gregg
serving as the team's Executive VP for football. However, this did not occur because of the suspension of the team's operations.
The organization has become known for its devoted fan following, an informal group called "Renegade Nation". Local newspaper stories have noted their activities, which have included raising funds for players fined by the CFL or the team, as well as tailgating
more than 12 hours before game time (uncommon in CFL cities) with players and coaches frequently dropping by before or after the game.
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 the Toronto Argonauts
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in 2003, on April 9, 2006, the CFL's board of governors decided not to do that for the Renegades. The CFL started looking for a new owner.
The players of the Ottawa Renegades were dispersed to the remaining 8 CFL teams in a dispersal draft, with QB Kerry Joseph
going #1 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
.
Steelback Brewery
president Frank D'Angelo
announced 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.
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. http://www.ottawarenegadesfootball.ca/
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". http://www.ottawarenegadesfootball.ca/
However, in September 2007, the lower south side of Frank Clair Stadium was closed, due to cracks in the concrete structure. Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien
was quoted at the time that this was an opportunity to do a review of the usage and the facilities of Lansdowne Park. This makes the future of a team in Ottawa an uncertain one, because if it is decided to demolish the stadium, an Ottawa team would be without a stadium until another is built, and would have to play at a smaller venue in Ottawa or in another Ontario town such as Kingston, which has a stadium (Richardson Memorial Stadium
) that could be raised to the CFL minimum of 25,000 seats, and has hosted a Grey Cup game before, or the most likely scenario, the Ottawa Renegades will stay suspended for the foreseeable future until a new stadium is built or the team will be folded outright.
On March 25, 2008, the league ended the team's indefinite limbo by awarding the franchise to Jeff Hunt
, owner of the Ottawa 67's
. Pending the reconstruction of Frank Clair Stadium, the team will begin play in 2013. Whether the team will retain the Renegades name is unclear.
, there were still six former Renegade players still active on other CFL team rosters (Korey Banks
, Obby Khan
, Matt Kirk
, Alexandre Gauthier
, George Hudson
, and Kerry Joseph
). Former Renegades Korey Banks
, Kerry Joseph
, Yo Murphy
and Markus Howell
have also gone on to be Grey Cup
champions.
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....
team based in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
founded in 2002
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
, seven years after the storied 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...
folded. 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 a dispersal draft
CFL Dispersal Draft
The CFL player dispersal draft was held with the disbanding of the Ottawa Renegades franchise in 2006. The draft took place on April 12th and consisted of eight rounds, with Kerry Joseph being selected first overall by Saskatchewan.-Draft Results:...
.
After two years in limbo, the franchise was awarded to Jeff Hunt, best known as the owner of the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
, in March 2008, with a tentative revival date of 2013. It is unknown whether the new Ottawa team will retain the Renegades name as technically it still remains as the franchise never folded.
Team facts
- Founded: 20022002 CFL seasonThe 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
- Suspended: 20062006 CFL season-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
- Helmet design: Black background, with the head and torso of a man wearing a black hat and red bandana, and holding a football in front of a red maple leaf.
- Uniform Colours: Black, Red, and White
- Main Rivals: Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
- Stadium: Frank Clair StadiumFrank Clair StadiumFrank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
- Eastern championships: 0
- Grey CupGrey CupThe Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
s: 0
Franchise history
The Ottawa Renegades returned Canadian Football LeagueCanadian 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....
action to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's capital in 2002. Ottawa had been without a team since 1996, when 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...
folded. The logo chosen draws similarities to the logo used by the Rough Riders for much of their existence up until 1992. As of 2008, the Renegades have played four seasons and never qualified for the playoffs. In May 2005, Bernard Glieberman
Bernard Glieberman
Bernard "Bernie" Glieberman is an American real estate mogul and the president of Crosswinds Communities. Despite having made his fortune in real estate, Glieberman was perhaps best known for, with his son Lonie, making several unsuccessful and controversial forays into sports team ownership and...
(former owner of the Rough Riders and the CFL USA
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
's Shreveport Pirates
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
) took ownership of the team, and made his son Lonie Glieberman team president. The team's only head coach had been Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao is a long-time coach in the Canadian Football League, who last served as a head coach in the CFL for the Ottawa Renegades from 2001–2005....
. On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announced John Jenkins as head coach and General Manager for 2006, with Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
serving as the team's Executive VP for football. However, this did not occur because of the suspension of the team's operations.
The organization has become known for its devoted fan following, an informal group called "Renegade Nation". Local newspaper stories have noted their activities, which have included raising funds for players fined by the CFL or the team, as well as tailgating
Tailgate party
In the United States, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and...
more than 12 hours before game time (uncommon in CFL cities) with players and coaches frequently dropping by before or after the game.
On March 3, 2006, Lonie Glieberman resigned from day-to-day operations of the team, acknowledging that he made mistakes during his tenure.
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and 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 2003, on April 9, 2006, the CFL's board of governors decided not to do that for the Renegades. The CFL started looking for a new owner.
The players of the Ottawa Renegades were dispersed to the remaining 8 CFL teams in a dispersal draft, with QB Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
going #1 to 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...
.
Steelback Brewery
Steelback Brewery
Steelback Brewery was a Canadian based and owned brewery, located in Tiverton, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Huron.-The start:Steelback Brewery was started in September, 2002 by Frank D'Angelo while looking for expansion space for his juice company, D'Angelo Brands. He found a site inTiverton,...
president Frank D'Angelo
Frank D'Angelo
Frank D'Angelo is a Canadian entrepreneur in the beverage industry. He is the founder of D'Angelo Brands and Steelback Brewery and is host to The Being Frank Show, a weekly Canadian talk show.-Early life:...
announced 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.
On May 15, 2007, the CFL
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....
announced that it had ended discussions with a group led by William Palmer regarding the return of a CFL
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....
team to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
for the 2008 season. http://www.ottawarenegadesfootball.ca/
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". http://www.ottawarenegadesfootball.ca/
However, in September 2007, the lower south side of Frank Clair Stadium was closed, due to cracks in the concrete structure. Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien
Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)
Lawrence Robert O'Brien , was the 58th mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is also a current director of Calian Technologies Ltd. and its former CEO and chairman....
was quoted at the time that this was an opportunity to do a review of the usage and the facilities of Lansdowne Park. This makes the future of a team in Ottawa an uncertain one, because if it is decided to demolish the stadium, an Ottawa team would be without a stadium until another is built, and would have to play at a smaller venue in Ottawa or in another Ontario town such as Kingston, which has a stadium (Richardson Memorial Stadium
Richardson Memorial Stadium
George Taylor Richardson Memorial Stadium is a 10,258 seat Canadian football stadium located on the campus of the Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. It was built in 1971 and is the home of the Golden Gaels football team. It is named in memory of George Taylor Richardson, a Queen's graduate...
) that could be raised to the CFL minimum of 25,000 seats, and has hosted a Grey Cup game before, or the most likely scenario, the Ottawa Renegades will stay suspended for the foreseeable future until a new stadium is built or the team will be folded outright.
On March 25, 2008, the league ended the team's indefinite limbo by awarding the franchise to Jeff Hunt
Jeff Hunt
Jeff Hunt is a Canadian businessman who currently owns the Ottawa 67's hockey club of the Ontario Hockey League. He started a carpet-cleaning firm called Canway. His firm was in the Profit Magazine 100 seven times in the 1990s.-OHL Hockey:...
, owner of the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
. Pending the reconstruction of Frank Clair Stadium, the team will begin play in 2013. Whether the team will retain the Renegades name is unclear.
Players
As of opening day of the 2011 CFL season2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
, there were still six former Renegade players still active on other CFL team rosters (Korey Banks
Korey Banks
Korey Banks is a defensive back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.-NFL:...
, Obby Khan
Obby Khan
Ibrahim "Obby" Khan is a centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He is a Canadian starter and a team captain. He was acquired in the dispersal draft when the Ottawa Renegades franchise folded before the start of the 2006 CFL season...
, Matt Kirk
Matt Kirk
Matt Kirk is a Canadian football defensive tackle for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Ottawa Renegades in the 2004 CFL Draft...
, Alexandre Gauthier
Alexandre Gauthier
Alexandre Gauthier is a Canadian football offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was a CFL East All-Star in 2007. He was signed by the Roughriders in 2011 after being released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats....
, George Hudson
George Hudson (Canadian football)
George Hudson is a professional Canadian football centre for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the third round of the 2000 CFL Draft...
, and Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
). Former Renegades Korey Banks
Korey Banks
Korey Banks is a defensive back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.-NFL:...
, Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
, Yo Murphy
Yo Murphy
Llewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
and Markus Howell
Markus Howell
Markus Howell is retired professional Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner who is currently the defensive and special teams assistant for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 CFL Draft by the Blue Bombers...
have also gone on to be Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champions.
See also
- Ottawa Renegades all time records and statisticsOttawa Renegades all time records and statistics- Scoring :Most points – Career*277 – Lawrence Tynes*208 - Josh RanekMost Points – Season*198 – Lawrence Tynes – 2003*115 - Matt Kellett - 2005Most Touchdowns – Career*33 – Josh Ranek*19 - Kerry JosephMost Touchdowns – Season...
- Canadian Football Hall of FameCanadian Football Hall of FameThe Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
- Canadian footballCanadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
- Lansdowne ParkLansdowne ParkLansdowne Park is a historic sports, exhibition and entertainment facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, owned by the City of Ottawa. It is located along Bank Street and is adjacent to the Rideau Canal, in central Ottawa...
- List of Canadian Football League seasons
- Ottawa Rough RidersOttawa Rough RidersThe 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...