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Russ Jackson believes in Ottawa

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 9:29 AM EDT 28/03/08

Former Rider great thinks CFL will prove a success third time around ...Read the full article

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  1. Allan Martel from Canada writes: Russ Jackson speaks.

    His voice would have more credibility had he not called the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup this year and the past two years as well.

    Does CFL stand for Crazy for Leafs?
  2. Dan H from Alta, Canada writes: Again?? Why not try a new market like Quebec City or Halifax? Both of these cities have enjoyed tremendous support for football at the CIS level.
  3. Jake ---- from Canada writes: Well at least one person does. Thats count for something.
  4. The Middle Finger ..I.. from Canada writes: Jackson must be planning on coming out of retirement.
  5. Terry L. from Vancouver, Canada writes: Ottawa needs a new stadium period. And I hope they choose a name other than the Rough Riders. Other than that it'll be nice to have the nation's capital back in the league.
  6. Piet F from Canada writes: This ownership/management group has a great chance of succeeding. Jeff Hunt's history with the 67s is legendary for its success both on and off the ice. Let's hope his golden touch extends above the roof of the Civic Centre and into the stadium above.

    Meanwhile, the ownership group is a group of locals with very deep pockets. That's something an Ottawa CFL team has never seen before. Where else in the world would a city put up with a team that can't make the playoffs in an 8 or 9 team league where 6 teams make the playoffs every year! Yet CFL fans in Ottawa endured it for 20 years before finally throwing in the towel (and that was in equal part due to the insane ownership situation).

    The real challenge now is convincing City Council to preserve the stadium site as part of the redevelopment. Assuming that the stadium is rebuild to proper standards, it will benefit the Glebe area businesses on game day and serve as a venue for future major events (especially soccer-based ones!). Whatever happens, please please please do not relocate the stadium to the fringes of the city as was done with the Scotiabank place!!!
  7. Tetchy Citizen from Canada writes: Frank Clair Stadium is 40 years old. Sub-par even by CFL standards. No luxury boxes. Terrible end-zone seating. The south stands have been condemned.

    Meanwhile, the City is wallowing in debt and can't even pay to have snow removed this year without jacking up taxes.

    Deep as their pockets are -- weren't Watters' pockets deep enough? -- this group isn't going to make it work without massive gifts from the City. Now, Mayor Larry O'Brien is saying (on the radio this morning) that the stadium needs a parking garage.

    Would Jeff Hunt be such a "genius" without Brian Kilrea?
  8. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes: Ironic that Russ Jackson, Canadian born and developed, is the central voice for this article. In his earliest days as a quarterback, Russ was nicknamed "Wrong Way Jackson" because of his struggles to adjust from Canadian university to CFL football. Ottawa stuck with Jackson, however, and the rest is history. Jackson's made-in-Canadian success story is an exception, however. The CFL's history has shown a long and consitent failure to promote opportunites for Canadians in the quarterback position in favour of parachuted Americans, who in too many cases have shown they cannot perform.
  9. JawBone Hamilton from Canada writes: Bring back the "Rough Riders". Build a new facility at Lansdowne Parkk.

    The problem as I see it is Ottawa city council. These bozos can't seem to agree on anything, can't make decisions, argue about #$&*( and spend my tax money on a transit system that sucks. If anything torpedos the new franchise, it will be our elected city officials.
  10. The Middle Finger ..I.. from Canada writes: To Tetchy Citizen from Canada who wrote: Frank Clair Stadium is 40 years old. Sub-par even by CFL standards. No luxury boxes ........

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Its fans like you that caused the team to fail. There are no luxury boxes in Calgary, Regina or Winnipeg either but they do just fine.
  11. John McGee from Edmonton, Canada writes: I grew up in Ottawa worshipping the Rough Riders, in fact Russ Jackson taught me in Grade 11 and 12, which was a thrill. I certainly wish the new group well and that the team can be re-established in that market. Then I will be able to cheer for them when they play our cellar dwelling Eskimos. Frankly, I have my doubts as to the Ottawa market for football. I watched it die in the 70's and I blame it all on Pierre Trudeau (I have been in the west too long). The people of Ottawa are like sheep and follow the leader. When Pearson was Prime Minister he went to football games and was followed by the Ministers, the Deputies and so on. Trudeau, on the other hand, went to the Arts Center and all of the troops followed him. That was in my mind the end of football in Ottawa as it never recovered.
  12. Ottawa Rocks from Canada writes: I agree with Jawbone Hamilton. Our arguing elected municipal officials will be the death of the nascent franchise, but hopefully they'll be too ineffective to undo this great opportunity. Ideally, it would be great to have a brand new stadium built on the same land where Lansdowne Park resides - it is on prime real estate after all. However, failing that the main point is if we have great owners, the rest will be fine. I believe as an excellent owner of the 67s, we should have a good chance with the new CFL team here. Also, Ottawa-Gatineau does have a good record in supporting sports => we support an OHL and QMJHL franchise, each drawing about 9,000 a match, where cities of equal size, Calgary and Edmonton only support 1 junior hockey franchise. So what does this mean? Are Calgary & Edmonton bad supporters of sports teams? Nope, not at all. Calgary & Edmonton have great support for teams that are managed well with good ownership groups, ie in the CFL and in the NHL. Same with Ottawa-Gatineau => the Sens are very healthy now and so are our 2 junior teams, the 67s & Olympiques, but don't forget that in all cities it was mainly thanks to the superb ownership & related vision/leadership for their respective clubs. So bottom line: With good ownership we can make it work in the Capital region. Final thought: The CFL should not stop just in Ottawa. Be aggressive and go after Quebec City and Halifax NOW. If they can get a franchise before 2010, ie before we do, all the more power to them. Good luck.
  13. Spud Blight from Ottawa, Canada writes: I grew up in London, Ontario, and knew more about the Roughriders than the Argos. Russ Jackson and his acomplishments were common topics of conversation in high-school and university.

    After I moved to Ottawa, I was amazed that this city, and its so-called "fan base" allowed the franchise to die, and also turned its collective back on the Renegades.

    So another CFL franchise will be created that will somehow receive different treatment? Not likely. Revise Frank Clair statium all you like. After an initial spark, Ottawa will let another franchise die through indifference and neglect.

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