Canadian Football League to return to Ottawa next season?

The Ottawa Rough Riders could be back in the CFL as early as next season.
The deadline for groups looking to return the CFL to Ottawa next season came Friday. Although the league wouldn't say how many applications it has received, a CFL source requesting anonymity said three have applied for the Ottawa team.
In fact, one of the groups, which is based in the United States and includes former CFL player Bill Palmer - whose son, Jesse, is a quarterback with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers - has reached an agreement with former Rough Riders owner Horn Chen to purchase the team name and R logo if it is successful.
The other groups interested in securing the Ottawa franchise are Golden Gate Capital Corporation - a Toronto financial services company - and Steelback Brewery owner Frank D'Angelo.
A fourth group is reportedly also interested, but it's not known if it has made a formal application to the CFL, which is seeking a $3.5-million franchise fee.
"We will now take the necessary steps to communicate and work with the parties that have expressed their interest by providing them with the necessary documentation and information to continue the evaluation process," CFL commissioner Tom Wright said in a statement. "We have also been reviewing information from these prospective owners to evaluate the strength of their proposed plans and organization to ensure that a strong, committed and sustainable ownership group is placed in Ottawa for the longterm.
"It is our hope as a league that some time in the fall we will be able to formally announce a new owner - one with character, commitment and financial stability - for the Ottawa-Gatineau region."
The Golden Gate bid is regarded as the front-runner because it includes Jeff Hunt, the owner of the OHL's Ottawa 67's.
But the potential return of the Rough Riders name would certainly please many Ottawa fans. That name was synonymous with the CFL in Ottawa, but the Rough Riders name and logo remained the property of Chen when the franchise folded after the '96 season.
When Ottawa returned to the CFL in 2002, it was as the Renegades. But the league suspended the franchise's operations last spring when then-owners Bernie Glieberman and Bill Smith walked away rather than cover a projected $6-million operating loss.

Canadian Football League week # 9 picks

Lions vs. Bombers

The battle of the back-ups? Mike Quinn comes back from ir in time to replace Kevin Glenn,
who could be out 2-4 weeks. Buck Pierce looks to be starting in replace of Dave Dickenson.
The difference is Pierce has Geroy Simon and Quinn does not have Stegall.

Take the Lions by 10

Riders vs. Eskimos

Two teams desperate for a win. The Eskimos just can't seem to find the same passion as
last season. This could be the game of the week or it could be a real snoozer.

Riders by 3

Argos vs. Ti-Cats

The battle of Ontario or the battle of last place- Take your pick.
The Ti-Cats did not exactly light it up against the Bomebers who where missing league
leading receiver Stegall and using 3rd and 4th string Qb's for most of the game.
If the Argos don't pull this one out, it will be a long, long, long season in Toronto.
Argos by 4

Als vs Stamps
The streak is over this week.
Stamps by 10

Last Week 3-1 Over all 17-13

Former Canadian Football League Coach of the year heads back to university

Western's football team will have a pair of coaching talents on the sideline this season as the Mustangs announced the signing of alumnus Greg Marshall as offensive coach, joining long-time head coach Larry Haylor. Marshall, a former Hec Crighton winner for the Mustangs and the Canadian Football League (CFL) coach of the year in 2004, will succeed Haylor for the 2007 season. An emotional Haylor thanked his family and friends who stood beside him all these years, and took the time to laud his future successor. "It's been an honour to have been associated with the people of Western football for the last 31 years," says Haylor. "In the transition to a new coach, no person could be better chosen to lead the Mustangs into the future than Greg Marshall. He is unparalleled as a person, a family man, a coach and as a friend." Haylor, the all-time wins leader amongst football coaches in Canadian university history, enters his 22nd season with a career record of 165-40-4 - a winning percentage just shy of 80 per cent (.799%). He led the Mustangs to two Vanier Cup (Canadian national championship) victories in 1989 and 1994 and eight Yates Cup (Ontario championships) wins in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995 and 1998. Marshall, who is thrilled to be coming back to London and to Western, says he looks forward to be back on the sideline with Haylor, someone he calls a "great friend." "I am very proud to be coming back to The University of Western Ontario and following the tradition of excellence established by my friend and mentor, Larry Haylor," says Marshall. Western's Sports and Recreation Services Director Michael Lysko says Western's football program has a tradition that is unparalleled in Canadian university football. "From John Metras to Frank Cosentino to Darwin Semotiuk to Larry Haylor, no collegiate football program in the country has been maintained with the excellence and continuity of leadership in the head coaching position," says Lysko. "This transition plan allows us to secure a premier coaching talent in Greg Marshall, who has proven himself to be one of the top teachers and recruiters in the country." "This is a momentous day for Western," says Western President Paul Davenport. "We find ourselves in the enviable position of not only having the best coach in the country, but the two best football coaches for the upcoming Mustang season." Marshall played four seasons with the Mustangs from 1978 to 1981, winning the Hec Crighton Award as the top player in Canadian university football in 1980. The Guelph native was also a two-time OUA all-star and two-time All-Canadian selection at running back. Marshall continued his football career with the Edmonton Eskimos, playing for three seasons from 1982 to 1984, earning a Grey Cup ring in 1982. He began his collegiate coaching career with the Mustangs in 1984 under Haylor, serving as offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1996. Following his five-year run as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs, Marshall was hired by McMaster University as their football head coach in 1997. The Marauders won four consecutive Yates Cups from 2000 to 2003 during Marshall's seven-year tenure at McMaster. Marshall compiled an overall record of 42-12-2 (76.8%). Marshall was named head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2003. He was the first Canadian-born head coach in the history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the first-ever head coach to make the jump directly from the Canadian university football ranks to become a head coach in the Canadian Football League. The first-year head coach led Hamilton to a 9-8-1 record, giving them an amazing eight more victories than they had the previous season. Marshall finished his run with the Tiger-Cats in 2006 with an overall record of 15-25-1.