REDBLACKS sign trio of players; first contracts in te

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.ottawaredblacks.com/article/firstcontracts

REDBLACKS sign trio of players; first contracts in team history

November 27, 2013

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League have engraved another chapter in Ottawa's rich sporting legacy with the signing of the first players in team history.

As per team policy, terms of contract agreements are not disclosed.

The team signed the following players (lists position, name, height, weight, college and hometown):
•Wide receiver Fred Rouse, 6-4, 200, Concordia Selma (Tallahassee, Florida)
•Defensive back / safety Nick Turnbull, 6-2, 222, Florida International (Miami)
•Defensive end DiMetrio Tyson, 6-2, 275, Jacksonville State (Elba, Alabama)

Rouse began his collegiate career with Florida State in 2005 and started in the 2006 Orange Bowl for the Seminoles against Penn State. He transferred to the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) before completing his collegiate career with Concordia-Selma in Alabama. He has CFL experience on practice rosters with the Calgary Stampeders and has also played for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

Turnbull's final year of college football was in 2005 with Florida International where he led the defence, starting every game at free safety and cornerback. He had 16 career interceptions at Florida International. In 2006, Turnbull played one regular-season game for the Chicago Bears and two games for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tyson started 11 games on the Gamecocks' defensive line in 2012, recording 29 tackles and three sacks. He was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team all-star on defence. His most recent professional experience was with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.

"We recognize the historic significance of these signings and it's an important first step for our franchise," said REDBLACKS general manager Marcel Desjardins. "Having said that, we're continuing the work of building a competitive football team for Ottawa and REDBLACKS fans.

"These players will have an opportunity to make our roster once we get onto the field for camp in the spring."

Desjardins and the REDBLACKS' football operations staff continue to assemble the pre-season roster, with the CFL Expansion Draft the next major milestone on December 16. The team will select 24 players from the eight other CFL clubs, including eight import players and 16 non-imports.

The team will hold the first training camp in club history during the spring of 2014. Dates and location of camp are to be determined.

Over 12,000 fans reserved the right to purchase REDBLACKS season tickets and those fans are currently choosing their actual seats in the team's new stadium at Lansdowne Park. Reservations for season tickets are still being taken by telephone at 613-232-6767, ext. 1 or by visiting www.ottawaredblacks.com.

[WestCoastJoe]

"And they're off, and running ... " OK, moving slowly out of the gate. But moving.

And the HC will be?

I would think Paul LaPolice must be near the top of the list of candidates.

Welcome back, Ottawa.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.ottawaredblacks.com/article/headcoachsearch

Head Coach Search Continues in ReginaNovember 21, 2013

There'll be plenty of beer guzzled during Grey Cup festivities this week in Regina before the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats even hit the field Sunday.

But the CFL's grand annual boozefest will be anything but a party for RedBlacks GM Marcel Desjardins and the folks from his football personnel department.

With an expansion draft less than a month away and the duty of hiring their first head coach, they've got some serious work to do. Grey Cup week is a chance to meet face to face with plenty of guys who want to stand on the sidelines for the expansion RedBlacks next season.

"We all know how important this hire is going to be. So we have to put in our due diligence," said Desjardins, who said he began the interviewing process early last month.

"Without getting into specifics, there are some some coaches interested who you may be familiar with from the past and some not quite as familiar," he said. "Some are intriguing, some are not."

While Desjardins wouldn't discuss anybody he's interviewed or is interested in interviewing, a CFL source confirmed the team has talked to Paul LaPolice, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' coach from 2010-12. He's currently working for TSN.

It's believed former Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who landed with the Blue Bombers as offensive co-ordinator mid-season, is also on their list of candidates. Bellefeuille is also an Ottawa guy -- he went to Ridgemont High School and later played, then coached with the Gee-Gees.

Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson has to be on the team's coach search list. But he's likely going to be in demand, a hot property who other clubs will look at as well -- and a guy who may just stick around in Calgary if he gets a sense that he may have a shot at their head coaching job in the near future.

So what are the RedBlacks looking for?

"(Whoever we hire) has to have CFL experience, not necessarily as a head coach," said Desjardins. That doesn't mean he has to have been a coach this year. We're not going to reach out to people we know don't have a chance of getting the job.

"We're giving them some room. If they have just finished their season, we want to give them a day or two to take a breath."

The team has specific criteria in determining who its first coach will be.

"It's a three-step process," said Desjardins. "First, there's an informal get-to-know interview. Then, there's a more detailed discussion, more specific to football. Give us reasons why we should hire you. In some cases, we've had to combine steps 1 and 2. In step No. 3, we get into more detail."

The CFL expansion draft is Dec. 16 -- with the RedBlacks choosing from a list of unprotected players from each of the other teams.

"In an ideal world, we'd have somebody in place (before the expansion draft)," said Desjardins. "But we could go into January without a coach. It's not like we control all the elements. It's not like we're the only team who's looking for a coach."

[WestCoastJoe]

While Desjardins wouldn't discuss anybody he's interviewed or is interested in interviewing, a CFL source confirmed the team has talked to Paul LaPolice, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' coach from 2010-12. He's currently working for TSN.

It's believed former Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who landed with the Blue Bombers as offensive co-ordinator mid-season, is also on their list of candidates. Bellefeuille is also an Ottawa guy -- he went to Ridgemont High School and later played, then coached with the Gee-Gees.

Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson has to be on the team's coach search list. But he's likely going to be in demand, a hot property who other clubs will look at as well -- and a guy who may just stick around in Calgary if he gets a sense that he may have a shot at their head coaching job in the near future.

LaPolice?

I expect Ottawa reached out to Dave Dickenson, to at least test the waters.

Wait until January? Not ideal. One would think that having the man involved in the expansion draft would be beneficial.

[cromartie]

I'm predicting Marcel Bellefeuille as HC. Just a hunch.

[DanoT]

If they really wanted LaPolice it would have made sense to hire him months ago, so while he still may end up as their guy, I'm saying they are not totally sold on him.

[TheLionKing]

I'm predicting Marcel Bellefeuille as HC. Just a hunch.

Local boy

[Toppy Vann]

Marcel Bellefeuille - the local boy would be interesting. Downside didn't win in Hamilton. The GM would no doubt have some insider type insights into MB from others in the CFL. Speaks French I believe and that would be a huge advantage in their marketing strategy across the river.

Paul LaPolice - did a decent job in Wpg and should not have been fired. Looked more like his GM was not doing his job. Didn't want an OC and that might not have been very smart as he was forced into one rather than hiring his own. That was not smart.

Winnipeg is slow out of the gate on their HC while Esks Hervey has made two astute moves quickly since taking over as GM -among a lot of bad things. His obtaining of Mike Reilly and now quickly grabbing Chris Jones as Jones out of all this three coaches comes with NO HC baggage and can be sold with nothing but upside.

If the Ottawa GM is as astute as they say and also their owners, I am sure they will pick wisely.

Their first 3 signings are hardly going to get another 12 thousand people lining up for tickets.

[notahomer]

Two for the defence and a tallish and mature wide reciever.... Okay. This team will really tighten up closer to the expansion draft, I'm betting. Do you want to sign players thereby changing who a team protects....?

The big contract they have to announce is Head Coach... the rest kinda don't matter for now, IMO....