Canadian Football Hall of Fame - Class of 2019

[Toppy Vann]

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/24/call-hall ... -revealed/

Surprised only that it took this long for Ernie Pitts to be recognized. Yes, his 13 years led to some 5000 yards and 55 TDs but he was 13 years a Bomber and a star in that era. Sadly it's a bit late as he's long passed away.

“The Inductees are Jon Cornish, Mervyn Fernandez, Terry Greer, Ernie Pitts and David Williams in the Player category. In the Builder category, former Saskatchewan club president Jim Hopson and legendary University of British Columbia coach Frank Smith have been selected.”

Formal induction ceremonies for this year’s CFHOF class will be held later this year at the Hall of Fame in Hamilton on Friday, August 9. The Hall of Fame game is at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday August 10th when the Tiger-Cats host the BC Lions. "

[Hambone]

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/24/call-hall ... -revealed/

Surprised only that it took this long for Ernie Pitts to be recognized. Yes, his 13 years led to some 5000 yards and 55 TDs but he was 13 years a Bomber and a star in that era. Sadly it's a bit late as he's long passed away.

“The Inductees are Jon Cornish, Mervyn Fernandez, Terry Greer, Ernie Pitts and David Williams in the Player category. In the Builder category, former Saskatchewan club president Jim Hopson and legendary University of British Columbia coach Frank Smith have been selected.”

Formal induction ceremonies for this year’s CFHOF class will be held later this year at the Hall of Fame in Hamilton on Friday, August 9. The Hall of Fame game is at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday August 10th when the Tiger-Cats host the BC Lions. "

Pitts was a tragic story. He came over to BC after those 13 years in Winnipeg. In September of 1970 the Lions gave him permission to go home to deal with some domestic issues. He got into a dispute with his estranged wife and died of a gunshot to the neck. She was originally charged with murder then acquitted based on self-defence of forced entry by Pitts.

[DanoT]

I didn't know that Pitts had been a Lion. This means there will be 3 former Lions entering the HOF and Lions will be playing at the HoF Game in Hamilton.

It seems to have taken a long time to pass for Fernandez to finally get into the HoF. I figured it had something to do with his sexual pervert/flasher problems, but then I see that Terry Greer who was pretty much from the same era is only now getting into the HoF now as well. So I don't know what the criteria or time frame is for the CFL HoF.

[Robbie]

Despite my personal biases on what I wrote before in ex-Lions, I'm still somewhat surprised but pleased that these two ex-Lions were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Mervyn Fernandez and David Williams.

It's good that Mervyn Fernandez was inducted, but given the fact that it's been sooooooo long that he left the CFL since 1986 (notwithstanding his failed return in 1994) so I though the league have forgotten about him.

The article states a rather inaccurate statement:

He was recognized as a CFL All-Star in 1984 and 1985, was a Western All-Star four straight seasons from 1982 to 1985 (with 1,000 yards receiving each year) and won Grey Cups with the Lions in 1985 and 1994.

Despite playing nine games as a Lion in 1994 he was released will before the start of the playoffs and as such, I don't think he qualified as a Grey Cup recipient.



As for David Williams, I used to say that he was underrated and most Lions fans don't have much respect and appreciation for him. Well, I guess now he finally got his due with his induction. But I'm sure fans for the other teams he played with: Ottawa Rough Riders in 1990, Edmonton Eskimos in 1991, Toronto Argonauts in 1991-92 and Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1993 to 1995., would NOT consider him as one of their favourite receivers. I think one reason is because he didn't seem to have a good attitude with his teammates and fans alike.

[Hambone]

I didn't know that Pitts had been a Lion. This means there will be 3 former Lions entering the HOF and Lions will be playing at the HoF Game in Hamilton.

4 actually. Frank Smith also spent a little bit of time with the Lions as a player in the 1950s (3 games in 1956) and as an assistant coach in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

https://gothunderbirds.ca/hof.aspx?hof=43

[CardiacKid]

It seems to have taken a long time to pass for Fernandez to finally get into the HoF. I figured it had something to do with his sexual pervert/flasher problems

Whaaaaaaaa???!!!

I never heard about that stuff! In the last year, I have heard a couple of references about Fernandez being a less than pleasant person. One of those being spoken by Farhan Lalji on social media, which surprised me as Farhan is typically not someone who discusses personalities.

Were Fernandez’s transgressions while he played?

[Hambone]

Whaaaaaaaa???!!!

I never heard about that stuff! In the last year, I have heard a couple of references about Fernandez being a less than pleasant person. One of those being spoken by Farhan Lalji on social media, which surprised me as Farhan is typically not someone who discusses personalities.

Were Fernandez’s transgressions while he played?

If I recall he was accused of flashing from his apartment window and I believe it was during that final season when he returned to BC after his time in the NFL. I don't recall if he was actually convicted. I might be off on that but put it this way back them it flew somewhat under the radar. There was a meh aspect to it back then. Today it would have been absolutely explosive.

[B.C.FAN]

Fernandez is active in charity and public relations work with the Raiders alumni, and seems to have a good reputation in Oakland. When friends rented a suite at a Raider game a couple of years ago, Fernandez and a couple of other alumni showed up to press the flesh and take photos. I recognized him instantly when I saw their photos.

[David]

Pitts was a tragic story. He came over to BC after those 13 years in Winnipeg. In September of 1970 the Lions gave him permission to go home to deal with some domestic issues. He got into a dispute with his estranged wife and died of a gunshot to the neck. She was originally charged with murder then acquitted based on self-defence of forced entry by Pitts.

I know a lot about this story through John Wirtanen's accounts and newspaper articles, as it has always interested me. Ernie Pitts was shot and killed during the season at 35-years old. HC Jackie Parker had given the team a 2-day break following two heartbreaking losses, 23-22 in Regina (9/18/70) followed by a 26-14 home loss to the Ti-Cats on 9/23/70.

Pitts flew to Denver for his daughter's 14th birthday party. There, he got into an altercation with his wife Ethel who shot him in the neck on the evening of 9/24/70 (he bled to death). She was later acquitted. By all accounts, Ernie Pitts was popular with teammates and an undisputed leader.

Friend and teammate AD Whitfield (a running back and former Washington Redskin) said at the time, "Ernie was the type of individual you just don't meet every day. He was a very tolerant person. He could sit down and listen to anyone and make you feel that you'd known him all your life."

Linebacker (and Pitts' roommate on the road) Greg Findlay and GM Denny Veitch flew to Aliquippa Pennsylvania (just outside Pittsburgh) for his funeral. Little did I know at the time, I was at Pitts' second last game, a 16-13 win on 9/13/70 over his former club (too young to know who he was or appreciate that it was also Pro-Bowler Vic Washington's debut in Lions' colours).


DH

[Sir Purrcival]

Whaaaaaaaa???!!!

I never heard about that stuff! In the last year, I have heard a couple of references about Fernandez being a less than pleasant person. One of those being spoken by Farhan Lalji on social media, which surprised me as Farhan is typically not someone who discusses personalities.

Were Fernandez’s transgressions while he played?

If I recall he was accused of flashing from his apartment window and I believe it was during that final season when he returned to BC after his time in the NFL. I don't recall if he was actually convicted. I might be off on that but put it this way back them it flew somewhat under the radar. There was a meh aspect to it back then. Today it would have been absolutely explosive.

Actually I'm not sure it was. He got into trouble in college as I recall. When he came back in the 90's, I remember him talking to a reporter because some of that history had been dredged up. He wasn't happy. He was talking about it as though it was something that had happened a long time ago and didn't want his family to have to experience the issue again. Unless there was some other incident later on. He had troubles academically as well which I believe is why he probably ended up in the CFL initially. He was disqualified from playing for being academically ineligible. He didn't care for studies much.

[SammyGreene]

Not sure what the criteria is to be Hall of Fame eligible but my guess a weaker group of now eligible candidates opened the door for Fernandez.
Him and Greer almost had mirrored careers — playing about 6 years in the league before heading to the NFL. Both were huge impact receivers but their time span in the CFL was probably working against them until now.

It would be great if the Lions brought Fernandez back for a game this season to honour his induction, even create a #24 retro jersey t-shirt to sell. Not sure if he parted on bad terms back in 1994 but he definitely hasn't been back for any of the milestone events like the 50th anniversary Dream Team.

[DanoT]

Not sure what the criteria is to be Hall of Fame eligible but my guess a weaker group of now eligible candidates opened the door for Fernandez.
Him and Greer almost had mirrored careers — playing about 6 years in the league before heading to the NFL. Both were huge impact receivers but their time span in the CFL was probably working against them until now.

It would be great if the Lions brought Fernandez back for a game this season to honour his induction, even create a #24 retro jersey t-shirt to sell. Not sure if he parted on bad terms back in 1994 but he definitely hasn't been back for any of the milestone events like the 50th anniversary Dream Team.

Before the Lions even think about planning to bring Fernandez to Vancouver they need to do a thorough vetting of his past sex offenses. I am not sure but this was not a prank type of thing and he may have exposed himself more than once. I don't know if there was ever a conviction or if there was any treatment/counseling, but the Lions need to know.

[Toppy Vann]

It's unfair to keep dragging up the exposure allegation as social media tends to make some issues like this way over the top. Innocent until proven guilty and I' m not sure it ever came to trial as he was not even around after that.

The Tri-City News has the story today and while the incident was in this area, they just go over the entire list of achievements.

The Stockton Police Department just posted on Facebook their local guy's achievement so clearly the police have no issues.

By the way, I don't ever think there were "sexual offences" .. one incident.

Social media has a way of making these errors out to be close to the Green River Killer.

[WestCoastJoe]

When we were kids, maybe 11 years old, living near Empire Stadium, we would go onto to the field after games, talking to the players.

The Blue Bombers, especially Farrell Funston and Ernie Pitts, would destroy our Lions, in an air attack. But Pitts was friendly with us kids. It was a shock at the time to hear of his death.

[Hambone]

Actually I'm not sure it was. He got into trouble in college as I recall. When he came back in the 90's, I remember him talking to a reporter because some of that history had been dredged up. He wasn't happy. He was talking about it as though it was something that had happened a long time ago and didn't want his family to have to experience the issue again. Unless there was some other incident later on. He had troubles academically as well which I believe is why he probably ended up in the CFL initially. He was disqualified from playing for being academically ineligible. He didn't care for studies much.

I found a bit more of the history. He was charged and convicted of indecent exposure in Santa Clara county way back in 1982 likely prior to joining BC later that year. The incident I was thinking about didn't happen in Vancouver but rather in the Bay Area in 1991 when he was charged for exposing himself to a neighbour. Originally those were to be felony charges due to the 1982 conviction but the judge ruled that conviction was invalid for the charges and they were reduced to misdemeanours.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm ... story.html

That incident aside there are several good stories on Merv that can be accessed here:
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/mervyn-fernandez

As for the football aspect I think you are correct. Back then CFL teams were allowed to sign players who still had college eligibility left. Sort of like the old draft rules where CFL teams could draft NCAA redshirts back then they could sign a player who chose to leave college a year early. He came to BC in 1982 but wasn't eligible for the NFL draft until 1983. Oakland drafted him them.