Kingston, Ont. (June 26, 2008) – Four Queen’s alumni are among the 125 athletes from Canadian Interuniversity Sport institutions who are listed on the official rosters posted online by the eight Canadian Football League teams.
Kingston’s Rob Bagg and Kevin Scott of Ottawa are the newest Gaels to earn positions on CFL rosters both claiming a spot with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Both are fresh off football careers with Queen’s University. Bryan Crawford of Hamilton returns with the Toronto Argonauts and Matt Kirk of Kingston, Ont. returns to the B.C. Lions.
Bagg, who had a five-year career in a Gaels uniform, was named a first team OUA All-Star and second team CIS All-Canadian in 2007 collecting 36 catches for 804 yards with six touchdowns in 2007. After the 2007 season Bagg earned a position on the Rough Riders but chose to return to Queen’s for his fifth and final year of eligibility. He is listed on the team’s website as a wide-receiver.
Scott dressed in 32 regular season games and five playoff games in his five seasons with the Gaels. He recorded 26 defensive tackles and was named an OUA second team All-Star in 2005. He is listed as the Rough Riders long-snapper, a position he also held with the Gaels. He graduated with an honours degree in Politics.
Crawford enters his fourth year with the Argos and listed as the second running back on the team’s depth chart. During his career with the Gaels he collected 1,591 yards on 266 carriers to go along with 862 yards on 75 receptions with 17 touchdowns. In 2004 Crawford was named the MVP at the CIS East-West Bowl and earned Queen’s Football rookie of the year honours in 2001.
Kirk is also entering his fourth year as a member of defensive line for the B.C. Lions. To date he has played in 54 regular season games. He enjoyed a four year career at Queen’s and was drafted in the fifth round (38th overall) of the 2004 CFL Draft by Ottawa. He was named to the OUA First All-Star Team in 2004 and 2003 and was accorded All-Canadian honours in 2003.
The CFL season kicks off tonight with Montreal hosting Hamilton beginning at 7:00pm (EST) followed by Kirk’s BC Lions taking on Calgary at 10:00pm (EST). Toronto will visit Winnipeg on Friday while Saskatchewan will host Edmonton on Saturday.
CIS football returns to Kingston with the Gaels training camp slated to open on August 18. The Gaels will compete in an exhibition match-up against McGill on August 25 in Montreal. Queen’s will kick off the 2008 season at home to the McMaster Marauders on Labour Day Monday, September 1. Kick off is scheduled for 2:00pm at Richardson Stadium.
2008 Golden Gaels Season Football Tickets are now on sale by calling 613.533.2500.
CIS players on 2008 CFL rosters (by CIS schools):
McMaster (13)
Manitoba (11)
Saskatchewan (9), Western Ontario (9), Laval (9), Wilfrid Laurier (9)
Ottawa (6)
Simon Fraser (5), Regina (5), UBC (5), StFX (5)
Saint Mary's (4), Windsor (4), Queen's (4), Concordia (4)
Bishop's (3), York (3), Guelph (3), Calgary (3), Alberta (3)
McGill (2), Acadia (2), Montreal (2)
Sherbrooke (1), Waterloo (1)
CIS players on 2008 CFL rosters (by CIS regional associations):
OUA (52)
Canada West (41)
QUFL (21)
AUS (11)
CIS players on 2008 CFL rosters (by CFL teams):
Saskatchewan (21)
Winnipeg (20)
Edmonton (18)
Montreal (15)
Calgary (14)
Toronto (14)
British Columbia (13)
Hamilton (10)
* As of 12 noon on Wednesday, June 25
