Sunday, June 22, 2008

CIS Corner: Bagg sticks with Saskatchewan; Hammer drops on Giffin

Notes on our teams and players of interest from The 613.

Gaels: Queen's grad's Rob Bagg's gamble to turn down a practice roster spot and go back to school appears to have paid off. Fullback Mike Giffin, though, is at least according to a commenter, back in Kingston after being released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have posted their final cuts and Bagg's name isn't on there, which presumably can be taken as confirmation that he'll start the season with the defending Grey Cup champs. Kevin Scott will open the season as the 'Riders long snapper.

(That's two Gaels -- Marc Mitchell had a pretty good run in Calgary -- who have made the league just for long-snapping.)

Fellow ex-Gaels receiver Brad Smith, was let go by the Montréal Alouettes. Meantime, as for Giffin, last season's OUA rushing champ was also cut by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. There's talk both on here and among the dot-orgers that he wasn't interested in sticking around to be on the practice roster; he has one year of eligility left, so keep an eye on the Whig-Standard for news. It's their job -- it's not the job of someone who can barely do agate for the Ottawa Sun and should be grateful just for the chance.

Gee-Gees: Defensive back Steve Holness, at least according to the hometown Free Press' Ed Tait (probably the best CFL writer in the country), has secured a backup role with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. At least he's listed there. They cut Sebastian Clovis, so there might have been a need for another Canadian in the defensive secondary. (Not the qualifiers "at least according to" and "might" -- it's hard getting definitive info about this, which is odd in 2008.)

Another Gee-Gees d-Back, Delroy Clarke, is on the Toronto Argonauts practice roster, but there's still time for him to return to school. (Major thanks goes to OttawaFan, apparently.)

Ravens: Carleton announced Friday that its hockey recruiting class will include a pair of forwards from the OHL's Barrie Colts, Ryan Berard, who had a decent overage season last season, and a stay-at-home D-man, Brett Halstead, who also played in Barrie last season. Berard skated alongside Ravens captain Andrew Gibbons for two-plus seasons with the Belleville Bulls.

Carleton's exhibition schedule will include a two-game trip to Lakehead in late September, which should be a good test for coach Fred Parker's program.

11 comments:

Tyler King said...

Now I should ask - are we sure that neither Smith nor Giffin have been/will be invited onto the practice roster?

That's what happened to Smith on the Argos last year.

sager said...

No, we're not sure, hence the "please keep your eyes and ears open."

It's a tough call whether or not to stay on a practice roster or go back to school, as Bagg did in '07.

Dave McKoy, Matt Dominguez and Mike Williamson are hurt, so the 'Riders need warm bodies at wideout.

Anonymous said...

Giffin is not going to be on a practice roster...
He is in kingston

Anonymous said...

I was gonna keep this to myself but someone has to say it, I am so glad that their are some more people blogging for this site ... I've been reading it for a long time and thought it had really had some potential but the 1 thing holding it back was that the guy writing it was such a huge douche who tought he knew something about sports.

Sager, I congradulate you for realizing you don't know everything, took you long enough, but seriously, know that their are some better writers on here, stop boring us with your stupid CIS posts.

There, I said it.

Anonymous said...

Hey Anonymous... your on your own buddy... The ranger of coverage is that makes this blog great.

Keep up the good work sager

Anonymous said...

What is the status of Ottawa's Steve Holness? I don't see him listed as a cut, nor listed on the Blue Bomber's roster. He played in an exhibition game on June 12 and made an interception.

sager said...

I can check for you today.

(Thanks, Big V.)

Anonymous said...

Delroy clarke has bben added to the argos practice roster.

the Globe and Mail reports these guys on the PR:

The Argos also added the following players to their practice roster: CB Delroy Clarke; DT Adrian Davis; OL Scott Evans; LB Andre Maddox; and RB Da'shawn Thomas.


Clarke has only used three years of CIS eligibility and was in third year academically last season. So i guees he may still return to the Gee Gees if he does not crack the Argo's main roster before the OUA training camps start on Aug 19.
Steve Holness has one year of eligibilty as well, but I beleive he got his degree this spring, so probably will not return.
Congrats to both Gee Gees.

THE Captain said...

I agree with Big V. I love the variety and a Queen's/new Kingston guy I really like the CIS coverage. I could spend hours trying to track down the CIS info I want to know, but Neate and the guys at CIS Blog compile it so nicely.

Keep up the good work guys!

Anonymous said...

It should be noted that Kevin Scott seems to have made the squad as well...
Long snapper

Tyler King said...

Best LS in the CIS, so good for him.