Ticats Add Pair To Defensive Line

Brooks Reynolds

2009-02-25 15:20:00

TICATS ADD PAIR TO DEFENSIVE LINE

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed import defensive linemen Mike McFadden and Dennis Haley.

McFadden, a 6-0, 255-pound native of Saginaw, Michigan earned a spot on the Arena Football League’s All-Rookie team in 2008 after recording 20 defensive tackles, four quarterback sacks and one forced fumble with Grand Rapids Rampage. The Grand Valley State product was a two-time winner of the Gene Upshaw Award as the top defensive lineman in NCAA Division II football and set a new Division II record with 36 career quarterback sacks. He is 24.

Haley, a 6-1, 248-pound native of Salem, Virginia has spent the last four years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets. Prior to turning pro, Haley played at Virgina, racking up 103 tackles (49 solo), five tackles for losses, four quarterback sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. He is 27.

The Ticats also announced that the team has released non-import defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher and non-import linebacker Nick Kordic.

About the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL) with a rich 140-year history, which includes 15 Grey Cup Championships. For more information log onto www.ticats.ca

Cats Sign Two Quarterbacks

2009-02-24 09:30:00

CATS SIGN TWO QUARTERBACKS

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed import quarterbacks Josh Betts and Erik Meyer.

“We’re excited about the potential of Josh and Erik,” said general manager Bob O’Billovich. “I was impressed by the skills, strength and athletic ability of both players and I believe their style of play is well-suited to the CFL. Their toughness and leadership will also help them make positive contributions to our team.”

Betts, a 6-2, 217-pound native of Vandalia, Ohio has spent the last three years on the practice roster of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Prior to turning pro, Betts played four seasons at Miami (Ohio), where he joined Ben Roethlisberger as the only quarterbacks in school history to pass for over 3,000 yards in a single season.

In 38 career games (24 starts), Betts threw for 7,029 yards and 54 touchdowns.

Meyer, a 6-1, 215-pound native of La Mirada, California played four seasons at Eastern Washington and re-wrote the school’s record book, setting new school records for passing yards (10,261), total offence (10,942 yards), completion percentage (.657), touchdown passes (84), completions (721), attempts (1,097), and rushing yards by a quarterback (681).

After capturing the 2005 Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding player in FCS college football, Meyer spent time with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders. He also played one season with NFL Europe’s Cologne Centurions.

About the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL) with a rich 140-year history, which includes 15 Grey Cup Championships. For more information log onto www.ticats.ca

Tiger-Cats Add Free Agent Gauthier

CFL Photo

2009-02-16 15:30:00

TIGER-CATS ADD FREE AGENT GAUTHIER

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed non-import offensive lineman Alexandre Gauthier.

“We’re very excited to add an outstanding Canadian player like Alexandre to our offensive line,” said Bob O’Billovich. “He’s played left tackle at a high level for a number of years, and being a Canadian, he allows us more flexibility in regards to the ratio. Signing a player of Alexandre’s ability immediately upgrades our offence.”

Gauthier, a 6-6, 326-pound native of Maria, Quebec has emerged as one of the CFL’s top offensive linemen over the course of his seven-year career. The Laval product has spent the past three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, earning a spot on the East Division All-Star team in 2007. Last season, the Bombers surrendered just 29 sacks – the second fewest total in the CFL.

Before arriving in Winnipeg via trade in 2007, Gauthier played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2005-06) and three seasons with the Ottawa Renegades (2002-04). He has played 95 career regular season games, five career playoff contests and has made one Grey Cup appearance.

Gauthier was selected by the Renegades with the first overall selection in the 2002 CFL Canadian Draft.

Tiger-Cats Sign Two Defensive Linemen

Scott McNaughton / HTC

2009-02-11 11:00:00

TIGER-CATS SIGN TWO DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed import defensive tackle Alan Harper and import defensive end Garrett McIntyre.

Harper, a 6-1, 285-pound native of Fontana, California has spent the last three seasons with the Arena Football League’s San Jose SabreCats, where he recorded 19.5 tackles and four quarterback sacks in 10 games in 2008. The Fresno State product has also suited up for the NFL’s New York Jets and NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores. He is 29.

McIntyre, a 6-3, 270-pound native of South Lake Tahoe, California played the past two seasons with the SabreCats, totaling 18 tackles and six quarterback sacks in 2008. Prior to turning pro, the 24-year-old played four seasons at Fresno State where he was honoured as the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award as well as first-team All-Conference in 2005.

Ticats Add Pair Of Receivers

Toronto Argonauts/John Sokolowski

2009-02-05 11:00:00

TICATS ADD PAIR OF RECEIVERS

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed import receivers Willie Quinnie and Johnnie Morant.

Quinnie, a 6-2, 180-pound native of Theodore, Alabama returns to Hamilton for his second stint with the Ticats. Quinnie played eight games for the Black and Gold in 2006, returning 25 kickoffs for 464 yards, 12 punts for 59 yards while making two receptions for 38 yards. The Alabama-Birmingham product has spent the last two seasons with the Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush, where he recorded 123 receptions for 1,256 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2008.

Morant, a 6-4, 235-pound native of Newark, New Jersey played four games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2008, recording six receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown. Before signing with the Argos, Morant spent three seasons with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders after they selected him in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.

The Ticats also announced they have released import receiver Tony Miles and import offensive lineman Charles Thomas.

Ticats Announce Football Operations Staff

Brooks Reynolds

2009-02-04 14:00:00

TIGER-CATS ANNOUNCE FOOTBALL OPERATIONS STAFF

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has finalized its football operations staff by appointing Dennis Polian as Assistant General Manager and Coordinator of Player Personnel, Danny McManus as Southeast Regional Scout and retaining Richard Wade as Western Regional Scout.

Polian joined the Ticats last season as Director of Quality Control and also helped coach the Black and Gold’s running backs. Prior to coming to Hamilton, Polian held administrative roles with the Arena Football League, Tulane University, Columbia University, Boston College and the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

McManus becomes the Ticats Southeast Regional Scout after spending last season on the Ticats coaching staff as a coaching consultant, assisting with the offence. As a player, McManus spent eight seasons with the Ticats, breaking several team passing records including career passing yards (33,841) and career touchdown passes (164). In 1999, he enjoyed his finest season in Black and Gold, earning the CFL Most Outstanding Player award, was named both a CFL and East Division All-Star and was named Most Valuable Player in the team’s 1999 Grey Cup victory.

Wade will continue his role as Western Regional Scout after joining the Ticats last season. Wade previously served as a scout with the B.C. Lions and Ottawa Renegades.

General Manager Bob O’Billovich will oversee the football operations staff in his second season with the Ticats.

Under the new football operations structure, Dan Rambo will not return as Director of Player Personnel.

2009 Schedule Unveiled

John Sokolowski

2009-02-03 06:00:00

2009 CFL/TIGER-CATS SCHEDULE UNVEILED

Hamilton, Ontario – In conjunction with the Canadian Football League, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are pleased to present their 2009 home schedule.

For the second consecutive season, Ivor Wynne Stadium will host the CFL season opener as the Ticats take on their archrivals, the Toronto Argonauts, on Canada Day (July 1).

The remainder of the Ticats 2009 regular season home schedule features three Friday night games, three Saturday night games, and two holiday Monday clashes including the annual Labour Day Classic against the Argonauts on September 7 and a Thanksgiving battle with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on October 12.

Click here for the Ticats full 2009 schedule.

Fans can catch their first glimpse of the 2009 Ticats at Ivor Wynne Stadium on June 23, when the Black and Gold host an exhibition game against the Argonauts.

Ticats season seats are now on sale. Season seats for the 2009 campaign give you the best seat location and unique benefits and allow fans to save anywhere from 29% to 43% off the regular price of an individual game ticket. For ticket information, please call 905-547-CATS or visit Ticats.ca.

Ticats Cut 6 Players

TIGER-CATS RELEASE SIX

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has released the following players:

IMP LB Cornelius Anthony
NIP LB Michael Botterill
IMP DE Sacha Lancaster
IMP DE Terrence Patrick
IMP LB Rocky Schwartz
NIP WR Pat Woodcock