SPORTS BEAT by T.J. Goert—Renegades must tackle mediocrity to remain competitive

Since their inaugural game nearly three years ago, the CFL’s Ottawa Renegades have been a disappointment for fans, shareholders and the media.

The team has started each season with immense hopes of making the playoffs and perhaps going even further. Last year, with the Grey Cup’s appearance at Frank Clair Stadium, the Renegades were expected to make their first real run at the league championship.

After a promising 7-11 season in 2003, which moved the ‘Gades out of the league’s basement for the first time, the team started the 2004 season off well. It won its first three games and fans were buzzing. But everything went downhill after that.

The Renegades won only two of their last 15 games, finishing the campaign at 5-14, far back of the playoff race. There would be no home-town team playing for the Grey Cup in Ottawa this time around.

The off-season hasn’t been much better. The team has lost 12 of their established players to free agency, while only managing to sign eight players to fill the empty spots.

Long-time president Brad Watters stepped down from his position in March, leaving a gaping hole in the front-office administration of the team. Watters had been the Renegades’ public face since he spearheaded the campaign to get CFL football back to the valley after a five-year absence.

While Watters should be congratulated for managing to bring Canada’s premier football league back to Ottawa, he seems to have left the team at the worst possible time.

With floundering attendance that averaged just over 23,000 last year, a drop of around 300 from the previous season, and a questionable product on the field, the Renegades may be in dire need of a financial windfall.

Minority shareholder Kevin Kimsa has reportedly stated that he wants out, and co-majority owners Bill Smith and Randy Gillies are also looking to split their assets.

Media reports have indicated that CanWest mogul David Asper may have some interest in the team, but he told the Ottawa Citizen “the story is false.”

It would be great for the Renegades if a financially sound buyer like Asper would magically appear.

The team would be able to go after some of the more high-profile free agents like wide receiver Ed Hervey, who they lost to Edmonton after coming to a verbal agreement. Instead, they’ve had to settle for the scraps left under the Argos’ and Alouettes’ tables, among other teams.

If the Renegades want to stay in Ottawa for the long term, there’s going to have to be some changes. Finishing in the league’s cellar every season isn’t the best way to attract new fans. The Renegades need to attain front-office stability and get a local owner who’s willing to pony up the dough that is needed to attract decent players.

Right now, they seem to be heading down the same path the fiscally inept Rough Riders did under invisible owner Horn Chen.

Ottawa deserves a winning CFL franchise. Football has long been a part of the city’s sporting culture and the Rough Riders were once a winning franchise.

Let’s all lobby for an owner who will open up his pocketbooks and restore some pride to the fans who show up at Frank Clair Stadium nine times a year. The Renegades need a stable ownership who will guarantee a strong finish each year with cash and strong leadership.

Heck, they might as well give Doug Flutie a call.

He’s on the market and we all know he has what it takes to win a Grey Cup.