0:05

Hey, nice guy. What's easy now? Rambo 59. Get on the ball Rambo. Welcome to the Forgotten quarterbacks, hosted by W Earl Kitchens. Our podcast is dedicated to preserving the legacies of black quarterbacks who've. Played the game of American football, and now here's your host, w Earl Kitchens. Good and welcome to another edition of The Forgotten Quarterbacks. I'm your host, wold Kitchens. Our show is proudly brought to you as part of the Quarter five back organization presented under the auspices of the Mentors Foundation. Our program is dedicated to black quarterbacks and our legacy. Here at Quarter five back is to preserve the legacies of black quarterbacks who have played the game of American football. We find it very, very important that we bring you as much history and information about the legacies of these outstanding and great men who have played this game over the years. We are proud to bring you this show and. As we continue this month of April, we've brought to you a four-part series called CFL, black Quarterback Legacies Canadian Football, black Quarterbacks. This is the third part in a four-part series, and we wanted to make sure that we informed you and made you fully aware of the men who have competed in our sister. Country in Canada over the years and who have played the game extremely well, setting records and winning championships, leaving their histories and legacies around for us to not only share with you, but to make sure that you are informed so that you may have an opportunity to go out and talk about. These men who have done some outside, excuse me, some exciting things over the years. Our first two shows we gave you some information about the CFL Canadian Football League, and we wanna make sure that you understand the difference between this league and the National Football League because there are just a few differences that we want to make sure that if you don't know already, you are aware of what they are because. That game in Canada is somewhat different than the way they played here in the United States. Of course, the field is longer and wider. They only have three downs on a punt return. The punts must be returned by the returning team, and they play with 12 players. Also, players on the team on the offensive side can run. Forward toward the line of scrimmage and go in motion from a distance behind the line of scrimmage going forward. They can just take off from 10 yards deep and just run toward the line of scrimmage and get a head start running. That is against the secondary, but what we are wanting to do is to make sure that these guys who have played and that they only have about eight teams. In Canada, and we want to make sure that we give you the names of the black quarterbacks who have played this game. Last time we talked to you about two of the more static quarterbacks that we had who came out of Canada. One, the Great Damon Allen, the second, all time leading passer in Canadian Football League history with. 72,000 plus yards during his 23 years of playing in that league, and of course Warren Moon, who won five Gray Cup championships before bringing his talents to the United States. When you think about just those two individuals alone, you have to be very, very impressed with the way. They conducted their careers during that time. One guy playing for about six years, the other guy playing for 23 years. And of course, at one point in time they played on the same team together. But what we're going to do today is bring you more information about some of the players who have had exciting careers in Canada and talk about the teams they play for, because. Oftentimes the black quarterbacks who have played college football in America did not get that opportunity to play in the NFL. So they took their talents north and found homes with teams and communities in Canada. And as we talk about the two teams on our program today. We wanted to make sure that you knew just the depth of the number of players on some teams, because some teams had more like quarterbacks in their career than others. And this is important simply because when you think about how many guys went to Canada to play and we're talking about. All the way back in the late fifties and sixties, early sixties, all the way up until today. That is a very long legacy. Many of them coming from, uh, predominantly white colleges, but several of them having opportunities having played at the historical black colleges and universities, and we've captured these men in their time. Playing in Canada. So today we're going to talk about the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampedes because they had some phenomenal quarterbacks. Some of them you may remember from their college days. Some of them had outstanding college careers, and some of them you may not be so familiar with. But again, they. Put their names in the record books and on the rosters of many of these teams. And when I look at this list of names and it dates back to British Columbia, it dates back to 1973. And the guy I want to talk to you first about who was the first black quarterback for British Columbia, was a guy who led his. Texas A and I, which is now Texas a and m Kingsville. He led his college team to three NAIA championship games, and of the three, he won two of them. Now, you would think that a guy who has that kind of experience and that kind of pedigree would be a quarterback that, you know, was kind of a locked in for going to the NFL, but Carl Douglas. Came to British Columbia and played in 1973. In 1974, just after having played at Texas a and I, uh, and leading them the championship. So Carl Douglas is that first name, and then the next name, uh, who came along to play for them was not until the 1980s and this gentleman. Was a phenomenal quarterback in the SEC first quarterback to play at the University of Tennessee, and he made his name known by not only how he played the game, but the excitement he brought because Condre Holloway of Tennessee was a guy who pretty much set the tone for black quarterbacks. In the Southeastern Conference. He was the first to be in the conference, and there have been many others that followed him, but he had a phenomenal career while he was at the University of Tennessee. But he went on to play for several different teams in Canada. Uh, British Columbia happened to be one of them. Montreal was another team, and I think he had most of his success playing with the Ettes. But let me just give you a rundown. Of the players in alphabetical order who have played for the British Columbia Alliance since 1973, all the way through 2023. So that shows you they've got a long, long history of quarterbacks, uh, correction. Let me change that through 2024, and our first guy on the list is Vernon Adams. Played at Oregon. Went on to play for British Columbia for 2022 through 2024. Next was Damon Allen. Second, all time leading passer in the CFL. Played at Cal State Fullerton. Played with the lions between 1996 and 2002. Next is Danny Barrett. Played at Cincinnati 1992 to 93, and then he came back and played again. In 1998, and one of the things that is kinda unique about these guys in Canada, they circulated throughout that league. So you'll see their names on different teams, which goes to show you that they were valued a lot in Canada and if they didn't stick with one team, the opportunity for them to play. Happened at some other teams, and it's an amazing thing just to see these guys' names on this list. Our next quarterback was Brandon Bridge from South Alabama. Played in 2019. Dominique Davis from East Carolina. The Pirates played in 2023. Again, Carl Douglas, 73 and 74. One of our. Paternal Brothers in quarter five, back played with the Lions in 1998, I'm sorry, 1988 through 1990, and then again in 2002, and that was Ricky Foggy, one of the outstanding quarterbacks that played for the University of Minnesota. Here's a guy who many of you probably don't know of, but he had an opportunity to play in the league. Came out of Norfolk State University, played in 1988. His name was Willie Gillis. Willie Gillis. Then there's Kevin Glenn played for the Lions in 2014 out of Illinois State. Chris Hart from Weber, 2013 Ridge Holloway, again in 87, Jarius Jackson, 2005 through 2011 out of Notre Dame. Ari Jones out of Cal Davis. 1998 to 1999, Keith and McCance quarterback who played out at Nebraska. He played for the Lions in 1995. Another one of our fraternal brothers, Greg McGee from Howard University. Another HBCU product played in 2015. Antonio Pipkin from Tiffin University played in 2022. Keith Price out of University of Washington in 2016. A young man I got to know, uh, for the years he was at Florida a and m Casey Printers, uh, 2 0 0 3 to oh five, and then 2 0 0 9 to 2010 when Casey was there. So that's the third HBCU quarterback who played for British Columbia, and then the next guy, Gilbert Rero, out of that hotbed of quarterbacks. From Tennessee State University up in Nashville. 1992 was the year he played. So all in all, British Columbia had four black quarterbacks who played for HBCU colleges, uh, during their college career. Next is David Rivers out of Western Carolina, 2001 and 2002 were the years he played Nate Sparks out of Boise State, 2000. Chris Vargas. Out of Nevada 1996, and then finally the first black quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, Andre Ware from the University of Houston, and he played in 1996. Now you're probably familiar with wear Playing for the Lions, but again, when the opportunities fade away or they don't continue. The doors seem to be very, very, very wide open for these guys to take their talents to Canada and play, and several of the players, uh, have been recognized in the CFL Hall of Fame. I definitely know that Damon Allen is definitely one of them. Uh, 23 year career, 72,000 yards. How could you not have him in? The Canadian Football League, all of fame. So that is a list of the black quarterbacks who have played for this team in British Columbia. And you know, the one thing that I would have to say about playing in Canada is these guys have to adjust to extreme weather condition. But all in all, they adjust, they play and they get the job done. So about 20 guys are on this list for British Columbia, and that's a phenomenal, phenomenal track record of just being open to talent. And that's the only way I can see this being a measuring stick that these guys had talent, but they just did not get the opportunity. So that takes care of British Columbia. We'll move on to the. Calgary Stamp Peters, and again, if you hear a name that you've already heard, just know that they were able to go and play for other teams. And several of them again, have won what they call the gray cup, which is the equivalent of the Super Bowl in the NFL. And of course, Damon Allen has. Had some success at doing that. So we're gonna go through this list of quarterbacks who have played for Calgary, once again in alphabetical order. And the first black quarterback to play for this Calgary team, again, happens to be Carl Douglas. And again, Carl, you know, played. Half the season in Calgary, half the season in British Columbia, but he played there, uh, 74, 75 of the years. They document him the next guy. A little known fact about some of the HBCUs. This university, once upon a time, played football and they had a quarterback by the name of John JJ Jones, who took his talents and played for Calgary. 1976 and 97. So those are the two of the three black quarterbacks who played for Calgary in the seventies. The third being probably one of the quarterbacks that probably the NFL really did not give a a, probably a fair opportunity because he was another one of the. Quarterbacks that Eddie Robinson had groomed to be a drop back passer, and Matt Reed was about six four to throw the ball. Played in the old WFL World Football League, but played in Canada and after he played with the World Football League, so he played in 90, 19 90, excuse me, 1977. Through 1978, so let me just go down this list of players for Calgary. Michael Bishop from Kansas State played in 2011. More recently, Larry Brim Jr. Bethune Cookman University in 2018. Henry Burris from Temple University, 1997 through 99, and then he came back and played a lot more for the St. Peters from 2005 to 2011. Darryl Clark from Penn State played in 2010 Montel Zat from Boise State, 2018 to 2020. Then there was Marcus Crandell out of East Carolina. He played with Calgary 2001 through 2004. We already mentioned Carl Douglas and there's Kevin Glenn out of Illinois State, 2012 to 13, Josh Harris. Bowling Green, 2005. John Jones, once again from Fisk in 96. I'm sorry, 76 and 77 Bahari Jones from Cal Davis in 2004. Darnell Kennedy, another HBCU product. 2002. In 2003, Sean Moore, outstanding quarterback from Virginia. Played in 1995. Barrick Neely out of Texas State, 2007 two. 2009. Matt Reed, once again was next on this list. Gilbert Renfro. You heard about Gilbert playing for British Columbia. He also played at Calgary. Uh, 19, 19 91. Played there before he got to Calgary. Then there's Oman Sampson, another outstanding quarterback from Florida a and m University played in 1999 in 2000. Aly Smith from Oregon 2007. Steve Taylor, 1991 through 94, and then Spurgeon win 2003 to 2004. So Calgary had about 15 guys on their all time rosters to play for them, and they were all black quarterbacks and this phenomenal list of talent. Probably overshadows, I guess that would be a good word, to, to put overshadows the number of black quarterbacks who have played in the NFL. But all in all, all fine quarterbacks, all who put their names on the rosters and the record books and became phenomenal talent, uh, for playing for these teams. And we. Congratulate all of these gentlemen for making contributions to the team, but more importantly, being contributors as black quarterbacks in a time where sometimes they weren't always appreciated. Calgary had four, six corrections, six uh, Bethune, Cookman University, Fisk, Alabama State. Scrambling, Tennessee State, Florida a and m, all represented on that Calgary all time roster. So you can just see that this collection of black quarterbacks is quite, quite phenomenal. And if you get a chance, please go to our website. Go to quarter by back.com. You can see this newsletter that we put together. You can make a copy of it so that you can share it, put it on your phone so you can talk about some of these guys' names and just acknowledge the fact that they made contributions. And like I said, some of them are even in the CFL Hall of Fame. Well, that's going about Do it again for us on another edition of the Forgotten quarterbacks. I'm your host again, w Earl Kitchens. To follow more about black quarterbacks, please go to our website again@fortifyback.com. If you'd like to get a hard copy of some of the phenomenal black quarterback talent that has played football in the collegiate levels since, uh, really before 1903, but we started documenting. 1903 till 1990 in the book, the Forgotten QBs, that was the book I self-published in 2022. Uh, an outstanding book with not only the names of, uh, collegiate quarterbacks who had phenomenal careers, but it also lists the names of all the quarterbacks who, who've ever black quarterbacks who've ever played in the NFL. And the CFL also gives you information on the all time, uh, passer for black colleges. The quarterbacks who've played there on the top of that list, of course would be Steve McNair. So until next time, I'm gonna say so long for now and please join us next time when we bring you CFL Black Quarterback Legacies on part four of this four part series. Until then, take care and as always, let's go with the black quarterbacks as they continue to mark their place in football history. Take care everybody.