Ron Lancaster facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | The Little General |
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| Born: | October 14, 1938 Fairchance, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died: | September 18, 2008 (aged 69) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | QB |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| College | Wittenberg |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1979–1980 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 1991–1997 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| 1998–2003 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2006 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| As player | |
| 1960–1962 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1963–1978 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976 |
| CFL West All-Star | 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976 |
| Awards | 1970 - CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award 1976 - CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award 1977 - Tom Pate Memorial Award 1996 Annis Stukus Trophy 1998 Annis Stukus Trophy 2008 CFL Commissioner's Award |
| Career stats | |
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Ronald "Ron" Lancaster (born October 14, 1938 – died September 18, 2008) was a famous American-Canadian football player and coach. He played as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Ron was the main quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 16 seasons. He helped them win their first Grey Cup championship in 1966. He holds many team records for passing. When he retired, he was the CFL's all-time leader in passing yards. After playing, he became a successful head coach and general manager in the CFL. He led his teams to two more Grey Cup wins. He also worked as a TV commentator for the CFL on CBC. Ron Lancaster is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1982) and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1985).
Contents
Early Life
Ron Lancaster was born in Fairchance, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Clairton. His mother lived there until he passed away.
Playing Career
Ron was a very good quarterback in high school. However, many college scouts didn't notice him because he was only 5 feet 5 inches tall. He went to a small school called Wittenberg University. There, he led his team to a great record of 25 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie. They also won two championships in 1957 and 1958.
By the time he finished college, Ron had grown to 5 feet 10 inches. His college coach knew someone with the Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL. Ron signed with them. In his first year, 1960, he shared quarterback duties and also played as a defensive back. The Ottawa Rough Riders won the Grey Cup that season.
In 1963, Ron joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This is where he became known as "The Little General." He played 16 seasons with the Roughriders, from 1963 to 1978. During this time, he led the team to the playoffs for 14 years in a row. They played for the Grey Cup five times. In 1966, they won the Grey Cup by beating his old team, the Ottawa Rough Riders, 29–14.
Ron Lancaster won 170 games as quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He only had one losing season, which was his last year as a player in 1978.
He was the first quarterback in CFL history to throw for over 50,000 yards. He won the Schenley Award (now called the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award) in 1970 and 1976. He was also named an All-Canadian player multiple times.
In 2006, the sports network TSN listed Ron Lancaster as the seventh-best player in the CFL's modern history. Even 30 years after he stopped playing, he was still among the top players for career statistics:
- Second in touchdown passes (333)
- Third in pass completions (3,384)
- Third in pass attempts (6,233)
- Third in passing yards (50,535)
Coaching Career
Ron Lancaster was a player-coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1977 and 1978. He also helped plan their offense.
He became the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1979. The team had tough seasons, winning only 2 games in both 1979 and 1980. Ron then took a break from coaching for eleven years.
From 1981 to 1990, Ron worked as a TV commentator for The CFL on CBC. On February 4, 1991, he became the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. From 1991 to 1997, his team had a great record of 83 wins and 42 losses in the regular season. They won the Grey Cup in 1993.
Ron then became the head coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on November 26, 1997. Between 1998 and 2003, he led the team to the Grey Cup twice. They won the Grey Cup in 1999. In 2006, he briefly returned to coach the Tiger-Cats again.
When he passed away, Ron Lancaster's 142 regular-season wins placed him fourth on the CFL's all-time list for head coaches.
Coaching Highlights
Ron Lancaster's coaching career included:
- 4 wins and 28 losses with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
- 83 wins and 43 losses with the Edmonton Eskimos, winning 1 Grey Cup.
- 55 wins, 66 losses, and 1 tie with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, winning 1 Grey Cup.
- A total of 142 wins, 137 losses, and 1 tie in his CFL coaching career.
Broadcasting Career
In 1980, CBC Television hired Ron Lancaster to be a commentator for CFL games. He worked with play-by-play announcer Don Wittman. Ron was with CBC from 1981 to 1990. He even worked for CBC at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, as a basketball announcer.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2004, Ron Lancaster was diagnosed with bladder cancer, but he recovered after treatment. In 2008, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He remained positive, saying he would fight it just like before. Six weeks later, on September 18, 2008, Ron Lancaster died of a heart attack. He was survived by his wife, Bev, his three children, Lana, Ron, and Bob, and four grandchildren.
At the 2008 CFL season Awards ceremony, Ron Lancaster was given the Commissioner's Award. This award recognized his amazing contributions to the CFL.
See also
- List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
- List of Canadian Football League head coaches by wins
