Bob has worked in CFL football operations for more than 30 years, and is credited with discovering Willie Pless, Dave Dickenson, Mike (Pinball) Clemons, Darren Flutie, Mark Boerigter, Matt Clark and most recently the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Defensive Player for 2007, Cameron Wake.

“I am very excited about my new opportunity to join one of the storied franchises in the CFL. Bob Young’s and Scott’s commitment to building a championship caliber team here was a major factor in my decision to come here,” said the Oakville, Ontario resident.

Following a successful playing career, O’Billovich joined the Ottawa Rough Riders as a coach in 1974. In 1982, he became the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts where he was twice named the recipient of the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL’s Coach of the Year and led the Argos to three Grey Cup appearances. In 14 seasons as a head coach with Toronto and BC he had 107 regular season victories, and guided the Argos to five Eastern Division first place finishes between 1982 and 1988. His teams were in post-season play nine times

O’Billovich joined the Lions for the first time in 1990 as Vice President of Football Operations, General Manager and Head Coach and served in those capacities until 1993 when he returned to the Argonauts as General Manager and Head Coach.

Bob and his wife, Judy have three children, Tracy, Jodi and Coy.

Double Winners
Chris Getzlaf, Wide Receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and his brother, Ryan have become the first brother combination to win both the Grey Cup and the Stanley Cup in the same year. Ryan won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the spring of 2007, while Chris and the ‘Riders captured the Grey Cup championship Sunday.

Once Again with Feeling
Saskatchewan Roughriders Head coach Kent Austin became the first person in Modern Era (since 1946) to quarterback and coach a team within the same organization to Grey Cup victories. Austin was the quarterback in 1989 when the Roughriders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40 to win the Grey Cup, and Sunday, he was the Head Coach as the ‘Riders edged the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19. Both victories in the same building, now the Rogers Centre, and as it was then, the SkyDome.

Oldie but Goodie
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph shares sixth place on the career list of the oldest quarterbacks to win a Grey Cup championship. He is 34 years of age. Damon Allen of the Toronto Argonauts is the oldest to win a Grey Cup. He did it at age 41 with Toronto in 2004. The youngest to do it was Bernie Faloney with Edmonton Eskimos at the age of 22 in 1954.

Fourth Appearance
Troy Westwood, Kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers appeared in his fourth Grey Cup game (1992, 1993, 2001, and 2007) on Sunday, while two other players appeared in their third Grey Cup. Keith Stokes has one with Winnipeg and two previously with the Montreal Alouettes (2002, 2003, and 2007). Kelly Malveaux was in his third, one each with Calgary, Montreal, and Winnipeg (2001, 2005, and 2007).

Fourteen other players played in their second Grey Cup game. Those players were from the ‘Riders: Mike Abou-Mechrek, Winnipeg-Saskatchewan (2001, 2007); Marcus Crandell, Calgary-Saskatchewan (2001, 2007); Eddie Davis, Calgary-Saskatchewan (1998, 2007); Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan (1997, 2007); Jeremy O’Day, Toronto-Saskatchewan (1997, 2007); Michael Palmer, Toronto-Saskatchewan (2004, 2007); Chris Szarka, Saskatchewan (1997, 2007). On the Bombers portion of the list were: Charles Roberts, Winnipeg (2001, 2007); Matthew Sheridan, Winnipeg (2001, 2007); Barrin Simpson, BC-Winnipeg (2004, 2007); Milt Stegall, Winnipeg (2001, 2007); Jamie Stoddard, Winnipeg (2001, 2007); O’Neil Wilson, Montreal-Winnipeg (2006, 2007); and Sam Young, BC-Winnipeg (2004, 2007).

Safety Valve?
The three Safety Touches recorded by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s Grey Cup championship game put them into second place on the alltime list behind the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the Most Safety Touches in Grey Cup competition. Hamilton leads with four.

Those three Safety Touches equalled the single game record for the Most Safety Touches in a Grey Cup game set by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats against Winnipeg in the November 27, 1965 Grey Cup at Toronto. The game dubbed ‘The Wind Bowl’ witnessed the Blue Bombers yield three safety touches in order to gain better field position as the winds swirled into CNE Stadium off Lake Ontario. Hamilton won 22-16…the six points allowed on the safety touches proved to be the margin of victory.

Record Breaking Day
James Johnson, Defensive Back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders broke a Grey Cup record for the Most Interceptions in a Game, which had stood the test of time through 51 years, Sunday when he intercepted three Ryan Dinwiddie passes for 40 yards and one touchdown. Bruce Coulter of the Montreal Alouettes against the Edmonton Eskimos set the previous mark of two, on November 24, 1956.

Johnson’s three interceptions tied him with four other players for second place on the alltime Grey Cup list for Most Interceptions. Joe Hollimon who played for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1976 to 1985 heads the list with four.

Among Illustrious Company
Quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in surrendering three interceptions tied for second place with seven other quarterbacks for Most Passes Intercepted in a Grey Cup game. That list includes Ron Lancaster and Warren Moon.

Extra Special Effort
Jason Nugent, Defensive Back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers set a Grey Cup record with five Special Teams Tackles (all in the first half), and erased the mark of four held jointly by Donald Smith of the Toronto Argonauts, (November 16, 1997) and Raymond Biggs of Calgary Stampeders, (November 28, 1999).

Defensive Threat
Doug Brown, Defensive Lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with nine defensive tackles on Sunday moved into a second place tie with Darryl Ford of the Toronto Argonauts for the Most Defensive Tackles in a Grey Cup game.

Those nine defensive tackles gave him a share of sixth spot on the list for the Most Defensive Tackles in Grey Cup competition.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders-Winnipeg Blue Bombers match up marks the first time that two Western Canadian teams have played off for the Grey Cup trophy. However, two Eastern teams have played off for the trophy on 16 occasions, eight of which occurred during the first eight years the trophy was presented.

Lionel Conacher (Big Train) won the Grey Cup in 1921. His brother Charlie won the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1931-32 and his brother, Roy won it with Boston in 1938-39 and 1940-41. Lionel also won the Stanley Cup with Chicago (1933-34) and Montreal Maroons (1934-35).

Lionel’s son, Brian won a Stanley Cup with the Leafs in 1966-67, and brother, Lionel Jr. played for the Montreal Alouettes in 1960 and 1961, but did not win a Grey Cup.

The only father and son combination to win the Grey Cup is Buster (Red) Storey with the 1937 and 1938 Toronto Argonauts and his son, Robert with the 1970 Montreal Alouettes Grey Cup championship team in 1970.

The James family came close. Eddie (Kid Dynamite) James played in the 1928, 1929 and 1931 Grey Cup championships with the runner-up Regina Roughriders, and with the Grey Cup winning Winnipeg ‘Pegs in 1935 (first East-West radio broadcast of a Grey Cup game). He also played in 1937 with the runner-up Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

His son, Gerry won three Grey Cups (1959, 1961, and 1962) in five attempts with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played right wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1954 and 1960. However, the Leafs did not win the Stanley Cup until 1962.

Hank Ilesic holds the record for most consecutive Grey Cup appearances with seven.

Nine players have appeared in eight Grey Cup Games. They are Bill Stevenson, Dave Fennell, Dale Potter, Ron Estay, Bob Howes, Tom Wilkinson, Don Sutherin, and Chet Miksza.

Of those 16 players, nine played a part in the Edmonton Eskimos five consecutive Grey Cup championship victories between 1978 and 1982.