sigh...

LETS GO BUFFALO!!! TIME TO GO BACK TO BACK BABY!!!

1967 Hall of Fame Class

September 28, 1967

Hybrid Football Hall of Fame - Lansdowne Park - Ottawa, Ontario 

It was a beautiful Thursday Evening in Ottawa as a crowd full of current and former players and coaches, and NAAF owners and executives, along with their families, gathered in the brand new Hybrid Football Hall of Fame building. Commissioner Ryan Jameson would soon take the stand to begin the first Hall of Fame ceremony in the NAAF’s history. 

Jameson would get on stage next to several other key members of the NAAF, like Harold McCallister, the former commissioner of the NEFC, and son of John McCallister, the namesake of the trophy, and Larry Larson, the current leader of the NAAF’s player committee. Jameson would step forward to the stand to begin the ceremony.

Jameson: “Hello everyone, welcome to this outstanding new building we have here. I am very excited for tonight’s event. I have been very excited to have the opportunity to honour the hard-working members of the NAAF, especially the players, coaches, and owners who have helped to make this league a premier football competition. Thank you to everyone who was able to be here today, but also thank you to those who were unable to be here. 

Alright, I will not stall too much more. Today we are planning to induct the inaugural class to the Hybrid Football Hall of Fame. 11 members will have their name called today, and will be honoured with a jacket as well as their own plaque that will remain in the hall in their honour. They will gain a spot in this building where we will maintain the plaque along with memorabilia and artifacts that highlight the player’s career.

Okay, let's get started. Now on my left, to your right, you will notice a curtain-covered wall there. I have not seen what is there, but I have been informed that the wall will be the highlight, and the first thing people will see when they enter the hall. So, it is fitting that the first item to be revealed would be this piece of the Hybrid Football Hall of Fame.”

The curtain was pulled off and the wall was revealed. Jameson was awestruck, not saying anything. The crowd looked at the wall and then saw Jameson’s reaction. They began to clap and cheer. Larry Larson stepped to the stand and spoke into the mic.

Larson: “Hey, Ryan. This is a thank you to you. I had worked with the architects to make sure that the first thing that people would see as they entered the building would be the man that made this all happen. You are also the first member of the Hall of Fame.”

Larson turned toward the rest of the crowd:
“Ryan Jameson came to the NEFC with the proposal of a new league and a new version of football. While his proposal had fallen on many deaf ears, Harold here, listened. It soon led to myself and Ryan meeting. When I spoke to him, I saw the passion, the drive. I saw that this was a man who wanted to take on a challenge and was going to have the guts to go up against the established leagues and rules. By the end of our first meeting, I was sold. Soon enough I was taking my first snaps in the NAAF here at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa. Since the founding of the league, Jameson has continued to grow hybrid football, grow the NAAF, and stand strong against the many competitors that we go up against. The owners, players, coaches, and all members of the NAAF, have so much respect for you, for everything you have done. No one questioned me when I told them about this. They knew this was the right choice. The sport and league would not be here without you. Welcome to the Hybrid Football Hall of Fame, commissioner, and friend, Ryan Jameson.”

It took a few moments for Jameson to take in the honour, especially when Larson gave him his jacket. Once he recovered and the crowd settled, he continued with the ceremony.

Jameson: “Firstly, thank you. Thank you to everyone, this is an honour. But I’m not going to let myself be the centre of attention, let's move forward with introducing the inaugural class. 

When selecting the inaugural class, we had some boundaries to determine who would have a chance. The main one being that the player must be 5-years retired before becoming eligible. Otherwise, it came down to who made the biggest impact on the league.

As we put together the first members, we felt it was best to pick at least one player at each position to make up our first 10 players. So without further adieu, let’s get to our first player. 

This first player was one of the NAAF’s first stars. He dominated out of the backfield over the first 3 seasons. In those years, he took home the MVP in each one. As his career went on he would add an offensive player of the year in 1953. He was a superstar for his hometown Rouge for his first 8 seasons in the NAAF, however, after winning a pair of championships with Rouge, he spent two seasons in Providence to close out his career. If you have not figured it out by now, I am talking about Running Back Élisée Marchal, welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Up next, we have a local legend for those from the city of Ottawa. Over the league’s first 8 seasons, there was no real competition over who was the best wide receiver in the league. He spent his entire career with the Royals, earning 7 All-Star nods, an MVP, and of course 3 McCallister Cups. Our next inductee is none other than Wide Receiver Allen Atkins, Welcome to the Hall of Fame Allen.

Next, we will move to our first defensive player. Our next member of the Hall of Fame was the league’s first Defensive Player of the Year. He would go on to win that award 2 more times while playing all 11 seasons in Providence. He also became the team’s first captain in 1957. He was a man that struck fear into QBs around the league. Welcome to the Hall of Fame Defensive Back Lee Wolfe.

Moving on, we must touch on one of the most important positions in any defence, linebacker. The first great player at this position was a member of one of the greatest defences in the league’s history. He was a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-Star in 5 of his 7 seasons in the league. A true leader of the Rouge defence, Linebacker Quinton Brewer, welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Alright, I know everyone is waiting for the first quarterback of the class. Okay okay. Our first quarterback of the Hall of Fame came into the league being called the greatest quarterback of all time. He only spent 6 seasons in the NAAF, but he led the Boston Independents to 5 McCallister Cups over those 6 seasons. While his on-field play was stellar, he has also made an impact off the field, being the leader of the players’ committee and continuing to work hard to make the NAAF a premier sports competition. Thank you for all your hard work, my friend, Larry Larson, welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Alright, time to move on to the men in the trenches. Starting with the offensive line. There are plenty of great players that guard the great QBs, but there is one that stands out amongst the rest. In 12 seasons in the NAAF, this lineman was a 12-time All-Star, and a 2-time champion. He spent each of his 12 seasons with the Boston Independents, serving as alternative captain for his final 4 seasons. This player, for many years, was the premier offensive lineman. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Andrew Furrson. 

Well, we covered the offensive lineman, now we look to the defensive line with our youngest member of the initial class. There were many greats already at the position but the man that became the first true superstar at defensive line dominated over 11 seasons in the league. He began as a member of the Hartford Hawks, where he played 4 seasons but was eventually traded to Buffalo where he spent the remaining 7 seasons. He was able to win a championship along with a Defensive Player of the Year Award in his time with Buffalo and would eventually become the first captain. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Sean Bowen.

Moving onto the next position, we have the position that usually sees the field the least throughout a game. Kickers are an important part of any team, but this Hartford Hawk/Long Island Raider was one of the best throughout his career. He won 5 Special Teams Player of the Year Awards, which is currently the most won by a single player. The 6-time All-Star would go on to complete his career in Louisville, earning Alternative Captain in those 2 seasons. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Thomas McFadden.

Now probably, the toughest position to select from was tight end, as they certainly don’t get the same recognition that other positions do. However, our selection was one of the first to make an impact at the position. In 7 seasons, with the Providence Gold Stars, this player was a 4-time All-Star and a master of blocking downfield. Our first tight end is Marion Warren, welcome to the Hall of Fame. 

Okay, the last member of our first 10 players, comes from a position that fits for being the last one, the last one back for that matter, yes, we have our safety. There have been plenty of star safeties that have come up over the years, but the first star was a man who spent all 8 seasons as a member of the Boston Independents. He was a 4-time All-Star and a 2-time Champion, and probably would have been considered for a captaincy if he had not retired just before the letter system was implemented. Our 10th member is Safety Michael O’Brien, welcome to the Hall of Fame. 
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The members were given their jackets and got to see their plaques up close.

Jameson: Let’s hear it for the first class of Hybrid Hall of Fame Inductees.

Okay, we are not officially done. These players have done a lot on the field. They have been the stars making the plays and winning the games, but they still didn’t do it without guidance. What would any of these players be without a teacher, a guide, a coach. So for our final member of the inaugural class, we have a legend across all versions of football. A man who dominated the football landscape for many, many years. He won a total of 14 McCallister Cups, 2 of which came in the NAAF. He has coached some of the best players ever including 3 of our inductees today. A 2-time coach of the year, and a true pioneer, we welcome to the Hall of Fame Mr. Peter McDuffin. 

Now, unfortunately, Mr. McDuffin, or Duffie as many called him, is no longer with us, having passed away 3 years ago. But we will leave this honour and this jacket with his family. Duffie was hard-nosed and tough, but also kind and caring, a true embodiment of a leader and teacher. On behalf of everyone in the NAAF, and the NEFC before it, thank you Duffie, and welcome to the Hall of Fame.”

McDuffin’s family came to accept the Hall of Fame jacket. It was eventually taken by McDuffin’s Great-Grandson, 9-year-old Stevie, who put on the jacket and wore it proudly. 

Jameson: “That concludes this inaugural induction ceremony. Thank you, once again, to everyone here tonight and to everyone who was unable to be here. Now, this show is over, and the Hall of Fame is now open. I hope everyone has a great rest of the night, and that we get some great football this weekend.”

There was a collective cheer one last time as the ceremony came to a close. Jameson joined the rest of the class with their plaques and his own jacket as they mingled about throughout the night. 

Those plaques are super cool, well done.

The 60s will no doubt be the decade of the Blue Wings, Hopefully, the next decade will prove more fruitful for the Rouge.