2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The 2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 59th overall. The Tiger-Cats attempted to win their 9th Grey Cup championship, but they failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, which is the longest playoff drought in franchise history.

Jamacia Jackson
Ticats linebacker Jamacia Jackson died on April 16, 2008. Jackson was found unresponsive on Monday morning at a home in Sumter, South Carolina. He was later pronounced dead at a local area hospital. Jamacia was 26 years old. Jackson’s stepmother, Cleo Jackson, advised The Associated Press that he was in good health and had lifted weights Saturday. Jackson had played 12 games with the Ticats last season after signing with the club as a free agent Jan. 11, 2007. Jackson spent his college career at the University of South Carolina and played in 43 games over four seasons, including 21 as a starting strong safety. His career stats include 159 career tackles for the Gamecocks along with two interceptions, returning one 98 yards for a touchdown. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two others. Jackson was named Most Valuable Defensive Player of the 1999 Shrine Bowl. Jackson was signed by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans on April 29, 2005 and was waived by the Titans on July 27. After being cut by the Titans, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes and was assigned to their practice roster. Before coming to the CFL, he signed with the NFL’s New York Giants in 2006 but was allocated to NFL Europe. He was selected in the 16th round by the Berlin Thunder. Despite attending Berlin’s training camp, he was released March 5, 2006 and subsequently cut loose by the Giants two weeks later. Jackson is the second Ticats’ player to die during a recent off-season. Offensive lineman Travis Claridge died on February 28, 2006 after being found unconscious in his Las Vegas home. Claridge was 27 at the time and his death was later ruled accidental. An autopsy revealed that Jackson died from an irregular heartbeat caused by an enlarged heart. Sumter County coroner Verna Moore stated on Tuesday April 16 that the autopsy revealed Jackson likely had an enlarged heart for years.

Transactions

 * December 5, 2007:Bob O'Billovich was hired as the general manager for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The former B.C. Lions player-personnel director took over as general manager of the Ticats with an emphasis on tough, rugged play — especially on defence.
 * January 30, 2008: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed defensive back Lawrence Gordon on Wednesday to a two-year contract.
 * January 13, 2008: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Sunday that Charlie Taaffe will remain the CFL club's head coach despite published reports last week that he was heading to the West Virginia University to become the Mountaineer's offensive co-ordinator.
 * February 13, 2008: The Edmonton Eskimos acquired wide receiver Brock Ralph from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday in exchange for linebacker Michael Botterill and defensive back Chris Thompson.
 * February 14, 2008: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed defensive back Jykine Bradley on Thursday.
 * February 14, 2008: The Ticats released defensive back Richard Karikari and offensive lineman Ryan Donnelly.
 * April 18, 2008: The Tiger-Cats signed centre Marwan Hage to a contract extension Friday that will keep him with the Ticats through the 2010 season.

CFL Draft
In the 2008 CFL Draft, 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The first two rounds were broadcast on TSN.ca with host Rod Black. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, with the league-worst 3–15 record in the 2007 CFL season had several offers for their first-overall selection but kept their pick and chose Saskatchewan Huskies safety Dylan Barker. Barker, a native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is a two-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport first-team all-Canadian. He led the Huskies with 53 tackles, three interceptions, and four breakups last season. It is expected that he will be able to help the Tiger-Cats in the 2008 CFL season.

Regular season
The game on September 19 was the first game since the death of former Tiger Cats coach Ron Lancaster. The Ticats wore decals on their helmets for the game with a green number 23. It was Lancaster's number as a player. The stadium stood for a video tribute and a moment of silence before the game began, with his family standing near the sidelines. This was also the Canadian Football Hall of Fame game. This year's inductees included Doug Flutie, Mike (Pinball) Clemons, Mike Pringle, John Bonk and builder Tom Shepherd. The inductees received their jackets and unveiled their bronzed busts during the halftime.

Transactions

 * September 9: Winnipeg acquired middle linebacker Zeke (And Destroy) Moreno and a conditional draft pick from Hamilton for its first-round draft pick in 2009 and the rights to Canadian defensive lineman Corey Mace.

Ron Lancaster
On Thursday, September 18, Ron Lancaster, 69, died from an apparent heart attack, less than two months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Lancaster resigned as the Eskimos' head coach after the 1997 season to become the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' head coach and director of football operations. The Tiger-Cats reached the Grey Cup in their first season under Lancaster and won the title the following year. The Tiger-Cats were coached by Lancaster from 1998 to 2003, and again in 2006. The two-time CFL coach-of-the-year won 142 regular-season games on the sideline, placing him fourth all-time.

Roster
As of Week 1

Rushing
Despite leading the team in rushing yards, Jesse Lumsden was plagued by several injuries. On July 12, in a game against Saskatchewan, stretched knee ligaments sidelined him. Against Montreal on July 31, a tackler fell on his right ankle and injured him. In a game against Edmonton, played on September 13, Lumsden injured his surgically repaired shoulder.

Awards and records

 * Markeith Knowlton, CFL Eastern All-Star, Defence
 * Nick Setta, CFL Eastern All-Star, Special Teams
 * Chris Thompson, CFL Eastern All-Star, Defence