Here's my story on 23-year CFL veteran Bob Cameron. A long-time Winnipeg Blue Bomber and the CFL's all-time consecutive game leader, Cameron was a star quarterback for the Ancaster Royals. He will be making the trip from his home in Winnipeg to Ancaster for the May 8-10 anniversary weekend. Visit http://www.50yearsofroyalty.net/ for all the details.
Football fever ruled the day at Ancaster High
Gridiron glory is a tradition at Ancaster High School.
From humble beginnings and a debut 1959 season that featured zero offensive points, Ancaster High quickly became a football powerhouse by the late 1960s.
Bob Cameron is perhaps the most widely recognized graduate of the prestigious program. A quarterback and punter, Cameron was a star pivot at Nova Scotia’s Acadia University. He went on to play 23 seasons with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, retiring in 2002. Over the course of his career, Cameron earned the iron man moniker for playing in a league record 324 consecutive games.
Today, Cameron, 54, is a real estate developer and home renovator. He still resides in Winnipeg with his wife, Louise, and has four children.
At Ancaster High, Cameron quarterbacked several outstanding Junior and Senior football teams in the early 1970s, including a 1970 squad that captured the city title with an undefeated record.
Cameron also led the senior football team to city championships in 1971 and 1972.
While his natural athletic ability earned many accolades and attention from university scouts, Cameron credits his teammates for the team’s success.
He recalls several outstanding athletes, including fullback Rick Lavinski, tailback Bob Frackleton, tight end Jamie Lamont and many more.
“It wasn’t just me,” Cameron said. “We had an unbelievable team in those days.”
John Evans coached the junior football team in those days. Bob Bell was the senior coach. Mr. Bell, who passed away in 2008, now has a memorial golf tournament named in his honour. Cameron attended last September’s tournament and also plans to participate this year.
Cameron credits Ancaster High athletic director Ray Smith as one of his biggest mentors. At age 14 or 15, Smith told Cameron he could play professional football one day, with continued hard work and dedication. He also helped Cameron appreciate the legacy of excellence at Ancaster High.
After high school, Cameron found himself listed fourth on the quarterback depth chart at Acadia. But preseason injuries to the first and second string quarterbacks gave Cameron a chance to play in his rookie season. Cameron led his team to a pre-season victory, with Rick Lavinski at running back. He was sidelined by illness for most of his first year, but returned as the starting quarterback for three championship seasons from 1975 to 1977. Cameron won the Hec Crighton Trophy for outstanding player in 1977 and won two Atlantic Bowls during his time at Acadia.
Coming out of university, Cameron dreamed of becoming the next great Canadian quarterback, following in the footsteps of Ottawa Rough Rider legend Russ Jackson.
Interest in his quarterback abilities was scarce, so Cameron decided to focus on punting. He tried out with several CFL and NFL teams in 1979, including the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and finally, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
With no contract offers on the table, Cameron nearly gave up on football. But an opening suddenly turned up when Blue Bomber kicker Bernie Ruoff was charged with a minor drug offense. Ruoff was abruptly traded to Hamilton where he enjoyed a successful seven-year career. And Cameron finally got his big break.
“Not many guys get to live their dream,” he said. “I was one of the fortunate ones.”
Cameron played in six Grey Cup games, winning three of them. But the 1988 Grey Cup win in Ottawa holds a special place in his heart. Cameron’s excellent punting in windy conditions gave the Bombers a distinct advantage in the field position game. Winnipeg beat the B.C. Lions 22-21 and Cameron was named the game’s most outstanding Canadian player.
“We had a great cover team,” Cameron said. “I never had to worry about angling the ball out towards the sidelines.”
Though he never lined up behind centre for an offensive play, Cameron threw occasional passes on fake punt and field goal attempts. His CFL career passing numbers are 10 completions in 21 attempts for 176 yards. He also had one punt return for negative yardage and three special teams tackles. Cameron holds the CFL record for punting yardage at 134,301 yards.
Cameron isn’t the only Ancaster High grad to hoist the coveted Grey Cup. Marv Allemang, a former offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was a two-time conference all-star at Acadia from 1972-73. In 1986, Allemang helped the Tiger-Cats stun the heavily-favoured Edmonton Eskimos in a 39-15 Grey Cup win at Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium.
From humble beginnings and a debut 1959 season that featured zero offensive points, Ancaster High quickly became a football powerhouse by the late 1960s.
Bob Cameron is perhaps the most widely recognized graduate of the prestigious program. A quarterback and punter, Cameron was a star pivot at Nova Scotia’s Acadia University. He went on to play 23 seasons with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, retiring in 2002. Over the course of his career, Cameron earned the iron man moniker for playing in a league record 324 consecutive games.
Today, Cameron, 54, is a real estate developer and home renovator. He still resides in Winnipeg with his wife, Louise, and has four children.
At Ancaster High, Cameron quarterbacked several outstanding Junior and Senior football teams in the early 1970s, including a 1970 squad that captured the city title with an undefeated record.
Cameron also led the senior football team to city championships in 1971 and 1972.
While his natural athletic ability earned many accolades and attention from university scouts, Cameron credits his teammates for the team’s success.
He recalls several outstanding athletes, including fullback Rick Lavinski, tailback Bob Frackleton, tight end Jamie Lamont and many more.
“It wasn’t just me,” Cameron said. “We had an unbelievable team in those days.”
John Evans coached the junior football team in those days. Bob Bell was the senior coach. Mr. Bell, who passed away in 2008, now has a memorial golf tournament named in his honour. Cameron attended last September’s tournament and also plans to participate this year.
Cameron credits Ancaster High athletic director Ray Smith as one of his biggest mentors. At age 14 or 15, Smith told Cameron he could play professional football one day, with continued hard work and dedication. He also helped Cameron appreciate the legacy of excellence at Ancaster High.
After high school, Cameron found himself listed fourth on the quarterback depth chart at Acadia. But preseason injuries to the first and second string quarterbacks gave Cameron a chance to play in his rookie season. Cameron led his team to a pre-season victory, with Rick Lavinski at running back. He was sidelined by illness for most of his first year, but returned as the starting quarterback for three championship seasons from 1975 to 1977. Cameron won the Hec Crighton Trophy for outstanding player in 1977 and won two Atlantic Bowls during his time at Acadia.
Coming out of university, Cameron dreamed of becoming the next great Canadian quarterback, following in the footsteps of Ottawa Rough Rider legend Russ Jackson.
Interest in his quarterback abilities was scarce, so Cameron decided to focus on punting. He tried out with several CFL and NFL teams in 1979, including the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and finally, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
With no contract offers on the table, Cameron nearly gave up on football. But an opening suddenly turned up when Blue Bomber kicker Bernie Ruoff was charged with a minor drug offense. Ruoff was abruptly traded to Hamilton where he enjoyed a successful seven-year career. And Cameron finally got his big break.
“Not many guys get to live their dream,” he said. “I was one of the fortunate ones.”
Cameron played in six Grey Cup games, winning three of them. But the 1988 Grey Cup win in Ottawa holds a special place in his heart. Cameron’s excellent punting in windy conditions gave the Bombers a distinct advantage in the field position game. Winnipeg beat the B.C. Lions 22-21 and Cameron was named the game’s most outstanding Canadian player.
“We had a great cover team,” Cameron said. “I never had to worry about angling the ball out towards the sidelines.”
Though he never lined up behind centre for an offensive play, Cameron threw occasional passes on fake punt and field goal attempts. His CFL career passing numbers are 10 completions in 21 attempts for 176 yards. He also had one punt return for negative yardage and three special teams tackles. Cameron holds the CFL record for punting yardage at 134,301 yards.
Cameron isn’t the only Ancaster High grad to hoist the coveted Grey Cup. Marv Allemang, a former offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was a two-time conference all-star at Acadia from 1972-73. In 1986, Allemang helped the Tiger-Cats stun the heavily-favoured Edmonton Eskimos in a 39-15 Grey Cup win at Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium.
Another Ancaster High football player, Mike Robinson, also was a member of the 1986 Grey Cup Champion Tiger-Cats. Robinson was a teammate of Cameron's in Winnipeg in 1985.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering where Mike Robinson is now. We were friends in the 70's when his Dad owned a pool shop in Dunnville. Just wondering how he is doing?
ReplyDelete