MONTREAL -- It took six years of hard work but
Jesse Briggs has become the 12th McGill University grad to merit a Grey Cup ring. The 29-year-old native of Kelowna, B.C., helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeat Hamilton 33-12 in Calgary on Sunday night.
The game featured McGill players on both sides, with rookie linebacker
Valentin Gnahoua dressing for the Tiger Cats.
Briggs, a 6-foot-1, 217-pound linebacker who primarily plays on special teams, was credited with two solo tackles in the game, including one that saved what appeared to be a sure touchdown. Recruited from Vanier College, Briggs graduated from McGill in 2014, with a degree physical and health education. He was selected by Winnipeg in the 2014 Canadian Football League draft, where he was picked in the second round, 17th overall.
A dozen McGill grads have combined to win 21 Grey Cup rings, including
Hector Pothier, who won six with Edmonton between 1978 and 1987.
Briggs is the first McGill product to win the league title as a player since
Randy Chevrier captured his third Grey Cup in 2014 with Calgary, to go along with championships in 2008 (Calgary) and 2003 (Edmonton). Another McGill grad who won multiple titles was
Joe Poirier, who was also part of three Grey Cups, all with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1960, 1968 and 1969.
Other McGillians to win the Grey Cup include
Patrick Bourgon, as a coach with Ottawa in 2016,
Val St. Germain (Saskatchewan, 2007),
Robert Leblanc (Edmonton, 2005),
Dan Pronyk (Hamilton, 1999),
Michael Soles (Edmonton, 1993),
Tony Lawson (Toronto, 1983),
George Springate (Montreal, 1970) and
Buster Brown (Hamilton, 1953).
In 35 career contests over four years with McGill, Briggs was credited with 118 total tackles, including 94 solos, 16.5 for loss and six quarterback sacks. He added a pair of interceptions, five knockdowns and a forced fumble. He won the Friends of McGill Football Trophy as the team's most outstanding defensive player during the 2013 season.
LIST OF MOST GREY CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS WON BY McGILL FOOTBALL GRADS
| Hector |
Pothier |
1978 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Hector |
Pothier |
1979 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Hector |
Pothier |
1980 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Hector |
Pothier |
1981 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Hector |
Pothier |
1982 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Hector |
Pothier |
1987 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Joe |
Poirier |
1960 |
Ottawa |
(player) |
| Joe |
Poirier |
1968 |
Ottawa |
(player) |
| Joe |
Poirier |
1969 |
Ottawa |
(player) |
| Randy |
Chevrier |
2003 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Randy |
Chevrier |
2008 |
Calgary |
(player) |
| Randy |
Chevrier |
2014 |
Calgary |
(player) |
| Buster |
Brown |
1953 |
Hamilton |
(player) |
| George |
Springate |
1970 |
Montreal |
(player) |
| Tony |
Lawson |
1983 |
Toronto |
(player) |
| Michael |
Soles |
1993 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Dan |
Pronyk |
1999 |
Hamilton |
(player) |
| Robert |
Leblanc |
2005 |
Edmonton |
(player) |
| Val |
St. Germain |
2007 |
Saskatchewan |
(player) |
| Patrick |
Bourgon |
2016 |
Ottawa |
(coach) |
| Jesse |
Briggs |
2019 |
Winnipeg |
(player) |
SOURCE::
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
MOBILE SITE:
http://mcgillathletics.ca/mobile/index.aspx
WEBSITE:
www.mcgillathletics.ca
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
