Gill Fenerty
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Gill Fenerty, aka "Gill the Thrill", (born August 24, 1963 in New Orleans, Louisiana
) is a former running back
in the Canadian Football League
and the National Football League
.
Fenerty graduated from Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
and attended the College of the Holy Cross
, where in 1983 he had an amazing game, rushing for 337 yards (on 18 carries) and 6 touchdowns versus Columbia University
in a 77 to 28 victory. He is the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,680 yards. http://goholycross.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/holy/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/rushing
Leo Cahill
of the Toronto Argonauts
discovered him playing in Italy
, and he began a 3 year career in Canada
. In his first year, 1987, he rushed for 879 yards and caught 53 passes, winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
. He also scored a thrilling 61 yard touchdown reception in the Argos last second loss in the classic 75th Grey Cup
game. In 1988 he would rush for 968 and catch 51 passes. On August 31 of that year, Fenerty rushed for a team record 215 yards in a single game against the Calgary Stampeders
, eclipsing Ulysses Curtis
' 36 year old team record by seven yards. In 1989, Fenerty set a then team record with 1247 yards rushing. He was an all star selection in every season he played, totalling 48 games.
Fenerty moved to his hometown to play for the New Orleans Saints
of the National Football League
for the 1990
and 1991
seasons. He would play 31 games, rushing for 335 yards in 1990 and 477 in 1991, also catching 44 passes in the two years, as well as returning punts and kickoffs.
He ended his career with a brief stint with the CFL expansion Shreveport Pirates
in 1994.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
) is a former running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Fenerty graduated from Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
Jesuit High School is an all-male Catholic high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school was founded in 1847. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans....
and attended the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, where in 1983 he had an amazing game, rushing for 337 yards (on 18 carries) and 6 touchdowns versus Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in a 77 to 28 victory. He is the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,680 yards. http://goholycross.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/holy/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/rushing
Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill is a former head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts. Since 2004, Cahill has been serving as "goodwill ambassador" with the Argonauts. Has 5 children. Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye. He lives in Sarnia,...
of the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
discovered him playing in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and he began a 3 year career in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In his first year, 1987, he rushed for 879 yards and caught 53 passes, winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
. He also scored a thrilling 61 yard touchdown reception in the Argos last second loss in the classic 75th Grey Cup
75th Grey Cup
The 75th Grey Cup was the 1987 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Toronto Argonauts...
game. In 1988 he would rush for 968 and catch 51 passes. On August 31 of that year, Fenerty rushed for a team record 215 yards in a single game against the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, eclipsing Ulysses Curtis
Ulysses Curtis
Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis was a running back in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts from 1950-1954. He won two Grey Cups with Toronto in 1950 and 1952....
' 36 year old team record by seven yards. In 1989, Fenerty set a then team record with 1247 yards rushing. He was an all star selection in every season he played, totalling 48 games.
Fenerty moved to his hometown to play for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the 1990
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
and 1991
1991 NFL season
The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills....
seasons. He would play 31 games, rushing for 335 yards in 1990 and 477 in 1991, also catching 44 passes in the two years, as well as returning punts and kickoffs.
He ended his career with a brief stint with the CFL expansion Shreveport Pirates
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
in 1994.