Jim Foley
Encyclopedia
Jim Foley is a former award winning slotback
in the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes
' in the 1970 CFL College Draft
, winning the CFL's rookie of the year award
in 1971, and later won the 1975 Most Outstanding Canadian Award
and two Grey Cup
s with the Ottawa Rough Riders
.
, and played football from 1966 to 1969. He is one of the few professional football players to come from UPEI. Foley was named the team’s Most Valuable Player an the top athlete for 3 consecutive years. In his junior year Foley was also MVP of the Bluenose Conference. He was also the rushing leader with 809 yards and the rushing average leader at 9.6 yards per carry. In his senior year, now playing for the UPEI Panthers, Foley led the league in kickoff return yards (377) and the highest kick return average. He was also named UPEI’s first Male Athlete of the Year. Over four seasons of collegiate football, Foley scored 198 points and rushed for 2376 yards. Jim Foley was inducted into UPEI Sports Hall of Fame and to the Prince Edward Island Foootball Hall of Fame.
He began his 7 year CFL career in 1971 with the Montreal Alouettes
, playing 2 season with them. In his first year, he was good enough to win the Gruen Trophy
as top rookie in the Eastern Conference. He moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders
in 1973, where he helped the Riders to a grey cup win. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
winner in 1975. He would play 5 seasons in Ottawa. In 1976 he had 56 receptions for 847 yaeds and was part of the classic 1976 64th Grey Cup
game victory. He was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
UPEI Sports Hall of Fame
Prince Edward Island Football Hall of Fame
Slotback
Slotback is a position in Gridiron football . The slotback is similar to the wide receiver but also has many of the same traits as a running back, lines up closer to the offensive line and often farther back...
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....
. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
' in the 1970 CFL College Draft
1970 CFL Draft
The 1970 CFL Draft took place on Wednesday, February 11, 1970. Seventy-six players were selected from among 243 eligible players from Canadian universities and colleges...
, winning the CFL's rookie of the year award
Gruen Trophy
The Gruen Trophy was a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding Canadian rookie in the East Division. The award, sponsored by the Gruen Watch Co...
in 1971, and later won the 1975 Most Outstanding Canadian Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually rewarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. This is the second-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 is hosted. The two nominees...
and two Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
s with the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
.
Career
He attended St. Dunstan's University, later to become the University of Prince Edward IslandUniversity of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
, and played football from 1966 to 1969. He is one of the few professional football players to come from UPEI. Foley was named the team’s Most Valuable Player an the top athlete for 3 consecutive years. In his junior year Foley was also MVP of the Bluenose Conference. He was also the rushing leader with 809 yards and the rushing average leader at 9.6 yards per carry. In his senior year, now playing for the UPEI Panthers, Foley led the league in kickoff return yards (377) and the highest kick return average. He was also named UPEI’s first Male Athlete of the Year. Over four seasons of collegiate football, Foley scored 198 points and rushed for 2376 yards. Jim Foley was inducted into UPEI Sports Hall of Fame and to the Prince Edward Island Foootball Hall of Fame.
He began his 7 year CFL career in 1971 with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, playing 2 season with them. In his first year, he was good enough to win the Gruen Trophy
Gruen Trophy
The Gruen Trophy was a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding Canadian rookie in the East Division. The award, sponsored by the Gruen Watch Co...
as top rookie in the Eastern Conference. He moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
in 1973, where he helped the Riders to a grey cup win. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually rewarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. This is the second-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 is hosted. The two nominees...
winner in 1975. He would play 5 seasons in Ottawa. In 1976 he had 56 receptions for 847 yaeds and was part of the classic 1976 64th Grey Cup
64th Grey Cup
The 64th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in...
game victory. He was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
Awards
- Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame (2010)
UPEI Sports Hall of Fame
Prince Edward Island Football Hall of Fame