Will history repeat itself

That old adage "Will history repeat itself" is very much in the minds of Saskatchewan Roughrider fans as the football season approaches and the object of the question is running back Freddie Russell of Iowa who will join the team this year and brings along some impressive credentials.

The fact that the Riders are in need of a running back because of Kenton Keith going to the Indianapolis Colts makes it even more imperative that Russell becomes a bona fide candidate to start the season.and if he does he would be the fifth Iowa Hawkeye halfback to make a big contribution to the Rider cause.



Over the previous years the University of Iowa Hawkeyes have produced four running backs who have had noteable success while toiling in Saskatchewan.

The first was Mike Hagler in 1958 and 1959.Hagler stood five foot seven inches tall and weighed one hundred and sixty five pounds when wet and in 1958 played beside the legendary Rider fullback Cookie Gilchrist who at six foot two and two hundred and thirty five pounds made Mike look like a dwarf. Hagler could be described as an early version of Charles Roberts who when following the blocking of Gilchrist picked up big yardage and was a threat to go all the way any time he touched the ball and as well he was an electrifying kick returner.

The next elite Hawkeye to journey to Regina was the very quick and slick Silas Mckinnie who played here from 1968 to 1971 after being selected as the top running back in the Big Ten in 1967. He complimented George Reed and Al Ford ideally in the Rider backfield.because of his ability to be such an effective receiver.He stood six foot one and weighed a compact one hundred and ninety five pounds and was an all- star in 1970 when he was the teams leading receiver with 39 receptions for 682 yards.averaging 17.5 yards per reception including a league leading 91 yard pass and run play for a game winning touchdown against Winnipeg on Labour day 1970.

The third Hawkeye running back graduate to play here was the very popular Mike Saunders who had been a Big Ten All -Star in 1990and 1991 and who was here twice first from 1992 to 1994 and then from 1997 to 1999.Saunders had a slashing style of running and as well was an outstanding receiver.He led the Riders in rushing five of the six years he was here.and is the Riders second leading rusher of all time with 4396yards.

Sedrick Shaw burst upon the Rider scene in 2002 after being an All-American and two time Big Ten All-Star and a high NFL draft choice and he was . a real stud at six foot one and two hundred and ten pounds and was decribed most appropriately as a bruising punishing runner who made would be tacklers pay when they attempted to bring him down.He was the Riders leading rusher in 2002 with 950yards.

Now it is 2007 with training camp one month away and fans will be paying a lot of attention to Freddie Russell who like Hagler is being described as a Charles Roberts clone at five foot seven and three quarters and weighing one hundred and ninety three pounds.He has also been described as a low base compact runner.with breakaway speed.who has the ability to break tackles.He was twice a Big Ten All-Star and was Iowa,s leading rusher in 2002 and 2003.picking up 1264yards in 2002 and1355 in 2003.In his senior year he had seven consecutive 100 yard plus performances including a 150 yard game against Florida in the Outback bowl on January 1st 2004.In total over his career he had 15 one hundred yard plus games rushing .He has been playing in NFL Europe the last two years.

It is expected that Russell will play up to the standards set by Hagler,Mckinnie,Saunders and Shaw and the Hawkeye/ Saskatchewan Roughrider tradition will continue.