By Tim Baines, Postmedia
George Brancato, a legend in Ottawa’s football history, has died.
The former player and long-time coach with the Ottawa Rough Riders was 88.
Inducted to the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame in 2002, Brancato was the head coach of the Riders in 1976, the last time an Ottawa CFL team had won a Grey Cup until the Redblacks beat the Calgary Stampeders three years ago —a 40-year gap.
A graduate of Louisiana State University, Brancato, who was born in Brooklyn, came to Ottawa in 1957 after stints with the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals and Montreal Alouettes. He led the East Division in interceptions in 1957 and was an all-star in 1961. He retired after the 1962 season.
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He became an assistant coach to Jack Gotta in 1970, winning a Grey Cup in 1973, then taking over as the head coach of the Rough Riders in 1974. He stayed in that job until 1984. Brancato returned to Ottawa in 1993 as Ron Smeltzer’s special teams and secondary coach. The next season, he was the offensive co-ordinator for the Shreveport Pirates. In 1999, he was the defensive co-ordinator for the AFL’s Florida Bobcats. It would be his final coaching job.
VIA: https://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/ottawa-cfl-legend-george-brancato-died-at-age-88/wcm/5da89184-cae4-40e5-a4de-a9d6f4b3fc56
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