Dave Ritchie (gridiron football) explained
David F. Ritchie (September 3, 1938 – March 9, 2024) was an American gridiron football coach in college football, the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Italian Football League (IFL), and the Swiss National League. He is best known for his time as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach from 1999 to 2004. He was a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won in 1990, 1994, and 2006 and was named the CFL's Coach of the Year in 2001. He won 108 regular season games as a head coach in the CFL which is the seventh highest win total by a head coach in the league's history.
Early life and college career
Ritchie was born on September 3, 1938, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1] [2] His father, also named Dave Ritchie, was one of the best running backs in the history of New Bedford High School and the younger Ritchie hoped to follow in his footsteps. He was NBHS's starting quarterback for two seasons, but his family moved to Cincinnati during his senior year. Ritchie was an All-Ohio fullback at Withrow High School and played college football as a fullback, linebacker, and punter for the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1958 to 1960.[3]
Coaching career
College coaching
Ritchie began his coaching career in 1962 as an assistant coach with Greenbrier Military School.[4] He became Greenbrier's head coach in 1966 and remained there until 1969, when he became linebackers coach at his alma mater, Cincinnati.[5] He then joined the Brown Bears as an assistant coach and head recruiter.[6] Thereafter, Ritchie was the head coach for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons, from 1978 to 1982, where he compiled a 35–13–3 record.[3] [7]
Montreal Concordes, Alouettes
Ritchie first entered the Canadian Football League as the defensive backfield coach for the Montreal Concordes in 1983, alongside linebackers coach, Wally Buono.[7] [8]
Interlude
Ritchie re-joined the Cincinnati Bearcats as defensive coordinator in 1987.[9] He then moved to Europe and was the defensive coordinator for the Milano Seamen in the Italian Football League in 1989 where the team finished with a 13–1 record before losing in the Italian championship game.[10] He returned to the United States that spring as defensive coordinator at Marshall.[11]
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Ritchie returned to the CFL as the defensive line coach and special teams assistant coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1990, a year in which the Blue Bombers won the 78th Grey Cup.[12] He was an assistant coach in 1991, the same year when the Blue Bombers lost the East Final to the Toronto Argonauts.[13] [14]
Ottawa Rough Riders
Ritchie was hired by the Ottawa Rough Riders to become the team's defensive coordinator for the 1992 season.[6] The team led the CFL in 18 of 25 defensive categories that year and finished with a non-losing record for the first time since 1983.[6]
BC Lions
In 1993, Ritchie was named the head coach of the BC Lions as he took over a team that had a 3–15 record in the year prior.[6] [15] The Lions immediately improved and finished with a 10–8 record that year, losing the West Semi-Final to the Calgary Stampeders. In the 1994 season, after beginning the year 8–1–1, the Lions finished in third place with an 11–6–1 record.[15] The Lions defeated the Edmonton Eskimos[16] and then the Calgary Stampeders in the playoffs[17] to qualify for the 82nd Grey Cup against the Baltimore Football Club.[18] In the first ever Grey Cup game to feature an American team, Ritchie led his team to a 26–23 victory as the Lions won a Grey Cup in Vancouver for the first time in club history and were also the first West Division team to win the Grey Cup at home.[15] In 1995, the Lions ended their season with a 10–8 record, but were defeated by the Edmonton Eskimos in the North Semi-Final.[19] [20]
Montreal Alouettes (second stint)
Ritchie joined the Montreal Alouettes in 1996 after the Alouetts moved from Baltimore,[21] and as he was also on the coaching staff in 1987 when the Alouettes were last in the league.[22] He was promoted to head coach in 1997[23] and led the team to a 13–5 record,[24] but lost the East Final to the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts.[25] In 1998, the Alouettes finished with a 12–5–1 record,[26] but lost the East Final on a last second field goal to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[27]
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (second stint)
Ritchie was hired away from the Alouettes in 1999 because of a more lucrative offer from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to become their head coach.[28] The team had a 3–15 record the year before and Ritchie led the Blue Bombers to a 6–12 record in 1999.[29] After an East Final appearance in 2000 with a 7–10–1 record, the Blue Bombers demonstrated dominance in 2001 with a 14–4 record, tied for the most wins in franchise history.[22] However, the heavily favoured Blue Bombers were upset by the 8–10 Calgary Stampeders in the 89th Grey Cup game by a score of 27–19.[30] [31] Following the game, Ritchie was critical of placekicker, Troy Westwood, who missed three of four field goal attempts in the game.[8] [30]
Ritchie continued to coach the Blue Bombers with a 12–6 record in 2002 and an 11–7 record in 2003, but the team was defeated in the playoffs in both years with no Grey Cup appearances.[32] [33] On August 8, 2004, with the Blue Bombers losing three in a row with a 2–5 record to begin their season, Ritchie was relieved of head coaching duties.[22] He finished his Blue Bomber tenure with the third-most wins in club history.[12]
BC Lions (second stint)
Ritchie was hired by longtime associate, Wally Buono, on February 25, 2005, to become the defensive coordinator on the BC Lions in 2005.[34] In 2006, he won his third Grey Cup championship as the Lions won the 94th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.[8] After three seasons with the Lions, Ritchie retired following the end of the 2007 CFL season. He was considered for the 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach position, which he would have accepted, but the position went to Ken Miller.[35]
Zurich Renegades
Ritchie returned to the field in 2011 as head coach of the Zurich Renegades[36] in the top level league in Switzerland, helping the team reach the semi-finals in 2012.[10] Overall, he spent two seasons with the team.[37]
Hall of Fame
Ritchie was named to the Fairmont State Hall of Fame in 2010, following five years as a head coach there with two conference titles and one Coal Bowl victory in 1979.[38] He is a member of the Blue Bomber Hall of Fame as the fourth-winningest head coach in team history with a record of 52–44–1 and winning a Grey Cup as an assistant coach in 1990.[12]
On June 21, 2022, it was announced that Ritchie would be enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2022 as a builder.[39]
Personal life and death
Ritchie with his wife, Sharon, lived in Rhode Island. They had three children, Phyllis, Susan, and Dave, and eight grandchildren. Ritchie died at his home in Rumford on March 9, 2024, at the age of 85.[40] [41]
Head coaching record
College
Sources:[42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47]
CFL
Team | Year | Regular season | Post-season | Ref. |
---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result |
---|
BC | 1993 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | [48] [49] |
---|
BC | 1994 | 11 | 6 | 1 | .639 | 3rd in West Division | 3 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | [50] [51] [52] |
---|
BC | 1995 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 3rd in North Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | [53] [54] |
---|
BC total | 31 | 22 | 1 | .583 | 0 West Division Championships | 3 | 2 | 1 Grey Cup | [55] |
---|
MTL | 1997 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | [56] [57] |
---|
MTL | 1998 | 12 | 5 | 1 | .694 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | [58] [59] |
---|
MTL total | 25 | 10 | 1 | .708 | 0 East Division Championships | 2 | 2 | 0 Grey Cups | [60] |
---|
WPG | 1999 | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 | 4th in East Division | – | – | Missed Playoffs | [61] [62] |
---|
WPG | 2000 | 7 | 10 | 1 | .412 | 3rd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | [63] [64] |
---|
WPG | 2001 | 14 | 4 | 0 | .778 | 1st in East Division | 1 | 1 | | [65] [66] |
---|
WPG | 2002 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | [67] [68] |
---|
WPG | 2003 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 2nd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | [69] [70] |
---|
WPG | 2004 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 4th in West Division | – | – | Fired | [71] |
---|
WPG total | 52 | 44 | 1 | .532 | 1 East Division Championship | 3 | 4 | 0 Grey Cups | [72] |
---|
Total | 108 | 76 | 3 | .587 | 1 East Division Championship | 8 | 8 | 1 Grey Cup | [73] | |
---|
Notes and References
- News: Sixty candles for Ritchie. Zukowsky. Herb. September 4, 1998. C8. Montreal Gazette. March 10, 2024. March 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310012226/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/143049138/. live.
- News: Buono, Ritchie both respected. November 21, 2001. CBC News. Ritchie, 63, a native of New Bedford, Mass.. March 10, 2024. March 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310015230/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/buono-ritchie-both-respected-1.278911. live.
- Web site: Former Withrow Tiger honored for football career . cincinnati.com . January 10, 2016 . July 17, 2022 . August 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220816102511/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/ohio-high-school/2016/01/10/former-withrow-tiger-honored-football-career/78590064/ . live .
- Web site: Thomas. Buddy. No. 24 Dave Ritchie. The Standard-Times. August 4, 2017. July 17, 2022. July 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163301/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/columns/2017/08/04/no-24-dave-ritchie/20016073007/. live.
- News: Uederman . Al . Changes Uniforms . March 11, 2024 . The Daily Reporter . March 19, 1969 . March 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311233737/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/12627330/ . live .
- Web site: An old New Bedford kid makes it big . . November 21, 2001 . July 17, 2022 . September 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907212217/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2001/11/22/an-old-new-bedford-kid/50425024007/ . live .
- Web site: The Montreal Concordes of the Canadian Football League announced . UPI Archives . May 3, 1983.
- Web site: "I went up and never came home": ex-Bombers coach Ritchie revels in call to Hall . . June 24, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . June 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625013351/https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/i-went-up-and-never-came-home-ex-bombers-coach-ritchie-revels-in-call-to-hall . live .
- News: Sports Transactions . March 11, 2024 . Daily News . February 15, 1987 . March 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311233737/https://books.google.com/books?id=2-4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq . live .
- Web site: Winning is a Universal Language: CFL Legend Dave Ritchie's European Adventure . americanfootballinternational.com . May 12, 2020 . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163302/https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/winning-is-a-universal-language-cfl-legend-dave-ritchies-european-adventure/ . live .
- News: Former Fairmount Coach Ritchie Joins Herd Staff . March 11, 2024 . Point Pleasant Register . March 29, 1989 . March 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311233737/https://books.google.com/books?id=v2BBAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3&dq . live .
- Web site: Dave Ritchie . . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163301/https://www.bluebombers.com/dave-ritchie/ . live .
- News: November 18, 1991 . Bombers crumble under Argo attack . March 15, 2024 . . 12 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315225021/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix-bombers-crumble-under-argo/143438048/ . live .
- Web site: Wyman . Ted . September 16, 2022 . Former Bombers coach Ritchie soaking up every moment of Hall of Fame experience . March 15, 2024 . . September 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220917011120/https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/former-bombers-coach-ritchie-soaking-up-every-moment-of-hall-of-fame-experience . live .
- Web site: Paul McCallum And Dave Ritchie Get Call To Hall . . June 21, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627075532/https://www.bclions.com/2022/06/21/paul-mccallum-and-dave-ritchie-get-call-to-hall/ . live .
- News: November 13, 1994 . Esks booted out . March 15, 2024 . . 28 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315134459/https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-esks-booted-out/143403326/ . live .
- Web site: Obee . Dave . November 21, 1994 . Other Flutie saves day for B.C., 37–36 . March 15, 2024 . . en-US . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315031803/https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/11/21/other-flutie-saves-day-for-bc-37-36/ . live .
- News: Davis . Darrell . November 21, 1994 . Lions proud of road wins . March 15, 2024 . . 10 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315134506/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post-lions-proud-of-road-wins/143403529/ . live .
- News: Kerr . Grant . November 1, 1995 . Fired-up Lions expect tough game . March 15, 2024 . . 33 . March 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154600/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-fired-up-lions-expect/143403947/ . live .
- News: November 6, 1995 . Eskimos eliminate B.C. Lions . March 15, 2024 . . 9 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315142003/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-eskimos-eliminate-bc-lions/143404147/ . live .
- News: Blair . Jeff . February 4, 1996 . Speros sets sights on Buono . March 15, 2024 . . 5 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315023320/https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-speros-sets-sights-on-buo/143387644/ . live .
- Web site: Ritchie fired by Blue Bombers . . August 10, 2004 . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163404/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/ritchie-fired-by-blue-bombers-1.514201 . live .
- News: Baker . Geoff . March 20, 1997 . Ritchie gets rent money, Als' head-coaching job . March 15, 2024 . . 26 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315142006/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-ritchie-gets-rent-money-als/143404301/ . live .
- News: November 9, 1997 . Als-Argos tilt has Grey Cup feel . March 15, 2024 . . 18 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315142102/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-als-argos-tilt-has-grey-cup/143404372/ . live .
- News: Zurkowsky . Herb . November 10, 1997 . Argos feast on Baker's flubs . March 15, 2024 . . 18 . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315225024/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-argos-feast-on-baker/143439024/ . live .
- Web site: Bucholtz . Andrew . September 30, 2012 . How the Alouettes' dynasty has been made . March 15, 2024 . . en-CA . July 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701025230/http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/alouettes-dynasty-made-003712842.html . live .
- News: He didn't see it, but he sure knew it: the kick that won the 1998 CFL Eastern Conference Final . . November 17, 2017 . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163301/https://www.thespec.com/sports/ticats/2017/11/17/he-didn-t-see-it-but-he-sure-knew-it-the-kick-that-won-the-1998-cfl-eastern-conference-final.html . live .
- Web site: Ritchie makes pitch for Als . . October 5, 2006 . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163301/https://www.cfl.ca/2006/10/05/ritchie_makes_pitch_for_als/ . live .
- Web site: Bell . Jason . March 9, 2024 . Bombers mourn passing of former coach Dave Ritchie . March 15, 2024 . . en-US . March 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315031119/https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/2024/03/09/bombers-mourn-passing-of-former-coach-dave-ritchie . live .
- Web site: Improbable Stamps win Grey Cup . . November 26, 2001 . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163405/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/improbable-stamps-win-grey-cup-1.259775 . live .
- Web site: 2001 Grey Cup – Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Calgary Stampeders . March 16, 2024 . . en-CA . September 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906103459/https://thegreycup.com/grey-cup-results/2001-grey-cup/ . live .
- Web site: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2002 Season . March 15, 2024 . CFL Database Statistics . February 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224072246/https://stats.cfldb.ca/team/winnipeg-blue-bombers/2002/ . live .
- Web site: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2003 Season . March 16, 2024 . CFL Database Statistics . February 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224072242/https://stats.cfldb.ca/team/winnipeg-blue-bombers/2003/ . live .
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050301161949/http://www.cfl.ca/CFL/AroundTheCFL/2005/02/25/942590.html . BC Lions announce Dave Ritchie as new Defensive Coordinator . . March 1, 2005 . February 25, 2005.
- Web site: Ritchie decides to pack it in . Mike . Beamish . . cfl.ca . February 7, 2008 . July 17, 2022 . September 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907212227/https://www.cfl.ca/2008/02/07/ritchie_decides_to_pack_it_in/ . live .
- Web site: Tagliabue . John . April 14, 2011 . The Game Is American, but the View, Alpine . March 14, 2024 . . June 7, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150607082047/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/world/europe/15swiss.html . live .
- Web site: July 15, 2022 . The CFL Hall of Fame Class of 2022: Who's Who? . March 16, 2024 . Canada Football Chat . en-CA . December 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209175958/https://www.canadafootballchat.com/the-cfl-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022-whos-who/ . live .
- Web site: Dave Ritchie . . July 17, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163302/https://fightingfalcons.com/honors/hall-of-fame/dave-ritchie/64 . live .
- Web site: Canadian Football Hall of Fame welcomes distinguished class of 2022 . . June 21, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . June 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626053333/https://www.cfl.ca/2022/06/21/canadian-football-hall-of-fame-welcomes-distinguished-class-of-2022/ . live .
- Web site: March 9, 2024 . Blue Bombers mourn the passing of Dave Ritchie . March 9, 2024 . Winnipeg Blue Bombers . March 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309212650/https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/03/09/blue-bombers-mourn-the-passing-of-dave-ritchie/ . live .
- Web site: Tait . Ed . "He Was More Than Just a Football Coach; He Was a Great Friend" . March 11, 2024 . Blue Bombers . March 9, 2024 . CFL . March 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240311233738/https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/03/09/he-was-more-than-just-a-football-coach-he-was-a-great-friend/ . live .
- Web site: Baker the Fourth Fighting Falcon to Participate in Olympics. August 9, 2016. March 16, 2024. Fairmont State University. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154507/https://www.fairmontstate.edu/news/2016/08/baker-fourth-fighting-falcon-participate-olympics.aspx. live.
- Web site: In Memoriam: Hall of Fame Head Coach Dave Ritchie. March 9, 2024. March 16, 2024. Fairmont State University. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154510/https://fightingfalcons.com/news/2024/3/9/in-memoriam-hall-of-fame-head-coach-dave-ritchie.aspx. live.
- Web site: . 2005 WVIAC Football Media Guide . . July 15, 2005 . 38 . June 24, 2023 . .
- News: NAIA I quarterfinals. December 6, 1981. March 15, 2024. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. 94. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154616/https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-december-1981-na/143451375/. live.
- News: NAIA Division I Final 1979 Poll. December 20, 1979. March 16, 2024. Columbia Daily Tribune. Newspapers.com. 28. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154645/https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-naia-division-i-f/143451751/. live.
- News: NAIA Division I Top 20. November 13, 1981. March 16, 2024. The Jackson Sun. Newspapers.com. 24. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154513/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-naia-division-i-top-20/143452007/. live.
- Web site: 1993 CFL Standings. March 16, 2024. footballdb.com. March 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304184952/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=1993. live.
- Web site: 1993 BC Lions Game-by-Game Results. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. June 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210618231147/https://www.statscrew.com/football/results/t-CFLBC/y-1993. live.
- Web site: 1994 CFL standings. March 16, 2024. footballdb.com. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506090627/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=1994. live.
- Web site: 1994 BC Lions Roster. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316190107/https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-CFLBC/y-1994. live.
- Web site: Spencer. Kent. Memories of Ritchie, Flutie and a stunning 1994 West final upset for B.C.. November 18, 2016. March 16, 2024. Vancouver Sun. June 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619085512/https://vancouversun.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/memories-of-ritchie-flutie-and-a-stunning-1994-west-final-upset-for-b-c. live.
- Web site: 1995 CFL Standings. March 16, 2024. Footballdb.com. March 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210305164144/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=1995. live.
- Web site: 1995 BC Lions roster. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316185940/https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-CFLBC/y-1995. live.
- Web site: Dave Ritchie. March 16, 2024. BC Football Hall of Fame. December 3, 2019 . December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204234312/https://www.bcfootballhalloffame.com/dave-ritchie/. live.
- Web site: 1997 CFL Standings. March 16, 2024. Footballdb.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316185942/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=1997. live.
- Web site: 1997 Montreal Alouettes roster. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316185919/https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-CFLMTL/y-1997. live.
- Web site: 1998 Montreal Alouettes Roster. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316190013/https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-CFLMTL/y-1998. live.
- Web site: 1998 CFL Regular Season Standings. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. April 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418113207/https://www.statscrew.com/football/standings/l-CFL/y-1998. live.
- Web site: Thomas. Buddy. No. 24 Dave Ritchie. August 4, 2017. March 16, 2024. South Coast Today. July 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717163301/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/columns/2017/08/04/no-24-dave-ritchie/20016073007/. live.
- Web site: Winnipeg Blue Bombers preview. July 4, 2000. March 16, 2024. cbc.ca. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154457/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/winnipeg-blue-bombers-preview-1.239957. live.
- Web site: 1999 Canadian Football League Standings. March 16, 2024. Statscrew.com. March 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240316154500/https://www.statscrew.com/football/standings/l-CFL/y-1999. live.
- Web site: 2000 CFL Standings. March 16, 2024. footballdb.com. March 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304180646/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=2000. live.
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- Web site: 2001 CFL Standings. March 16, 2024. footballdb.com. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506101438/https://www.footballdb.com/standings/index.html?lg=CFL&yr=2001. live.
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