Kingston Granites
Encyclopedia
The Kingston Granites were a football team from Kingston, Ontario
and a member of the Quebec Rugby Football Union
and the Ontario Rugby Football Union
, which were leagues that preceded the Canadian Football League
. The team played for four seasons between 1898 and 1901 between the two leagues and while the team was slated to return in 1903, the team ultimately withdrew from the ORFU due to a player eligibility dispute.
. After all three teams were tied with 2-2 records, the Granites were given the bye
while Ottawa College
defeated the Montreal Football Club
in a playoff game. Before the QRFU title game against Ottawa, the Granites refused to play after it was made apparent that the game's referee used to play for Ottawa College. Consequently, Ottawa won the QFRU championship by default.
In 1899, the Granites joined the Ontario Rugby Football Union
, replacing the Osgoode Hall
team that had left to join the QRFU. The Granites finished tied for first place with the Ottawa Rough Riders
and would challenge them for the ORFU championship game. Kingston came out victorious, winning 8-0, to claim the senior title over Ottawa in their first year of play. Because teams from both the ORFU and QRFU were unwilling to play a national title game that year, there was no Dominion Championship in 1899.The next couple of years would not be as successful, as the Granites would fall to 3rd place in the ORFU in 1900, and then to last place in 1901.
Disputes over the use of professional players
would lead to the team sitting out the 1902 season, with the ORFU only allowing Toronto
, Hamilton
, and Ottawa
to play that year. The following year, the ORFU schedule included seven teams competing in the league, including the Granites, but the same problems would arise. The Granites refused to play without Chaucer Elliott
, who was labeled as a professional, and as such withdrew from competition. This would prove to be the last of the Kingston Granites in the Ontario Rugby Football Union.
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and a member of the Quebec Rugby Football Union
Quebec Rugby Football Union
The Quebec Rugby Football Union was a football league consisting of teams from Quebec and formed in 1883. Eastern Ontario teams like Ottawa City and Ottawa College joined in 1894.- League Formation and Play :...
and the Ontario Rugby Football Union
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
, which were leagues that preceded 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....
. The team played for four seasons between 1898 and 1901 between the two leagues and while the team was slated to return in 1903, the team ultimately withdrew from the ORFU due to a player eligibility dispute.
History
The Kingston Granites Rugby Football club began play in 1898 as a member of the then three team Quebec Rugby Football UnionQuebec Rugby Football Union
The Quebec Rugby Football Union was a football league consisting of teams from Quebec and formed in 1883. Eastern Ontario teams like Ottawa City and Ottawa College joined in 1894.- League Formation and Play :...
. After all three teams were tied with 2-2 records, the Granites were given the bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
while Ottawa College
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
defeated the Montreal Football Club
Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers
The Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers were a member of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, a league that preceded the Canadian Football League. It was likely a team from the fabled Montreal AAA founded in 1872 as the Montreal Foot Ball Club. The MFBC joined the Quebec Rugby Football Union in...
in a playoff game. Before the QRFU title game against Ottawa, the Granites refused to play after it was made apparent that the game's referee used to play for Ottawa College. Consequently, Ottawa won the QFRU championship by default.
In 1899, the Granites joined the Ontario Rugby Football Union
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
, replacing the Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It houses the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice, and the Law Society of Upper Canada...
team that had left to join the QRFU. The Granites finished tied for first place 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...
and would challenge them for the ORFU championship game. Kingston came out victorious, winning 8-0, to claim the senior title over Ottawa in their first year of play. Because teams from both the ORFU and QRFU were unwilling to play a national title game that year, there was no Dominion Championship in 1899.The next couple of years would not be as successful, as the Granites would fall to 3rd place in the ORFU in 1900, and then to last place in 1901.
Disputes over the use of professional players
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
would lead to the team sitting out the 1902 season, with the ORFU only allowing Toronto
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...
, Hamilton
Hamilton Tigers (football)
The Hamilton Tigers were a Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1883 to 1906 and 1948 to 1949 and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1907 to 1947. The club was a founding member of both the ORFU in 1883 and the IRFU in...
, and Ottawa
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...
to play that year. The following year, the ORFU schedule included seven teams competing in the league, including the Granites, but the same problems would arise. The Granites refused to play without Chaucer Elliott
Chaucer Elliott
Edwin S. "Chaucer" Elliott was a Canadian sportsman and a Hall of Fame referee and linesman. He is the grandfather of Bob Elliott , one of Canada's most respected sports writers....
, who was labeled as a professional, and as such withdrew from competition. This would prove to be the last of the Kingston Granites in the Ontario Rugby Football Union.
Seasons
| Season | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 80 | 54 | 10 | 1st, QRFU | Forfeit QRFU Title |
| 1899 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 38 | 10 | 2nd, ORFU | Won ORFU Title |
| 1900 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 71 | 6 | 3rd, ORFU | Missed Playoffs |
| 1901 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 89 | 0 | 4th, ORFU | Missed Playoffs |