Pierre Vercheval
Encyclopedia
Pierre Vercheval is a former all star offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League
.
Vercheval played his university football at the University of Western Ontario
, where he won the J.P. Metras Trophy top lineman in Canadian university football in 1987. He tried out with the New England Patriots
of the NFL, unsuccessfully, and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
in 1988, beginning a 14-year CFL career.
He played five seasons in Edmonton, then moved to the Toronto Argonauts
for four seasons, from 1993 to 1997 (68 total games.) He was an all star three times and was part of the Argonauts powerful back-to-back Grey Cup
winners of 1996 and 1997. He finished his career with the Montreal Alouettes
, from 1998 to 2001 (78 games) being named an all star three more times and winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
in 2000. In 2007, he became the first francophone to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
.
Always a fan favourite in predominately Francophone Montreal
, fully bilingual Vercheval is currently enjoying a successful second career as a football commentator on the French-language RDS
television station.
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....
.
Vercheval played his university football at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, where he won the J.P. Metras Trophy top lineman in Canadian university football in 1987. He tried out with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the NFL, unsuccessfully, and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in 1988, beginning a 14-year CFL career.
He played five seasons in Edmonton, then moved to the Toronto Argonauts
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...
for four seasons, from 1993 to 1997 (68 total games.) He was an all star three times and was part of the Argonauts powerful back-to-back 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...
winners of 1996 and 1997. He finished his career 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...
, from 1998 to 2001 (78 games) being named an all star three more times and winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually rewarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. This is the fourth-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...
in 2000. In 2007, he became the first francophone to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
.
Always a fan favourite in predominately Francophone Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, fully bilingual Vercheval is currently enjoying a successful second career as a football commentator on the French-language RDS
Réseau des sports
Réseau des sports , is a Canadian French language Category C specialty channel showing sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc....
television station.