2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season
| 2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach |
Charlie Taaffe Marcel Bellefeuille (Interim) |
| General manager | Bob O'Billovich |
| Home field | Ivor Wynne Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–15–0 |
| Division place | 4th, East |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
| Team MOP | Chris Thompson |
| Team MOC | Ray Mariuz |
| Team MOR | Prechae Rodriguez |
| Uniform | |
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The 2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 59th overall. The Tiger-Cats attempted to win their 9th Grey Cup championship, but they failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, which is the longest playoff drought in franchise history.
Ticats linebacker Jamacia Jackson died on April 16, 2008. Jackson was found unresponsive on Monday morning at a home in Sumter, South Carolina. He was later pronounced dead at a local area hospital. Jamacia was 26 years old. Jackson’s stepmother, Cleo Jackson, advised The Associated Press that he was in good health and had lifted weights Saturday. Jackson had played 12 games with the Ticats last season after signing with the club as a free agent Jan. 11, 2007. Jackson spent his college career at the University of South Carolina and played in 43 games over four seasons, including 21 as a starting strong safety. His career stats include 159 career tackles for the Gamecocks along with two interceptions, returning one 98 yards for a touchdown. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two others. Jackson was named Most Valuable Defensive Player of the 1999 Shrine Bowl. Jackson was signed by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans on April 29, 2005 and was waived by the Titans on July 27. After being cut by the Titans, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes and was assigned to their practice roster. Before coming to the CFL, he signed with the NFL’s New York Giants in 2006 but was allocated to NFL Europe. He was selected in the 16th round by the Berlin Thunder. Despite attending Berlin’s training camp, he was released March 5, 2006 and subsequently cut loose by the Giants two weeks later. Jackson is the second Ticats’ player to die during a recent off-season. Offensive lineman Travis Claridge died on February 28, 2006 after being found unconscious in his Las Vegas home. Claridge was 27 at the time and his death was later ruled accidental. An autopsy revealed that Jackson died from an irregular heartbeat caused by an enlarged heart. Sumter County coroner Verna Moore stated on Tuesday April 16 that the autopsy revealed Jackson likely had an enlarged heart for years.
In the 2008 CFL Draft, 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The first two rounds were broadcast on TSN.ca with host Rod Black. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, with the league-worst 3–15 record in the 2007 CFL season had several offers for their first-overall selection but kept their pick and chose Saskatchewan Huskies safety Dylan Barker. Barker, a native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is a two-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport first-team all-Canadian. He led the Huskies with 53 tackles, three interceptions, and four breakups last season. It is expected that he will be able to help the Tiger-Cats in the 2008 CFL season.
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