Rick Sowieta

Rick Sowieta was born in Heusden, Belgium, making him one of only three CFL players born in that country (Pierre Vercheval and Terry Ray are the others).  Sowieta played junior football with the Ottawa Sooners of the Canadian Junior Football League before going on to play college ball at Richmond and was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the first round of the 1977 CFL College Draft (second overall0.  Sowieta played two seasons with the Argos (1977-78) and was released prior to the start of the 1979 season.  The Ottawa Rough Riders signed Sowieta as a free agent and never regretted that decision.  Sowieta played eight seasons in Ottawa, winning three East All-Star selections (1980, 1983 and 1985) at linebacker.    Sowieta was nominated as Ottawa's choice for Outstanding Canadian in 1980.  Over his ten year career, Sowieta recorded thirteen fumble recovieries and ten interceptions, with career highs of three in both 1980 and 1985.   Sowieta had one career touchdown, and with all those defensive turnovers you would think they would be the source of the touchdown, but it actually came on Sowieta's only career pass reception in 1980.

Games Played, Interceptions and Fumble Returns
Year Team GP Int Yds Avg TDInt Long FR Yds Avg TD Long FF
1977 TOR 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1978 TOR 12 0 0 0 0 0 4 18 4.5 0 9
1979 OTT 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1980 OTT 16 3 55 18.3 0 22 2 0 0 0 0
1981 OTT 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1982 OTT 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1983 OTT 16 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1984 OTT 16 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 1 0 3
1985 OTT 16 3 13 4.3 0 12 0 3 1 0 3
1986 OTT 14 1 58 58 0 58 1 0 0 0 0

Official tackle stats were not kept until 1987.

Pass Receiving
Year Team Rec Yds Avg TD Long
1977 TOR 0 0 0 0 0
1978 TOR 0 0 0 0 0
1979 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1980 OTT 1 2 2 1 2
1981 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1982 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1983 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1984 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1985 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1986 OTT 0 0 0 0 0
1984 Rick Sowieta JOgo