Ottawa's Redblacks are searching for answers after dropping their fourth straight game on Friday night, and rookie punter Noah Gettman isn't hiding from his role in the loss.
The 25-year-old, who spent time selling power tools in Fairfield, Connecticut before latching on with the CFL club, was directly involved in the special-teams sequence that turned into the opposition's game-winning touchdown. Gettman didn't mince words afterward, saying he felt he owed "an apology to everyone" — teammates, coaches, and the fans who packed the stands hoping to see the Redblacks snap their skid.
A Rough Night at the Office
For a rookie trying to earn his footing in professional football, Friday's game was about as tough as it gets. Special teams miscues are magnified in close CFL contests, and this one directly gifted the opposing offense prime field position that turned into six points. With the Redblacks already reeling from three prior losses, the timing couldn't have been worse.
Gettman's path to the CFL wasn't a conventional one, and that context makes his post-game candor land differently. He's not a multi-year veteran cushioned by a long track record — he's a first-year player who knows the alternative to professional football is a retail job back in Connecticut. That reality seems to be fueling his determination to correct course rather than sulk.
What It Means for the Redblacks
Ottawa's four-game losing streak has fans in the capital growing restless, and special teams have become an easy target for criticism as the team searches for consistency. A punter's job is often thankless — noticed mainly when something goes wrong — and Gettman's outing put an uncomfortable spotlight on a position that usually operates in the background.
Still, there's a silver lining for Redblacks supporters: rookies who own their mistakes publicly, the way Gettman did, often respond well in the weeks that follow. Ottawa's coaching staff will be watching closely at practice this week to see whether the punting unit can tighten up before the next kickoff.
Looking Ahead
For a franchise that has leaned on grit and resilience through lean stretches before, this is another test of that identity. Ottawa fans have seen the Redblacks claw back from slow starts in past seasons, and there's hope that a humbled, motivated special teams unit can be part of that turnaround.
Gettman, for his part, seems intent on making sure his next appearance in an Ottawa uniform tells a different story — one where his leg helps flip field position in the Redblacks' favor instead of the other way around.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
