June 2, 2009

Chase Clement, who led Rice to its first bowl championship in over 50 years while being named the MVP of Conference USA, has signed a contract to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Terms of the contract were not announced.

Clement set Conference USA career records for touchdown passes (99) and total touchdowns (124) while earning consensus all conference honors in addition to being named the league's first MVP in football. He became the first Owl to earn a conference MVP honor in football since Trevor Cobb was named the SWC MVP by the Houston Post in 1992

His 99 career touchdown passes are tied with Matt Leinart of USC for eighth on the NCAA career list and he combined with Jarett Dillard to smash the NCAA career record for touchdown passes by the same passer and receiver (51). Last season, he led the nation with 26.6 points per game, was third in total offense (370.2 per game), tied for third with 44 touchdown passes, fourth with 316.9 yards per game passing, fifth with 4,119 passing yards, ninth with 25.2 completions per game and seventh in pass efficiency (163.9). He set Rice single-season marks with 44 TD passes, 56 total touchdowns, 4,119 yards passing and 4,812 yards of total offense.

Clement will report immediately to the Ti-Cats rookie camp, which opens on Wednesday at McMaster University's Ronald V. Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario. Veterans will report on July 7 for the start of training camp. The Tiger-Cats will play their first preseason game on June 17 at Winnipeg and return home on June 23 against Toronto before opening the regular season at home against Toronto on July 1.