Past Articles

By Paul Patskou

The Grey Cup game in Canada has been called the ‘National Classic’ and even referred to as the ‘Grand National Drunk’. But it wasn’t until 1948 when the Calgary Stampeder fans arrived in staid old Toronto with their 10-gallon hats and western outfits to support their team against the Ottawa Roughriders that the Grey Cup was transformed into a party atmosphere and became a true annual tradition celebrated coast to coast.

Taking the CPR train to Toronto, the raucous Stampeder faithful stopped in Winnipeg long enough to square dance to their own music. Not only did the visitors from the West bring along their own traveling band but also an authentic chuck wagon. Along with hundreds of fans, a Calgarian native chief dressed in full tribal regalia also made a boisterous arrival at Union Station in downtown Toronto.

After reports of the enthusiastic and noisy entrance of the westerners, managers of local hotels were preparing to relocate any movable objects in their lobbies. And to prove their claim that ‘one westerner could make more noise than three staid easterners’, the gigantic square dance in the lobby of the elegant Royal York hotel left no doubt. Surprised waitresses found themselves hoisted into the revelry in the middle of the ‘do si do’. Undoubtedly, the hotel manager was relieved when the large contingent of fun loving fans left to participate in the Grey Cup parade. And there may be some truth to the lore that a horse was ridden through the majestic lobby of this prestigious hotel.

The annual Grey Cup parade proved to be especially interesting with cowboys and horses along with Calgarians hopping on and off the popular chuck wagon that highlighted the romp through downtown Toronto. And, those ‘rootin’ tootin’ westerners somehow convinced Toronto Mayor Hiram McCallum to ride a horse in the noon time parade which ended at the old City Hall.

The stoic Torontonians were further treated to a western brand of enthusiasm that included pancake breakfasts, which are now a traditional and popular part of the Grey Cup festivities.

That the actual game itself was Calgary’s first Grey Cup victory became an afterthought as the 1948 Grey Cup was more fondly remembered as the year Calgary fans brought pageantry to the game by originating parades, parties and dancing in the streets in the days preceding the game. Calgarians not only reinvigorated the game but also turned it into the national celebration that it is today.

There has been a long line of great Import running backs in the Argo backfield, a torch passed from one to the other: (Dick) Shatto, (Cookie) Gilchrist, (Bill) Symons, (Leon) McQuay, (Doyle) Orange, (Terry) Metcalf, (Cedric) Minter, (Gil) Fenerty, and (Pinball) Clemons.

However, the one who got the ball rolling may have been the best of the bunch: Ulysses “Crazy Legs” Curtis.

“The best all-around halfback that Toronto ever had was Ulysses Curtis,” said Nobby Wirkowski, Curtis’s quarterback in the early 1950’s and a long-time Argonaut observer after that.  “In today’s football, he’d make it as a running back, receiver, and defensive back.”

Curtis came to the Argos in 1950 from FloridaA & MUniversity, where he earned the nickname “Crazy Legs” while going out for a pass in his first practice.  He was a double pioneer at the time, since he was one of the first imports and first black athletes to play for the Double Blue.

“The American players usually played the key positions,” said Curtis, who also played a bit of defensive back, and was involved in a famous and unusual play as a DB.  In a 1951 playoff game against Ottawa, Curtis intercepted a pass and was running for a touchdown, when all of a sudden; PeteKarpuk, who had come off the Ottawa bench to make the play, tackled him.

Karpuk also had the distinction of pitching for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1945 at the age of 18.  He would later play in the Senior Intercounty Baseball League (now the Intercounty Baseball League) for the London Majors in 1955.  In a game on July 8 of that year, Karpuk had three hits, one of them a homer, and three runs scored.

While the surprise tackle by Karpuk did not hurt Curtis, the Argos went on to lose that game to the Rough Riders.  However, that disappointing campaign was sandwiched by a couple of Grey Cup victories in 1950 and 1952, of which Curtis was a key contributor.

He was particularly spectacular during the 1952 season, when he gained 994 yards on 127 carries for a 7.8-yard average.  He also had 16 touchdowns, and he was able to do all that in a 12-game schedule.  Career-wise, Curtis stands fourth in Argo rushing with 3,712 yards; second in 100-yard rushing games with 12, and second in single game yards with 208 vs. Montreal on Sept. 6, 1952.

“Nobby feels I should have been in the Hall-of-Fame,” said Curtis, who has been overlooked so far, maybe because his career was rather short-lived (five years).

After football, Curtis and his wife Katherine, who were married in Florida, stayed in Toronto, where he went on to have a lengthy career with the North York Board of Education at schools such as BathurstHeights, EarlHaig and Downsview.  He started as a teacher in physical education, geography and history, moved on to a guidance counsellor position for 12 years, and finally retired five years ago as a race relations supervisor.

Curtis and his wife, a retired nurse, have two daughters, Carol (born in first Grey Cup win, 1950) and Sylvia (born in second Grey Cup win, 1952), and a son, Warren (born 1956, sorry, no Grey Cup that year!), who played college football at Michigan.

 

 

By Jack Morrow

Acknowledgements: University of Alberta Library; Keith Hart

Prior to 1936, senior football teams in the Western Provinces played in their own provincial leagues; playoffs were then held among the provincial champions in order to determine the Western championship. The Western Interprovincial Football Union began play in 1936 with three teams: Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Regina Roughriders, and Calgary Bronks.

The Edmonton Eskimos joined the WIFU in 1938, but escalating costs led the team to disband the day before their final scheduled game in 1939. The Bronks were replaced after the 1940 season by a new team from Vancouver, known as the Grizzlies.

The opening game of the 1941 WIFU season was scheduled for Friday, September 5th. Shortly before, a number of Edmonton football boosters had decided to attempt a revival of the Eskimos. Although it was too late to enter an Edmonton team in the WIFU in time for the 1941 season, it was possible to win the championship of the Alberta Rugby Football Union (the league had been dormant since the founding of the WIFU, but still officially existed), and then to challenge the WIFU champions for the Western football championship and the right to go to Toronto and play for the Grey Cup. The only historical records that exist of the 1941 Eskimos are contained in newspaper articles and columns, mainly The Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Bulletin.

On Tuesday, August 26th, Alberta Rugby Union President Cy Burchell announced that he had received a challenge on behalf of a senior team from Edmonton, and that he had accepted the challenge.

According to Jack Kelly in the Edmonton Bulletin, the group behind the challenge consisted of

“Bob Fritz, Steve Olander, Tommy Hays, Ernie Stevens, Archie Ritchie, Paul Kirk, Jimmy Dear, Percy Daigle, Stu Hart, Ab Newsome and a few others…‘We figure that we can field a team fully as strong as the outfit Regina is entering in the conference without having to import or pay a single player,’ points out Tommy Hays. ‘We can get all the equipment we need from the Junior league. If Calgary can scare up a senior club, we’ll play them for the Alberta title. If they can’t, we’ll claim the title by default and demand a playoff with the conference champions for the Western Canada title.’”

Ken McConnell mentioned in the Journal on August 27th that the team was hoping to host at least one exhibition game against each of the other WIFU clubs.

McConnell was quite enthusiastic about the team’s prospects:

“We could, for instance, have Archie Ritchie at centre, Stu Hart, Bill Persek, Tommy Hays, Nap Tercier and Frank Meskin, guards; Gordon Rayner, Don Olive, Doug Fraser and Joe Cherniowski, tackles…And then, at the ends, could be Bob Freeze, former Calgary Bronk who played so well for the University of Alberta last fall, Paul Kirk, Don Connell, Vernon Lawrence, and another ex-Calgarian, Gobo Gilkes. What about Ernie Stevens at quarter?…How about Ab Newsome as his understudy?…Then Percy Daigle, ex-Blue Bomber; Joe Turner, ex-Calgary Bronk; Bob Fritz, Steve Olander, Don Johnson, and Normie McCallum, could fill up the backfield…And they would leave little to be desired…There is still another ace in the hole…There are several American football stars in training with the Royal Canadian Air Force here…According to the dope they are anxious, extremely hopeful, of the senior football squad being formed…Let there be no further doubt…The challenge has been accepted…The senior team will be formed…Plenty of action is assured.”

Little was heard of the team for several weeks, and the idea seemed to have fallen through. McConnell, in the September 17th Edmonton Journal, said that a different plan for the team had come about:

“The idea was to get together a senior club here. However there does not seem to be much chance of the team ever being organized now…There is a good chance, however, that a senior club will be named here for one game…Their opponents will be members of the RCAF, and it will be a game in which all the proceeds will be turned over to the Airmen.”

Just when it appeared as though all was lost, Coach Fritz led 14 men through their first workout at Clarke Stadium at 10:30 A.M. on Sunday, September 21st. According to the Calgary Albertan, “among those practising were Fritz, Daigle and Olander, all formerly of Winnipeg, Freeze of Calgary and Stevens.” Although Hart had been previously mentioned as one of the players expected to be with the team, it appears as though other commitments prevented him from joining the Eskimos in 1941. Future workouts were scheduled for weekday evenings at 7:00 P.M. at Clarke Stadium whenever a game was not being played there.

Good news for the Eskimos and their supporters was reported in the Albertan on Monday, September 29th:

“Challenge of an Edmonton team for the prairie senior rugby title has been accepted by the Western Interprovincial Union, it was announced here Sunday and the Alberta club will be invited to play the Union’s second-place team in the final standing. A sudden-death game at Edmonton November 1 is suggested if satisfactory arrangements can be made.

All playoff details were completed by the union’s executive at a weekend meeting in Regina. The team finishing in top place gets a bye into the two-out-of-three final, first game to be played at Edmonton or the home of the second-place winners and the next two on the home grounds of the top club. If Edmonton does not enter the play-offs, first and second place teams will meet for the Western title.

Coach Bob Fritz and the members of the Edmonton Eskimos were jubilant when they received word their challenge was accepted. Bob immediately issued a call for a full turn-out of all candidates for team positions at a practice in Clarke Stadium at 7:00 P.M. tonight.”

McConnell continued to wax enthusiastic in the Edmonton Journal:

“More than a month ago we suggested that Edmonton might have a challenger for the western senior grid championship…Others expressed grave doubt about this…But now there is no longer any doubt about it…Coach Bob Fritz and his men can start right now preparing for a rugby thriller which will be presented here on Nov. 1…The Edmonton team has been working out for more than a month now…The boys should be fully prepared for the job of meeting–and beating–the second place club in the Western Interprovincial Rugby Football Union…It will be probably the Regina Roughriders…Well, who cares?

Fritz never looked better…Steve Olander, Percy Daigle, Archie Ritchie, Ab Newsome and others will add plenty to the club…Bob Freeze, Gordon Rayner, Vernon Lawrence, Joe Cherniowski and Ernie Stevens have all been working out regularly…Joe Turner, here with the RCAF, may be induced to come out…And there are reported to be several ex-American college stars now in the city with the RCAF…The only possible trouble might be cold weather…If a vigorous ticket-selling campaign is launched now there would be no worries later on…It is a game that should sell itself…Because the seniors here believe they can, with any luck, beat any club in the western conference…If they do–won’t that be something?…Everyone would want to sit in on that game.”

Unfortunately, the Eskimos’ season ended suddenly on Thursday, October 9, with an announcement from the WIFU. McConnell reported the bad news in Friday’s Journal:

“There will be no Edmonton senior football game this year. Not with the blessing of the Western Interprovincial Rugby Football Union anyway. That was determined on Thursday following the arrival here of the WIRFU’s final terms…M.I. Lieberman, K.C., vice-president of the Western Union and prominent city barrister, opened negotiations. Back came the first dampening letter from the Union.

For this game, the Union demanded that Edmonton post a $1,200 guarantee and demanded half of the gross gate. Meaning that after the $1,200 was deducted; the Union team would share equally in the surplus Edmonton gate, if any.

Tommy Hays, one of those instrumental in organizing the seniors here, met with his men and Mr. Lieberman and it was agreed the guarantee was too high.

“We then offered to play in Regina–assuming the Rough Riders (sic) would be the second-place team–and asked only $800 as a guarantee,” explained Mr. Hays. “We did not want any cut of their gate. We simply asked for bare expenses, $800. And finally, we offered them a set guarantee of $1,100 for a game here. But both our propositions were turned down. They demand that we accept their terms or there will not be any game. So we are disbanding today.”

Mr. Lieberman today is writing Union officials definitely calling off the game. It might have paved the way for an early return of Edmonton to senior football.

“We recognize the difficulties the Union teams have in financing,” pointed out Mr. Hays. “But we were operating on a shoe-string and our one hope was to revive interest in senior football. We had the necessary material, the equipment and there was every reason to believe that Coach Bob Fritz would come up with a good club.

“All of the players were going into this thing on their own,” continued Tommy. “Nobody expected to or wanted a cent. The Edmonton Junior league was going to help out with the equipment.

“In the presentation of a game like this there is quite a gamble to be faced. For instance, we would have to pay for the park, advertising, and a flock of other incidentals, which must be faced. It would have cost nearly $1,500. If it is Regina that finishes second in the Union standings then I am sure they could have accepted our offer and a visit here at this time by a Union team would help tremendously in the sponsoring of senior football in Edmonton.”

McConnell, the Eskimos’ most enthusiastic booster among the sportswriters, was also the most disappointed at the result:

“Western football moguls have a lot of fun and occasionally take themselves pretty seriously…That is today they are happy and full of sunshine…Tomorrow they are scheming a scheme to win something from their neighbour…Joe Ryan pulls the strings for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and he has been an excellent string puller for several years…Dean Griffing occupies a similar position for the Regina Rough Riders (sic)…He has gained a lot of yardage in the committee room too…Out Vancouver way the field is practically left to Greg Kabat…The coast gridders are, at the moment, like Babes in the Woods…But any day now they’ll come up with a head-hunter.

So you can visualize the Western Interprovincial Rugby Football Union big-wigs sitting down and toying with the challenge from Edmonton…Somebody must have mentioned catching a train…Sure they would play Edmonton…November 1 was good enough…And make the guarantee $1,200…That ended that.

Not having any team in the union and therefore no representation on the board, the dukes of western football easily out-paced us on this challenge business…They reasoned, no doubt, that a game with Edmonton would be all right…Why certainly and they hoped that Edmonton would have a good team…It would be a good thing for the Union, too, they probably reasoned…But then what about making a few bucks out of the thing?…Edmonton was fair game…Here was a chance to pick up some extra money…Very well then, the guarantee would be $1,200 and half of the gross gate…So the boys were off to their homes…Edmonton could take it or leave it.

Gentlemen, they have left it with the Union…We don’t suggest that the Union will be greatly disturbed by this decision…Probably they are just as glad, because it would have been awful if Edmonton’s rag-tags of the local football conference had won…It would have been a laugh, at that.”

The Edmontonians are, as a matter of fact, slightly relieved…They did offer the WIRFU $1,100 for a single game here on November 1st… They were prepared to launch a terrific ticket-selling drive…They were hoping to obtain sufficient money to make the guarantee in advance…Then, they reasoned, there would be no worry over the weather…The game would be played regardless…And every one would be satisfied…Except possibly the customer who might have to sit in the stand on a right chilly day…The Edmontonians also faced the necessity of raising an additional $200 or maybe $300 as the game’s promotional costs…In these times it is particularly difficult obtaining sums like that…Even for a game such as this.

So who is delighted?…Who is well satisfied?…Of course the rugby dukes are and should be, no doubt…But the Edmontonians most concerned with the staging of the game are also delighted…They can look forward to a quiet winter. An enjoyable fall…They were ready to go through with their part of the deal, of course. But the WIRFU solved their problem. And very nicely, too, thanks.”

Thus ended the season for the Edmonton Eskimos of 1941. As for the WIFU that year, the Blue Bombers finished first, defeated Regina two games to one for their fifth consecutive Western title, and edged the Ottawa Rough Riders 18-16 in Toronto to win the Grey Cup for the second time in three years.

Jack Kelly’s prediction of greatness for the Vancouver Grizzlies proved to be overly optimistic. They won just one of their eight games, the poor performance of the team, plus rainy weather for the home games, kept attendance low.

The increasing pace of World War II forced the WIFU to suspend operations for the next three seasons, and when the league resumed play in 1945; neither Vancouver nor Edmonton was represented. Winnipeg and the Roughriders were back, along with a new Calgary team known as the Stampeders.

The Eskimos rejoined the senior football ranks for good in 1949; none of the players from the 1941 squad was still around by then. The British Columbia Lions joined the league in 1954, and the WIFU eventually became the Western Division of the Canadian Football League.

Would the Eskimos have won a championship in 1941 if they had been able to play? In a sudden-death semifinal at home, they might have had a chance against the Roughriders, especially if they’d been able to add some of the RCAF Servicemen to their lineup. However, it’s highly unlikely that they would have been able to give Winnipeg much of a battle in the Western final, especially since Winnipeg would have played host to the deciding game(s). The Eskimos raw enthusiasm would hardly have been a match for the Blue Bombers superior talent and experience.

Although the 1941 Eskimos have been completely overlooked in the history books, they did have their distinctions: they were (if only by default) the Alberta football champions of that season; and they were the last truly amateur Eskimo team.

By Paul Patskou

The first televised Grey Cup game was on November 29, 1952, shortly after the advent of television in Canada. Only those who could access CBLT in Toronto were able to view live that first historic telecast. Since there was no videotape or satellites in the early 1950’s, Grey Cup games were shown outside of southern Ontario on a delayed basis by shipping the kinescopes to other TV stations across the country. Filming the transmission off a TV monitor with a 16mm film camera produced these ‘kines’.

Starting in 1954, viewers in some Canadian cities were able to view the game live due the use of partial Canadian microwave hook-ups as well as the use of U.S. microwave relay stations. Television coverage of live Grey Cup games did not occur across Canada until 1957 when the cross Canada microwave network was established.

Football fans watching a Grey Cup rebroadcast from the 50’s or 60’s immediately sense that the viewing experience is lacking. Besides the fact that the game is in black & white, the absence of replays is most obvious. That is because today we are accustomed to seeing replays immediately, from various angles and in slow motion.

However, from 1952 until 1964, there were no replays on televised CFL games. The first Grey Cup aired that was enhanced by the use of replays occurred in 1965. And those replays may have had only two or maybe three camera angles and the playback was only for a fixed number of seconds. The 1966 Grey Cup game benefited from the use of replays but was also the first Grey Cup to be televised in colour.

By the 1960’s, Grey Cup games were covered with additional cameras revealing various close-ups and angles. Over the years, telecasts of Grey Cup games improved with various enhancements and additions that not only allowed the viewers to become closer to the action but also produced an improved picture quality with the advent of cable and satellites.

New broadcasting features that have delighted viewers fairly recently include the virtual first-down marker and the televising of games in high definition. Game officials to review plays on the field now use the sophisticated replays of today. In addition, in order to increase the opportunities for fans around the world to view CFL games live, there is now access to the games on broadband, which can be viewed on home computers globally. That’s a far cry from the first televised Grey Cup game in 1952, which was available only to those few fans with television sets with access to the lone TV station airing the game.

By John Metcalfe – Registrar/Statistician Northern Football Conference

On July 15, 2008, Evan Davis of the Oshawa Hawkeyes eclipsed and tied two long-standing individual marks in the Northern Football Conference record book. He scampered for 390 yards on 18 carries eclipsing the single game rushing mark of 335 that Vern Plummer of the Kirkland Lake Alouettes set versus the Val D’Or Jets in 1970. Davis also tied the mark for the longest run from scrimmage when he journeyed 109 yards to the end zone for the major, a mark he now shares with Gerry Allard of Val D’Or whom set the standard against Kirkland Lake in 1967. For good measure, Davis also ripped off a 98 yard scoring major as well. Davis’ marks were set versus the Sarnia Imperials, whom joined the N.F.C. in 2006.

What does this all mean? Well, if one scans the Northern Football Conference record book, what are the oldest records in that book? For individuals, it is Most Singles (rouges) in a game where Lou Novahicka of the Kirkland Lake Alouettes booted four (4) versus the Tri Towns Raiders in 1955. The oldest team record is Fewest Points Allowed in a season, which is 23 established by the Sudbury Hardrocks in the Leagues first season of existence, 1954.

So how does this compare to other loops that a great many of us follow? In Major League Baseball, there are ultimately two sets of records, unofficially. Those set in the very early years and the “modern” ones that seem to the catch the attention of most, such as Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak, Barry Bond’s career home run marks (for now) of 762 in his career and in a season of 73. How about in the N.F.L., most interceptions in a season, which is 14, set by Dick “Night Train” Lane in 1952 while he was a rookie with Los Angeles. The closest since that time is 13 and the most recent of those was Lester Hayes of the Raiders in 1980. In the N.H.L., one of the oldest and surely never to be broken is Glenn Hall starting 512 straight games in goal from 1955 to 1962 with Detroit and Chicago. In track field, records are not for long. The oldest in the I.A.A.F. book is for 25,000 metres set by Toshihiko Seko of Japan in 1981. In going through the track book further, most of the men’s marks have been set in the last 5 years while for the women, most are at least 10 to 20 years in existence. For one of the Leagues that most of you follow, the oldest mark recognized in the C.F.L. record book is Most Singles in a Game, which was 11 by Bert Simpson of Hamilton versus Montreal back in 1910! In this particular record in the record book, the next three best with 10 also came in the 1910s! If one looks at the modern C.F.L., how many are aware that the most yards rushing in a game was established by Ron Stewart of Ottawa versus Montreal with 287 in 1960 or Joe Zuger of Hamilton shredding the Saskatchewan secondary for 8 touchdown strikes in 1962?

Certainly, no one in the N.F.C. let alone other Leagues could see such performances coming. Some records in the N.F.C. book that certainly appears will stand the test of time would be Lee Flores’ mark of 10 two-point converts scored set in 1995. Of course, the book does not give the context that the team Flores played for that year, the Hamilton Wildcats, always went for two after a touchdown. In addition, Dave St. Amour of Sudbury holds the N.F.C. career scoring mark of 538 points when he hung up his cleats in 2006, how long will this mark stand as the next closest active player sits at 415 points? Justin Sevigny of the Toronto Raiders also set a record this past year at Sarnia when he had nine quarterback sacks! The previous best in a game was four; so again, one never knows when something will happen.

Records offer a valuable view to the past of any League in that they allow one to see where it has been. The beauty of them is as shown above; you never know where the next one might come from.

By Paul Patskou

‘Leon slipped and I fell’ – those were the words of the unusually somber Toronto Argonaut coach Leo Cahill after his prized running back Leon ‘X-Ray’ McQuay fumbled late in the 1971 Grey Cup game.  With the ball at the Calgary 11, the Argos, trailing 14-11, were poised to go ahead with a touchdown or at least tie the game with a field goal.  But on a sweep, the fleet footed McQuay tried to cut, slipped on the wet turf and with his right elbow hitting the ground, fumbled away the Argos chances for a long sought after Grey Cup victory.

The long-suffering Toronto Argonaut fans took this loss very hard.  The Argos hadn’t even appeared in a Grey Cup game since 1952 and for many of those intervening years were doormats of the league, always finding some odd way to lose.  Hopes were high for the 1971 edition of the team with the acquisition of U.S. College stars quarterback Joe Theismann, lineman Jim Stillwagon, the enigmatic McQuay and other talented players signed by the expert recruiter Cahill.  

Leo Cahill became the Argo head coach for the 1967 season taking over a last place team that hadn’t made the playoffs since 1961.  The brash Cahill thought nothing of trading for talented but perceived malcontents or troublemakers from other CFL teams.  Colourful characters like Dick Thornton and Bobby Taylor had worn out their welcome with other CFL teams but were received with enthusiasm in Toronto.  Long haired Californian Mel Profit was already an Argo but he fit into the ‘rebel’ image that Cahill was building for his team.  With this bunch, the Argos made the playoffs every year, in 1971 finished first in the East, defeated the Hamilton Tiger Cats, and finally qualified again for the Grey Cup.

Unfortunately, the continuous rain on Grey Cup day made it difficult for both teams to sustain offensive drives as the slippery ball made the passing game difficult, although Mel Profit did combine with Theismann for a 55 yard passing play.  But with the Stamps leading by 3 points with 3:10 left in the game, Calgary quarterback Jerry Keeling inexplicitly threw a long pass from his own end that was intercepted by the versatile Argo cornerback ‘Tricky’ Dick Thornton.  If there was one defensive back Argo fans wanted to see on an interception return, it was Thornton, the fleet former U.S. College quarterback.  As Thornton ran back towards Calgary territory, it was apparent that only Keeling remained between himself and Grey Cup glory. 

Usually running past an opposing quarterback on an interception return would not be a challenge but Keeling, a star defensive back earlier in his CFL career, fended off Stillwagon’s block slowing Thornton’s progress until the tackle was made 11 yards short of the goaline.

Two plays later, Leon slipped and fumbled.  The team that Cahill had recruited and molded was never the same, missing the playoffs the next season.  The fans were soon chanting ‘Goodbye Leo’ and Cahill fell out as Argo coach.  The Argonauts did win the Grey Cup 12 years later in 1983, again played in Vancouver.  But this time inside a dry, climate controlled dome with little chance of any ill-fated slips and falls.

 

 

 

By Paul Patskou

Unlike ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ where it was an easy transition for Foster Hewitt moving from radio to television play-by-play, there was no such traditional football broadcaster to have the honour of calling the first televised Canadian Football League games.

In preparation for the first Grey Cup telecast on November 29, 1952, technical testing as well as the audition of play-by-play men took place at the preceding playoff game between Sarnia Imperials of the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) and the Toronto Argonauts.  A sportscaster from Hamilton’s CHML’s radio station, Norm Marshall, was the winner in this test run.  Montreal broadcaster Larry O’Brien joined Marshall and together they called the first televised football game in Canada.  Marshall and O’Brien were each paid $250 for their work in this game.

For the 1953 Grey Cup game, Norm Marshall became the radio voice and the opinionated Steve Douglas was hired to replace him.  Douglas had not seen a Canadian football game in 16 years when he was asked to call the play-by-play of the Canadian Collegiate finals between Toronto Varsity Blues and the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.

The game was played in seven inches of snow without visible yard lines and Douglas’ expert work under trying circumstances in this ‘Snow Bowl’ game impressed the CBC enough that he was offered the chance to call the 1953 Grey Cup game.  Douglas then shared play-by-play duties on the next eight Grey Cups from 1954 to 1961.  His partners in the booth during these years were ‘Cactus’ Jack Wells, Bob Moir and Don Whitman from Winnipeg and Bill Stephenson and Ted Reynolds of Vancouver.

The Canadian Television Network commenced televising Canadian Football League games in 1961 and the CTV’s JohnnyEsaw had the onerous task of calling the play-by-play in the infamous ‘Fog Bowl’ game of 1962 between Winnipeg and Hamilton from CNE Stadium in Toronto.  This was the game that was halted because of the lack of visibility and resumed the next day.

Long time radio and television personality Brad Keene called the 1963 Grey Cup game from Vancouver, which was notable for having colour commentary by Hugh McPherson and Frank Anderson.  The colour analyst then became a fixture on the telecasts and a number of former CFL players were used in the booth including Nobby Wirkowski, (the Argo quarterback in the first televised Grey Cup) Gene Filipski, Bill Bewley and Bernie Faloney.

Dan Kelly and Don Wittman from the CBC shared the play-by-play of the 1964 Grey Cup.  Johnny Esaw returned as the Grey Cup commentator in 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1970 with CBC’s Fred Sgambati in 1966 and Don Chevrier in 1969 performing the play-by-play duties in those years.

In an unusual arrangement starting with the 1971 Grey Cup game between the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders, the CBC and CTV television networks each called one half of the game.  From 1971 to 1973, Johnny Esaw and Don Chevrier shared the duties and in 1974 and 1975, Pat Marsden of CTV shared the commentary with CBC’s Don Wittman.  Then for the next 11 Grey Cups ending in 1986, Pat Marsden and Don Chevrier were fixtures as the Grey Cup commentators.  Both networks provided colour commentators from 1971 to 1986.  Former CFL stars who provided their expert analyses during this time were Dick Shatto, Mike Wadsworth, Russ Jackson, Frank Rigney, Ron Lancaster, Leif Pettersen, and the outspoken former Argonaut head coach Leo Cahill.

From 1987 to 1995, the CBC’s Wittman was the sole commentator to be replaced by Chris Cuthbert in 1996.  Wittman’s regular sidekicks in the booth were Lancaster followed by Joe Galat, James Curry, Dan Kepley, and David Archer.  Chris Walby moved in as the colour analyst in 1998 and together with veteran play-by-play commentator Mark Lee worked the CBC’s final Grey Cup telecast in 2007, following 55 years of coverage by the CBC of Canada’s ‘National Classic’.

By Paul Patskou

1950 – The Mud Bowl

A Canadian record crowd of 27,100 hardy fans witnessed the Toronto Argonauts defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 13-0 to win the 1950 Grey Cup.  The game was played in the most inclement of weather conditions and the newspaper headline the next day read, “Muddy Morass Ruins Spectacle.”  Because of the heavy rains and lack of proper protection of the turf at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, this game would be known thereafter as the ‘Mud Bowl’.  Part of the Grey Cup lore of this game also includes a football player almost drowning in the mud.

This Winnipeg team, led by versatile quarterback Indian Jack Jacobs, was hailed as the ‘greatest team to ever come from the west’.  However, Jacobs and his teammates failed miserably to battle the elements and the Frank Clair led Argonauts.  Perhaps the only memorable play involving Jacobs occurred when his punt was wind blown and came down crashing onto an official’s head.  It was that type of game.  Argonaut quarterback AlDekdebrun faired much better in the muddy conditions playing the game mistake free, casually admitting later that he had taped filed down thumbtacks to his throwing hand for a better grip on the ball.  The other Argonaut star of the game was legendary Joe ‘King’ Krol in the process of winning his fifth Grey Cup championship.

A record number 57 radio stations across the country aired the game as commentators Wes McKnight and ‘Cactus’ Jack Wells tried to make some sense of the grueling play as player numbers and yard markings ceased to be visible soon after the opening kickoff.

It was Buddy Tinsley, the 260-pound Winnipeg lineman who lay motionless in a deep puddle of mud (also known as the centre field lagoon) only to be turned over by referee Hec Creighton in response to the fans frantic screams.  Tinsley acknowledged afterwards that his leg was numb but really hadn’t lost consciousness even though it might have looked like he was about to drown.

1957 – The ‘Tripper’

“The Tripper” – alias David Humphrey, was responsible for one of the most bizarre incidents in Grey Cup history.  Ray’ Bibbles’ Bawel of the Hamilton Tiger Cats was speeding down the sideline after an interception with a number of Winnipeg Blue Bombers hotly in pursuit.  Before a sellout crowd and a first time Canadian coast-to-coast television audience, Bawel suddenly and rudely hit the turf apparently without any defender laying a hand on him.  It was apparent that a spectator roaming the sideline in front of the Winnipeg bench decided to stick his leg out and trip the Ti-Cat ball carrier.  Television cameras captured all the action as Bawel immediately jumped to his feet to challenge the individual responsible for his unfortunate spill.  All eyes pointed to a man in a trench coat and cap that was immediately grabbed by the lapels by enraged Ti-Cat teammates.  Once their grip loosened, the perpetrator, still laughing at his antics, showed great quickness in disappearing into the crowd to avoid any possible retribution.

The play was called dead of course and the officials huddled together to discuss this unusual occurrence.  But there was obviously nothing in the rulebook to cover such a situation.  The officials eventually determined that Bawel would not be awarded a touchdown because it was possible that other defenders in the area had a chance to legally tackle him.  But the Bombers were penalized half the distance to the goal line as a sort of compromise.  Hamilton did score on the drive and fortunately the incident didn’t affect the outcome of the game – a rout 32 to 7 for Hamilton. There were also no major injuries from the incident although Bawel did sport shoe polish on his sore shin.

The perpetrator of this misdeed was not anonymous for long as after the game, CRU Secretary HarryMcBrien announced that contrary to any thoughts that it was an inebriated or disgruntled fan, the guilty party was in fact a prominent Toronto lawyer!  Years later, the now Mr. Justice Humphrey of the Ontario Court General Division revealed his reasons for his mischievous act.  It seems that one of Humphreys’ clients had been convicted and sentenced to death and the foreman of the jury who sat on this case happened to be standing on the sideline watching the game. The furious Humphrey decided to vent out his anger somehow and the result was the trip on the Hamilton ball carrier and with that becoming forever part of GreyCup lore.

1962 – The Fog Bowl

After the unprecedented overtime Grey Cup game in 1961 between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger Cats, the same two teams were set to continue their fierce rivalry in the 1962 Grey Cup classic.  However, it was the game nobody really saw because of the thick fog.  The American Broadcasting Corporation televised the game live to its U.S. viewers and it was supposed to be the spectacle that would bring a lucrative U.S. television deal to the CFL.  ABC’s Jim McKay was impressed with the hard hitting and believed that it would have been a good demonstration of Canadian football if the fog didn’t spoil it. There was consideration to cancel the game when the fog had enveloped the stadium early in the morning but the heavy mist drifted back out over Lake Ontario prior to the game.

This was a championship final game played on 2 different days. The Commissioner of the CFL, the surprisingly unflustered Sydney Halter, suspended the game at 5:31 of the fourth quarter because it was apparent that the fog was not going to dissipate. Although the Ti-Cats, behind in the game by one point, preferred that the entire contest be replayed, the game was resumed at the point of suspension the next day. A sparse crowd of 15,000 – those who had kept their ticket stubs – attended the resumption of the game under clear skies.  There was no scoring in the remainder of the 4^th quarter as the Blue Bombers maintained their 28 to 27 lead for yet another Grey Cup triumph.  Ti-Cat head coach Jim Trimble’s prediction prior to the game that his team would ‘waffle’ the opposition would prove embarrassing to him.

The star of the game for the victorious Winnipeg team was the fleet and elusive running back Leo Lewis who scored two touchdowns and passed for a third. Hamilton’s best in a losing cause was versatile Garney Henley who had two touchdowns for the Ti-Cats and played sensational defence as well.  Although playing both ways was common in the 1950’s in the CFL, Henley was one of the very few that continued that difficult role for many years and played superbly in this game.  Too bad no one really saw it.

1965 – The Wind Bowl

The 1965 Grey Cup game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger Cats was the first time that instant replay was used in a Grey Cup telecast. And it was advantageous to viewers to be able to see for a second time some of the wacky plays in the game. This championship game was aptly named the ‘Wind Bowl’ due to the strong winds that played havoc with the passing and kicking game.

Although both head coaches Ralph Sazio of Hamilton and Bud Grant of Winnipeg had confidence that they would adjust to the gale like winds, it was thought that the Blue Bombers would have the advantage having played in more inclement weather conditions out west. The wind was so intense that prior to the game the officials adopted special ground rules for the game. The officials were given greater discretion to ignore the ‘no yards’ rule on short kicks where players from the kicking team had no opportunity to allow the punt returner the mandatory five yards.  Also, when a kicking team punted into the wind, the ball would automatically be whistled dead on contact with the punt returner or the ground.

As expected, the kicking game was most affected and two wild plays stood out.  In the third quarter, on his own 35-yard line, Winnipeg punter Ed Ulmer watched in amazement as his punt into the wind sailed right back towards him.   But Ulmer hesitated which allowed the veteran Ti-Cat defensive tackle John Barrow to scoop up the ball and run into the end zone for an apparent Hamilton touchdown.  However, because of the pre-arranged rules, the officials had to call the ball dead on contact.

On another unusual play, Hamilton punter Joe Zuger saw the ball snapped to him sail over his head but was able to evade the swarming Blue Bomber defenders to retrieve the ball at his own 35 and deliver a low kick carrying the ball all the way into the Winnipeg end zone for a single point.

It was understandable that the contest became a defensive affair with the Hamilton defence continuously stopping the Winnipeg offence in their own territory.  Therefore, on punting situations into the wind, the Bombers conceded safeties three times for a total of six points. When the game ended, Hamilton defeated Winnipeg 22 to 16 – a six-point margin.

Legendary Winnipeg coach Bud Grant’s decision to concede the three safeties received some criticism. But its safe to say that had he not, the Hamilton offence would undoubtedly have scored more than the six points that were conceded.

The 1965 Grey Cup game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger Cats was the first time that instant replay was used in a Grey Cup telecast. And it was advantageous to viewers to be able to see for a second time some of the wacky plays in the game. This championship game was aptly named the ‘Wind Bowl’ due to the strong winds that played havoc with the passing and kicking game.

Although both head coaches Ralph Sazio of Hamilton and Bud Grant of Winnipeg had confidence that they would adjust to the gale like winds, it was thought that the Blue Bombers would have the advantage having played in more inclement weather conditions out west. The wind was so intense that prior to the game the officials adopted special ground rules for the game. The officials were given greater discretion to ignore the ‘no yards’ rule on short kicks where players from the kicking team had no opportunity to allow the punt returner the mandatory five yards.  Also, when a kicking team punted into the wind, the ball would automatically be whistled dead on contact with the punt returner or the ground.

As expected, the kicking game was most affected and two wild plays stood out.  In the third quarter, on his own 35-yard line, Winnipeg punter Ed Ulmer watched in amazement as his punt into the wind sailed right back towards him.   But Ulmer hesitated which allowed the veteran Ti-Cat defensive tackle John Barrow to scoop up the ball and run into the end zone for an apparent Hamilton touchdown.  however, because of the pre-arranged rules, the officials had to call the ball dead on contact.

On another unusual play, Hamilton punter Joe Zuger saw the ball snapped to him sail over his head but was able to evade the swarming Blue Bomber defenders to retrieve the ball at his own 35 and deliver a low kick carrying the ball all the way into the Winnipeg end zone for a single point.

It was understandable that the contest became a defensive affair with the Hamilton defence continuously stopping the Winnipeg offence in their own territory.  Therefore, on punting situations into the wind, the Bombers conceded safeties three times for a total of six points. When the game ended, Hamilton defeated Winnipeg 22 to 16 – a six-point margin.

Legendary Winnipeg coach Bud Grant’s decision to concede the three safeties received some criticism. But its safe to say that had he not, the Hamilton offence would undoubtedly have scored more than the six points that were conceded.

 

By Paul Patskou

CBLT, Toronto’s first television station, began operations on September 8, 1952, two days after CBFT in Montreal signed on as Canada’s first TV station.  Television was indeed in its infancy when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) made plans to televise the GreyCup game between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Toronto Argonauts on November 29, 1952 from Varsity Stadium in Toronto

At the end of September of 1952, the approximate number of TV sets in the Toronto area was 90,000 and with the announcement of the televising of the game, it was projected that number would increase to 130,000 sets.  Only those with television sets who could access Toronto’s CBLT would be able to view this historic broadcast.  However, kinescopes produced from the game would be sent to stations outside the range of CBLT and also for showing in theatres.

For those football fans without sets there were other methods of viewing the game.  Westinghouse in Hamilton installed over 20 sets so that their 8,000 employees and friends could watch the game.  The Paddock and the El Mocambo Taverns in downtown Toronto each advertised that their ‘Giant TV Screen’ would be showing the game.  Pubs with televisions in the Toronto area were filled to capacity and those with televisions at home were sure to have plenty of visitors on GreyCup day.

In November of 1952, CBLT’s programming during weekdays began with a test pattern at 7 p.m. and transmission ended before midnight.  The CBC placed ads in newspapers to advise viewers of the first Grey Cup related programs.  On CBLT’s ‘Big Revue’ show, Argo coach Frank Clair presented his views on the coming game.  On Grey Cup day, the preview show hosted by Annis Stukus aired at 12:30 pm. with the game starting 15 minutes later.

For this initial telecast, four television cameras were used.  One camera was to sweep the field and stands continuously for interesting shots.  Two cameras were positioned in the press box and the other placed on a special platform overlooking the field.  This camera would be moved at half time to the dressing room areas to conduct interviews.

Producing the game from the mobile production truck outside the stadium was Sydney Newman who was in charge of external broadcasts for CBLT.

Jack Bateman, the technical supervisor and George Robinson the technical producer were situated in the truck with Newman.  Other crew members working in the mobile unit were video operator Earl Hughes and audio operator Peter Taylor.  ‘Grips’ were responsible for the setup of the unit in the morning and after the game when they had to rush the mobile unit to Maple Leaf Gardens for the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast later that night.  There were also two assistant producers, Wilf Hayden and Desmond Smith who were stationed inside the stadium and reported to Hayden via portable telephones.

Prior to the start of the game, CBC cameramen Wilf Fielding and Clint Fowler, using long distance telephoto lenses, captured acting Prime Minister C.D. Howe performing the traditional ceremonial kickoff with Toronto Mayor Allan Lamport and Edmonton Mayor William Hawrelak urging him on.

Newspaper reports declared that the first televised football game was a success and was the most watched program in the brief history of Canadian television.  The television audience was estimated to be 700,000 viewers.  Reviews indicated that the CBC “put a crisp, unclouded image on most screens within its 90-mile area and showed great skill in following the play.”

There was one problem however, a technical breakdown that prevented most of the third and part of the fourth quarter from being viewed.  Football fans were subjected to their first ‘blackout’ with frantic technicians trying to determine the source of the failure.  Video was not restored until 29 minutes later when a CBC technician managed to climb the CBC’s steel tower to restore communication between Varsity Stadium and the TV tower.  The microwave receiver at the 300-foot high tower had ceased functioning although the voice of the commentators continued to be picked up.  The enthusiastic viewers quickly became dismayed as they missed the Eskimos goal line stand and Edmonton’s Normie Kwong’s second touchdown.  Producer Sydney Newman later said that such a technical problem could have happened anytime, but unfortunately, it happened ‘at our most conspicuous moment’.  The day after the telecast, the matter of the unfortunate mechanical break that caused the interruption was discussed in the House of Commons.

Fortunately, a movie camera at the game filmed the entire contest in colour and clips of the missing televised footage were added to the kinescope of highlights that were shown later that evening on CBLT and the next day on CBFT in Montreal.  Movie theatres in the Toronto area provided film or ‘Grey Cup Pictures’ in addition to their regular programs starting two days later.

A record crowd of 27,395 was announced with the estimated gate receipts of $150,000 – the biggest single day’s business ever recorded in Canadian sport at the time.  The game itself ended with the Toronto Argonauts defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11.  Legendary Normie Kwong scored both of Edmonton’s touchdowns and a 37-yard touchdown pass by Argo quarterback Nobby Wirkowski to receiver Zeke O’Connor was also a highlight in the game.  It was Toronto’s 10th  Grey Cup and in that era, the Toronto Argonauts were known as the ‘New York Yankees’ of football.

Although this Grey Cup game was the start of a new era for Canadian football and the new medium of television, it was also the end of another era, as the Toronto Argonauts would not challenge for the Grey Cup again for almost 20 years.