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 4th 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.