59th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 59th Grey Cup
was played on November 28, 1971, before 34,404 fans at Vancouver
's Empire Stadium.
The Calgary Stampeders
beat the Toronto Argonauts
on a slick rain covered field in an extremely close 14 to 11 match.
Calgary - TD - Herm Harrison
14 yard pass from Jerry Keeling
(Larry Robinson
convert)
Second Quarter
Toronto - FG - Ivan MacMillan 11 yards
Calgary - TD - Jesse Mims 6 yard run (Larry Robinson
convert)
Third Quarter
Toronto - TD - Roger Scales 33 yard fumble return (lateral from Joe Vijuk) (Ivan MacMillan convert)
Toronto - Rouge - Ivan MacMillan 27 yard missed FG
Fourth Quarter
No scoring
, would end in victory. On the other hand, the Stampeders were making their third Grey Cup appearance in the last four years. Having come up short in the previous two tries, they were determined to prove that the third time would be the charm in hopes of capturing their first Grey Cup since 1948
.
It had been raining on this cold November day and sheets of water lay over the artificial turf at Vancouver's Empire Stadium.
Calgary opened the scoring with Herm Harrison
making an incredible one-handed grab of a Jerry Keeling
pass in the end zone for a touchdown. Toronto countered with a big play, a 55-yard pass reception by fan favourite tight end Mel Profit
, but would come away from this drive deep into Stampeder territory with only a field goal from Ivan McMillan.
Jesse Mims added another Stampeder major, ending the scoring for the half and for Calgary on the day.
The second half saw Theismann replaced by Greg Barton, but the Argos could not move the ball.
Their only touchdown came when sure-handed Calgary punt returner Jim Silye
dropped a kick which was then recovered by Joe Vijuk. Vijuk had the presence of mind to lateral to Roger Scales, who ran 33 yards for the touchdown.
Dick Thornton, a great two way player who had already made a fantastic reception, intercepted a Calgary pass and returned it to the Stampeder 11-yard line. With Theismann back in the game, he handed the ball off to Leon McQuay
, the Argonauts' star running back. As McQuay cut left across the field, he promptly slipped on the soggy turf and fumbled the ball, which was recovered Stampeder Reggie Holmes. To this day, there is still some dispute about this play, as McQuay dropped the ball when his elbow hit the ground and he had not been contacted by a Stampeder defender, thus bringing up the football adage that "the ground does not cause a fumble". As well, then-Argo coach Leo Cahill
still laments the play, often quipping that "when McQuay slipped, I fell."
Toronto still had a chance as there was 1:53 left in the game, and Calgary was in a deep hole. Not getting a first down they had to punt. Unfortunately, the punt returner, Harry Abofs, in an effort to capture the wet ball, accidentally kicked it out of bounds while reaching down. CFL rules state that when a ball is kicked out of bounds, possession goes to the other team so Calgary resumed possession. If Abofs had knocked the ball out of bounds with his hand, Toronto would have had one last chance.
But that he did not do, and Calgary
was the 1971 Grey Cup
champion.
was the favourite. Calgary was making their second straight appearance in the Grey Cup game, but had not won it since the famous 1948 game. Toronto had nearly as long a drought, with their last victory coming in 1952.
The 1971 Grey Cup
was the first to be played on artificial (tartan) turf.
Argonaut coach Leo Cahill
, who won the 1971 Coach of the Year award, would later say, "When Leon (McQuay) slipped, I fell." He was fired in 1972 after the team, beset by injuries, stumbled to a 3-11 finish.
Jim Silye was later a Member of Parliament
for Calgary.
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
was played on November 28, 1971, before 34,404 fans at Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's Empire Stadium.
The Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
beat the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
on a slick rain covered field in an extremely close 14 to 11 match.
Box Score
First QuarterCalgary - TD - Herm Harrison
Herm Harrison
Herman "Ham Hands" Harrison is a former tight end for the Calgary Stampeders from 1964-1972. He was a CFL-All Star 3 times. Thanks to his sure-handed catches from Jerry Keeling, Calgary won the 59th Grey Cup of 1971. Harrison scored the only touchdown of the Stampeders that day, a 14-yard pass...
14 yard pass from Jerry Keeling
Jerry Keeling
Jerry Keeling was a quarterback and defensive back in the Canadian Football League. He played fifteen seasons from 1961-1975 for the Calgary Stampeders, the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1989...
(Larry Robinson
Larry Robinson (Canadian football)
Larry Robinson is a former defensive back and placekicker who played fifteen seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders from 1961 to 1975.-Stampeder career:...
convert)
Second Quarter
Toronto - FG - Ivan MacMillan 11 yards
Calgary - TD - Jesse Mims 6 yard run (Larry Robinson
Larry Robinson
Larry Clark Robinson is a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. Robinson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and is currently the defensive coach for the New Jersey Devils...
convert)
Third Quarter
Toronto - TD - Roger Scales 33 yard fumble return (lateral from Joe Vijuk) (Ivan MacMillan convert)
Toronto - Rouge - Ivan MacMillan 27 yard missed FG
Fourth Quarter
No scoring
| Teams | 1 Q | 2 Q | 3 Q | 4 Q | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Stampeders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 11 |
The game
The Argos had high hopes that this, their first Grey Cup appearance since 195240th Grey Cup
The 40th Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship held on 29 November 1952. The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.-Game highlights:...
, would end in victory. On the other hand, the Stampeders were making their third Grey Cup appearance in the last four years. Having come up short in the previous two tries, they were determined to prove that the third time would be the charm in hopes of capturing their first Grey Cup since 1948
36th Grey Cup
The 36th Grey Cup was played on November 27, 1948, before 20,013 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Calgary Stampeders defeated Ottawa Rough Riders 12 to 7....
.
It had been raining on this cold November day and sheets of water lay over the artificial turf at Vancouver's Empire Stadium.
Calgary opened the scoring with Herm Harrison
Herm Harrison
Herman "Ham Hands" Harrison is a former tight end for the Calgary Stampeders from 1964-1972. He was a CFL-All Star 3 times. Thanks to his sure-handed catches from Jerry Keeling, Calgary won the 59th Grey Cup of 1971. Harrison scored the only touchdown of the Stampeders that day, a 14-yard pass...
making an incredible one-handed grab of a Jerry Keeling
Jerry Keeling
Jerry Keeling was a quarterback and defensive back in the Canadian Football League. He played fifteen seasons from 1961-1975 for the Calgary Stampeders, the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1989...
pass in the end zone for a touchdown. Toronto countered with a big play, a 55-yard pass reception by fan favourite tight end Mel Profit
Mel Profit
Mel Profit was a football player in the CFL for six years. He was selected originally by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1963 NFL Draft. He starred as a tight end for the Toronto Argonauts....
, but would come away from this drive deep into Stampeder territory with only a field goal from Ivan McMillan.
Jesse Mims added another Stampeder major, ending the scoring for the half and for Calgary on the day.
The second half saw Theismann replaced by Greg Barton, but the Argos could not move the ball.
Their only touchdown came when sure-handed Calgary punt returner Jim Silye
Jim Silye
Jim Silye is a Canadian politician, businessman, and former professional football player for the Canadian Football League....
dropped a kick which was then recovered by Joe Vijuk. Vijuk had the presence of mind to lateral to Roger Scales, who ran 33 yards for the touchdown.
Dick Thornton, a great two way player who had already made a fantastic reception, intercepted a Calgary pass and returned it to the Stampeder 11-yard line. With Theismann back in the game, he handed the ball off to Leon McQuay
Leon McQuay
Leon McQuay was an American football running back.-College career:McQuay played college football with the now disbanded University of Tampa Spartans He was the first black athlete to receive a scholarship to UT...
, the Argonauts' star running back. As McQuay cut left across the field, he promptly slipped on the soggy turf and fumbled the ball, which was recovered Stampeder Reggie Holmes. To this day, there is still some dispute about this play, as McQuay dropped the ball when his elbow hit the ground and he had not been contacted by a Stampeder defender, thus bringing up the football adage that "the ground does not cause a fumble". As well, then-Argo coach Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill is a former head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts. Since 2004, Cahill has been serving as "goodwill ambassador" with the Argonauts. Has 5 children. Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye. He lives in Sarnia,...
still laments the play, often quipping that "when McQuay slipped, I fell."
Toronto still had a chance as there was 1:53 left in the game, and Calgary was in a deep hole. Not getting a first down they had to punt. Unfortunately, the punt returner, Harry Abofs, in an effort to capture the wet ball, accidentally kicked it out of bounds while reaching down. CFL rules state that when a ball is kicked out of bounds, possession goes to the other team so Calgary resumed possession. If Abofs had knocked the ball out of bounds with his hand, Toronto would have had one last chance.
But that he did not do, and Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
was the 1971 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champion.
Trivia
The 10-4 Argonauts faced the 9-6-1 Stampeders for the first time in the Grey Cup. Both teams finished in first place in their divisions, but Toronto, led by star rookie quarterback Joe TheismannJoe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
was the favourite. Calgary was making their second straight appearance in the Grey Cup game, but had not won it since the famous 1948 game. Toronto had nearly as long a drought, with their last victory coming in 1952.
The 1971 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
was the first to be played on artificial (tartan) turf.
Argonaut coach Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill is a former head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts. Since 2004, Cahill has been serving as "goodwill ambassador" with the Argonauts. Has 5 children. Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye. He lives in Sarnia,...
, who won the 1971 Coach of the Year award, would later say, "When Leon (McQuay) slipped, I fell." He was fired in 1972 after the team, beset by injuries, stumbled to a 3-11 finish.
Jim Silye was later a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Calgary.