70th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 70th Grey Cup, also known as the "Rain Bowl", was the 1982 Grey Cup
Canadian Football League
championship game between the Toronto Argonauts
and the Edmonton Eskimos
. The Eskimos defeated the Argonauts 32-16 on the Eskimos' way to their fifth straight Grey Cup. The game was played on Sunday, November 28, 1982 at Exhibition Stadium
in Toronto
.
victory looked in jeopardy at mid-season, with their 3 and 5 record. But, 10 straight victories pitted them against the underdog Toronto Argonauts
. The Boatmen last won a cup in 1952, and their fans were thrilled with expectation. Winners of only 2 games the previous season, they had a 9-6-1 record.
The game, played in awful conditions, started well for Toronto. After a Dave Cutler field goal, new acquired Emanuel Tolbert
went 84 yards with a touchdown pass. The Eskimos replied with a Brian Kelly
TD reception, but the Argos scored again, with a 10 yard pass to Terry Greer
.
With Toronto leading 14 to 10, Edmonton and Warren Moon
(the game MVP) would not look back. Another TD pass to Brian Kelly
and a Neil Lumsden
TD rush, and 3 more Cutler field goals sealed the final Grey Cup
victory for the CFL's greatest dynasty.
Moon completed 21 of 33 passes for 319 yards, all the while having to throw in the freezing rain.
Touchdowns - Brian Kelly
(2), Neil Lumsden
(1)
Field Goals - Dave Cutler (4)
Converts - Dave Cutler (2)
Toronto Argonauts - 16
Touchdowns - Emanuel Tolbert
(1), Terry Greer
(1)
Converts - 2
Safety - 1
In 1982, the Toronto Argonauts were still playing home games at Exhibition Stadium
. The stadium was not sheltered and players and fans were subjected to pouring rain and cold during the game. As the result, fans began to demand a dome the following day. At a rally at Toronto City Hall
, tens of thousands of people who were there to see the Grey Cup winners began to chant "We want a dome!" As a result, discussions began which would ultimately lead to the building of the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre
).
This was the third time in five years that the baseball-renovated Exhibition Stadium hosted the game (it also hosted the game in 1978
and 1980
), and the twelfth and final time overall. While the stadium only trails nearby Varsity Stadium
for times hosting the Grey Cup, it is unlikely to be matched for some time, as the next-closest stadium, BC Place Stadium
, will be hosting the 99th Grey Cup
for its eighth time hosting the game.
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...
Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
championship game between 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...
and the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
. The Eskimos defeated the Argonauts 32-16 on the Eskimos' way to their fifth straight Grey Cup. The game was played on Sunday, November 28, 1982 at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Game summary
The Eskimos' record breaking 5th Grey CupGrey 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...
victory looked in jeopardy at mid-season, with their 3 and 5 record. But, 10 straight victories pitted them against the underdog 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...
. The Boatmen last won a cup in 1952, and their fans were thrilled with expectation. Winners of only 2 games the previous season, they had a 9-6-1 record.
The game, played in awful conditions, started well for Toronto. After a Dave Cutler field goal, new acquired Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert is a former slotback and wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. He was a part of the Argonauts 1983 Grey Cup victory...
went 84 yards with a touchdown pass. The Eskimos replied with a Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (Canadian football player)
Brian Kelly was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos who, in just nine years from 1979-1987 caught 575 passes for 11,169 yards and 97 touchdowns. Kelly was a member of 5 Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton. Kelly was the number 1 target of Eskimos Quarterback Warren...
TD reception, but the Argos scored again, with a 10 yard pass to Terry Greer
Terry Greer
Terry Greer is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers...
.
With Toronto leading 14 to 10, Edmonton and Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
(the game MVP) would not look back. Another TD pass to Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (Canadian football player)
Brian Kelly was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos who, in just nine years from 1979-1987 caught 575 passes for 11,169 yards and 97 touchdowns. Kelly was a member of 5 Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton. Kelly was the number 1 target of Eskimos Quarterback Warren...
and a Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden is a former Canadian Football League player who played mostly as a fullback and also as a running back for the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos from 1976 to 1985....
TD rush, and 3 more Cutler field goals sealed the final 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...
victory for the CFL's greatest dynasty.
Moon completed 21 of 33 passes for 319 yards, all the while having to throw in the freezing rain.
Scoring
Edmonton Eskimos - 32Touchdowns - Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (Canadian football player)
Brian Kelly was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos who, in just nine years from 1979-1987 caught 575 passes for 11,169 yards and 97 touchdowns. Kelly was a member of 5 Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton. Kelly was the number 1 target of Eskimos Quarterback Warren...
(2), Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden is a former Canadian Football League player who played mostly as a fullback and also as a running back for the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos from 1976 to 1985....
(1)
Field Goals - Dave Cutler (4)
Converts - Dave Cutler (2)
Toronto Argonauts - 16
Touchdowns - Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert is a former slotback and wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. He was a part of the Argonauts 1983 Grey Cup victory...
(1), Terry Greer
Terry Greer
Terry Greer is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers...
(1)
Converts - 2
Safety - 1
Aftermath and legacy
The 1982 Grey Cup broadcast drew the largest Canadian TV audience up to that time.In 1982, the Toronto Argonauts were still playing home games at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
. The stadium was not sheltered and players and fans were subjected to pouring rain and cold during the game. As the result, fans began to demand a dome the following day. At a rally at Toronto City Hall
Toronto City Hall
The City Hall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is the home of the city's municipal government and one of its most distinctive landmarks. Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell and landscape architect Richard Strong, and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel, the building opened in 1965...
, tens of thousands of people who were there to see the Grey Cup winners began to chant "We want a dome!" As a result, discussions began which would ultimately lead to the building of the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
).
This was the third time in five years that the baseball-renovated Exhibition Stadium hosted the game (it also hosted the game in 1978
66th Grey Cup
The 66th Grey Cup was played on November 26, 1978 before 54,695 fans at Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Edmonton Eskimos won against the Montreal Alouettes with a close 20-13 victory.- Box Score :First QuarterEdmonton - FG – Dave Cutler 37 yards...
and 1980
68th Grey Cup
The 68th Grey Cup was played on November 23, 1980 before 54,661 fans at the Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Edmonton Eskimos demolished the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by the score 48 to 10, in one of the Grey Cup's most lopsided victories.-Scoring:...
), and the twelfth and final time overall. While the stadium only trails nearby Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
for times hosting the Grey Cup, it is unlikely to be matched for some time, as the next-closest stadium, BC Place Stadium
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the...
, will be hosting the 99th Grey Cup
99th Grey Cup
The 99th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the East Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the West Division champion BC Lions to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League in the 2011 season. The Lions defeated the Blue Bombers, 34–23, and became the first team in CFL...
for its eighth time hosting the game.