Al Wilson (CFL football player)
Encyclopedia
Al "Dirt" Wilson is a former professional Canadian football
player with the Canadian Football League
British Columbia Lions
. Wilson spent his entire 15 year career with the Lions as an offensive lineman. Wilson played American college football
at Montana State University
. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame, and has a street named in his honor, "Al Wilson Grove," in his hometown of Duncan
. Wilson's #52 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B.C. Lions. In 2003, Wilson was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006, Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
.
in Duncan, British Columbia where he played defensive end
, offensive guard, and tight end
for the football team. He went on to play college football
at Montana State
from 1968 to 1972, where he was the Bobcats' captain during his senior year.
in 1972
. Playing offensive guard
, and later, center
, Wilson rarely missed a Lions' game in his 15 year career with the team, finishing with 233 games (he is the second longest-playing Lion in team history behind teammate Lui Passaglia's
408 game record). During his career, Wilson played in 167 consecutive games until a knee injury ended his season in 1982
.
In 1983
, Wilson was a part of the Lions' 11-5 season that culminated in a Grey Cup
matchup with the Toronto Argonauts
. The Lions ultimately lost the game, 18-17. Two seasons later, in 1985
, Wilson and the Lions returned to the Grey Cup championship game, where they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
37-24 for the Lions' second Grey Cup.
Wilson's play led to his selection as a Western Division
and CFL
All-Star for seven consecutive years (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981). Wilson won the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
as the CFL Western Division's most outstanding lineman three years in a row (1976
–1978
) and won the Scheneley Award as the CFL's "Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen"
in 1977
.
Following his retirement in 1986, Wilson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
and the BC Sports Hall of Fame
in 1997. In 2003, Wilson was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the center position
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006, Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
.
community, and has sponsored charity events and golf tournaments
. Wilson has also spent the past 10 years coaching the Windsor Dukes Football team out of North Vancouver, British Columbia. His coaching has helped the Dukes claim the title of Provincial Champions seven times in the past 10 years.
On Oct. 18, 2008, Wilson was part of the inaugural group inducted into the Duncan/North Cowichan Sports Wall of Fame.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player with the 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....
British Columbia Lions
British Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
. Wilson spent his entire 15 year career with the Lions as an offensive lineman. Wilson played American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame, and has a street named in his honor, "Al Wilson Grove," in his hometown of Duncan
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
. Wilson's #52 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B.C. Lions. In 2003, Wilson was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006, Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
.
High school and college career
Wilson attended Cowichan Secondary SchoolCowichan Secondary School
Cowichan Secondary is a public high school in Duncan, British Columbia part of School District 79 Cowichan Valley.-School Reports - Ministry of Education:* * * *...
in Duncan, British Columbia where he played defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, offensive guard, and tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the football team. He went on to play college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Montana State
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
from 1968 to 1972, where he was the Bobcats' captain during his senior year.
Professional career
Following his graduation from Montana State, Wilson joined the B.C. LionsBritish Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in 1972
1972 CFL season
The 1972 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 15th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1972:...
. Playing offensive guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, and later, center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
, Wilson rarely missed a Lions' game in his 15 year career with the team, finishing with 233 games (he is the second longest-playing Lion in team history behind teammate Lui Passaglia's
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
408 game record). During his career, Wilson played in 167 consecutive games until a knee injury ended his season in 1982
1982 CFL season
The 1982 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1982:After the 1981 season the Montreal Alouettes folded...
.
In 1983
1983 CFL season
The 1983 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 30th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 26th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1983:...
, Wilson was a part of the Lions' 11-5 season that culminated in a 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...
matchup with 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...
. The Lions ultimately lost the game, 18-17. Two seasons later, in 1985
1985 CFL season
The 1985 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 32nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 28th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1985:...
, Wilson and the Lions returned to the Grey Cup championship game, where they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
37-24 for the Lions' second Grey Cup.
Wilson's play led to his selection as a Western Division
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
and CFL
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....
All-Star for seven consecutive years (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981). Wilson won the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
The DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy. It is awarded originally to the player selected as the outstanding lineman in the West Division....
as the CFL Western Division's most outstanding lineman three years in a row (1976
1976 CFL season
The 1976 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 23rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 19th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1976:...
–1978
1978 CFL season
The 1978 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 25th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 21st Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
) and won the Scheneley Award as the CFL's "Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen"
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually rewarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. This is the fourth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
in 1977
1977 CFL season
The 1977 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 24th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 20th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1977:...
.
Following his retirement in 1986, Wilson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
and the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
in 1997. In 2003, Wilson was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the center position
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006, Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
.
Post-football life
Since his retirement, Wilson has been active in the Duncan, British ColumbiaDuncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
community, and has sponsored charity events and golf tournaments
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
. Wilson has also spent the past 10 years coaching the Windsor Dukes Football team out of North Vancouver, British Columbia. His coaching has helped the Dukes claim the title of Provincial Champions seven times in the past 10 years.
On Oct. 18, 2008, Wilson was part of the inaugural group inducted into the Duncan/North Cowichan Sports Wall of Fame.