Bill Symons
Encyclopedia
Bill Symons, born in Nucla, Colorado
, is a former professional Canadian football
running back
with the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
.
Buffaloes
between 1962 and 1964. He was a versatile player, running, leading the team in receptions, punt returns and kickoff returns, and doing some punting.
, Symons was drafted by the NFL's Green Bay Packers
in the 6th round (80th overall) and by the AFL
's Kansas City Chiefs
in the 20th round (157 overall). He attended two Green Bay training camps, and almost made the team, but an injury led Vince Lombardi
to cut him.
The BC Lions
took a chance on Symons in 1966
. He only played 10 games, and most were at the defensive safety position, and rushed for only 20 yards, as the Lions were not convinced his knee injury had fully healed. At the end of the seasons the Lions were eager to get the rights to the eventual CFL great and Hall of Famer Jim Young
. Bill Symons was the second player in the trade that also sent all-star defensive lineman Dick Fouts
to the Toronto Argonauts
in exchange for Young, perhaps the only trade between Hall of Famers.
Toronto
, with their new head coach Leo Cahill
, was determined to turn their losing ways around, and in 1967
, Symons was given a chance. He did not disappoint, picking up 349 yards rushing and positioning himself as a starter.
Everything came together in 1968
, when Symons rushed for 1,107 yards. He was the first Boatman
, ever, to top the 1,000 yard plateau. Added to this record was his CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
, again a first for any Double Blue
player, and a CFL All-Star at running back. The only thing missing was a trip to the Grey Cup
, something that all Argonaut fans craved (waiting since 1952
). In addition, Symons turned down an offer from the NFL's Denver Broncos
(in his home state) to stay in Toronto.
The trip to the Grey Cup came in 1971
. Symons just missed another 1,000 yard season twice, with 905 yards in 1969 and 908 in 1970, as injuries just held him back. Then in 1971 Cahill decided to go with a new flashy star running back, Leon "X-ray" McQuay
, Symons unhesitatingly turned to being a great blocking back, still gaining 418 yards in the bargain. Unfortunately, their trip to the 59th Grey Cup
ended in classic heartbreak, as the very same star, Leon McQuay, fumbled the ball deep in Calgary
territory in the final minutes to lose the game.
Being a blocking back, Symons' final two season saw reduced statistics, as he rushed for 235 yards in 1972 and 358 in 1973.
Symons was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 1997.
Nucla, Colorado
Nucla is a Statutory Town in Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The population was 734 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the town's founders intent that it serve as a "nucleus" for the surrounding farms and mines, although it has since come to be associated with the growth of uranium...
, is a former professional Canadian football
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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...
of 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....
.
College football career
Symons played for the University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
Buffaloes
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
between 1962 and 1964. He was a versatile player, running, leading the team in receptions, punt returns and kickoff returns, and doing some punting.
Professional football career
In 19651965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
, Symons was drafted by the NFL's Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the 6th round (80th overall) and by the AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in the 20th round (157 overall). He attended two Green Bay training camps, and almost made the team, but an injury led Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
to cut him.
The BC Lions
BC 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...
took a chance on Symons in 1966
1966 CFL season
The 1966 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 13th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 9th Canadian Football League season .-CFL news in 1966:...
. He only played 10 games, and most were at the defensive safety position, and rushed for only 20 yards, as the Lions were not convinced his knee injury had fully healed. At the end of the seasons the Lions were eager to get the rights to the eventual CFL great and Hall of Famer Jim Young
Jim Young
James Norman "Dirty Thirty" Young is a former professional American football and Canadian football player. Young played running back and wide receiver for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for one season , and the CFL's BC Lions for twelve seasons...
. Bill Symons was the second player in the trade that also sent all-star defensive lineman Dick Fouts
Dick Fouts
Richard Lee Fouts is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and the BC Lions. After playing college football at the University of Missouri, where he was an All-American, Fouts spent his entire 13 year CFL career as an defensive lineman...
to 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...
in exchange for Young, perhaps the only trade between Hall of Famers.
Toronto
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...
, with their new head 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,...
, was determined to turn their losing ways around, and in 1967
1967 CFL season
The 1967 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 14th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 10th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1967:...
, Symons was given a chance. He did not disappoint, picking up 349 yards rushing and positioning himself as a starter.
Everything came together in 1968
1968 CFL season
The 1968 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 15th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 11th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1968:J.G...
, when Symons rushed for 1,107 yards. He was the first Boatman
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...
, ever, to top the 1,000 yard plateau. Added to this record was his CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
, again a first for any Double Blue
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...
player, and a CFL All-Star at running back. The only thing missing was a trip to the 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...
, something that all Argonaut fans craved (waiting since 1952
1952 in Canadian football
-Canadian Football News in 1952:The Canadian Rugby Union received television revenue for the first time when it was paid $7,500 by CBC for the rights to televise the Grey Cup game...
). In addition, Symons turned down an offer from the NFL's Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(in his home state) to stay in Toronto.
The trip to the Grey Cup came in 1971
59th Grey Cup
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.-Box Score:First Quarter...
. Symons just missed another 1,000 yard season twice, with 905 yards in 1969 and 908 in 1970, as injuries just held him back. Then in 1971 Cahill decided to go with a new flashy star running back, Leon "X-ray" 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...
, Symons unhesitatingly turned to being a great blocking back, still gaining 418 yards in the bargain. Unfortunately, their trip to the 59th Grey Cup
59th Grey Cup
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.-Box Score:First Quarter...
ended in classic heartbreak, as the very same star, Leon McQuay, fumbled the ball deep in Calgary
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...
territory in the final minutes to lose the game.
Being a blocking back, Symons' final two season saw reduced statistics, as he rushed for 235 yards in 1972 and 358 in 1973.
Post football career, honours and awards
Symons called it quits after 1973 to donate more time to his successful AFA Forest Products company. Symons also has a farm.Symons 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...
in 1997.