British Columbia Lions
Encyclopedia
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football
team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League
(CFL). 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 to 1982. Due to the installation of a retractable roof at BC Place, the Lions played at a temporary stadium located at Empire Field
for the 2010 season
and for the first five regular season games of the 2011 season
.
The Lions played their first season in 1954
, making them the youngest franchise in the CFL, and have played every season since. As such, they are the oldest professional sports franchise in the city of Vancouver
and in the province of British Columbia
. They have appeared in the league's Grey Cup
championship game ten times, winning six of those games, with their most recent championship occurring in 2011
. The Lions are also the only Western Canada
team to have won the Grey Cup
at home, having done so in 1994
& 2011
, while also becoming the only team to beat an American based franchise
in a championship game, a feat accomplished in the former game. The Lions currently have the second longest active playoff streak, and fourth longest of all time, having made the playoffs for 15 straight seasons.
had played one season in the Western Interprovincial Football Union
in 1941). The ownership group sent their representatives to the off-season WIFU meetings to initiate Vancouver’s bid for a team. The representatives (Radar and Orville Burke) were told to return to the meetings the following year with a $25,000 good-faith bond if they could generate sufficient interest in the Vancouver area. The first meetings were held at the Arctic Club in November and a committee headed by Burke and Harry Spring of the Meraloma Rugby
Club, set out to sell memberships at $20 each. They would carry the Black and Orange of the Meralomas founded in 1923 over to the professional team.
Even though Burke, Vic Spencer and John Davidson offered the good-faith bond to the WIFU in 1952, the idea of having a Vancouver team was rejected when both Winnipeg and Regina voted against the idea of a fifth team. The group in Vancouver, however, did not give up their efforts to have a franchise in the WIFU.
On January 22, 1953, the first annual meeting of the club was held. In that meeting, Arthur E. Mercer was hired as the first team President of the Vancouver franchise. Later in the year Mercer, Bill Morgan, Bill Ralston and Whit Matthews went back to the WlFU meetings. This time they sold the idea of a fifth team on the Canadian west coast, and Vancouver was granted a conditional franchise, on the requirements that they would provide a 15,000 seat stadium, sell at least 6,500 season tickets, and guarantee travel expenses for the visiting teams.
All the pieces began to fall into place when it was announced that Vancouver would host the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
, and that it would mean the building of a new stadium – Empire Stadium
. By Easter
of 1953, Annis Stukus
was then lured away from the Toronto Argonauts
, to return to the West to become the first Public Relations Manager, General Manager and Head Coach of the franchise.
, a twin mountain peak that can be seen toward the north of Vancouver
, British Columbia
. The twin mountain peaks name was based on legend that the mountains looked like two lions guarding the city. Through this landmark and legend, the "Lions" nickname became the winner in the fan contest to become the new name of the franchise.
After the fan contest, it was revealed that the Vancouver
label would not be part of the team name. Even though the franchise is based in Vancouver
and the "Lions" name was based on a local landmark and legend, Annis Stukus decided to reject the idea of naming the team as the Vancouver Lions. Instead, Stukus decided that the team name should represent and embrace the entire Province of British Columbia
. In the end, Stukus introduced the team to the entire Canadian football world as the BC Lions.
It is also important to recognize the connection of the Mountain Lion to the name of the team, as it appears in the BC Lions' logo. The Mountain Lion (or Cougar) had an influence on the name of the team because it is renowned for its speed, courage and strength and is carefully respected by British Columbia's citizens as a remarkable but dangerous predator.
In their 1954 inaugural season
, Stukus sold football fever on the streets of Vancouver and put together a team that made history when they stepped on the field of Empire Stadium
for their first ever home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
on Saturday, August 28, 1954. In that game, fullback
Byron (By) Bailey
scored the first ever touchdown in franchise history in an 8–6 loss to the Blue Bombers
. The Lions were only able to manage a 1–15–0 regular season record in their 1954 inaugural season. The team recorded their first franchise win against the Calgary Stampeders
on September 18, 1954 at Empire Stadium
, with By Bailey scoring the winning touchdown in a 9–4 Lions' victory. On that night, the win caused the B.C. faithful to celebrate in the streets. However, celebrations like this were not common for Lions' fans during the 1950s.
In 1955, during their second year as a franchise, the Lions again failed to make the playoffs. Even though a playoff appearance did not materialize, the team was still able to show signs of improvement, finishing with a 5–11–0 regular season record. Despite this, Lions fans were surprised at the move of the team directors to ask Annis Stukus to step down as the team's Head Coach in October 1955. While fan reaction to his dismissal was loud and divided, Stukus still asked the fans to continue their support of the BC Lions. Annis Stukus' assistant Clem Crowe
was later named as the new head coach for the upcoming 1956 season.
In the 1956 season
, the Lions would finish fourth in the West, posting a 6–10–0 regular season record in Crowe's first season. Although this was a one game improvement from the 1955 season, they were still not able to make the playoffs.
After the 1956 season, Bill McMahan assumed the role as team president. One of his first duties involved McMahan bringing back Kelowna
native Herb Capozzi from the Montreal Alouettes
and hiring him as the new General Manager. However, BC continued to struggle on the field, finishing the 1957 regular season
with a 4–11–1 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
A year later, the on-field performance went from bad to worse for the Lions as they opened the 1958 season
with five straight losses. The team's on-field struggles caused Capozzi to fire Clem Crowe as the head coach and replace him with Danny Edwards, who returned after playing with the club during the 1957 season. The team was only able to manage three wins during the year, causing them to miss the playoffs once again. Although it was a season to forget, rookies Tom Hinton
and Sonny Homer
showed promising signs of being future football stars.
During the off-season, Capozzi improved the team for the 1959 season
in the following ways; first by hiring Wayne Robinson
from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
to become the new head coach, then bringing in a corps of veteran players to add more experience to the team. This was followed by the signing of rookie running back Willie "The Wisp" Fleming
to the team, adding more youth to play alongside Hinton and Homer. Capozzi's moves proved successful in the end. In 1959
, the Leos managed their first winning season with a 9–7–0 regular season record and were able to make their first playoff appearance with a final game triumph over the Calgary Stampeders
at Empire Stadium
. The Lions first playoff appearance ended with two straight losses to the Edmonton Eskimos
. However, the team's future looked bright heading into the 1960s.
faded when the team finished with a disappointing 5–9–2 record, which again eliminated them from playoff contention. It was disappointing considering that the team added rookie talents Steve Cotter, Lonnie Dennis, Jim Carphin and Neal Beaumont to a team that had a strong core of veteran and young players from the previous season. The only positive for the Lions happened at the end of the season when Beaumont won WIFU Outstanding Rookie of the Year honors
, becoming the first Lions player to win a major Canadian Football League
award.
The Lions started the 1961
season by signing former Minnesota Golden Gopher
Tom Brown to a contract, but the team continued performing poorly on the field. In September, the team made a major trade with the Calgary Stampeders
, which was considered to be a major gamble. In the trade, the Lions got quarterback Joe Kapp
in the deal in exchange while four Lions' players were sent to the Stampeders
. A week later, Wayne Robinson was relieved of his duties as Head Coach and was replaced by Assistant Coach, Dave Skrien
. The year ended with a dismal 1–13–2 record.
In 1962
, Dave Skrien
made an immediate impact in his first full season as head coach. Even though the Lions finished the season with a 7–9 record, there were noticeable improvements. After eight years of hard work, the Leos were on the verge of success for the first time.
Before the start of the 1963 season
, new optimism was voiced at the chances that the Lions could be a strong contender for the Grey Cup
, which was to be played at Empire Stadium
. With a veteran roster headlined by Joe Kapp and Willie Fleming, the Lions would end up finishing the season in first place for the first time in franchise history with a 12–4 record. After a 2–1 series victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
in the Western Finals, the Lions lined up in the 51st Grey Cup
game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
. However, their momentum would be stalled as a series of injuries affected the team's performance in the championship game.
In the Grey Cup game, star running back Willie Fleming
was injured after he received a late, out of bounds hit by Ti-Cat
defensive tackle Angelo Mosca
. This proved to be a huge blow to the Lions' chances of pulling out a victory. Hamilton
won the 51st Grey Cup
with a 21–10 victory, but the following year
, the Lions would get their revenge.
After the season, Joe Kapp became the first BC Lion to receive the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
as the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference
and Tom Brown became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
. In addition, Dave Skrien became the first Lions head coach to receive the Annis Stukus Trophy
as Coach of the Year, and fullback/kicker Peter Kempf also became the second Lion to win the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
for Rookie of the Year honours in the Western Conference
.
After achieving an 11–2–3 regular season record in 1964
, and defeating the Calgary Stampeders
in a three-game series in the Western Conference Finals, the Lions would advance to meet the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in a Grey Cup
rematch at Toronto
's Exhibition Stadium
. In the rematch, BC would get their revenge as Kapp
, Ken Appleby, Willie Fleming
, and Bill Munsey, who gave a two-touchdown, two-way starring effort, helped the Lions to their first Grey Cup victory
. With the addition of two field goals and an extra touchdown by the field goal unit, the Lions won the Grey Cup for the first time in franchise history with a 34–24 victory. The win would end 11 years of waiting for the British Columbia
faithful. At the end of the 1964 season
, defensive lineman Tom Brown was named a CFL All-Star, a back-to-back Schenley award winner as CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
, and won the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
as the Most Valuable Player in the Western Conference. Joining Brown as All-Stars on defence were Mike Cacic
, Dick Fouts
, and Munsey. Joe Kapp
and tackle Lonnie Dennis
were named CFL All-Stars on offence.
Any hopes of the BC Lions becoming a dynasty team after their Grey Cup championship season quickly disappeared in 1965
as the team started to recede back to the basement of the Western Conference. Before the beginning of the season, By Bailey left the team and the entire roster was starting to age as the Lions finished the season with a 6–9–1 regular season record. As a result, the team missed the playoffs one year after being on top of the CFL world. It was clear that head coach Dave Skrien would never again experience the same success as he achieved the previous two seasons.
The situation for the Lions went from bad to worse in the 1966 season
, as the team would go on to post a 5–11 record that year. Due to the dreadful team performance, Herb Capozzi was fired as the Lions' General Manager after nine seasons as G.M. and just two years after taking the franchise to consecutive Grey Cup appearances. In addition, Willie Fleming
and Tom Hinton
decided to retire, and Joe Kapp
left the team to continue his playing career in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings
.
In the 1967 season
, Denny Vietch became the new General Manager of the club. Denny Veitch's first move was to fire Skrien after the Lions lost their first three games of the season. Veitch named Jim Champion
as head coach, but the Lions would end up finishing the season with a 3–12–1 record. The only two positives for the club were two rookies; wide receiver Jim Young
and kicker Ted Gerela
, who would end up winning the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
as the Western Conference's Rookie of the Year.
In the 1968 season
, CFL
legend Jackie Parker
was hired as an Assistant Coach for the Lions and even came out of retirement to suit up in a Lions uniform for eight games as the quarterback. However, the Lions finished the season with a 4–11–1 record, again mising the playoffs. Despite the poor record, seven of those games were lost by less than a touchdown, which showed some indication that the team was improving.
Eleven games into the 1969 season
, after stumbling to a 1–10 record, Jim Champion was fired as head coach and replaced by assistant Jackie Parker. The Lions responded by winning four of their last five games, and with a 5–11 record took third place in the Western Division
. The Lions made the playoffs, but were beaten in Calgary
by the Stampeders
in the semi-finals by a score of 35–21. Individually, Dave Easley won CFL and Western Division Rookie of the Year
honours, and Jim Young
was a Schenley Finalist.
In 1970
, the first artificial turf
in Canada was installed at Empire Stadium. Jim Young
became the first Lion to win the Schenley Outstanding Canadian Award, but the team finished fourth place in the Western Division at 6–10, and missed the playoffs.
The 1971 season
began with a major off-season restructuring that saw Head Coach Jackie Parker
elevated to General Manager, and replaced by former Saskatchewan
coach Eagle Keys. Don Moorhead
was recruited at quarterback, and a total of fifty-three different players put on a Lions uniform in a year of change, including movie/TV personality Carl Weathers
, at linebacker. Running back Jim Evenson
finished the season with 1,237 yards to lead the Western Division in rushing, and won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
. The Lions again finished the season at fourth place in the West Division with a 6–9–1 record, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Parker became the first Lion player inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
.
In 1972
, the Lions added new players such as defensive back Rocky Long
, running back Johnny Musso, linebacker Ray Nettles
and centre Al Wilson
, but finished fifth in their division with a 5–11 record. Jim Young
won his second Schenley Award as Outstanding Canadian.
The Lions' fortunes improved during the 1973 season
, as they posted a 5–9–2 record, good enough for a third place finish in the Western Division and a playoff berth, the first in four years. The Lions lost in the semi-finals to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
33–13. Linebacker Ray Nettles won the CFL's Outstanding Defensive Player award.
In 1974
, the Lions showed continued improvement in posting an 8–8 record, and again returned to the playoffs for the second straight year. They faced familiar foe Saskatchewan
in the semi-finals, where they lost again, 24–14. Second-year running back Lou Harris replaced injured Johnny Musso to lead the Lions in both rushing and receiving, winning CFL All-Star honours in the process. Annis Stukus
became the first Lion inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
as a builder.
The Lions began the 1975 season
with a change at quarterback, as Eric Guthrie
and Peter Liske
platooned at the position, replacing Don Moorhead. They lost five of their first six games before a major change was announced in August. General Manager Jackie Parker and Head Coach Eagle Keys were both dismissed, with Bob Ackles moving up from his assistant General Manager post and Cal Murphy
elevated to Head Coach. The Lions played .500 football the rest of the season, but finished in fifth place in their division with a 6–10 record.
The Lions' 1976 season
concluded with a 5–9–2 fourth place finish. Individually, John Sciarra became the second Lion to win the Schenley award as the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie, while Bill Baker won the Schenley Defensive Player award. Harry Spring became the second Lion inducted into the Hall of Fame
as a builder. Rookies and local talents, linebacker Glen Jackson and punter/kicker Lui Passaglia
were two other bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.
A complete off-season overhaul in the coaching staff brought Edmonton
assistant Vic Rapp
in as the 10th Head Coach of the Lions as they opened their 1977 season
. A revamped Leos lineup included rookies Leon Bright, John Blain, Ken Hinton, and quarterback Jerry Tagge
, as well as several newly acquired veterans. The Lions last-minute heroics earned them the nickname "the Cardiac Kids." They finished with a 10–6 record, good enough for second place in the Western Division (the first time the Lions finished higher than third place since 1964
). BC opened the playoffs with a 33–32 upset of the Winnipeg
at home before being trounced 38–1 in Edmonton
by the Eskimos
in the Western Division Final. Wide receiver Leon Bright
captured the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award, and Al Wilson
became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
.
In 1978
, the Lions finished the season at 7–7–2 and in fourth place in their division. Rookie running backs John Henry White and Larry Key provided a much improved rushing game, but depth was still the missing ingredient, as the Leos missed the playoffs. 1978
also saw the emergence of rookie quarterback Joe Paopao
, the "Throwin' Samoan."
The Lions' 1979 season
began with Jerry Tagge
at quarterback, but he eventually missed the second half of the season with an injury that would also end his playing career. Led by Joe Paopao
, the Lions skidded down the stretch, losing five games in a row. Despite this, the team finished third in the Western Division with a 9–6–1 record, making the playoffs. In the semi-finals, the Lions were blasted 37–2 by the Calgary Stampeders
. Jim Young
retired at the end of the season, and Norm Fieldgate
became the second Lions player to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
. Rising costs and an aging Empire Stadium cast a shadow over future prospects. To head off a crisis, the directors, led by past-President Jack Farley, developed a plan to sell stock and seek a strong partnership with a major corporate sponsor to keep operations viable while waiting for the construction of a new stadium in downtown Vancouver.
The Lions failed to make the playoffs in 1980
, despite a winning record of 8–7–1. Off the field, the decision was made to begin construction of a new indoor stadium in downtown Vancouver.
In 1981
, the Lions returned to the playoffs with a third place divisional finish and a 10–6 record. The team qualified for the playoffs on the final weekend of the season with a victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
in a driving rainstorm at Empire Stadium. The key play was a late fourth quarter fumble by Saskatchewan fullback Greg Fieger at the Rider two yard line which the Lions recovered. The Lions turned this into a touchdown two plays later to take the lead for good after Saskatchewan had led for most of the game up to that point. In the playoffs, the Lions again upset the Blue Bombers
15–11 in the semi-finals before losing a 22–16 heartbreaker in the Western Division Finals to eventual Grey Cup
champion Edmonton
. Paopao and second-year quarterback Roy Dewalt
had wide-out Ty Grey as their deep-threat receiver, while rookie defensive back Larry Crawford led the CFL in interceptions. The Labatt Brewing Company
became the Lions' major sponsor in a marketing agreement that brought much needed financial stability to the team.
Standout wide receiver Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez
was among the rookies who joined the Lions in 1982
, winning the Jackie Parker Trophy
as the Western Division's most outstanding rookie. Despite a 9–7 record, the Lions finished fourth in their division and failed to make the playoffs. As in the previous four seasons, the Lions got off to a fast start only to stumble badly after Labor Day
. In most cases after this point in the season, the Lions would lose crucial divisional games by a very large margin. Due to this disturbing trend, Head Coach Vic Rapp and his coaching staff were dismissed at the end of the season. Lions' running back great Willie "The Wisp" Fleming
was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
.
In January, 1983
, former Edmonton
defensive coordinator Don Matthews
was named as BC's new Head Coach. The quarterback-receiver combination of Dewalt
to Fernandez led the Lions' attack, while the defence set a new CFL record of 42 interceptions. The Lions finished 11–5 for the second-best record in team history and returned to first place for the first time since the 1964 season
. BC Place Stadium
, the new home of the Lions, opened in June, 1983
. They stormed into the playoffs, defeating Winnipeg
in the Western Division finals, 39–21. The Western Division champions hosted the Toronto Argonauts
in the 71st Grey Cup
, ending a 19-year absence from the classic. BC Place fans watched the Argonauts
defeat their hometown team in a taut, 18–17 contest.
In 1984
, the Lions' biggest trade since the Joe Kapp deal brought CFL All-Star James "Quick" Parker
to their defence from Edmonton
. The Lions again finished first in the Western Division with a league leading 12–3–1 record, but the second straight first place finish was dampened by the late season loss of quarterback Roy Dewalt to injury. In a repeat Western Finals matchup at BC Place, Winnipeg
triumphed 31–14 and went on to win their first Grey Cup
since 1962
. Average crowds in excess of 40,000 in each of the first two years at BC Place reversed the team's financial fortunes, with stockholders receiving early repayment. Lions' greats Joe Kapp and linebacker Tom Brown were inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
.
began with much promise. Mervyn Fernandez shattered several team receiving records and second year receiver Jim Sandusky broke the 1,000 yard mark. Rookie defensive tackle Mike Gray was the most visible of several rookies. With depth and few injuries, the final season record of 13–3 was the best in team history, bringing the Lions their third consecutive first place divisional finish. The Lions avenged their prior year's playoff defeat by handling Winnipeg
42–22, despite the fact that the Blue Bombers
had won both regular season meetings and wide receiver Fernandez was out with a leg injury. One week later, the same Lions line-up met Hamilton
at the Olympic Stadium
in Montreal
. 21 years of waiting ended with a 37–24 Grey Cup
championship victory over the Tiger-Cats
in the 73rd Grey Cup
. Quarterback Roy Dewalt won the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award on offence, while defensive end James "Quick" Parker took home the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award on defence. Kicker Lui Passaglia
was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian. Don Matthews
won his first CFL Coach of the Year award
. Mervyn Fernandez
became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award and defensive tackle Mike Gray
won both the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award and the Jackie Parker Trophy
. Linebacker Tyrone Crews won the first of two consecutive CFL Players Association Outstanding Community Service Awards
. The CFL champions returned to Vancouver
for a victory celebration that swept across the entire province
.
Defending their championship in 1986
proved even harder than winning it the year before, as the Lions battled the Eskimos
, Blue Bombers
, injuries, and the CFL's newly extended 18 game regular season. The Lions reached the halfway mark at 7–2 losing at Edmonton
, and at home to Calgary
. The Lions then ran their record to 9–2 before hitting a four game losing streak, started by back to back losses to Edmonton
. The Lions rebounded to win back to back games against Winnipeg
to finish the season 12–6, and second in the Western Division. Under the new playoff format, the Lions met the Bombers
for a third straight week, winning the Semi-Finals 21–14, before travelling to Edmonton
for the Lions' first Western Final road game in four years. The Lions lost their fourth game of the year to the Eskimos 41–5, ending the Lions' hopes of defending their title in front of a home crowd at BC Place
. The 1985 Grey Cup title, the prospect of defending the title at home, and the excitement in the area generated from Expo 86
helped the Lions outdraw the Vancouver Canucks
in total attendance in 1986, despite the fact the Lions had only 9 regular season home games compared to the Canucks' 40. Off the field, the big news of the year was the departure of General Manager Bob Ackles
to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
, ending Ackles' 33 year association with the Lions (he would return in 2002
). Ackles was replaced by former Montreal
General Manager Joe Galat in August, 1986
.
The Lions began their 1987
campaign without the services of stand out wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez, who left during the offseason to join the Los Angeles Raiders
. The season began with a four game winning streak, but the team seemed to lose focus through the middle of the season, looking invincible in one game and lethargic the next. Entering the last half of the year, the Lions were still in contention for first place but not playing like a team driving for a title. When the team suffered a three-game losing streak, General Manager Joe Galat fired Don Matthews, the winningest coach in Lions history with just four games to go. The Lions instantly responded to new Coach Larry Donovan
, winning the final four games including a thrilling come-from-behind 33–32 victory over Edmonton
at Commonwealth Stadium
that many observers called the CFL's greatest comeback ever. The win gave the Lions first place in the Western Division for the fourth time in five years with a 12–6 record. Home field advantage at BC Place in the Western Finals was not enough however, as the Lions fell to the eventual Grey Cup
champion Eskimos
, 31–7.
The CFL's competition cap forced the Lions to start the 1988 season
with 22 new faces in their lineup, one of which was star quarterback Matt Dunigan
, acquired in a trade with Edmonton
. Despite the large number of new players, the Lions jelled and finished the regular season with a 10–8 record. The Lions entered the playoffs with momentum and were touted as Grey Cup favourites. The Leos managed hard-earned playoff victories on the road at Saskatchewan
, beating the Roughriders
, 42–18 in the Semi-Finals, before defeating the Eskimos
in the Western Division Finals at Commonwealth Stadium, 37–19. That set the stage for the 76th Grey Cup Championship Game
against the Blue Bombers
, in front of a crowd in excess of 50,000 in unseasonably mild but windy conditions at Ottawa
. The lead changed hands several times during the hard fought contest. The Leos drove to the Winnipeg
seven-yard line in the final minutes only to have Matt Dunigan's pass deflected by two defenders and intercepted to snuff out the drive. The Bombers
went on to win the Cup, 22–21.
Buoyed by their Grey Cup
appearance the previous season, the Lions entered the 1989 season
with much optimism. However, the team opened the campaign with a loss to Edmonton
in Commonwealth Stadium, followed by three more losses before Coach Larry Donovan was fired and replaced by General Manager Joe Galat. After dropping their fifth straight game to the Eskimos, the Lions put together a four-game winning streak, fuelling playoff hopes. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers
shattered those hopes in back to back games, rolling over the Leos 53–34 in Winnipeg
, and then edging the Lions 24–20 in an overtime contest in Vancouver. Prior to the Winnipeg home game, new owner Murray Pezim and his minority partners, ex-NFL all-star Mark Gastineau
and his wife Brigette Nielsen were introduced to the home fans. The Lions never did get back on track, finishing the year with a disappointing 7–11 record, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1982
. Bright spots included running back Darrell Wallace, who won the Western Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
as Most Outstanding Rookie (Wallace was second in the CFL in total offensive yardage), and quarterback Matt Dunigan who won the CFL Players Association Outstanding Community Service Award
.
, the Lions generated a good deal of preseason hype in 1990
with the signings of West Virginia University
quarterback Major Harris
, who was fourth in 1989 Heisman Trophy
balloting, and quarterback Doug Flutie
. Minority owner Mark Gastineau even returned to active duty, but abandoned his disastrous comeback attempt early in the season. However, the publicity did not translate into on-field victories and turmoil plagued the team. Two coaches left early in the season amid controversy. The Lions tied their first game against Calgary
in the dying seconds of the contest as Doug Flutie tossed a "Hail Mary" pass to Ray Alexander in the end zone. The Lions kept close in every game, winning a tight one against Winnipeg
at home on a last-second Passaglia field goal, while losing to Hamilton
in the final seconds in the next contest. The eastern road trip to Ottawa
and Toronto
, during which the Lions lost both games, spelled the beginning of the end for the new coach and general manager. The following week, the Leos dropped another one to the Argos, 49–19, and one week after that, another former Lions great, Jim "Dirty Thirty" Young
, was behind the bench as interim head coach. Bob O'Billovich
took over as Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach on September 14, 1990 and promptly guided the team to a strong 34–4 victory over Hamilton
. The Lions gained stability as the season wore on, and although they missed the playoffs, "Obie's" charges went 4–3 over the last seven games of the season, and their strong finish fuelled hopes for a much brighter 1991 season
. Highlights of the year included Lui Passaglia
's new professional football scoring record, as he booted his 2,238th point, finishing the year with 2,312 points. Lui also became the longest-playing Lion in history, appearing in a total of 236 games, overtaking Al Wilson's previous mark of 233 games.
The 1991 season
opened with promise. Although the team dropped a 39–34 decision to Calgary
at BC Place, the game was tight and the Lions were in the contest to the very end. It was a harbinger of things to come as Bob O'Billovich
's young team with 12 rookies in the lineup, turned virtually every contest into a nail biter, playing in a CFL record six overtime contests, winning three and losing three. Behind the outstanding quarterbacking of Doug Flutie
, the powerful running of rookie Jon Volpe, the receiving of rookie Matt Clark and veteran Ray Alexander, the Lions were capable of beating any team in the CFL. On August 1, 1991, the 2–1 Lions faced the undefeated Toronto Argonauts
featuring Raghib "the Rocket" Ismail
, at BC Place Stadium
. A huge crowd of 53,527 was on hand. After falling behind 21–3 in the first quarter, the Lions battled back and took control of the game in the final quarter. Toronto managed to tie the game but in overtime, but an electrifying kickoff return for a touchdown by Raymond Ethridge and terrific play by the Lions' special teams spelled the difference. The Lions triumphed 52–41 in overtime. However, the following week, Calgary
stopped the Leos, 34–30 in overtime. The Lions offence led the CFL in 11 different categories and the team was in a three-way battle with Calgary and Edmonton for first place in the Western Division, right down to the end of the season. In the last game, the Lions hosted the 2–15 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, needing a win to clinch first place. However, the Lions lost and finished third with an 11–7 record. In the Western Semi-Final in Calgary, the Leos took a commanding 31–15 lead by the end of the first half. Although the Lions had never lost a game all year when leading at the half, Calgary
stormed back with an incredible third quarter, scoring four touchdowns, and holding off the Lions to win, 43–41. The disappointing loss was at least partially offset by the awarding of three Lions with outstanding player awards. Doug Flutie was named the CFL's Outstanding Player, Jon Volpe won the CFL's Outstanding Rookie award as well as the West Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
and the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
for leading the division in rushing. Offensive tackle Jim Mills
became the CFL's Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the West Division's DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
award winner for the second consecutive year. Although quarterback Doug Flutie
signed as a free agent with the Stampeders
in the post-season, the acquisition of his replacement from Calgary
, Danny Barrett
, prior to training camp, brought hope of good things to come in 1992
.
The Lions entered training camp in 1992
with high expectations. Despite the loss of Doug Flutie, Grey Cup winning quarterback Danny Barrett
was counted on to be an able replacement. In the season opener against Edmonton
, however, Barrett struggled, eventually giving way to back-up Tony Kimbrough in the second half. The Eskimos
went on to win, 37–26. The following week, the Lions' fortunes continued to spiral downward, this time, on the road, as the Toronto Argonauts
crushed the Leos, 61–20. In the third game of the year against Doug Flutie and the Calgary Stampeders
, Barrett, who had regained his starting job at quarterback, went down in the third quarter with a separated shoulder. Flutie then guided Calgary
to a 37–19 win, and the Lions slid further downhill from there. The team lost eight straight before finally edging out Ottawa
33–27 on September 3, 1992
, with Danny Barrett back at the helm. To add insult to injury, off-season and off-field problems emerged to swing focus from football to ownership, as Lions' owner Murray Pezim declared bankruptcy, and the CFL was forced to take over the team. Three weeks later, a new owner was found, as The Brick Furniture Store
owner Bill Comrie
purchased the Lions from the CFL on September 23, 1992
. The team on the field did not respond to the new found ownership stability, losing the final seven games of the year to finish the season with a disappointing 3–15 record. Head Coach O'Billovich and his staff were fired at season's end, and on December 12, 1992
, new General Manager Eric Tillman announced the hiring of Ottawa
defensive coordinator Dave Ritchie, as the new Head Coach of the Lions.
The "new", 1993
edition of the BC Lions, under the guidance of Head Coach Dave Ritchie and General Manager Eric Tillman signed a number of proven CFL veterans, including Danny McManus
, James "Wild" West, Rob Smith, Less Browne, Tyrone Jones, and Sean Foudy. The team also added promising rookies, such as running back Cory Philpot
, draft pick Tom Europe, and Derek Grier. A contract dispute with Jon Volpe kept him from training camp, but he was back in the fold by the second game of the season. The Lions struck quickly with wins over Saskatchewan
and Toronto
before grinding to a halt in Winnipeg
after only three days rest between road games. However, the Leos would only lose two more games through July, August, and mid-September, cruising to an 8–3 record, the Lions' best start since 1987
. Quarterback Danny Barrett
broke the CFL's single-game passing yard record, completing 30 passes for 601 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 586 yards set back in 1954 by Alouettes
legend, Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry
. The Lions entered the September 18, 1993
game against Calgary
in a battle for first place in the Western Division. However, Doug Flutie and the Stamps
prevailed, 40–21. The Lions would go on to win only two of the next seven games, sliding to a 64–27 pounding against Sacramento
in the regular season finale, for a 10–8 finish. Nevertheless, the Lions made the playoffs after a 1 year absence, facing Calgary
in the Western Division's Semi-Finals on November 14, 1993
. Despite generating twice as much offence as the Stamps
, the Leos could not score a touchdown and fell 17–9.
campaign with a new quarterback, Kent Austin
, at the helm.
Off-season trades with Ottawa
provided offensive guard Denny Chronopoulos, defensive lineman Andrew Stewart, and rush linebacker Angelo Snipes. A group of young, unknown, and aggressive linebackers emerged at training camp, Henry Newby, Tyrone Chatman, and Virgil Robertson, while the secondary was strengthened with the additions of Charles Gordon and Enis Jackson. The Lions opened the season at B.C.Place and gave the fans a taste of things to come with a hard-fought 24–20 victory over Winnipeg
. The Lions offensive power was amply demonstrated the following week with a 57–18 thumping of the Ottawa Rough Riders
. By the end of August, 1994
, the Lions were 7–1–0, and had broken several single-game offensive records, including a 67–15 point record win over Shreveport
. The Leos' secondary was further bolstered by the signing of former NFL stars James Jefferson and Barry Wilburn. The team endured a dry spell at the season's mid-point, losing close games to Winnipeg
, Edmonton
, Saskatchewan
, and Baltimore
. A late season win over Las Vegas
(45–7) and a close 24–23 loss to Calgary
, gave the Lions new hope heading into the playoffs, as well as an 11–6–1 regular season finish. The team travelled to Edmonton
for the Western Division Semi-Finals, where the Lions had only managed one playoff victory at Commonwealth Stadium
. With just over four minutes left in the game, defensive back Charles Gordon's miraculous end-zone interception stopped the Eskimos in their tracks and gave new life to the Lions. Quarterback Kent Austin, replacing an injured Danny McManus
who had started the game, mounted a Lions' drive which ate up the clock and the field. Lui Passaglia
kicked the winning field goal with 30 seconds left to give the Lions a tough 24–23 come-from-behind victory. The following week, in one of the most memorable CFL games ever, the Lions and the Doug Flutie
led Stampeders
traded touchdowns and field goals all night at McMahon Stadium
. In the swirling snow with two minutes left in the game, Calgary
, who led by 5 points, set up to kick a field goal. Lions' wide receiver Ray Alexander
leapt up and made an amazing block, giving the Lions renewed hope and decent field position. Danny McManus, who had replaced Kent Austin in the second half after Austin re-injured a separated shoulder, staged a furious last-minute drive, hitting receivers all the way down the field to the Stampeder's
four yard line. With Calgary
leading 36–31, with four seconds left in the game, McManus found receiver Darren Flutie
alone in the end zone to give the Lions their first playoff victory over Calgary
in 30 years, and a berth in the Grey Cup
against Baltimore
at B.C. Place. The dramatics continued the following week in the 82nd Grey Cup
. With 55,097 cheering fans looking on, the Lions and Stallions
staged another thriller with both teams playing great football. Baltimore
took a 17–10 lead at halftime, and extended their lead to 20–10 early in the third quarter. Lions' quarterback Danny McManus entered the game and staged a second-half rally. Seemingly stalled at the Baltimore
30 yard line, Lui Passaglia
and Darren Flutie
staged a fake field goal to gain a big first down, which changed the momentum of the game. McManus ran in from the two-yard line to tie the score at 20–20. After the teams traded field goals to make the score 23–23, McManus engineered another late-game drive to the Baltimore
37 yard line. Passaglia missed the field goal with just over one minute remaining, but the Lions' defence rose up to deny Baltimore
and stop them cold within their own five-yard line. After a punt and a couple of runs to set up another field goal try, Passaglia converted a field goal with no time remaining on the clock to give the Lions an incredible 26–23 victory, the third Grey Cup
championship in the team's history. Passaglia went on to win a well-deserved Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
award for his heroics.
The 1995 season
began with Grey Cup hero Danny McManus
named as starting quarterback, replacing Kent Austin, who was traded to Toronto
. Shelton Quarles
was added to a strong linebacker corps. The season started with an exciting, late come-from-behind 37–34 victory over the Baltimore Stallions
at BC Place. The Lions won their first three games before suffering a setback in Calgary
. The Leos got back on track with a strong performance over Ottawa
, and went on to a 7–1 record, challenging the Stampeders
in the North Division. Injuries to key players during a three game, 10 day road trip resulted in a late season swoon that the Lions could not recover from. A victory over Saskatchewan
at B.C. Place in the regular season finale solidified 3rd place in the rugged Northern Division with a 10–8 record and a trip to Edmonton
for the playoffs. The Lions' 1995 season
came to an end with a 26–15 loss to the Eskimos
in the semi-finals. Individually, Lions' running back Cory Philpot broke the CFL
record for touchdowns in a season with 22, and won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
for the second year in a row as the Northern Division's leading rusher. Lui Passaglia ended the season with 3,160 career points. Jamie Taras
won the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
as the Northern Division's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
1996
was a season of turmoil for the Lions, both on and off the field. Former Lions' quarterback and fan favourite Joe Paopao
returned to the team from the Edmonton Eskimos
as the new Head Coach, replacing Dave Ritchie. On March 11, 1996
, Lions' owner Bill Comrie announced that the club had been sold to a group of 10 local businessmen headed by Nelson Skalbania
and Michael Jensen. The Lions held training camp at UBC
with over a hundred players invited. Mike McCarthy
arrived in Vancouver
to become the Lions new VP of Football Operations. On the field, the Lions started the season with 18 new faces in the line-up, including heralded Heisman Trophy
winner Andre Ware
at quarterback. The Lions started the season at 0–4, and quarterback Damon Allen
was signed to replace Ware
. As the team stumbled on the field, attendance plummeted. Stability in the front office proved short lived, as Skalbania
and his ownership group lost control of the team, and the Lions (again) went into receivership. The bright spot of the season was an exciting and improbable, 35–11 victory over Doug Flutie
and the Toronto Argonauts
, in September, 1996
. On October 31, 1996
, Hamilton
businessman David Braley
announced his intention to buy the team. November 2, 1996
marked the end of the season as the Lions defeated Ottawa
35–24 in what was the Rough Riders'
final game in club history.
David Braley
's ownership and a coaching change brought the Lions much needed stability as they entered the 1997 season
, and some of that stability seemed to have translated to success on the field. Joe Paopao
resigned prior to the season's start, and was replaced as Head Coach by Adam Rita
. The Lions made the playoffs for the 20th time in their 43 year club history, despite an 8–10, 4th place divisional finish. The Leos' 1997
playoff appearance marked the first time in CFL
history that a Western Conference
team participated in an Eastern Conference
Semi-Final, under a then in force, "cross-over rule" (where the 4th place team from one division qualified for the playoffs, as long as the team earned more points than the 3rd place team from the opposing division. Once so qualified, the 4th place team would then "cross-over" to the other division to play the 2nd place team in the opposing division). The Lions thus faced Montreal
in the Eastern semi-finals, eventually losing to the Alouettes
, 45–35, in a spirited contest. Fullback Sean Millington was awarded the CFL's Outstanding Canadian Award at season's end, while linebacker B.J. Gallis won the Jackie Parker Trophy
as the Western Division's
top rookie.
The Lions started the 1998 season
off on the wrong foot, losing their first three games, before finally beating Saskatchewan
in Week 4. The defence held their own, but the offence struggled. The low point of the year occurred on August 9, 1998
, when the eventual Grey Cup
champion Calgary Stampeders
came into B.C. Place and beat the hometown Leos 55–9. With a record of 3–6–0, Head Coach Adam Rita
resigned, and was replaced by Greg Mohns. The no nonsense approach of Mohns seemed to spark the team, as the Lions embarked on a memorable, six game winning streak (which the team had not done since 1986) heading into the playoffs. The Lions, who finished 9–9 on the year, lost in the semi-finals to Edmonton
in heartbreaking fashion, but showed promise for the upcoming season. Kicker Lui Passaglia won the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy
as the top scorer in the Western Division
.
Expectations for the Lions were high as the 1999 season
began, following the team's promising finish a year earlier, and with the announcement that the Grey Cup
game would be played in Vancouver
. Quality free agents such as slotback Don Blair and cornerback Eric Carter were brought in to add depth to an already impressive lineup, and with the likes of Robert Drummond and Jimmy “The Jet” Cunningham back in form following injury-plagued 1998 seasons
, the Lions were primed for a successful season. The Lions started fast out of the gate, winning their first three games to set a new club record with nine straight regular season wins. The Lions either held sole possession of first place or were tied with Calgary
throughout the season. The Lions ended the regular season with two straight wins, finishing first in the division with a 13–5 record, the Lions' best record since 1985
, and the first divisional championship since 1987
. the Lions' dream season came to a premature and heartbreaking end, as the Stamps
beat the Lions 26–24 in the Lions' first home playoff game in 12 years. The Lions appeared to be driving toward a chance to kick a game-winning field goal in the last minute before Damon Allen
fumbled the ball at mid-field, allowing the Stamps to kill off the remaining time. The Lions fielded three CFL All-Stars in 1999
: slotback Jimmy Cunningham, centre Jamie Taras, and defensive tackle Johnny Scott. Linebacker Paul Lacoste
was voted the CFL's top rookie, and was also awarded the Jackie Parker Trophy
. Defensive end Daved Benefield was named the Western Division's top defensive player
, while Jamie Taras
won the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy
as the West's most outstanding offensive lineman, as well as the CFL Player's Association Outstanding Community Service Award
.
The Lions began the 2000
campaign with only one goal in mind: win the Grey Cup
. Six months later, the Lions would fulfill that destiny, but the path to the 88th Grey Cup was one of the most adventurous, unpredictable, and memorable ever in CFL history. The year started well enough, with victories over Hamilton
and Saskatchewan
, but a 35–2 loss to Calgary
began a four-game losing streak and a lot of finger-pointing. A win over the Toronto Argonauts
halted the slide, but following the game, Head Coach Greg Mohns resigned to join the XFL
. Long-time CFL coach Steve Buratto, who joined the club only two weeks earlier as a receivers coach, was promoted to the top job, and got instant results with a huge 51–4 win over the Argos
in the second of back-to-back games. Despite a promising start, the Lions only won one of their next five games to sit at 5–9 on Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, the Lions came together when it counted the most, winning three of their last four heading into the playoffs, and the offence jelling to become the best in the CFL that season. Quarterback Damon Allen
broke Ron Lancaster
's CFL record for career passing yardage. Lui Passaglia
played in a memorable, “Luv Ya Lui” night at his final game at B.C. Place, and also set a CFL record for single season field goal percentage. The Lions finished the year 8–10 and in third place in the Western Division, but were the team other teams did not want to face in the playoffs. A snarly defence started to show its grit, and the Lions roared confidently into Edmonton
and emerged with a 34–32 Western Semi-Final victory, thanks to a Passaglia field goal on the final play. The Lions next faced Calgary
in the Western Finals, and the Lions steamrolled to a decisive 37–23 win. The Leos' Cinderella season came to a close on November 26, 2000
in the Grey Cup
at McMahon Stadium
in Calgary, as the Lions won their fourth championship in team history with a nail biting 28–26 victory over the Montreal Alouettes
. Running back Robert Drummond
won the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award, while backfield teammate Sean Millington
took home the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian trophy. The Lions' triumph marked the first time a team with a sub-.500 regular season record won the Grey Cup
, and it signalled a marvellous end to Lui Passaglia
's outstanding, 25-year CFL career.
, but the team ultimately never seemed to gel. Quarterback Damon Allen
struggled, and the team hovered around the 0.500 mark all season. Finishing at 8–10, the Lions did make the playoffs, but were immediately bounced by Calgary
in the Western Division Semi-Finals, 28–19. Matt Kellett became only the second full-time field goal kicker in 26 years, as he replaced the legendary Lui Passaglia. Rookie middle linebacker Barrin Simpson
led the team in tackles and was named a first-team CFL All-Star, as well as the CFL's Rookie of the Year and Jackie Parker Trophy
winner. Cornerback Eric Carter was also named to the CFL's 2001 All-Star team.
returned to the Lions as President and CEO before the 2002 season
, which saw the Lions finish at 10–8 for a 3rd place finish in the Western Division, and the return of Adam Rita
as Head Coach. The Lions faced Winnipeg
in the Western Semi-Finals. falling 30–3 to the Bombers
. Individually, Eric Carter and Barrin Simpson repeated as CFL All-Stars, while slotback Jason Clermont
won CFL's most outstanding rookie award, as well as the Western Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
. Fullback Sean Millington won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
as the outstanding Canadian Western Division player, for the 3rd time.
marked the beginning of a new era, as Wally Buono
replaced Adam Rita
as Head Coach and GM. The Lions also acquired former Stampeders and NFL QB Dave Dickenson
through free agency, which prompted Lions QB Damon Allen to leave for the Toronto Argonauts
. The Lions finished in a 3-way, 2nd place tie at 11–7 with Western Division foes, Winnipeg
and Saskatchewan
, and faced the Eastern Division's Toronto Argonauts
by way of the CFL's "cross-over rule." The Lions closed out the season with a 28–7 loss to the Argos
in the Eastern Division semi-finals. Barrin Simpson
appeared as a CFL All-Star for the 3rd year in a row, joined by newcomers Ray Jacobs on defence, and electrifying slotback Geroy Simon
on offence. Wide receiver Frank Cutolo won the CFL and Western Division rookie of the year
awards. Offensive tackle Steve Hardin won the CFL Player's Association Outstanding Community Service Award
.
marked one of the Lions' best regular season records in club history. Going 13–5 and finishing 1st in the division, the Lions set a team record of 8 consecutive wins in a single season. In addition to club records, the season brought an array of individual performances to the forefront. Quarterback Casey Printers
set a CFL record for highest single game completion average of 90.9% (completing 20 of 22 passing attempts) during an August, 2004
game against Hamilton
. Outstanding slot back Geroy Simon
tied three team records by catching four touchdown passes in the same game. After the conclusion of the regular season, Printers
was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player, while Jason Clermont
won the Most Outstanding Canadian award. Printers
and Simon
joined 4-time All-Star linebacker Barrin Simpson
as 2004 CFL All-Stars. The Lions, receiving a bye in the first round of the playoffs by virtue of their first place divisional finish, faced one of their biggest rivals, the Saskatchewan Roughriders
. In a nail biting finish, the Lions defeated the Roughriders
27–25, in overtime. The Lions were then pitted against the Toronto Argonauts
in the 92nd Grey Cup Championship
, a rematch of the 2003
semi-finals. The Lions would not exact their revenge, losing 27–19. Jason Clermont
won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
award in the effort. The game was marked with controversy for the Lions, as Dave Dickenson got the start over Casey Printers, who had led the team through most of the season as Dickenson was injured.
Before and during the 2005 season
there was controversy as to which quarterback should be the starter, Casey Printers
or Dave Dickenson
. Printers was the CFL's 2004 season Most Outstanding Player, but Dickenson was a veteran star destined for the CFL Hall of Fame. Many felt that both were deserving. In any event, the team ultimately chose to go with Dickenson, despite his having been somewhat injury prone. The Lions came out of the gate roaring. Led by Dickenson and an outstanding receiving corps, the team strung together 11 consecutive wins. The final game of the win streak came on September 17, 2005
, when the Leos squeaked past the Montreal Alouettes
by a score of 27–26 when Don Matthews
elected to go for a two-point conversion
rather than tie the game. The Lions bid for an undefeated season came to a halt the very next week on September 24, 2005
, when the Edmonton Eskimos
defeated the Lions 37–20 at Commonwealth Stadium
. Dickenson sustained a season-ending concussion and Printers took over as starting QB. The Lions won only one of their remaining seven games of the regular season. On November 20, 2005
, the Lions lost in the Western Finals to the eventual Grey Cup
champion Eskimos
at B.C. Place. The game ended with a controversial "non-call" on the last play of the game; as what would have been Printers' game winning pass to slotback Geroy Simon
appeared to have been interfered with by a defending Eskimo
, and was ruled incomplete. Defensive end Brent Johnson
was named a 2005 CFL All-Star, and won the Outstanding Canadian Award.
saw Casey Printers
go off to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
, however a new quarterback controversy of sorts threatened to develop. During the off-season 2005s third stringer, Buck Pierce
won the back-up role and early season injuries to Dave Dickenson
forced him into action. Pierce's best game as the starter was on October 6 against the Calgary Stampeders
, where he threw 25 for 31 for 297 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He began the game with one incomplete pass, and then hit his next 14.
The Lions in the off-season also acquired former Roughrider Paul McCallum
to stabilize the kicking game which had not recovered from Lui Passaglia
's retirement in 2000. After a sluggish 2–3 start in 2006, Coach Buono
signalled that no starting job was safe by releasing runningback Antonio Warren
and defensive back Sam Young. The team responded by winning the next six games. New running back Joe Smith ran for over 100 yards in his first game. Brent Johnson, Barron Miles
, and Mark Washington led a dominant defence; 10 different defenders scored touchdowns on turnovers. They also held opposition offences to 17 points or less on 6 occasions. Receiver Geroy Simon
dominated opposing defensive backs in a manner not seen since Mervyn Fernandez
in the 1980s, and broke the club record for single season receiving yardage for the second straight year. The Lions clinched first place on October 6, earning a third straight bye into the Western Final at home, and tied a team record with a 13–5 mark for the season. 50,084 (league best for 2006) saw BC crush the Roughriders 45–18 in the West final. Looking fully recovered from earlier concussions, Dickenson went 27 for 37 with 3 TDs and no INTs. Paris Jackson
made two circus catches for TDs, Jason Claremont bulled his way to 98 yards on 6 catches, Joe Smith scored twice and ran for 116 yards, McCallum was 5 for 5 in field goals, and the BC defence dominated Saskatchewan all afternoon.
On November 19, the BC Lions captured their first Grey Cup Championship since 2000
by defeating the Montreal Alouettes
25–14 at Canad Inns Stadium
in Winnipeg
. Dave Dickenson was named the Most Valuable Player
of the game, while Paul McCallum
was named the Most Valuable Canadian
. In the post-game exuberance, the team snapped the Grey Cup off the lower base with the engraved names, but it was repaired the following Monday. The game is also noted for kicker Paul McCallum going 6 for 6 in field goals, making him a perfect 11 for 11 in the post season. Coach Buono also used all three quarterbacks in the game: Dickenson, Pierce and third-string Jarious Jackson
all took snaps.
The record setting season was capped off with Buono's third CFL Coach of the Year Award. The Lions nearly swept the annual player awards, with Brent Johnson, Geroy Simon
, Rob Murphy, Mark Washington, and Aaron Hunt (BC's sixth Outstanding Rookie
in nine years) all taking home hardware.
left for the Edmonton Eskimos
in the off-season, becoming their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. The Lions' play-calling duties for the 2007 season
would be handled by quarterbacks coach Steff Kruck, with play design by offensive line coach Dan Dorazio. Veteran linebacker Carl Kidd
announced his retirement at the Grey Cup ring ceremony held just prior to training camp, while Bobby Singh
was cut and soon picked up by the Calgary Stampeders
. John Hufnagel
guest-coached at training camp, having previously worked under Buono as offensive coordinator in Calgary in the 1990s.
2007
proved to be one of the best seasons for the Lions, having set a new franchise record for the most regular season wins in club history. The season started off on a 5 game winning streak, including dominating wins over Edmonton
(29–9) and Saskatchewan
(42–12). However, the streak came to a hault on August 3, 2007
, when the Leos suffered a 21–9 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Lions had a little trouble getting back on track, as they suffered a loss to Winnipeg
and a tie with Calgary
. A 40–7 win over Toronto
moved the Lions back into 1st place in the West Division, due to a Saskatchewan loss to Calgary. On September 22, 2007, the Lions battled their biggest foe, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, for the 1st place spot in the West Division. The Saskatchewan lead increased and decreased several times throughout the game. However, with Saskatchewan leading by 4, the Lions never gave up in the dying minutes of the game, and QB Jarious Jackson
was able to find Geroy Simon
in the endzone and pass the ball for a game winning 33 yard touchdown. The final result was a unexpected come-from-behind 37–34 victory for the Lions. The Lions went on to win all the rest of their games of the regular season and captured 1st place in the West Division for a fourth consecutive year. The Lions also finished with a regular season record of 14–3–1, The best in club history. The Lions felt confident heading into the Western Final, but their dreams of second consecutive Grey Cup title came to an end in a heartbreaking 26–17 loss to the eventual Grey Cup champions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
, the Lions' Josh Boden
was cut due to being arrested. Also, Mark Washington became the secondary coach due to salary cap issues. Quarterback star Dave Dickenson
was released in the final year of his contract of $400k/yr and was picked up by the Calgary Stampeders
. Jacques Chapdelaine
came back from the Edmonton Eskimos
after being fired as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in his one year with the club. Defensive coordinator Dave Ritchie
retired after the 2007 season and Mike Benevides was promoted to his position. As well, director of player personnel Bob O'Billovich
left to become general manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and former Saskatchewan Roughriders
general manager Roy Shivers
filled his position.
The season started off on low notes, both on and off the field. After losing their first two games to Calgary
and Saskatchewan
, the BC Lions and the entire CFL community was shocked to hear that Lions President and CEO Bobby Ackles had suffered a heart attack and died on July 6, 2008. The Lions held a memorial ceremony at the next home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
and would wear an orange paw on their helmets with BOB on the inside to commemorate Ackles.
In their first game of the season, against Calgary, starter Buck Pierce
left the game with injury, meaning Jarious Jackson
would take over as starter. After losing their next game to the Roughriders, the Lions won three straight, synonymous with Stefan Logan
's debut with the Lions and Joe Smith sitting these games out. On July 25, Geroy Simon
surpassed Jim "Dirty 30" Young
as the Lions' all-time receiving yards leader, in a game against the Montreal Alouettes. After electing not to attend Bob Ackles' memorial, Joe Smith began to estrange himself from the organization and only played in four of the first nine games of the season. While also posting unimpressive numbers, the Lions saw fit to trade their former star running back
to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
for their former star running back, Charles Roberts on Sept 1, 2009. Shortly after, Roberts reached the 10,000 rushing yard mark for his career on Sept 13, 2009 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in his first game as a Lion.
After a Labour day loss to the Montreal Alouettes
, the Lions won five straight under a healthy Buck Pierce. Since Buono had become head coach in 2003
, the Lions had won at least four in a row each year, a streak that ended in 2009
. The Lions finished the regular season with an 11–7 record, including a loss at Calgary in the last regular season game. After going 3–0–1 against Calgary in the previous season, the Lions were swept by Calgary for the first time since the 2000 season
. After amassing 23 sacks, Cameron Wake
won the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, the Lions defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic stadium 33–12, but lost, yet again, to the Calgary Stampeders, this time in the Western Final.
saw a team that would be decidedly different to the previous seasons' roster. While the coaching staff remained completely intact, the playing roster saw a number of notable players released or traded and some leaving for the NFL
. Outstanding Defensive Player Cameron Wake
signed with the Miami Dolphins
, Team Rookie of the Year, Stefan Logan
, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
, Rob Murphy
signed with the Toronto Argonauts
and Jason Clermont
and Charles Roberts were released. Otis Floyd
and Tyrone Williams were later released and Jason Pottinger was traded to the Argonauts. They signed all-star linebacker Anton McKenzie
, while trying to fill holes in their roster with their depth players from last year and new recruits from the US.
The season was notable for the team's use of five different quarterbacks – Buck Pierce
started the year but gave way after injury to Jarious Jackson
. When Jackson was injured, 3rd stringer Travis Lulay was pressed into action. Former Lion and league MVP Casey Printers
then signed to the practice roster on October 8, and suited up as the third-string QB on October 9 in a game versus the Edmonton Eskimos. He then became the starting quarterback on October 24, in a 33–30 overtime loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
. In the season finale on November 6 against Edmonton, Printers was knocked out of the game with a broken thumb. In the last regular season game 5th string quarterback Zac Champion played more than two quarters when Buck Pierce also went down.
Losing to each of the other 3 Western teams in successive games meant BC finished fourth and last. However, Hamilton defeated Winnipeg in their last game of the season, enabling the Lions to cross-over to the Eastern Division's play-off format (ahead of both Winnipeg and Toronto). The Lions faced the Tiger-Cats in the Eastern semi-final in Hamilton on November 15 and won in overtime. The Lions then advanced the eastern final against the Montreal Alouettes, but lost 56–18.
, and others who left for the NFL. Quarterback Buck Pierce
was released on March 9, 2010 after the return of Casey Printers
meant that the injury-prone Pierce was expendable. The Lions also released former Special Teams Player of the Year Ian Smart
, linebacker
Javier Glatt
and defensive back
Lavar Glover
, each of whom played a major role in the Lions' 2006 Grey Cup win. The team also lost Rolly Lumbala
and Ryan Grice-Mullen
to the NFL's Miami Dolphins
, while rookie phenom Martell Mallett
signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
. Despite this, the club signed a number of proven CFL players, including Davis Sanchez
and Keron Williams
from the Montreal Alouettes
, Jamal Robertson
from the Toronto Argonauts
and exiled former Bomber
Derick Armstrong
.
The 2010 BC Lions
played all of their home games at their former site at the Pacific National Exhibition
grounds at Empire Field
while BC Place Stadium
had a retractable roof installed. The Lions also staged their training camp in Kamloops, BC – the first of three over the next three years – as a part of the club's desire to represent the entire province.
The season started out well for the Lions, with a win against Edmonton
, but that success would be short lived as the Lions lost their next seven consecutive games. Quarterback Casey Printers
suffered a knee injury in game 3 against the Montreal Alouettes
, which forced backup quarterback Travis Lulay
to start the next three games. After losing to Toronto
and the previously winless Eskimos
, Lulay was replaced by Jarious Jackson
in the fourth quarter in the August 7, 2010 contest against Calgary after demonstrating poor play and inexperience.
After the bye week, Printers returned and won three out of the five games he started, but due to his turnover-filled back-to-back performances, he was replaced with Lulay as the starter in Game 13 against Winnipeg
, which the Lions won. After Lulay had a minor injury in the following game, again against Winnipeg, Printers came into the game to protect a 21-point lead. The Blue Bombers stormed back to tie the game and force overtime, which was decided by Printers' game-clinching interception. It was Casey's last game with the Lions as Buono released him soon after the game. Consequently, Lulay became the undisputed starting quarterback, finishing the season 4–5 as a starter. The Lions won their last three games to qualify for the playoffs after Edmonton lost their final game of the season, but lost in double overtime to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
in the West Semi-Final game.
, in which they faced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The game was played in the Lions' home stadium of BC Place. The BC Lions won the Grey Cup, beating Winnipeg by a score of 34–23.
F = Points For, A = Points Against
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...
team competing in the West Division of 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....
(CFL). Based in 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,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, the Lions play their home games at 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...
in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954 to 1982. Due to the installation of a retractable roof at BC Place, the Lions played at a temporary stadium located at Empire Field
Empire Field
Empire Field was a temporary outdoor football and soccer stadium built at the former location of Empire Stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It served as the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from the summer of 2010 until the fall of 2011 when the installation...
for the 2010 season
2010 BC Lions season
The 2010 BC Lions season was the 53rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 57th overall. The Lions attempted to improve upon their 8–10 record from 2009 and win their 6th Grey Cup championship, but they lost in the West Semi-Final....
and for the first five regular season games of the 2011 season
2011 BC Lions season
The 2011 BC Lions season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 58th overall. The Lions finished in 1st place in the West division with an 11–7 record. The Lions won their 6th Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34–23. The Lions...
.
The Lions played their first season in 1954
1954 BC Lions season
The 1954 BC Lions season was the inaugural season for the Lions. By Bailey scored the first touchdown in BC Lions history in a 8–6 loss to Winnipeg on August 28, 1954....
, making them the youngest franchise in the CFL, and have played every season since. As such, they are the oldest professional sports franchise in the city of 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,...
and in the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. They have appeared in the league's 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...
championship game ten times, winning six of those games, with their most recent championship occurring in 2011
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...
. The Lions are also the only Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
team to have won 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...
at home, having done so in 1994
82nd Grey Cup
The 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club and the BC Lions at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States-vs-Canada matchup...
& 2011
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...
, while also becoming the only team to beat an American based franchise
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
in a championship game, a feat accomplished in the former game. The Lions currently have the second longest active playoff streak, and fourth longest of all time, having made the playoffs for 15 straight seasons.
Team facts
- Name: The team is named for The LionsThe Lions (Peaks)The Lions are a pair of pointed peaks along the North Shore Mountains in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They can be seen from much of the Greater Vancouver area, as far as Robert Burnaby Park in East Burnaby, south to parts of Surrey, and from the west on the Howe Sound Islands and the...
, a pair of mountain peaks overlooking the city. - Helmet design: White background, with a black "BC" and a profile of a mountain lion's head (orange).
- Uniform colours: Orange, Black, White
- Stadiums: Empire StadiumEmpire Stadium, VancouverEmpire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
(1954–1982), BC Place StadiumBC Place StadiumBC 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...
(1983–2009, 2011–present), Empire FieldEmpire FieldEmpire Field was a temporary outdoor football and soccer stadium built at the former location of Empire Stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It served as the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from the summer of 2010 until the fall of 2011 when the installation...
(2010–2011). - Western regular season championships: 12—19631963 BC Lions seasonThe 1963 BC Lions finished the season in 1st place in the West Division for the first time ever with a 12–4 record. Over the course of the season, the Lions' defense allowed an average of only 14.5 points per game while running back Willie Fleming rushed for 1,234 yards and an astounding 9.7 yard...
, 19641964 BC Lions seasonThe 1964 BC Lions finished the season in 1st place in the West Division with a 11–2–3 record, the fewest losses in one season in team history. Of the eight retired numbers in team history, four of those players played on the 1964 team. The Lions began the season undefeated in ten games and were...
, 19831983 BC Lions seasonThe 1983 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 11–5 record. They appeared in the Grey Cup but lost to the Toronto Argonauts.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-1983 CFL All-Stars:...
, 19841984 BC Lions seasonThe 1984 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–3–1 record. They appeared in the West Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-Awards and records:...
, 19851985 BC Lions seasonThe 1985 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–3 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-Awards and records:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mervyn Fernandez...
, 19871987 BC Lions seasonThe 1987 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–6 record. They appeared in the West Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-1987 CFL All-Stars:*WR – Jim Sandusky, CFL All-Star...
, 19991999 BC Lions seasonThe 1999 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record. They appeared in the West Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-West Final:-References:...
, 20042004 BC Lions seasonThe 2004 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record. They won the West Final and appeared in the 92nd Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:- Passing:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:...
, 20052005 BC Lions seasonThe 2005 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–6 record. They appeared in the West Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:- Passing:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:...
, 20062006 BC Lions seasonThe 2006 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record and won the 94th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:...
, 2007, 20112011 BC Lions seasonThe 2011 BC Lions season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 58th overall. The Lions finished in 1st place in the West division with an 11–7 record. The Lions won their 6th Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34–23. The Lions...
. - Western Division Championships: 10—196351st Grey CupThe 51st Grey Cup took place on November 30, 1963, at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 1963 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 21-10, in front of 36,545 spectators....
, 196452nd Grey CupThe 52nd Grey Cup was hosted at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario on November 28, 1964. The BC Lions defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-24, the first Grey Cup victory for BC.-Bill Munsey on offence and defence:...
, 198371st Grey CupThe 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
, 198573rd Grey CupThe 73rd Grey Cup was the 1985 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, between the BC Lions and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, 198876th Grey CupThe 76th Grey Cup was the 1988 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, between the BC Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers defeated the favoured Lions 22-21...
, 199482nd Grey CupThe 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club and the BC Lions at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States-vs-Canada matchup...
, 200088th Grey CupThe 88th Grey Cup was held in 2000 in Calgary. The BC Lions won the game 28-26 over the Montreal Alouettes...
, 200492nd Grey CupThe 92nd Grey Cup game took place on November 21, 2004, at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. The game decided the championship of the 2004 Canadian Football League season...
, 200694th Grey CupThe 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
, 201199th Grey CupThe 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...
. - Grey CupGrey CupThe 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...
championships: 6—196452nd Grey CupThe 52nd Grey Cup was hosted at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario on November 28, 1964. The BC Lions defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-24, the first Grey Cup victory for BC.-Bill Munsey on offence and defence:...
, 198573rd Grey CupThe 73rd Grey Cup was the 1985 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, between the BC Lions and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, 199482nd Grey CupThe 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club and the BC Lions at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States-vs-Canada matchup...
, 200088th Grey CupThe 88th Grey Cup was held in 2000 in Calgary. The BC Lions won the game 28-26 over the Montreal Alouettes...
, 200694th Grey CupThe 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
, 201199th Grey CupThe 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...
. - 2011 Regular Season2011 BC Lions seasonThe 2011 BC Lions season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 58th overall. The Lions finished in 1st place in the West division with an 11–7 record. The Lions won their 6th Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34–23. The Lions...
Record: 11 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties. - Fight songFight songA fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
: "Roar, You Lions, Roar" composed by Dal Richards and his OrchestraDal RichardsDal Murray Richards, CM, OBC is a Canadian big band leader known as the King of Swing.His saxophone and clarinet were first heard in the Sandy DeSantis and Stan Paton bands...
The 1950s
In 1951, a group led by Ken Stauffer and Tiny Radar were inspired by Vancouver Sun columnist Andy Lytle's article to start a football team in Vancouver (an early team known as the Vancouver GrizzliesVancouver Grizzlies (football)
Vancouver Grizzlies was a Canadian football team that played a single season in 1941 in the Western Interprovincial Football Union, the fore-runner of the Canadian Football League West Division. League play was suspended in 1942 due to the Second World War and the team did not return when WIFU...
had played one season in the Western Interprovincial Football Union
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:...
in 1941). The ownership group sent their representatives to the off-season WIFU meetings to initiate Vancouver’s bid for a team. The representatives (Radar and Orville Burke) were told to return to the meetings the following year with a $25,000 good-faith bond if they could generate sufficient interest in the Vancouver area. The first meetings were held at the Arctic Club in November and a committee headed by Burke and Harry Spring of the Meraloma Rugby
Meraloma Rugby
Meraloma Rugby Club is a Canadian rugby union team based in Vancouver, British Columbia.The Meraloma Club was established in 1923...
Club, set out to sell memberships at $20 each. They would carry the Black and Orange of the Meralomas founded in 1923 over to the professional team.
Even though Burke, Vic Spencer and John Davidson offered the good-faith bond to the WIFU in 1952, the idea of having a Vancouver team was rejected when both Winnipeg and Regina voted against the idea of a fifth team. The group in Vancouver, however, did not give up their efforts to have a franchise in the WIFU.
On January 22, 1953, the first annual meeting of the club was held. In that meeting, Arthur E. Mercer was hired as the first team President of the Vancouver franchise. Later in the year Mercer, Bill Morgan, Bill Ralston and Whit Matthews went back to the WlFU meetings. This time they sold the idea of a fifth team on the Canadian west coast, and Vancouver was granted a conditional franchise, on the requirements that they would provide a 15,000 seat stadium, sell at least 6,500 season tickets, and guarantee travel expenses for the visiting teams.
All the pieces began to fall into place when it was announced that Vancouver would host the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
, and that it would mean the building of a new stadium – Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
. By Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
of 1953, Annis Stukus
Annis Stukus
Annis Paul Stukus was a Canadian football player, coach and general manager, and ice hockey general manager....
was then lured away from 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...
, to return to the West to become the first Public Relations Manager, General Manager and Head Coach of the franchise.
Naming the team
During the rest of 1953, a fan contest was held by all of the local media to pick the new nickname of the football franchise. In this contest, a new nickname was chosen because it represented a local landmark and legend of the area. The nickname of the team was based on The LionsThe Lions (Peaks)
The Lions are a pair of pointed peaks along the North Shore Mountains in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They can be seen from much of the Greater Vancouver area, as far as Robert Burnaby Park in East Burnaby, south to parts of Surrey, and from the west on the Howe Sound Islands and the...
, a twin mountain peak that can be seen toward the north of 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,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The twin mountain peaks name was based on legend that the mountains looked like two lions guarding the city. Through this landmark and legend, the "Lions" nickname became the winner in the fan contest to become the new name of the franchise.
After the fan contest, it was revealed that the 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,...
label would not be part of the team name. Even though the franchise is based in 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,...
and the "Lions" name was based on a local landmark and legend, Annis Stukus decided to reject the idea of naming the team as the Vancouver Lions. Instead, Stukus decided that the team name should represent and embrace the entire Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. In the end, Stukus introduced the team to the entire Canadian football world as the BC Lions.
It is also important to recognize the connection of the Mountain Lion to the name of the team, as it appears in the BC Lions' logo. The Mountain Lion (or Cougar) had an influence on the name of the team because it is renowned for its speed, courage and strength and is carefully respected by British Columbia's citizens as a remarkable but dangerous predator.
1954, the first season
1954 in Canadian football
The 1954 season of Canadian football is widely considered to be the first season of the modern era of Canadian football, although the Canadian Football League would not be officially founded for another four years.-Canadian Football News in 1954:...
, Stukus sold football fever on the streets of Vancouver and put together a team that made history when they stepped on the field of Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
for their first ever home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
on Saturday, August 28, 1954. In that game, fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Byron (By) Bailey
Byron Bailey
Byron "By" Ladare Bailey born to Rollin Edward and Cora Helen . Bailey, was a professional American and Canadian football player, primarily as a fullback and defensive back with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Bailey is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of...
scored the first ever touchdown in franchise history in an 8–6 loss to the Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. The Lions were only able to manage a 1–15–0 regular season record in their 1954 inaugural season. The team recorded their first franchise win against 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...
on September 18, 1954 at Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
, with By Bailey scoring the winning touchdown in a 9–4 Lions' victory. On that night, the win caused the B.C. faithful to celebrate in the streets. However, celebrations like this were not common for Lions' fans during the 1950s.
In 1955, during their second year as a franchise, the Lions again failed to make the playoffs. Even though a playoff appearance did not materialize, the team was still able to show signs of improvement, finishing with a 5–11–0 regular season record. Despite this, Lions fans were surprised at the move of the team directors to ask Annis Stukus to step down as the team's Head Coach in October 1955. While fan reaction to his dismissal was loud and divided, Stukus still asked the fans to continue their support of the BC Lions. Annis Stukus' assistant Clem Crowe
Clem Crowe
Clem F. Crowe was an American football and basketball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Saint Vincent College , Xavier University , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 71–66–5...
was later named as the new head coach for the upcoming 1956 season.
In the 1956 season
1956 in Canadian football
-Canadian Football News in 1956:On Sunday, January 22, the Canadian Football Council was formed in Winnipeg and the national negotiation list was introduced. G. Sydney Halter, QC was named as the Canadian Football Council Commissioner....
, the Lions would finish fourth in the West, posting a 6–10–0 regular season record in Crowe's first season. Although this was a one game improvement from the 1955 season, they were still not able to make the playoffs.
After the 1956 season, Bill McMahan assumed the role as team president. One of his first duties involved McMahan bringing back Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
native Herb Capozzi from the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
and hiring him as the new General Manager. However, BC continued to struggle on the field, finishing the 1957 regular season
1957 in Canadian football
-Canadian Football News in 1957:The Canadian Football Council allowed interference to be legal up to third 5-yard stripe by eligible blockers.The 45th annual Grey Cup game was televised live from coast to coast in Canada for the first time...
with a 4–11–1 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
A year later, the on-field performance went from bad to worse for the Lions as they opened the 1958 season
1958 CFL season
The 1958 CFL season was the fifth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it would become known as the inaugural season of the Canadian Football League .-CFL news in 1958:...
with five straight losses. The team's on-field struggles caused Capozzi to fire Clem Crowe as the head coach and replace him with Danny Edwards, who returned after playing with the club during the 1957 season. The team was only able to manage three wins during the year, causing them to miss the playoffs once again. Although it was a season to forget, rookies Tom Hinton
Tom Hinton
William Thomas "Tom" Hinton is a former Canadian Football League offensive guard who played nine years for the BC Lions from 1958 to 1966. In 1991, he was enshrined into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-College career:...
and Sonny Homer
Sonny Homer
Lawrence "Sonny" Homer was a professional Canadian football wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions. He was a part of the Lions' 1964 Grey Cup victory....
showed promising signs of being future football stars.
During the off-season, Capozzi improved the team for the 1959 season
1959 CFL season
The 1959 CFL season was the sixth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it was the second season of the Canadian Football League.-Final regular season standings:...
in the following ways; first by hiring Wayne Robinson
Wayne Robinson
Wayne L. Robinson is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1952 through 1956. He played college football at the University of Minnesota and was drafted by the Eagles in the eighth round of the 1952 NFL Draft...
from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
to become the new head coach, then bringing in a corps of veteran players to add more experience to the team. This was followed by the signing of rookie running back Willie "The Wisp" Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
to the team, adding more youth to play alongside Hinton and Homer. Capozzi's moves proved successful in the end. In 1959
1959 CFL season
The 1959 CFL season was the sixth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it was the second season of the Canadian Football League.-Final regular season standings:...
, the Leos managed their first winning season with a 9–7–0 regular season record and were able to make their first playoff appearance with a final game triumph over 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...
at Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
. The Lions first playoff appearance ended with two straight losses to 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...
. However, the team's future looked bright heading into the 1960s.
The 1960s
The high hopes of the Lions heading into the 1960 season1960 CFL season
The 1960 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 7th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 3rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1960:...
faded when the team finished with a disappointing 5–9–2 record, which again eliminated them from playoff contention. It was disappointing considering that the team added rookie talents Steve Cotter, Lonnie Dennis, Jim Carphin and Neal Beaumont to a team that had a strong core of veteran and young players from the previous season. The only positive for the Lions happened at the end of the season when Beaumont won WIFU Outstanding Rookie of the Year honors
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
, becoming the first Lions player to win a major 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....
award.
The Lions started the 1961
1961 CFL season
The 1961 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 8th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 4th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1961:...
season by signing former Minnesota Golden Gopher
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
Tom Brown to a contract, but the team continued performing poorly on the field. In September, the team made a major trade with 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...
, which was considered to be a major gamble. In the trade, the Lions got quarterback Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
in the deal in exchange while four Lions' players were sent to the 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...
. A week later, Wayne Robinson was relieved of his duties as Head Coach and was replaced by Assistant Coach, Dave Skrien
Dave Skrien
David A. Skrien was a Canadian Football League player and coach.Skrien graduated from Morris High School and Minnesota where he played fullback and linebacker. He played two seasons in the CFL before becoming a coach.Skrien's first coaching job was at Albert Lea High School where he spent one...
. The year ended with a dismal 1–13–2 record.
In 1962
1962 CFL season
The 1962 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 9th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 5th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1962:The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was established in Hamilton....
, Dave Skrien
Dave Skrien
David A. Skrien was a Canadian Football League player and coach.Skrien graduated from Morris High School and Minnesota where he played fullback and linebacker. He played two seasons in the CFL before becoming a coach.Skrien's first coaching job was at Albert Lea High School where he spent one...
made an immediate impact in his first full season as head coach. Even though the Lions finished the season with a 7–9 record, there were noticeable improvements. After eight years of hard work, the Leos were on the verge of success for the first time.
Before the start of the 1963 season
1963 CFL season
The 1963 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 10th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 6th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1963:...
, new optimism was voiced at the chances that the Lions could be a strong contender for 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...
, which was to be played at Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
. With a veteran roster headlined by Joe Kapp and Willie Fleming, the Lions would end up finishing the season in first place for the first time in franchise history with a 12–4 record. After a 2–1 series victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in the Western Finals, the Lions lined up in the 51st Grey Cup
51st Grey Cup
The 51st Grey Cup took place on November 30, 1963, at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 1963 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 21-10, in front of 36,545 spectators....
game against 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...
. However, their momentum would be stalled as a series of injuries affected the team's performance in the championship game.
In the Grey Cup game, star running back Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
was injured after he received a late, out of bounds hit by Ti-Cat
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...
defensive tackle Angelo Mosca
Angelo Mosca
Angelo Mosca is a former Canadian Football League player and professional wrestler. He is also known by the wrestling nicknames King Kong Mosca and The Mighty Hercules...
. This proved to be a huge blow to the Lions' chances of pulling out a victory. Hamilton
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...
won the 51st Grey Cup
51st Grey Cup
The 51st Grey Cup took place on November 30, 1963, at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 1963 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 21-10, in front of 36,545 spectators....
with a 21–10 victory, but the following year
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
, the Lions would get their revenge.
After the season, Joe Kapp became the first BC Lion to receive the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division...
as the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference
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 Tom Brown became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-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 addition, Dave Skrien became the first Lions head coach to receive the Annis Stukus Trophy
Annis Stukus Trophy
The Annis Stukus Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, which is presented annually by the Edmonton Eskimos Alumni Association to the Coach of the Year, as determined by the members of the Football Reporters of Canada...
as Coach of the Year, and fullback/kicker Peter Kempf also became the second Lion to win the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
for Rookie of the Year honours in the Western Conference
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:...
.
1964 champions
After achieving an 11–2–3 regular season record in 1964
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
, and defeating 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...
in a three-game series in the Western Conference Finals, the Lions would advance to meet 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...
in a Grey Cup
52nd Grey Cup
The 52nd Grey Cup was hosted at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario on November 28, 1964. The BC Lions defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-24, the first Grey Cup victory for BC.-Bill Munsey on offence and defence:...
rematch at 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...
's 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 the rematch, BC would get their revenge as Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
, Ken Appleby, Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
, and Bill Munsey, who gave a two-touchdown, two-way starring effort, helped the Lions to their first Grey Cup victory
52nd Grey Cup
The 52nd Grey Cup was hosted at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario on November 28, 1964. The BC Lions defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-24, the first Grey Cup victory for BC.-Bill Munsey on offence and defence:...
. With the addition of two field goals and an extra touchdown by the field goal unit, the Lions won the Grey Cup for the first time in franchise history with a 34–24 victory. The win would end 11 years of waiting for the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
faithful. At the end of the 1964 season
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
, defensive lineman Tom Brown was named a CFL All-Star, a back-to-back Schenley award winner as CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Lineman Award was an award annually given to the best defensive player or offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League from the year 1955 to 1973...
, and won the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division...
as the Most Valuable Player in the Western Conference. Joining Brown as All-Stars on defence were Mike Cacic
Mike Cacic
Mike Cacic is a former defensive lineman who played 10 years in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions from 1957-1967.He was born in the east end in Vancouver of Croatian heritage .He never played college football , but played in the junior league in the Lower Mainland near...
, 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...
, and Munsey. Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
and tackle Lonnie Dennis
Lonnie Dennis
Lonnie Dennis is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's the British Columbia Lions. After playing college football at Brigham Young University, Dennis spent his entire 9-year CFL career as an offensive lineman for the Lions...
were named CFL All-Stars on offence.
Any hopes of the BC Lions becoming a dynasty team after their Grey Cup championship season quickly disappeared in 1965
1965 CFL season
The 1965 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 12th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 8th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1965:...
as the team started to recede back to the basement of the Western Conference. Before the beginning of the season, By Bailey left the team and the entire roster was starting to age as the Lions finished the season with a 6–9–1 regular season record. As a result, the team missed the playoffs one year after being on top of the CFL world. It was clear that head coach Dave Skrien would never again experience the same success as he achieved the previous two seasons.
The situation for the Lions went from bad to worse in the 1966 season
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:...
, as the team would go on to post a 5–11 record that year. Due to the dreadful team performance, Herb Capozzi was fired as the Lions' General Manager after nine seasons as G.M. and just two years after taking the franchise to consecutive Grey Cup appearances. In addition, Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
and Tom Hinton
Tom Hinton
William Thomas "Tom" Hinton is a former Canadian Football League offensive guard who played nine years for the BC Lions from 1958 to 1966. In 1991, he was enshrined into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-College career:...
decided to retire, and Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
left the team to continue his playing career in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
In the 1967 season
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:...
, Denny Vietch became the new General Manager of the club. Denny Veitch's first move was to fire Skrien after the Lions lost their first three games of the season. Veitch named Jim Champion
Jim Champion
James Henry Champion is a retired American and Canadian Football player and coach.A graduate of Mississippi State, Champion spent two seasons as a linebacker and offensive and defensive tackle for the New York Yanks of the National Football League.After his playing career, Champion became head...
as head coach, but the Lions would end up finishing the season with a 3–12–1 record. The only two positives for the club were two rookies; wide receiver 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...
and kicker Ted Gerela
Ted Gerela
Ted Gerela is a former award winning kicker in the Canadian Football League.Gerela, a graduate of Washington State University joined the British Columbia Lions in 1967 and played with them for 7 seasons...
, who would end up winning the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
as the Western Conference's Rookie of the Year.
In the 1968 season
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...
, 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....
legend Jackie Parker
Jackie Parker
John Dickerson "Jackie" Parker was an American football player who became an All-American in college football and an outstanding professional football player in the Canadian Football League at the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play...
was hired as an Assistant Coach for the Lions and even came out of retirement to suit up in a Lions uniform for eight games as the quarterback. However, the Lions finished the season with a 4–11–1 record, again mising the playoffs. Despite the poor record, seven of those games were lost by less than a touchdown, which showed some indication that the team was improving.
Eleven games into the 1969 season
1969 CFL season
The 1969 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 16th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the 12th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1969:...
, after stumbling to a 1–10 record, Jim Champion was fired as head coach and replaced by assistant Jackie Parker. The Lions responded by winning four of their last five games, and with a 5–11 record took third place in the 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:...
. The Lions made the playoffs, but were beaten in 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...
by the 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...
in the semi-finals by a score of 35–21. Individually, Dave Easley won CFL and Western Division Rookie of the Year
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
honours, and 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...
was a Schenley Finalist.
The 1970s
1970 CFL season
The 1970 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 17th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 13th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1970:...
, the first artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
in Canada was installed at Empire Stadium. 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...
became the first Lion to win the Schenley Outstanding Canadian Award, but the team finished fourth place in the Western Division at 6–10, and missed the playoffs.
The 1971 season
1971 CFL season
The 1971 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the eighteenth season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the fourteenth Canadian Football League season.-CFL News for 1971:...
began with a major off-season restructuring that saw Head Coach Jackie Parker
Jackie Parker
John Dickerson "Jackie" Parker was an American football player who became an All-American in college football and an outstanding professional football player in the Canadian Football League at the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play...
elevated to General Manager, and replaced by former Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
coach Eagle Keys. Don Moorhead
Don Moorhead
Don Moorhead is a retired American football player. He was the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines football team in 1969 and 1970 and for the BC Lions from 1971 to 1975...
was recruited at quarterback, and a total of fifty-three different players put on a Lions uniform in a year of change, including movie/TV personality Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
, at linebacker. Running back Jim Evenson
Jim Evenson
Jim Evenson was a running back who played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions and the Ottawa Rough Riders. Evenson won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy in 1971. He was a part of the Rough Riders 1973 Grey Cup winning team. Evenson played college football at...
finished the season with 1,237 yards to lead the Western Division in rushing, and won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
Eddie James Memorial Trophy
The Eddie James Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the leading rusher in the West Division. Unlike other CFL trophies, there is no equivalent for the East Division....
. The Lions again finished the season at fourth place in the West Division with a 6–9–1 record, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Parker became the first Lion player 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 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:...
, the Lions added new players such as defensive back Rocky Long
Rocky Long
-External links:*...
, running back Johnny Musso, linebacker Ray Nettles
Ray Nettles
Ray Nettles was a football linebacker at the University of Tennessee who played professional Canadian football from 1972-1980. He was a five-time Canadian Football League All-Star and Hall of Famer.-Early years:...
and centre Al Wilson
Al Wilson (CFL football player)
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...
, but finished fifth in their division with a 5–11 record. 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...
won his second Schenley Award as Outstanding Canadian.
The Lions' fortunes improved during the 1973 season
1973 CFL season
The 1973 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 20th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 16th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1973:...
, as they posted a 5–9–2 record, good enough for a third place finish in the Western Division and a playoff berth, the first in four years. The Lions lost in the semi-finals to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
33–13. Linebacker Ray Nettles won the CFL's Outstanding Defensive Player award.
In 1974
1974 CFL season
The 1974 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 21st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 17th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1974:...
, the Lions showed continued improvement in posting an 8–8 record, and again returned to the playoffs for the second straight year. They faced familiar foe Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in the semi-finals, where they lost again, 24–14. Second-year running back Lou Harris replaced injured Johnny Musso to lead the Lions in both rushing and receiving, winning CFL All-Star honours in the process. Annis Stukus
Annis Stukus
Annis Paul Stukus was a Canadian football player, coach and general manager, and ice hockey general manager....
became the first Lion 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...
as a builder.
The Lions began the 1975 season
1975 CFL season
The 1975 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 22nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 18th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1975:...
with a change at quarterback, as Eric Guthrie
Eric Guthrie
Eric Guthrie is a Canadian-born quarterback who played in the World Football League and Canadian Football League. He played for the Detroit Wheels in 1974, the BC Lions from 1975–1976, the Montreal Alouettes in 1977, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1977.-References:...
and Peter Liske
Peter Liske
Peter A. "Pete" Liske, is a former American football quarterback and later a university athletics administrator.-High school and college football careers:...
platooned at the position, replacing Don Moorhead. They lost five of their first six games before a major change was announced in August. General Manager Jackie Parker and Head Coach Eagle Keys were both dismissed, with Bob Ackles moving up from his assistant General Manager post and Cal Murphy
Cal Murphy
Cal Murphy is a Scout for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Murphy gained notoriety in the Canadian Football League as a coach and/or General Manager for nine Grey Cup Championship teams, earning a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-Early life:Murphy, one of seven...
elevated to Head Coach. The Lions played .500 football the rest of the season, but finished in fifth place in their division with a 6–10 record.
The Lions' 1976 season
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:...
concluded with a 5–9–2 fourth place finish. Individually, John Sciarra became the second Lion to win the Schenley award as the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie, while Bill Baker won the Schenley Defensive Player award. Harry Spring became the second Lion inducted into the 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...
as a builder. Rookies and local talents, linebacker Glen Jackson and punter/kicker Lui Passaglia
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...
were two other bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.
A complete off-season overhaul in the coaching staff brought Edmonton
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...
assistant Vic Rapp
Vic Rapp
Vic Rapp is a former American and Canadian football coach who served as the head coach of the BC Lions from 1977–1982.-Early career:A graduate of the University of Missouri, Rapp served as the Tigers End coach from 1967-71. In 1972, he became the offensive coordinator of the Canadian Football...
in as the 10th Head Coach of the Lions as they opened their 1977 season
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:...
. A revamped Leos lineup included rookies Leon Bright, John Blain, Ken Hinton, and quarterback Jerry Tagge
Jerry Tagge
Jerry Lee Tagge is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL, WFL, and CFL from 1972-79. He is best known as the quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhusker teams which won national championships in 1970 and 1971....
, as well as several newly acquired veterans. The Lions last-minute heroics earned them the nickname "the Cardiac Kids." They finished with a 10–6 record, good enough for second place in the Western Division (the first time the Lions finished higher than third place since 1964
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
). BC opened the playoffs with a 33–32 upset of the Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
at home before being trounced 38–1 in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
by the 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...
in the Western Division Final. Wide receiver Leon Bright
Leon Bright
Leon "Pop" Bright, Jr. is a former Gridiron football player in the Canadian Football League for four years and in the National Football League for five years....
captured the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award, and Al Wilson
Al Wilson (CFL football player)
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...
became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
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 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:...
, the Lions finished the season at 7–7–2 and in fourth place in their division. Rookie running backs John Henry White and Larry Key provided a much improved rushing game, but depth was still the missing ingredient, as the Leos missed the playoffs. 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:...
also saw the emergence of rookie quarterback Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao is a long-time coach in the Canadian Football League, who last served as a head coach in the CFL for the Ottawa Renegades from 2001–2005....
, the "Throwin' Samoan."
The Lions' 1979 season
1979 CFL season
The 1979 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 26th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 22nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1979:...
began with Jerry Tagge
Jerry Tagge
Jerry Lee Tagge is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL, WFL, and CFL from 1972-79. He is best known as the quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhusker teams which won national championships in 1970 and 1971....
at quarterback, but he eventually missed the second half of the season with an injury that would also end his playing career. Led by Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao is a long-time coach in the Canadian Football League, who last served as a head coach in the CFL for the Ottawa Renegades from 2001–2005....
, the Lions skidded down the stretch, losing five games in a row. Despite this, the team finished third in the Western Division with a 9–6–1 record, making the playoffs. In the semi-finals, the Lions were blasted 37–2 by 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...
. 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...
retired at the end of the season, and Norm Fieldgate
Norm Fieldgate
Norm "Mouse" Fieldgate is a former professional Canadian football player. Fieldgate played defensive end and linebacker with the Canadian Football League BC Lions for his entire 14-year career. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Fieldgate is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the BC...
became the second Lions player to be 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...
. Rising costs and an aging Empire Stadium cast a shadow over future prospects. To head off a crisis, the directors, led by past-President Jack Farley, developed a plan to sell stock and seek a strong partnership with a major corporate sponsor to keep operations viable while waiting for the construction of a new stadium in downtown Vancouver.
The 1980s
1980 CFL season
The 1980 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 27th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 23rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1980:...
, despite a winning record of 8–7–1. Off the field, the decision was made to begin construction of a new indoor stadium in downtown Vancouver.
In 1981
1981 CFL season
The 1981 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 28th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 24th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1981:...
, the Lions returned to the playoffs with a third place divisional finish and a 10–6 record. The team qualified for the playoffs on the final weekend of the season with a victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in a driving rainstorm at Empire Stadium. The key play was a late fourth quarter fumble by Saskatchewan fullback Greg Fieger at the Rider two yard line which the Lions recovered. The Lions turned this into a touchdown two plays later to take the lead for good after Saskatchewan had led for most of the game up to that point. In the playoffs, the Lions again upset the Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
15–11 in the semi-finals before losing a 22–16 heartbreaker in the Western Division Finals to eventual 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 Edmonton
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...
. Paopao and second-year quarterback Roy Dewalt
Roy Dewalt
Roy Dewalt is a former Canadian Football League quarterback who, in a career lasting nine years, played for the BC Lions between 1980 and 1987, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders in 1988....
had wide-out Ty Grey as their deep-threat receiver, while rookie defensive back Larry Crawford led the CFL in interceptions. The Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. is a Canadian beer company founded by John Kinder Labatt in 1847 in London, Ontario. In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew; it is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev...
became the Lions' major sponsor in a marketing agreement that brought much needed financial stability to the team.
Standout wide receiver Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez
Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
was among the rookies who joined the Lions 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...
, winning the Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
as the Western Division's most outstanding rookie. Despite a 9–7 record, the Lions finished fourth in their division and failed to make the playoffs. As in the previous four seasons, the Lions got off to a fast start only to stumble badly after Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
. In most cases after this point in the season, the Lions would lose crucial divisional games by a very large margin. Due to this disturbing trend, Head Coach Vic Rapp and his coaching staff were dismissed at the end of the season. Lions' running back great Willie "The Wisp" Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
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...
.
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:...
, former Edmonton
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...
defensive coordinator Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
was named as BC's new Head Coach. The quarterback-receiver combination of Dewalt
Roy Dewalt
Roy Dewalt is a former Canadian Football League quarterback who, in a career lasting nine years, played for the BC Lions between 1980 and 1987, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders in 1988....
to Fernandez led the Lions' attack, while the defence set a new CFL record of 42 interceptions. The Lions finished 11–5 for the second-best record in team history and returned to first place for the first time since the 1964 season
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
. 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...
, the new home of the Lions, opened in June, 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:...
. They stormed into the playoffs, defeating Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
in the Western Division finals, 39–21. The Western Division champions hosted 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 the 71st Grey Cup
71st Grey Cup
The 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
, ending a 19-year absence from the classic. BC Place fans watched the 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...
defeat their hometown team in a taut, 18–17 contest.
In 1984
1984 CFL season
The 1984 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 31st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 27th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1984:...
, the Lions' biggest trade since the Joe Kapp deal brought CFL All-Star James "Quick" Parker
James Parker (football player)
James "Quick" Parker, is a former Canadian football player who was a leading defensive player in the Canadian Football League...
to their defence from Edmonton
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 Lions again finished first in the Western Division with a league leading 12–3–1 record, but the second straight first place finish was dampened by the late season loss of quarterback Roy Dewalt to injury. In a repeat Western Finals matchup at BC Place, Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
triumphed 31–14 and went on to win their first Grey Cup
72nd Grey Cup
The 72nd Grey Cup was the 1984 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
since 1962
1962 CFL season
The 1962 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 9th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 5th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1962:The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was established in Hamilton....
. Average crowds in excess of 40,000 in each of the first two years at BC Place reversed the team's financial fortunes, with stockholders receiving early repayment. Lions' greats Joe Kapp and linebacker Tom Brown were 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...
.
1985 champions
The Lions' 1985 season1985 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:...
began with much promise. Mervyn Fernandez shattered several team receiving records and second year receiver Jim Sandusky broke the 1,000 yard mark. Rookie defensive tackle Mike Gray was the most visible of several rookies. With depth and few injuries, the final season record of 13–3 was the best in team history, bringing the Lions their third consecutive first place divisional finish. The Lions avenged their prior year's playoff defeat by handling Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
42–22, despite the fact that the Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
had won both regular season meetings and wide receiver Fernandez was out with a leg injury. One week later, the same Lions line-up met Hamilton
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...
at the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. 21 years of waiting ended with a 37–24 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...
championship victory over the 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...
in the 73rd Grey Cup
73rd Grey Cup
The 73rd Grey Cup was the 1985 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, between the BC Lions and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
. Quarterback Roy Dewalt won the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award on offence, while defensive end James "Quick" Parker took home the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award on defence. Kicker Lui Passaglia
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...
was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian. Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
won his first CFL Coach of the Year award
Annis Stukus Trophy
The Annis Stukus Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, which is presented annually by the Edmonton Eskimos Alumni Association to the Coach of the Year, as determined by the members of the Football Reporters of Canada...
. Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award and defensive tackle Mike Gray
Mike Gray (Canadian football)
Mike Gray is a former award winning and all-star Canadian Football League defensive tackle and Grey Cup champion.After playing his college football at the University of Oregon Gray started pro career with the British Columbia Lions in 1985. He played 16 games and had 13 sacks, good for an all-star...
won both the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award and the Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
. Linebacker Tyrone Crews won the first of two consecutive CFL Players Association Outstanding Community Service Awards
Tom Pate Memorial Award
Every year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
. The CFL champions returned to 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,...
for a victory celebration that swept across the entire province
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Defending their championship in 1986
1986 CFL season
The 1986 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1986:...
proved even harder than winning it the year before, as the Lions battled the 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...
, Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, injuries, and the CFL's newly extended 18 game regular season. The Lions reached the halfway mark at 7–2 losing at Edmonton
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...
, and at home to 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...
. The Lions then ran their record to 9–2 before hitting a four game losing streak, started by back to back losses to Edmonton
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 Lions rebounded to win back to back games against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
to finish the season 12–6, and second in the Western Division. Under the new playoff format, the Lions met the Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
for a third straight week, winning the Semi-Finals 21–14, before travelling to Edmonton
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...
for the Lions' first Western Final road game in four years. The Lions lost their fourth game of the year to the Eskimos 41–5, ending the Lions' hopes of defending their title in front of a home crowd at BC Place
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...
. The 1985 Grey Cup title, the prospect of defending the title at home, and the excitement in the area generated from Expo 86
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
helped the Lions outdraw the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in total attendance in 1986, despite the fact the Lions had only 9 regular season home games compared to the Canucks' 40. Off the field, the big news of the year was the departure of General Manager Bob Ackles
Bob Ackles
Robin Ackles was a Canadian Football League executive for the BC Lions. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002....
to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, ending Ackles' 33 year association with the Lions (he would return in 2002
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
). Ackles was replaced by former Montreal
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
General Manager Joe Galat in August, 1986
1986 CFL season
The 1986 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1986:...
.
The Lions began their 1987
1987 CFL season
The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1987:...
campaign without the services of stand out wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez, who left during the offseason to join the Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The season began with a four game winning streak, but the team seemed to lose focus through the middle of the season, looking invincible in one game and lethargic the next. Entering the last half of the year, the Lions were still in contention for first place but not playing like a team driving for a title. When the team suffered a three-game losing streak, General Manager Joe Galat fired Don Matthews, the winningest coach in Lions history with just four games to go. The Lions instantly responded to new Coach Larry Donovan
Larry Donovan
Larry Donovan is a former head football coach for the Montana Grizzlies and BC Lions.A 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Donovan served as an assistant at Iowa, South Dakota, Washington State, and Kansas State before becoming Montana's head coach on December 15, 1979...
, winning the final four games including a thrilling come-from-behind 33–32 victory over Edmonton
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...
at Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
that many observers called the CFL's greatest comeback ever. The win gave the Lions first place in the Western Division for the fourth time in five years with a 12–6 record. Home field advantage at BC Place in the Western Finals was not enough however, as the Lions fell to the eventual 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 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...
, 31–7.
The CFL's competition cap forced the Lions to start the 1988 season
1988 CFL season
The 1988 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1988:...
with 22 new faces in their lineup, one of which was star quarterback Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan is a former quarterback, coach, and executive in the Canadian Football League who is currently a CFL sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN...
, acquired in a trade with Edmonton
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...
. Despite the large number of new players, the Lions jelled and finished the regular season with a 10–8 record. The Lions entered the playoffs with momentum and were touted as Grey Cup favourites. The Leos managed hard-earned playoff victories on the road at Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, beating the Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, 42–18 in the Semi-Finals, before defeating the 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...
in the Western Division Finals at Commonwealth Stadium, 37–19. That set the stage for the 76th Grey Cup Championship Game
76th Grey Cup
The 76th Grey Cup was the 1988 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, between the BC Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers defeated the favoured Lions 22-21...
against the Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, in front of a crowd in excess of 50,000 in unseasonably mild but windy conditions at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. The lead changed hands several times during the hard fought contest. The Leos drove to the Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
seven-yard line in the final minutes only to have Matt Dunigan's pass deflected by two defenders and intercepted to snuff out the drive. The Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
went on to win the Cup, 22–21.
Buoyed by their 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...
appearance the previous season, the Lions entered the 1989 season
1989 CFL season
The 1989 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 36th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 32nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1989:...
with much optimism. However, the team opened the campaign with a loss to Edmonton
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...
in Commonwealth Stadium, followed by three more losses before Coach Larry Donovan was fired and replaced by General Manager Joe Galat. After dropping their fifth straight game to the Eskimos, the Lions put together a four-game winning streak, fuelling playoff hopes. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
shattered those hopes in back to back games, rolling over the Leos 53–34 in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, and then edging the Lions 24–20 in an overtime contest in Vancouver. Prior to the Winnipeg home game, new owner Murray Pezim and his minority partners, ex-NFL all-star Mark Gastineau
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
and his wife Brigette Nielsen were introduced to the home fans. The Lions never did get back on track, finishing the year with a disappointing 7–11 record, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 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...
. Bright spots included running back Darrell Wallace, who won the Western Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
as Most Outstanding Rookie (Wallace was second in the CFL in total offensive yardage), and quarterback Matt Dunigan who won the CFL Players Association Outstanding Community Service Award
Tom Pate Memorial Award
Every year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
.
The 1990s
In his first full season as owner, Pezim made big changes to the look of the team. The team ditched its predominantly orange and white uniform design to black with silver helmets and pants. Under new Head Coach Lary Kuharich and General Manager Joe KappJoe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
, the Lions generated a good deal of preseason hype in 1990
1990 CFL season
The 1990 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 37th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 33rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1990:J...
with the signings of West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
quarterback Major Harris
Major Harris
Major Harris is a former college football quarterback for West Virginia University during the 1980s. Harris was a 1989 All American and finished third and fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1988 and 1989, respectively. He was also the ECAC Player of the Year in 1988 and 1989...
, who was fourth in 1989 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting, and quarterback Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
. Minority owner Mark Gastineau even returned to active duty, but abandoned his disastrous comeback attempt early in the season. However, the publicity did not translate into on-field victories and turmoil plagued the team. Two coaches left early in the season amid controversy. The Lions tied their first game against 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...
in the dying seconds of the contest as Doug Flutie tossed a "Hail Mary" pass to Ray Alexander in the end zone. The Lions kept close in every game, winning a tight one against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
at home on a last-second Passaglia field goal, while losing to Hamilton
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...
in the final seconds in the next contest. The eastern road trip to Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
and 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...
, during which the Lions lost both games, spelled the beginning of the end for the new coach and general manager. The following week, the Leos dropped another one to the Argos, 49–19, and one week after that, another former Lions great, Jim "Dirty Thirty" 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...
, was behind the bench as interim head coach. Bob O'Billovich
Bob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
took over as Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach on September 14, 1990 and promptly guided the team to a strong 34–4 victory over Hamilton
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...
. The Lions gained stability as the season wore on, and although they missed the playoffs, "Obie's" charges went 4–3 over the last seven games of the season, and their strong finish fuelled hopes for a much brighter 1991 season
1991 CFL season
The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:...
. Highlights of the year included Lui Passaglia
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...
's new professional football scoring record, as he booted his 2,238th point, finishing the year with 2,312 points. Lui also became the longest-playing Lion in history, appearing in a total of 236 games, overtaking Al Wilson's previous mark of 233 games.
The 1991 season
1991 CFL season
The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:...
opened with promise. Although the team dropped a 39–34 decision to 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...
at BC Place, the game was tight and the Lions were in the contest to the very end. It was a harbinger of things to come as Bob O'Billovich
Bob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
's young team with 12 rookies in the lineup, turned virtually every contest into a nail biter, playing in a CFL record six overtime contests, winning three and losing three. Behind the outstanding quarterbacking of Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
, the powerful running of rookie Jon Volpe, the receiving of rookie Matt Clark and veteran Ray Alexander, the Lions were capable of beating any team in the CFL. On August 1, 1991, the 2–1 Lions faced the undefeated 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...
featuring Raghib "the Rocket" Ismail
Raghib Ismail
Raghib Ramadian Ismail is a retired professional American and Canadian football player, who played Wide receiver in both the Canadian Football League and National Football League. He played college football at Notre Dame...
, at 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...
. A huge crowd of 53,527 was on hand. After falling behind 21–3 in the first quarter, the Lions battled back and took control of the game in the final quarter. Toronto managed to tie the game but in overtime, but an electrifying kickoff return for a touchdown by Raymond Ethridge and terrific play by the Lions' special teams spelled the difference. The Lions triumphed 52–41 in overtime. However, the following week, 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...
stopped the Leos, 34–30 in overtime. The Lions offence led the CFL in 11 different categories and the team was in a three-way battle with Calgary and Edmonton for first place in the Western Division, right down to the end of the season. In the last game, the Lions hosted the 2–15 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...
, needing a win to clinch first place. However, the Lions lost and finished third with an 11–7 record. In the Western Semi-Final in Calgary, the Leos took a commanding 31–15 lead by the end of the first half. Although the Lions had never lost a game all year when leading at the half, 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...
stormed back with an incredible third quarter, scoring four touchdowns, and holding off the Lions to win, 43–41. The disappointing loss was at least partially offset by the awarding of three Lions with outstanding player awards. Doug Flutie was named the CFL's Outstanding Player, Jon Volpe won the CFL's Outstanding Rookie award as well as the West Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
and the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
Eddie James Memorial Trophy
The Eddie James Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the leading rusher in the West Division. Unlike other CFL trophies, there is no equivalent for the East Division....
for leading the division in rushing. Offensive tackle Jim Mills
Jim Mills
James Anthony Mills is a former American football and Canadian football offensive lineman....
became the CFL's Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the West Division's 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....
award winner for the second consecutive year. Although quarterback Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
signed as a free agent with the 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...
in the post-season, the acquisition of his replacement from 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...
, Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
, prior to training camp, brought hope of good things to come in 1992
1992 CFL season
-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
.
The Lions entered training camp in 1992
1992 CFL season
-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
with high expectations. Despite the loss of Doug Flutie, Grey Cup winning quarterback Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
was counted on to be an able replacement. In the season opener against Edmonton
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...
, however, Barrett struggled, eventually giving way to back-up Tony Kimbrough in the second half. The 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...
went on to win, 37–26. The following week, the Lions' fortunes continued to spiral downward, this time, on the road, as 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...
crushed the Leos, 61–20. In the third game of the year against Doug Flutie and 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...
, Barrett, who had regained his starting job at quarterback, went down in the third quarter with a separated shoulder. Flutie then guided 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...
to a 37–19 win, and the Lions slid further downhill from there. The team lost eight straight before finally edging out Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
33–27 on September 3, 1992
1992 CFL season
-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
, with Danny Barrett back at the helm. To add insult to injury, off-season and off-field problems emerged to swing focus from football to ownership, as Lions' owner Murray Pezim declared bankruptcy, and the CFL was forced to take over the team. Three weeks later, a new owner was found, as The Brick Furniture Store
The Brick
The Brick Ltd. opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta in 1971, and has grown to become one of Canada's largest volume retailers of furniture, mattresses, appliances and home electronics. The company was founded as The Brick Warehouse LP in Edmonton, Alberta with the first warehouse opening on...
owner Bill Comrie
Bill Comrie
Bill Comrie is a Canadian businessman. He is the founder of The Brick, one of Canada's largest volume retailers of furniture, mattresses, appliances and home electronics. In 2009, Comrie's estimated personal net worth was $415 million....
purchased the Lions from the CFL on September 23, 1992
1992 CFL season
-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
. The team on the field did not respond to the new found ownership stability, losing the final seven games of the year to finish the season with a disappointing 3–15 record. Head Coach O'Billovich and his staff were fired at season's end, and on December 12, 1992
1992 CFL season
-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
, new General Manager Eric Tillman announced the hiring of Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
defensive coordinator Dave Ritchie, as the new Head Coach of the Lions.
The "new", 1993
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
edition of the BC Lions, under the guidance of Head Coach Dave Ritchie and General Manager Eric Tillman signed a number of proven CFL veterans, including Danny McManus
Danny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
, James "Wild" West, Rob Smith, Less Browne, Tyrone Jones, and Sean Foudy. The team also added promising rookies, such as running back Cory Philpot
Cory Philpot
Cory Philpot is a former running back for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at The University of Mississippi. He was two-time winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy for top rusher in 1994 and 1995...
, draft pick Tom Europe, and Derek Grier. A contract dispute with Jon Volpe kept him from training camp, but he was back in the fold by the second game of the season. The Lions struck quickly with wins over Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
and 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...
before grinding to a halt in Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
after only three days rest between road games. However, the Leos would only lose two more games through July, August, and mid-September, cruising to an 8–3 record, the Lions' best start since 1987
1987 CFL season
The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1987:...
. Quarterback Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
broke the CFL's single-game passing yard record, completing 30 passes for 601 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 586 yards set back in 1954 by Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
legend, Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry
Sam Etcheverry
Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry was a professional American and Canadian football player and head coach. Etcheverry played the quarterback position, most famously with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, and was named Canadian football's Most Outstanding Player in 1954...
. The Lions entered the September 18, 1993
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
game against 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...
in a battle for first place in the Western Division. However, Doug Flutie and the Stamps
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...
prevailed, 40–21. The Lions would go on to win only two of the next seven games, sliding to a 64–27 pounding against Sacramento
Sacramento Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
in the regular season finale, for a 10–8 finish. Nevertheless, the Lions made the playoffs after a 1 year absence, facing 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...
in the Western Division's Semi-Finals on November 14, 1993
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
. Despite generating twice as much offence as the Stamps
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...
, the Leos could not score a touchdown and fell 17–9.
1994 champions
The Lions entered the 19941994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
campaign with a new quarterback, Kent Austin
Kent Austin
Richard Kent Austin is the Head Coach for the Cornell University Big Red football team. Prior to this, he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. He is the former Head Coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders...
, at the helm.
Off-season trades with Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
provided offensive guard Denny Chronopoulos, defensive lineman Andrew Stewart, and rush linebacker Angelo Snipes. A group of young, unknown, and aggressive linebackers emerged at training camp, Henry Newby, Tyrone Chatman, and Virgil Robertson, while the secondary was strengthened with the additions of Charles Gordon and Enis Jackson. The Lions opened the season at B.C.Place and gave the fans a taste of things to come with a hard-fought 24–20 victory over Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. The Lions offensive power was amply demonstrated the following week with a 57–18 thumping of the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
. By the end of August, 1994
1994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
, the Lions were 7–1–0, and had broken several single-game offensive records, including a 67–15 point record win over Shreveport
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
. The Leos' secondary was further bolstered by the signing of former NFL stars James Jefferson and Barry Wilburn. The team endured a dry spell at the season's mid-point, losing close games to Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, Edmonton
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...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, and Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
. A late season win over Las Vegas
Las Vegas Posse
The Las Vegas Posse was a Canadian Football League team that played the 1994 season as part of the CFL's short-lived American expansion. The Posse was one of the least successful CFL teams, both on the field and off.-On the field:...
(45–7) and a close 24–23 loss to 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...
, gave the Lions new hope heading into the playoffs, as well as an 11–6–1 regular season finish. The team travelled to Edmonton
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...
for the Western Division Semi-Finals, where the Lions had only managed one playoff victory at Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
. With just over four minutes left in the game, defensive back Charles Gordon's miraculous end-zone interception stopped the Eskimos in their tracks and gave new life to the Lions. Quarterback Kent Austin, replacing an injured Danny McManus
Danny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
who had started the game, mounted a Lions' drive which ate up the clock and the field. Lui Passaglia
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...
kicked the winning field goal with 30 seconds left to give the Lions a tough 24–23 come-from-behind victory. The following week, in one of the most memorable CFL games ever, the Lions and the Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
led 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...
traded touchdowns and field goals all night at McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
. In the swirling snow with two minutes left in the game, 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...
, who led by 5 points, set up to kick a field goal. Lions' wide receiver Ray Alexander
Ray Alexander
Vernest Raynard Alexander is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. He also played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He played college football at Florida A&M University.-References:...
leapt up and made an amazing block, giving the Lions renewed hope and decent field position. Danny McManus, who had replaced Kent Austin in the second half after Austin re-injured a separated shoulder, staged a furious last-minute drive, hitting receivers all the way down the field to the Stampeder's
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...
four yard line. With 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...
leading 36–31, with four seconds left in the game, McManus found receiver Darren Flutie
Darren Flutie
Darren Paul Flutie is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's third all-time leader in catches, behind Ben Cahoon and Terry Vaughn; he is also third all-time in career receiving yardage behind...
alone in the end zone to give the Lions their first playoff victory over 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...
in 30 years, and a berth in 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...
against Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
at B.C. Place. The dramatics continued the following week in the 82nd Grey Cup
82nd Grey Cup
The 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club and the BC Lions at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States-vs-Canada matchup...
. With 55,097 cheering fans looking on, the Lions and Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
staged another thriller with both teams playing great football. Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
took a 17–10 lead at halftime, and extended their lead to 20–10 early in the third quarter. Lions' quarterback Danny McManus entered the game and staged a second-half rally. Seemingly stalled at the Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
30 yard line, Lui Passaglia
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...
and Darren Flutie
Darren Flutie
Darren Paul Flutie is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's third all-time leader in catches, behind Ben Cahoon and Terry Vaughn; he is also third all-time in career receiving yardage behind...
staged a fake field goal to gain a big first down, which changed the momentum of the game. McManus ran in from the two-yard line to tie the score at 20–20. After the teams traded field goals to make the score 23–23, McManus engineered another late-game drive to the Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
37 yard line. Passaglia missed the field goal with just over one minute remaining, but the Lions' defence rose up to deny Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
and stop them cold within their own five-yard line. After a punt and a couple of runs to set up another field goal try, Passaglia converted a field goal with no time remaining on the clock to give the Lions an incredible 26–23 victory, the third 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...
championship in the team's history. Passaglia went on to win a well-deserved Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
The Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League....
award for his heroics.
The 1995 season
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
began with Grey Cup hero Danny McManus
Danny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
named as starting quarterback, replacing Kent Austin, who was traded to 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...
. Shelton Quarles
Shelton Quarles
Shelton Eugene Quarles is a former linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team he played for in his ten-year career from 1997 to 2006. He now serves as a scout for the Buccaneers.-High school years:...
was added to a strong linebacker corps. The season started with an exciting, late come-from-behind 37–34 victory over the Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
at BC Place. The Lions won their first three games before suffering a setback 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...
. The Leos got back on track with a strong performance over Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, and went on to a 7–1 record, challenging the 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...
in the North Division. Injuries to key players during a three game, 10 day road trip resulted in a late season swoon that the Lions could not recover from. A victory over Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
at B.C. Place in the regular season finale solidified 3rd place in the rugged Northern Division with a 10–8 record and a trip to Edmonton
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...
for the playoffs. The Lions' 1995 season
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
came to an end with a 26–15 loss to the 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...
in the semi-finals. Individually, Lions' running back Cory Philpot broke the 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....
record for touchdowns in a season with 22, and won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy
Eddie James Memorial Trophy
The Eddie James Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the leading rusher in the West Division. Unlike other CFL trophies, there is no equivalent for the East Division....
for the second year in a row as the Northern Division's leading rusher. Lui Passaglia ended the season with 3,160 career points. Jamie Taras
Jamie Taras
Jamie Taras is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League British Columbia Lions, and current Director of Community Relations with the BC Lions...
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 Northern Division's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
was a season of turmoil for the Lions, both on and off the field. Former Lions' quarterback and fan favourite Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao is a long-time coach in the Canadian Football League, who last served as a head coach in the CFL for the Ottawa Renegades from 2001–2005....
returned to the team from 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...
as the new Head Coach, replacing Dave Ritchie. On March 11, 1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
, Lions' owner Bill Comrie announced that the club had been sold to a group of 10 local businessmen headed by Nelson Skalbania
Nelson Skalbania
Nelson M. Skalbania is a Canadian businessman from Vancouver, British Columbia best known for signing a 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association....
and Michael Jensen. The Lions held training camp at UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
with over a hundred players invited. Mike McCarthy
Michael P. McCarthy
Michael P. "Mike" McCarthy is a professional football executive and scout. He was born in Oneida, New York and raised in Rome, New York. McCarthy began playing football at Rome Free Academy H.S. where he earned All-State football honours and was an all-star in lacrosse and wrestling...
arrived in 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,...
to become the Lions new VP of Football Operations. On the field, the Lions started the season with 18 new faces in the line-up, including heralded Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Andre Ware
Andre Ware
Andre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
at quarterback. The Lions started the season at 0–4, and quarterback Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
was signed to replace Ware
Andre Ware
Andre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
. As the team stumbled on the field, attendance plummeted. Stability in the front office proved short lived, as Skalbania
Nelson Skalbania
Nelson M. Skalbania is a Canadian businessman from Vancouver, British Columbia best known for signing a 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association....
and his ownership group lost control of the team, and the Lions (again) went into receivership. The bright spot of the season was an exciting and improbable, 35–11 victory over Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
and 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 September, 1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
. On October 31, 1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
, Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
businessman David Braley
David Braley
David Braley is the owner of the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts teams of the Canadian Football League. On May 20, 2010, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate where he sits as a Conservative.-Early life:...
announced his intention to buy the team. November 2, 1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
marked the end of the season as the Lions defeated Ottawa
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
35–24 in what was the Rough Riders'
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
final game in club history.
David Braley
David Braley
David Braley is the owner of the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts teams of the Canadian Football League. On May 20, 2010, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate where he sits as a Conservative.-Early life:...
's ownership and a coaching change brought the Lions much needed stability as they entered the 1997 season
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
, and some of that stability seemed to have translated to success on the field. Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao
Joe Paopao is a long-time coach in the Canadian Football League, who last served as a head coach in the CFL for the Ottawa Renegades from 2001–2005....
resigned prior to the season's start, and was replaced as Head Coach by Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
. The Lions made the playoffs for the 20th time in their 43 year club history, despite an 8–10, 4th place divisional finish. The Leos' 1997
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
playoff appearance marked the first time in 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....
history that a Western Conference
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:...
team participated in an Eastern Conference
Canadian Football League East Division
The East Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the East Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.- Pre-1907 :...
Semi-Final, under a then in force, "cross-over rule" (where the 4th place team from one division qualified for the playoffs, as long as the team earned more points than the 3rd place team from the opposing division. Once so qualified, the 4th place team would then "cross-over" to the other division to play the 2nd place team in the opposing division). The Lions thus faced Montreal
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in the Eastern semi-finals, eventually losing to the Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, 45–35, in a spirited contest. Fullback Sean Millington was awarded the CFL's Outstanding Canadian Award at season's end, while linebacker B.J. Gallis won the Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
as the Western Division's
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:...
top rookie.
The Lions started the 1998 season
1998 CFL season
-1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
off on the wrong foot, losing their first three games, before finally beating Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in Week 4. The defence held their own, but the offence struggled. The low point of the year occurred on August 9, 1998
1998 CFL season
-1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, when the eventual Grey Cup
86th Grey Cup
The 86th Grey Cup was held in 1998 in Winnipeg. The Calgary Stampeders won the game over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a score of 26-24.-Game summary:...
champion 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...
came into B.C. Place and beat the hometown Leos 55–9. With a record of 3–6–0, Head Coach Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
resigned, and was replaced by Greg Mohns. The no nonsense approach of Mohns seemed to spark the team, as the Lions embarked on a memorable, six game winning streak (which the team had not done since 1986) heading into the playoffs. The Lions, who finished 9–9 on the year, lost in the semi-finals to Edmonton
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...
in heartbreaking fashion, but showed promise for the upcoming season. Kicker Lui Passaglia won the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy
Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy
The Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the top scorer in the West Division. Unlike other CFL trophies, there is no East Division counterpart....
as the top scorer in the 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:...
.
Expectations for the Lions were high as the 1999 season
1999 CFL season
-1999 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Danny McManus , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike O'Shea , Toronto Argonauts*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Calvin Tiggle , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
began, following the team's promising finish a year earlier, and with the announcement that 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...
game would be played in 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,...
. Quality free agents such as slotback Don Blair and cornerback Eric Carter were brought in to add depth to an already impressive lineup, and with the likes of Robert Drummond and Jimmy “The Jet” Cunningham back in form following injury-plagued 1998 seasons
1998 CFL season
-1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, the Lions were primed for a successful season. The Lions started fast out of the gate, winning their first three games to set a new club record with nine straight regular season wins. The Lions either held sole possession of first place or were tied with 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...
throughout the season. The Lions ended the regular season with two straight wins, finishing first in the division with a 13–5 record, the Lions' best record since 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:...
, and the first divisional championship since 1987
1987 CFL season
The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1987:...
. the Lions' dream season came to a premature and heartbreaking end, as the Stamps
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 Lions 26–24 in the Lions' first home playoff game in 12 years. The Lions appeared to be driving toward a chance to kick a game-winning field goal in the last minute before Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
fumbled the ball at mid-field, allowing the Stamps to kill off the remaining time. The Lions fielded three CFL All-Stars in 1999
1999 CFL season
-1999 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Danny McManus , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike O'Shea , Toronto Argonauts*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Calvin Tiggle , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
: slotback Jimmy Cunningham, centre Jamie Taras, and defensive tackle Johnny Scott. Linebacker Paul Lacoste
Paul Lacoste (football player)
Paul Victor Lacoste was a linebacker in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State University and in the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
was voted the CFL's top rookie, and was also awarded the Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
. Defensive end Daved Benefield was named the Western Division's top defensive player
Norm Fieldgate Trophy
The Norm Fieldgate Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the outstanding defensive player in the West Division. Each team in the West division nominates a player, from which the winner is chosen. Either the winner of this trophy or the winner of the James P. McCaffrey Trophy will...
, while Jamie Taras
Jamie Taras
Jamie Taras is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League British Columbia Lions, and current Director of Community Relations with the BC Lions...
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 West's most outstanding offensive lineman, as well as the CFL Player's Association Outstanding Community Service Award
Tom Pate Memorial Award
Every year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
.
2000 champions
2000 CFL season
-2000 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Dave Dickenson , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Sean Millington , BC Lions*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
campaign with only one goal in mind: win 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...
. Six months later, the Lions would fulfill that destiny, but the path to the 88th Grey Cup was one of the most adventurous, unpredictable, and memorable ever in CFL history. The year started well enough, with victories over Hamilton
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...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, but a 35–2 loss to 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...
began a four-game losing streak and a lot of finger-pointing. A win over 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...
halted the slide, but following the game, Head Coach Greg Mohns resigned to join the XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
. Long-time CFL coach Steve Buratto, who joined the club only two weeks earlier as a receivers coach, was promoted to the top job, and got instant results with a huge 51–4 win over the Argos
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 the second of back-to-back games. Despite a promising start, the Lions only won one of their next five games to sit at 5–9 on Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, the Lions came together when it counted the most, winning three of their last four heading into the playoffs, and the offence jelling to become the best in the CFL that season. Quarterback Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
broke Ron Lancaster
Ron Lancaster
Ronald "Ron" Lancaster was one of the pre-eminent quarterbacks of the Canadian Football League during his playing career; after his retirement as a player, he was also coach and general manager in the same league, and a sports announcer for CBC Television...
's CFL record for career passing yardage. Lui Passaglia
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...
played in a memorable, “Luv Ya Lui” night at his final game at B.C. Place, and also set a CFL record for single season field goal percentage. The Lions finished the year 8–10 and in third place in the Western Division, but were the team other teams did not want to face in the playoffs. A snarly defence started to show its grit, and the Lions roared confidently into Edmonton
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...
and emerged with a 34–32 Western Semi-Final victory, thanks to a Passaglia field goal on the final play. The Lions next faced 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...
in the Western Finals, and the Lions steamrolled to a decisive 37–23 win. The Leos' Cinderella season came to a close on November 26, 2000
2000 CFL season
-2000 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Dave Dickenson , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Sean Millington , BC Lions*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
in 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...
at McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
in Calgary, as the Lions won their fourth championship in team history with a nail biting 28–26 victory over the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. Running back Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
won the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award, while backfield teammate Sean Millington
Sean Millington
Sean Millington is a former Canadian Football League fullback and currently does colour commentary for cfl.ca and the CBC. He is also an actor in several movies and television shows.-Before the CFL:...
took home the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian trophy. The Lions' triumph marked the first time a team with a sub-.500 regular season record won 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...
, and it signalled a marvellous end to Lui Passaglia
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...
's outstanding, 25-year CFL career.
2001 season
Expectations were high for the CFL champion Lions in 20012001 CFL season
The 2001 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 44th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 2001:...
, but the team ultimately never seemed to gel. Quarterback Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
struggled, and the team hovered around the 0.500 mark all season. Finishing at 8–10, the Lions did make the playoffs, but were immediately bounced by 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...
in the Western Division Semi-Finals, 28–19. Matt Kellett became only the second full-time field goal kicker in 26 years, as he replaced the legendary Lui Passaglia. Rookie middle linebacker Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson "The Minister of Defence" is a Canadian Football League linebacker currently playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Simpson has previously played for the BC Lions, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
led the team in tackles and was named a first-team CFL All-Star, as well as the CFL's Rookie of the Year and Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
winner. Cornerback Eric Carter was also named to the CFL's 2001 All-Star team.
2002 season
Bob AcklesBob Ackles
Robin Ackles was a Canadian Football League executive for the BC Lions. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002....
returned to the Lions as President and CEO before the 2002 season
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
, which saw the Lions finish at 10–8 for a 3rd place finish in the Western Division, and the return of Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
as Head Coach. The Lions faced Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
in the Western Semi-Finals. falling 30–3 to the Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. Individually, Eric Carter and Barrin Simpson repeated as CFL All-Stars, while slotback Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . Clermont started his professional career with the BC Lions after being selected in the 2002 CFL Draft...
won CFL's most outstanding rookie award, as well as the Western Division's Jackie Parker Trophy
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
. Fullback Sean Millington won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
as the outstanding Canadian Western Division player, for the 3rd time.
2003 season
The 2003 season2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
marked the beginning of a new era, as Wally Buono
Wally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year of coaching, previously as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and currently with the...
replaced Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
as Head Coach and GM. The Lions also acquired former Stampeders and NFL QB Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
through free agency, which prompted Lions QB Damon Allen to leave for 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 finished in a 3-way, 2nd place tie at 11–7 with Western Division foes, Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, and faced the Eastern Division's 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...
by way of the CFL's "cross-over rule." The Lions closed out the season with a 28–7 loss to the Argos
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 the Eastern Division semi-finals. Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson "The Minister of Defence" is a Canadian Football League linebacker currently playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Simpson has previously played for the BC Lions, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
appeared as a CFL All-Star for the 3rd year in a row, joined by newcomers Ray Jacobs on defence, and electrifying slotback Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
on offence. Wide receiver Frank Cutolo won the CFL and Western Division rookie of the year
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
awards. Offensive tackle Steve Hardin won the CFL Player's Association Outstanding Community Service Award
Tom Pate Memorial Award
Every year the Canadian Football League Players' Association presents the Tom Pate Award. It is not a "Jock Award," but rather an award given to players who display qualities that distinguish them from their peers....
.
2004 season
The 2004 season2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
marked one of the Lions' best regular season records in club history. Going 13–5 and finishing 1st in the division, the Lions set a team record of 8 consecutive wins in a single season. In addition to club records, the season brought an array of individual performances to the forefront. Quarterback Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
set a CFL record for highest single game completion average of 90.9% (completing 20 of 22 passing attempts) during an August, 2004
2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
game against Hamilton
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...
. Outstanding slot back Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
tied three team records by catching four touchdown passes in the same game. After the conclusion of the regular season, Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player, while Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . Clermont started his professional career with the BC Lions after being selected in the 2002 CFL Draft...
won the Most Outstanding Canadian award. Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
and Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
joined 4-time All-Star linebacker Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson
Barrin Simpson "The Minister of Defence" is a Canadian Football League linebacker currently playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Simpson has previously played for the BC Lions, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
as 2004 CFL All-Stars. The Lions, receiving a bye in the first round of the playoffs by virtue of their first place divisional finish, faced one of their biggest rivals, the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. In a nail biting finish, the Lions defeated the Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
27–25, in overtime. The Lions were then pitted against 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 the 92nd Grey Cup Championship
92nd Grey Cup
The 92nd Grey Cup game took place on November 21, 2004, at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. The game decided the championship of the 2004 Canadian Football League season...
, a rematch of the 2003
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
semi-finals. The Lions would not exact their revenge, losing 27–19. Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . Clermont started his professional career with the BC Lions after being selected in the 2002 CFL Draft...
won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
The Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League....
award in the effort. The game was marked with controversy for the Lions, as Dave Dickenson got the start over Casey Printers, who had led the team through most of the season as Dickenson was injured.
2005 season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
there was controversy as to which quarterback should be the starter, Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
or Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
. Printers was the CFL's 2004 season Most Outstanding Player, but Dickenson was a veteran star destined for the CFL Hall of Fame. Many felt that both were deserving. In any event, the team ultimately chose to go with Dickenson, despite his having been somewhat injury prone. The Lions came out of the gate roaring. Led by Dickenson and an outstanding receiving corps, the team strung together 11 consecutive wins. The final game of the win streak came on September 17, 2005
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, when the Leos squeaked past the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
by a score of 27–26 when Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
elected to go for a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
rather than tie the game. The Lions bid for an undefeated season came to a halt the very next week on September 24, 2005
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, when 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...
defeated the Lions 37–20 at Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
. Dickenson sustained a season-ending concussion and Printers took over as starting QB. The Lions won only one of their remaining seven games of the regular season. On November 20, 2005
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, the Lions lost in the Western Finals to the eventual Grey Cup
93rd Grey Cup
The 93rd Grey Cup game was held on November 27, 2005, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes, to decide the winner of the 2005 season of the Canadian Football League. The Eskimos prevailed over the Alouettes in a 38-35 overtime...
champion 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...
at B.C. Place. The game ended with a controversial "non-call" on the last play of the game; as what would have been Printers' game winning pass to slotback Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
appeared to have been interfered with by a defending Eskimo
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...
, and was ruled incomplete. Defensive end Brent Johnson
Brent Johnson (football player)
Brent Johnson is a Canadian football defensive lineman with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He attended Ohio State University where he played for the Buckeyes.-Professional career:...
was named a 2005 CFL All-Star, and won the Outstanding Canadian Award.
2006 champions
The 2006 season2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
saw Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
go off to the NFL'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...
, however a new quarterback controversy of sorts threatened to develop. During the off-season 2005s third stringer, Buck Pierce
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Pierce signed with the Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after he was released by the BC Lions, the team he spent the first five years of his professional career with...
won the back-up role and early season injuries to Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
forced him into action. Pierce's best game as the starter was on October 6 against 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...
, where he threw 25 for 31 for 297 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He began the game with one incomplete pass, and then hit his next 14.
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
to stabilize the kicking game which had not recovered from Lui Passaglia
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...
's retirement in 2000. After a sluggish 2–3 start in 2006, Coach Buono
Wally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year of coaching, previously as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and currently with the...
signalled that no starting job was safe by releasing runningback Antonio Warren
Antonio Warren
Antonio Warren is a former Canadian Football League running back who played with the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos-College career:...
and defensive back Sam Young. The team responded by winning the next six games. New running back Joe Smith ran for over 100 yards in his first game. Brent Johnson, Barron Miles
Barron Miles
Barron Miles is a retired professional Canadian football player for the Canadian Football League. He is now a Defensive and Player Personnel Assistant for the BC Lions...
, and Mark Washington led a dominant defence; 10 different defenders scored touchdowns on turnovers. They also held opposition offences to 17 points or less on 6 occasions. Receiver Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
dominated opposing defensive backs in a manner not seen since Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
in the 1980s, and broke the club record for single season receiving yardage for the second straight year. The Lions clinched first place on October 6, earning a third straight bye into the Western Final at home, and tied a team record with a 13–5 mark for the season. 50,084 (league best for 2006) saw BC crush the Roughriders 45–18 in the West final. Looking fully recovered from earlier concussions, Dickenson went 27 for 37 with 3 TDs and no INTs. Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson is a professional Canadian football slotback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted sixth overall by the Lions in the 2003 CFL Draft and signed with the team on August 30, 2003...
made two circus catches for TDs, Jason Claremont bulled his way to 98 yards on 6 catches, Joe Smith scored twice and ran for 116 yards, McCallum was 5 for 5 in field goals, and the BC defence dominated Saskatchewan all afternoon.
On November 19, the BC Lions captured their first Grey Cup Championship since 2000
94th Grey Cup
The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
by defeating the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
25–14 at Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located north of Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Stadium, named for hotel chain Canad Inns, and originally completed in 1953, seats 29,533 for football...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. Dave Dickenson was named the Most Valuable Player
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award is awarded annually to the player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game.-Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Award winners:...
of the game, while Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
was named the Most Valuable Canadian
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
The Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League....
. In the post-game exuberance, the team snapped the Grey Cup off the lower base with the engraved names, but it was repaired the following Monday. The game is also noted for kicker Paul McCallum going 6 for 6 in field goals, making him a perfect 11 for 11 in the post season. Coach Buono also used all three quarterbacks in the game: Dickenson, Pierce and third-string Jarious Jackson
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson is an American and Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-High school:...
all took snaps.
The record setting season was capped off with Buono's third CFL Coach of the Year Award. The Lions nearly swept the annual player awards, with Brent Johnson, Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
, Rob Murphy, Mark Washington, and Aaron Hunt (BC's sixth Outstanding Rookie
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-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...
in nine years) all taking home hardware.
2007 season
Offensive coordinator Jacques ChapdelaineJacques Chapdelaine
Jacques Chapdelaine is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the BC Lions. He was formerly the Edmonton Eskimos offensive coordinator in 2007 and played as a slotback between 1983 and 1989 for four different Canadian Football League teams.Jacques was the head coach of the Université...
left for 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...
in the off-season, becoming their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. The Lions' play-calling duties for the 2007 season
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
would be handled by quarterbacks coach Steff Kruck, with play design by offensive line coach Dan Dorazio. Veteran linebacker Carl Kidd
Carl Kidd
Carl Edward Kidd is a former American football linebacker and defensive back who played in both the National Football League and the Canadian Football League.-High school and college years:...
announced his retirement at the Grey Cup ring ceremony held just prior to training camp, while Bobby Singh
Bobby Singh
Bobby Singh is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft....
was cut and soon picked up by 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...
. John Hufnagel
John Hufnagel
John Coleman Hufnagel is a Canadian football coach and former pro quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League...
guest-coached at training camp, having previously worked under Buono as offensive coordinator in Calgary in the 1990s.
2007
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
proved to be one of the best seasons for the Lions, having set a new franchise record for the most regular season wins in club history. The season started off on a 5 game winning streak, including dominating wins over Edmonton
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...
(29–9) and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
(42–12). However, the streak came to a hault on August 3, 2007
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
, when the Leos suffered a 21–9 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Lions had a little trouble getting back on track, as they suffered a loss to Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and a tie with 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...
. A 40–7 win over 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...
moved the Lions back into 1st place in the West Division, due to a Saskatchewan loss to Calgary. On September 22, 2007, the Lions battled their biggest foe, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, for the 1st place spot in the West Division. The Saskatchewan lead increased and decreased several times throughout the game. However, with Saskatchewan leading by 4, the Lions never gave up in the dying minutes of the game, and QB Jarious Jackson
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson is an American and Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-High school:...
was able to find Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
in the endzone and pass the ball for a game winning 33 yard touchdown. The final result was a unexpected come-from-behind 37–34 victory for the Lions. The Lions went on to win all the rest of their games of the regular season and captured 1st place in the West Division for a fourth consecutive year. The Lions also finished with a regular season record of 14–3–1, The best in club history. The Lions felt confident heading into the Western Final, but their dreams of second consecutive Grey Cup title came to an end in a heartbreaking 26–17 loss to the eventual Grey Cup champions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
2008 season
Just before the 2008 season2008 BC Lions season
The 2008 BC Lions finished the season in third place in the Western Division with a 11–7 record. The Lions appeared in the CFL Western Final.- CFL Draft:...
, the Lions' Josh Boden
Josh Boden
Josh Boden is a former wide receiver for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. He wore the number 1, weighs 205 lb. and is 6'1 tall. In his Canadian Junior Football League career, Boden played for the South Surrey Rams of the British Columbia Football Conference...
was cut due to being arrested. Also, Mark Washington became the secondary coach due to salary cap issues. Quarterback star Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
was released in the final year of his contract of $400k/yr and was picked up by 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...
. Jacques Chapdelaine
Jacques Chapdelaine
Jacques Chapdelaine is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the BC Lions. He was formerly the Edmonton Eskimos offensive coordinator in 2007 and played as a slotback between 1983 and 1989 for four different Canadian Football League teams.Jacques was the head coach of the Université...
came back from 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...
after being fired as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in his one year with the club. Defensive coordinator Dave Ritchie
Dave Ritchie (football coach)
Dave Ritchie is a former coach in the Canadian Football League. He is best known for his days as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Head Coach from 1999 to 2004...
retired after the 2007 season and Mike Benevides was promoted to his position. As well, director of player personnel Bob O'Billovich
Bob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
left to become general manager of 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...
and former Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
general manager Roy Shivers
Roy Shivers
Roy Shivers was the General Manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League from December 24, 1999 until August 21, 2006; the first Black general manager in professional football. He was also a former running back in the National Football League with the St. Louis...
filled his position.
The season started off on low notes, both on and off the field. After losing their first two games to 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...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, the BC Lions and the entire CFL community was shocked to hear that Lions President and CEO Bobby Ackles had suffered a heart attack and died on July 6, 2008. The Lions held a memorial ceremony at the next home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and would wear an orange paw on their helmets with BOB on the inside to commemorate Ackles.
In their first game of the season, against Calgary, starter Buck Pierce
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Pierce signed with the Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after he was released by the BC Lions, the team he spent the first five years of his professional career with...
left the game with injury, meaning Jarious Jackson
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson is an American and Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-High school:...
would take over as starter. After losing their next game to the Roughriders, the Lions won three straight, synonymous with Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan is a wide receiver, running back and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
's debut with the Lions and Joe Smith sitting these games out. On July 25, Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon
Geroy Simon is a professional Canadian football slotback with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
surpassed Jim "Dirty 30" 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...
as the Lions' all-time receiving yards leader, in a game against the Montreal Alouettes. After electing not to attend Bob Ackles' memorial, Joe Smith began to estrange himself from the organization and only played in four of the first nine games of the season. While also posting unimpressive numbers, the Lions saw fit to trade their former star 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...
to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
for their former star running back, Charles Roberts on Sept 1, 2009. Shortly after, Roberts reached the 10,000 rushing yard mark for his career on Sept 13, 2009 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in his first game as a Lion.
After a Labour day loss to the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, the Lions won five straight under a healthy Buck Pierce. Since Buono had become head coach in 2003
2003 BC Lions season
The 2003 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 11–7 record, but they made the playoffs because of the "cross-over" rule. They appeared in the East-Semi Final...
, the Lions had won at least four in a row each year, a streak that ended in 2009
2009 BC Lions season
The 2009 BC Lions season is the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 56th overall. The Lions attempted to win their 6th Grey Cup championship....
. The Lions finished the regular season with an 11–7 record, including a loss at Calgary in the last regular season game. After going 3–0–1 against Calgary in the previous season, the Lions were swept by Calgary for the first time since the 2000 season
2000 BC Lions season
The 2000 BC Lions finished in 3rd place in the West Division with a 8–10 record. After starting the season with a 5–9 record, the Lions won four of their last five regular season games and entered the post-season with heavy momentum. As such, they became the first team in CFL history with a losing...
. After amassing 23 sacks, Cameron Wake
Cameron Wake
Derek Cameron Wake is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State....
won the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, the Lions defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic stadium 33–12, but lost, yet again, to the Calgary Stampeders, this time in the Western Final.
2009 season
The 2009 season2009 BC Lions season
The 2009 BC Lions season is the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 56th overall. The Lions attempted to win their 6th Grey Cup championship....
saw a team that would be decidedly different to the previous seasons' roster. While the coaching staff remained completely intact, the playing roster saw a number of notable players released or traded and some leaving for the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Outstanding Defensive Player Cameron Wake
Cameron Wake
Derek Cameron Wake is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State....
signed with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Team Rookie of the Year, Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan is a wide receiver, running back and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Rob Murphy
Rob Murphy
Robert A. "Rob" Murphy, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player who was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. Murphy played college baseball for the University of Florida, and was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the...
signed 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...
and Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . Clermont started his professional career with the BC Lions after being selected in the 2002 CFL Draft...
and Charles Roberts were released. Otis Floyd
Otis Floyd
Otis Floyd is a Retired gridiron football linebacker He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.-Professional career:...
and Tyrone Williams were later released and Jason Pottinger was traded to the Argonauts. They signed all-star linebacker Anton McKenzie
Anton McKenzie
Anton McKenzie is an American player of Canadian football and American football. He is a linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Massachusetts.-External links:**...
, while trying to fill holes in their roster with their depth players from last year and new recruits from the US.
The season was notable for the team's use of five different quarterbacks – Buck Pierce
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Pierce signed with the Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after he was released by the BC Lions, the team he spent the first five years of his professional career with...
started the year but gave way after injury to Jarious Jackson
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson is an American and Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-High school:...
. When Jackson was injured, 3rd stringer Travis Lulay was pressed into action. Former Lion and league MVP Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
then signed to the practice roster on October 8, and suited up as the third-string QB on October 9 in a game versus the Edmonton Eskimos. He then became the starting quarterback on October 24, in a 33–30 overtime loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. In the season finale on November 6 against Edmonton, Printers was knocked out of the game with a broken thumb. In the last regular season game 5th string quarterback Zac Champion played more than two quarters when Buck Pierce also went down.
Losing to each of the other 3 Western teams in successive games meant BC finished fourth and last. However, Hamilton defeated Winnipeg in their last game of the season, enabling the Lions to cross-over to the Eastern Division's play-off format (ahead of both Winnipeg and Toronto). The Lions faced the Tiger-Cats in the Eastern semi-final in Hamilton on November 15 and won in overtime. The Lions then advanced the eastern final against the Montreal Alouettes, but lost 56–18.
2010 season
The 2009–10 offseason saw the club lose even more veterans, many who were cut by BuonoWally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year of coaching, previously as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and currently with the...
, and others who left for the NFL. Quarterback Buck Pierce
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Pierce signed with the Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after he was released by the BC Lions, the team he spent the first five years of his professional career with...
was released on March 9, 2010 after the return of Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
meant that the injury-prone Pierce was expendable. The Lions also released former Special Teams Player of the Year Ian Smart
Ian Smart
Ian Smart is a CFL kick returner and running back who is currently a free agent. Smart wears number 2 and went to C.W. Post College where he rushed for 2,536 yards in 2001....
, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt is a retired professional Canadian football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Lavar Glover
Lavar Glover
Lavar Glover is a Canadian Football League defensive back who is currently a member of the Edmonton Eskimos. He is 5'10", wears number 27 and weighs 180 lbs. He went to the University of Cincinnati and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, each of whom played a major role in the Lions' 2006 Grey Cup win. The team also lost Rolly Lumbala
Rolly Lumbala
Rolly Lumbala is a Canadian football fullback for the BC Lions. He was invited to training camp as a gridiron football fullback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Never making the full roster, he was cut on September 4. He was drafted by the BC Lions in the second round of the...
and Ryan Grice-Mullen
Ryan Grice-Mullen
Ryan Grice-Mullen is a Canadian football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos. He most recently was a member of the Hartford Colonials. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
to the NFL's Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, while rookie phenom Martell Mallett
Martell Mallett
Martell Mallett is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the BC Lions as a street free agent in 2009...
signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Despite this, the club signed a number of proven CFL players, including Davis Sanchez
Davis Sanchez
Davis Sanchez is a former National Football League and current Canadian Football League cornerback for the B.C. Lions.-Early years:...
and Keron Williams
Keron Williams
Keron Donavan Williams is a Canadian football defensive tackle playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-External links:**...
from the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, Jamal Robertson
Jamal Robertson
Jamal Robertson is an Canadian football running back and kick returner in the Canadian Football League who plays for the BC Lions. He was originally signed by the Calgary Stampeders as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Ohio Northern. Jamal was one of the greatest...
from 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 exiled former Bomber
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
Derick Armstrong
Derick Armstrong
Derick Armstrong is a Canadian football wide receiver who currently plays for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League...
.
The 2010 BC Lions
2010 BC Lions season
The 2010 BC Lions season was the 53rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 57th overall. The Lions attempted to improve upon their 8–10 record from 2009 and win their 6th Grey Cup championship, but they lost in the West Semi-Final....
played all of their home games at their former site at the Pacific National Exhibition
Pacific National Exhibition
The Pacific National Exhibition is a non profit organization which hosts an annual 17-day summer fair, seasonal amusement park, and arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It usually begins in mid-to-late August, and ends in early September, usually Labour Day.-History:The exhibition has been...
grounds at Empire Field
Empire Field
Empire Field was a temporary outdoor football and soccer stadium built at the former location of Empire Stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It served as the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from the summer of 2010 until the fall of 2011 when the installation...
while 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...
had a retractable roof installed. The Lions also staged their training camp in Kamloops, BC – the first of three over the next three years – as a part of the club's desire to represent the entire province.
The season started out well for the Lions, with a win against Edmonton
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...
, but that success would be short lived as the Lions lost their next seven consecutive games. Quarterback Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
suffered a knee injury in game 3 against the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, which forced backup quarterback Travis Lulay
Travis Lulay
Travis Lulay is a professional American and Canadian football quarterback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. In his first season as a full-time starter, Lulay won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award in 2011 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Grey Cup...
to start the next three games. After losing to 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...
and the previously winless 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...
, Lulay was replaced by Jarious Jackson
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson is an American and Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.-High school:...
in the fourth quarter in the August 7, 2010 contest against Calgary after demonstrating poor play and inexperience.
After the bye week, Printers returned and won three out of the five games he started, but due to his turnover-filled back-to-back performances, he was replaced with Lulay as the starter in Game 13 against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
, which the Lions won. After Lulay had a minor injury in the following game, again against Winnipeg, Printers came into the game to protect a 21-point lead. The Blue Bombers stormed back to tie the game and force overtime, which was decided by Printers' game-clinching interception. It was Casey's last game with the Lions as Buono released him soon after the game. Consequently, Lulay became the undisputed starting quarterback, finishing the season 4–5 as a starter. The Lions won their last three games to qualify for the playoffs after Edmonton lost their final game of the season, but lost in double overtime to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in the West Semi-Final game.
2011 season
After a 0-5 start to the season, the Lions rebounded, winning most of their remaining games. They advanced to the Vancouver 2011 99th Grey Cup99th 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...
, in which they faced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The game was played in the Lions' home stadium of BC Place. The BC Lions won the Grey Cup, beating Winnipeg by a score of 34–23.
Players and builders of note
These are the people who played or served the BC Lions in a big way.The Wally Buono era
Legend:F = Points For, A = Points Against
| Season | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | F | A | Home | Away | Division | Standing | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 BC Lions season The 2003 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 11–7 record, but they made the playoffs because of the "cross-over" rule. They appeared in the East-Semi Final... |
11 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 531 | 430 | 6–3 | 5–4 | 4–6 | 4th | Lost East Semi-Final 28–7 to Toronto 2003 Toronto Argonauts season The 2003 Toronto Argonauts finished in 2nd place in the East Division of the 2003 CFL season with a 9–9–0 record. They won the East Division Semi-finals but lost the East Division Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:... |
| 2004 2004 BC Lions season The 2004 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record. They won the West Final and appeared in the 92nd Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:- Passing:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:... |
13 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 584 | 436 | 7–2 | 6–3 | 7–3 | 1st | Won West Final 27–25OT over Saskatchewan 2004 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 2004 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in 3rd place in the West division with a 9–9–0 record. They defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Semi-Final, but lost the West Final to the BC Lions in overtime.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:... Lost Grey Cup 27–19 to Toronto 2004 Toronto Argonauts season The 2004 Toronto Argonauts finished in 2nd place in the East Division with a 10–7–1 record. They won the East Championship and the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Grey Cup:... |
| 2005 2005 BC Lions season The 2005 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–6 record. They appeared in the West Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:- Passing:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:... |
12 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 550 | 444 | 7–2 | 5–4 | 5–5 | 1st | Lost West Final 28–23 to Edmonton 2005 Edmonton Eskimos season The Edmonton Eskimos finished 3rd in the West division with a 11–7–0 record and won the Grey Cup. This was the last season in their 34 year streak of making the playoffs.-CFL Draft:-Transactions:-Schedule:-Season schedule:... |
| 2006 2006 BC Lions season The 2006 BC Lions finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record and won the 94th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:-Rushing:-Receiving:-Awards and records:... |
13 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 555 | 355 | 8–1 | 5–4 | 5–5 | 1st | Won West Final 45–18 over Saskatchewan 2006 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 2006 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished 3rd place in the West division with a 9–9–0 record. They appeared in the West Final where they lost to the eventual Grey Cup champions BC Lions.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season schedule:-Roster:... Won Grey Cup 94th Grey Cup The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season... 25–14 over Montreal 2006 Montreal Alouettes season The 2006 Montreal Alouettes finished in 1st place in the East Division with a 10–8–0 record. They won their first seven games, only to lose the next six in a row. After ending the losing streak against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, head coach Don Matthews resigned, expressing undisclosed health issues... |
| 2007 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 542 | 379 | 7–2 | 7–1–1 | 8–1–1 | 1st | Lost West Final 26–17 to Saskatchewan 2007 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 2007 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in 2nd place in the West division with a 12–6–0 record, which was their highest finish since 1988 when they also finished 2nd... |
| 2008 2008 BC Lions season The 2008 BC Lions finished the season in third place in the Western Division with a 11–7 record. The Lions appeared in the CFL Western Final.- CFL Draft:... |
11 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 559 | 479 | 7–2 | 6–3 | 6–4 | 3rd | Won West Semi-Final 33–12 over Saskatchewan 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in 2nd place in the West division with a 12–6 record for the second consecutive year. It was their 51st season in the Canadian Football League... Lost West Final 22–18 to Calgary 2008 Calgary Stampeders season The Calgary Stampeders finished 1st place in the Western division, won the West Final and played in the 96th Grey Cup in Montreal to face the Alouettes. The Stampeders won their 6th Grey Cup championship.-Transactions:... |
| 2009 2009 BC Lions season The 2009 BC Lions season is the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 56th overall. The Lions attempted to win their 6th Grey Cup championship.... |
8 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 431 | 502 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 4–6 | 4th | Won East Semi-Final 34–27OT over Hamilton 2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season The 2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 60th overall. The Tiger-Cats finished the season in second place in the East division with a 9–9 record and qualified for the Grey Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004.- CFL Draft... Lost East Final 56–18 to Montreal 2009 Montreal Alouettes season The 2009 Montreal Alouettes season is the 43rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 55th overall. The Alouettes won their 6th Grey Cup championship, 28–27 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.... |
| 2010 2010 BC Lions season The 2010 BC Lions season was the 53rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 57th overall. The Lions attempted to improve upon their 8–10 record from 2009 and win their 6th Grey Cup championship, but they lost in the West Semi-Final.... |
8 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 466 | 466 | 3–6 | 5–4 | 4–6 | 3rd | Lost West Semi-Final 41–38 2OT to Saskatchewan 2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders season was the 53rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Roughriders attempted to win their 4th Grey Cup championship, but they lost to the Montreal Alouettes... |
| 2011 2011 BC Lions season The 2011 BC Lions season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 58th overall. The Lions finished in 1st place in the West division with an 11–7 record. The Lions won their 6th Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 34–23. The Lions... |
11 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 511 | 385 | 6–3 | 5–4 | 8–2 | 1st | Won West Final 40–23 over Edmonton 2011 Edmonton Eskimos season The Edmonton Eskimos season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 63rd overall. The Eskimos improved upon their 7–11 record from 2010, after winning their eighth game on October 10, 2011, while also securing a berth in the playoffs in that same game... Won 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... 34–23 over Winnipeg 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season The 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season will be the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 79th overall. The Blue Bombers finished in 1st place in the East division with a 10–8 record. The team clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 on October 7th, 2011 after a... |
| Totals | 101 | 60 | 1 | 203 | 4690 | 3803 | 55–26 | 48–32–1 | 51–39 | – | – |
See also
- BC Lions records and statistics
- Canadian Football Hall of FameCanadian Football Hall of FameThe 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...
- Canadian footballCanadian footballCanadian 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...
- Comparison of Canadian and American footballComparison of Canadian and American footballAmerican and Canadian football are very similar, as both have their origins in rugby football, but there are some key differences.-History:Football was introduced to North America in Canada by the British Army garrison in Montreal, which played a series of games with McGill University...
- List of Canadian Football League seasons
External links
- BC Lions Official Site
- BCLionsDen.ca—Lions Fans Feast Here
- LionBackers.com – an Essential site for BC Lions Fans
- TEAM 1040 BC Lions Broadcaster
- BC Lions Official Merchandise
| 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... Championship Navigation Boxes |
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