Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Encyclopedia
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
. Since the 1950 merger, the team has won the Grey Cup
championship eight times, most recently in 1999.
Including their historical lineage, which dates back to 1869, Hamilton football clubs won league championships in every decade of the 20th century, a feat matched by only two other North American franchise in professional sports, the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
of the International League
, and the Montreal Canadiens
of the NHL. None of these teams won a championship in the first decade of the 21st century.
's Hamilton Alerts
who, in 1912
, won the City of Hamilton its first Grey Cup
by beating the Toronto Argonauts
11–4.
In the following season, the Tigers won their first of five Grey Cups when they beat the Parkdale Canoe Club by the lopsided margin of 44–2. The Alerts were refused entry into the ORFU in 1913 with many of its players opting to join the Tigers, while the Alerts gradually faded from existence. After World War II, the Tigers and the newly formed Hamilton Wildcats competed for fans, talent and bragging rights so vehemently that neither team could operate on a sound financial level.
Under the guidance of prominent and distinguished local leaders such as Ralph "Super-Duper" Cooper and F.M. Gibson, it was decided that the two teams should merge as one that would represent Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats were born in 1950 with Cooper as team president and Carl Voyles serve as head coach and general manager.
finals winning the championship six times. Players, such as Angelo Mosca
, Bernie Faloney
, Joe Zuger
and Garney Henley
became football icons in the Steel City. Their 1972 Grey Cup win, 13–10 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, were led by two sensational rookies, Chuck Ealey
who had an outstanding college career at the University of Toledo
and Ian Sunter
, an 18-year old kicker who booted the deciding field goal that gave Hamilton the cup.
During this era, the Tiger-Cats also became (and remain to this day) the only Canadian team to have ever defeated a current National Football League
team; on August 8, 1961, they defeated the Buffalo Bills
by a score of 38–21 (at the time, Buffalo was still a part of the American Football League
).
In 1978, Toronto Maple Leafs
owner, Harold Ballard
assumed ownership of the Tiger Cats. Ballard claimed to be losing a million dollars a year. The Tiger-Cats contended on and off during the rest of the 1970s and 1980s, reaching the Grey Cup final in 1980 and winning the East Division by a mile in 1981
with an 11–4–1 record under head coach Frank Kush
, but were stunned by the Ottawa Rough Riders
, who finished a distant second at 5–11, in the East final. The Tabbies' defense was very stout, talented and hungry that decade, led by standouts Grover Covington
, Ben Zambiasi
, Howard Fields
and Mitchell Price. They were complemented very well on offense with quarterbacks Tom Clements and Mike Kerrigan
throwing to Rocky DiPietro
and Tony Champion
leading to three straight trips to the Grey Cup in 1984, 1985 and 1986, the latter resulting in winning the title over the Edmonton Eskimos
by a score of 39–15. In 1986, Ballard publicly called the Tiger-Cats a bunch of overpaid losers. After the Tiger-Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts in the 1986 Eastern Final, Ballard said “You guys may still be overpaid, but after today, no one can call you losers.” A few days later, the Tiger-Cats won the 1986 Grey Cup by beating the Edmonton Eskimos 39–15; Ballard said it was worth every penny. Hamilton returned to the Grey Cup in 1989
, but were on the losing end of a 43–40 thriller to Saskatchewan
.
The 1990s were marked by financial instability, and constant struggles on the field. Quarterback was a weak spot for the Ti-Cats, as in the first half of the decade had names like Don McPherson
, Damon Allen
, Timm Rosenbach
, Matt Dunigan
, Lee Saltz and Todd Dillon taking their turns at the pivot. Despite the excellent play of Eastern All Star Earl Winfield
rewriting the team's record books for pass catching, Hamilton struggled to attract crowds to Ivor Wynne Stadium
. It was not until 1998
with the arrival of head coach Ron Lancaster
and the pitch-and-catch duo of Danny McManus
and Darren Flutie
plus the pass rush abilities of Joe Montford
that led Hamilton back to the CFL's elite, reaching the Grey Cup finals in 1998 and winning the cup the following year
.
Native Hamiltonian Bob Young has owned the Tiger-Cats since 2004, and although the team has had a resurgence in home attendance, corporate sponsorship plus a brand new "Tiger Vision" scoreboard at Ivor Wynne, it has struggled with its on field performance. Last place finishes both in 2005 (5–13) and 2006 (4–14), have resulted in an overhaul of the coaching staff for 2007. The moves still did not immediately help, as the team continued to lag in last place in 2007 and 2008 despite numerous apparent upgrades. In 2009, their fortunes turned around when they finished in second place in the East, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in several years. However, they failed to win the Grey Cup, marking the 2000s as the first decade since the 1890s that Hamilton failed to do so.
On August 31, 2011, the Tiger-Cats announced plans to close Ivor Wynne Stadium in 2012 and begin play in the long-planned Pan American Stadium in 2014. The team has not finalized plans for the 2013 season, when the new stadium will be under construction and the old one will have been demolished; people from Moncton have been negotiating to bring the Tiger-Cats to Moncton Stadium for a portion of the Tiger-Cats' 2013 home schedule, and other proposals include relocating to Ron Joyce Stadium, TD Waterhouse Stadium
in London, UB Stadium in Buffalo or another regional stadium, with another possibility being converting the Tiger-Cats into a traveling team
for the year (which would be only the second such team in CFL history).
. The first ever meeting between the two teams took place on October 18, 1873 at the University of Toronto
where the Argonauts defeated the Hamilton Football Club by a Goal and a Try to Nil. Hamilton and Toronto are merely 51 km apart along the Queen Elizabeth Way
(QEW) highway and are currently the only CFL
teams in Ontario. The two teams have recently played each other every year at Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium during the Labour Day Classic
, with the 2011 season
being a recent exception. On some occasions, the two teams would have a rematch
the following week at Toronto's Rogers Centre
. On November 14th, 2010 the Tiger-Cats were defeated by the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division Semi-Final game in the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2004.
, and Matt Holmes. Zamperin, CHML's sports director, became the play-by-play announcer in 2007 after six seasons as sideline reporter. Color commentator John Salavantis
is a former football coach with the Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Rough Riders, Montreal Machine
, and the Ottawa University Braves
. CHML's Matt Holmes is the pre-game show host and sideline reporter. The post-game show, "The Fifth Quarter", is hosted by Ted Michaels.
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....
team based in Hamilton, Ontario
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...
, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers
Hamilton Tigers (football)
The Hamilton Tigers were a Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1883 to 1906 and 1948 to 1949 and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1907 to 1947. The club was a founding member of both the ORFU in 1883 and the IRFU in...
and the Hamilton Wildcats
Hamilton Wildcats (Canadian football)
The Hamilton Wildcats were a Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1941 to 1947, and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1948 to 1949. The team was formed to play in the ORFU in 1941 to fill the void left by the Hamilton...
. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
. Since the 1950 merger, the team has 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...
championship eight times, most recently in 1999.
Including their historical lineage, which dates back to 1869, Hamilton football clubs won league championships in every decade of the 20th century, a feat matched by only two other North American franchise in professional sports, the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, and the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
of the NHL. None of these teams won a championship in the first decade of the 21st century.
Team facts
- Founded: 1950, a merger of the Hamilton TigersHamilton Tigers (football)The Hamilton Tigers were a Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1883 to 1906 and 1948 to 1949 and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1907 to 1947. The club was a founding member of both the ORFU in 1883 and the IRFU in...
and the Hamilton WildcatsHamilton Wildcats (Canadian football)The Hamilton Wildcats were a Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1941 to 1947, and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1948 to 1949. The team was formed to play in the ORFU in 1941 to fill the void left by the Hamilton...
.
- Formerly known as: The Hamilton Tigers and Hamilton Wildcats.
- Helmet design: Black background with a leaping tiger
- Uniform colours: Black, Gold and White
- Home stadium: Ivor Wynne StadiumIvor Wynne StadiumIvor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
(1950–present), Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association GroundsHamilton Amateur Athletic Association GroundsThe Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds is a park located on the north side of Charlton Avenue West,between Locke Street South and Queen Street South, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The park served as home to the Hamilton Tigers from 1872-1949...
(1872–1949)
- Current Owner: Bob Young
- Eastern regular season championships: 21—1950, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1998, 1999
- 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...
final appearances:: 29—1910—Tigers (lost), 1912—Alerts (won), 1912—Tigers (won), 1915—Tigers (won), 1927—Tigers (lost), 1928—Tigers (won), 1929—Tigers (won), 1932—Tigers (won), 1935—Tigers (lost), 1943—Flying Wildcats (won), 1944—Flying Wildcats (lost), 1953 (won), 1957 (won), 1958 (lost), 1959 (lost), 1961 (lost), 1962 (lost), 1963 (won), 1964 (lost), 1965 (won), 1967 (won), 1972 (won), 1980 (lost), 1984 (lost), 1985 (lost), 1986 (won), 1989 (lost), 1998 (lost), 1999 (won)
- 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...
wins:: 15 (Alerts—1, Tigers—5, Flying Wildcats—1, Tiger-Cats—8)
- Main Rivals: Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe 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...
(see Labour Day ClassicLabour Day ClassicThe Labour Day Classic is a particular week of the Canadian Football League schedule that is played over the Labour Day weekend. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its matchups that do not change from year to year, unlike other weeks of the...
), Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe 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...
(met eight times in 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...
games, seven other times in playoffs)
- 2011 Regular Season2011 Hamilton Tiger-Cats seasonThe 2011 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 62nd overall. The Tiger-Cats finished 3rd place in the East division with a 8–10 record. After hosting the East Semi-Final in 2009 and 2010 with no success, the Tiger-Cats had to go on the...
Record: 8 wins, 10 losses, 0 ties.
Early years
The history of Hamilton Tiger-Cats can be traced back to November 3, 1869 in a room above George Lee’s Fruit Store, when the Hamilton Football Club was formed. They became known as the Tigers in 1873 and joined the newly-formed Interprovincial Rugby Football Union in 1907. They faced local competition with the Ontario Rugby Football UnionOntario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
's Hamilton Alerts
Hamilton Alerts
The Hamilton Alerts were a Canadian football-rugby union team based in Hamilton, Ontario that played in the Ontario Rugby Football Union from 1911 to 1912. The club won the 4th Grey Cup in 1912, becoming the first ever team from Hamilton to win the Grey Cup and the first team from the ORFU to win...
who, in 1912
4th Grey Cup
The 4th Grey Cup was played on November 30, 1912, before 5,337 fans at A.A.A. Grounds at Hamilton.The Hamilton Alerts defeated the Toronto Argonauts 11 to 4....
, won the City of Hamilton its first 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...
by beating 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...
11–4.
In the following season, the Tigers won their first of five Grey Cups when they beat the Parkdale Canoe Club by the lopsided margin of 44–2. The Alerts were refused entry into the ORFU in 1913 with many of its players opting to join the Tigers, while the Alerts gradually faded from existence. After World War II, the Tigers and the newly formed Hamilton Wildcats competed for fans, talent and bragging rights so vehemently that neither team could operate on a sound financial level.
Under the guidance of prominent and distinguished local leaders such as Ralph "Super-Duper" Cooper and F.M. Gibson, it was decided that the two teams should merge as one that would represent Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats were born in 1950 with Cooper as team president and Carl Voyles serve as head coach and general manager.
A Steel Town dynasty (1950–1972)
The Ti-Cats had great success throughout the 1950s and 1960s, they finished first in the East thirteen times from 1950 to 1972. During that same timespan, they also appeared in eleven Grey CupGrey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
finals winning the championship six times. Players, such as 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...
, Bernie Faloney
Bernie Faloney
Bernie Faloney was a professional football player in the Canadian Football League and an outstanding American college football player at the University of Maryland...
, Joe Zuger
Joe Zuger
Joe Zuger was a star football player in college and the Canadian Football League.-College career:He attended Arizona State University, between 1959 and 1961, where he excelled on offense, defence and as a punter. As quarterback, he compiled a 24-7 record in three years as a starter. He also played...
and Garney Henley
Garney Henley
-College career:He attended Huron University in South Dakota, starring as a running back from 1959 to 1959 A First Team NAIA All-America in 1959, set NAIA career records with 394 points scored and over 4,000 rushing yards.-CFL career:Henley was drafted in 1960 by the NFL's Green Bay Packers in the...
became football icons in the Steel City. Their 1972 Grey Cup win, 13–10 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...
, were led by two sensational rookies, Chuck Ealey
Chuck Ealey
Charles "Chuck" Ealey is a former football player for Notre Dame High School, University of Toledo, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.-High school and college years:...
who had an outstanding college career at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
and Ian Sunter
Ian Sunter
Ian Sunter is a Scottish-Canadian Canadian football place kicker.-Life:Ian attended Burlington Central High School from 1968 to 1971. Ian had emigrated from Scotland, where he had a strong background in soccer. Ian was encouraged by teachers, Bob Godley and Dale Parker to try-out for the football...
, an 18-year old kicker who booted the deciding field goal that gave Hamilton the cup.
During this era, the Tiger-Cats also became (and remain to this day) the only Canadian team to have ever defeated a current National Football League
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...
team; on August 8, 1961, they defeated the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 38–21 (at the time, Buffalo was still a part of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
).
Later years
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
owner, Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard
Harold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
assumed ownership of the Tiger Cats. Ballard claimed to be losing a million dollars a year. The Tiger-Cats contended on and off during the rest of the 1970s and 1980s, reaching the Grey Cup final in 1980 and winning the East Division by a mile 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:...
with an 11–4–1 record under head coach Frank Kush
Frank Kush
Frank Joseph Kush is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1...
, but were stunned by 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...
, who finished a distant second at 5–11, in the East final. The Tabbies' defense was very stout, talented and hungry that decade, led by standouts Grover Covington
Grover Covington
Grover Covington is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-Personal life:...
, Ben Zambiasi
Ben Zambiasi
Benjamin Ray Zambiasi was a linebacker for the University of Georgia and in the Canadian Football League.Zambiasi was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and played for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1974 to 1977. While at Georgia Zambiasi led the Bulldogs with 467 career tackles tackling 173 in 1977...
, Howard Fields
Howard Fields
Howard Fields is a former Gridiron football player in the Canadian Football League for nine years. Fields played cornerback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Calgary Stampeders from 1981-1989. He was a CFL All-Star in 1985 and 1988, and also won the Grey Cup with the Tiger-Cats in 1986. He...
and Mitchell Price. They were complemented very well on offense with quarterbacks Tom Clements and Mike Kerrigan
Mike Kerrigan
Michael Joseph Kerrigan is a former professional quarterback.An undrafted free agent, Kerrigan spent his first three professional seasons as a third-string quarterback behind Tony Eason and Steve Grogan...
throwing to Rocky DiPietro
Rocky Dipietro
Rocky DiPietro is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his 14 year career as a slotback and wide receiver, DiPietro became the CFL's all-time pass reception leader in 1989 and had a career total of 706 receptions for 9,762 yards and 45 touchdowns...
and Tony Champion
Tony Champion
Tony Champion is a former American football and Canadian Football League player.- Early sports career :...
leading to three straight trips to the Grey Cup in 1984, 1985 and 1986, the latter resulting in winning the title over 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...
by a score of 39–15. In 1986, Ballard publicly called the Tiger-Cats a bunch of overpaid losers. After the Tiger-Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts in the 1986 Eastern Final, Ballard said “You guys may still be overpaid, but after today, no one can call you losers.” A few days later, the Tiger-Cats won the 1986 Grey Cup by beating the Edmonton Eskimos 39–15; Ballard said it was worth every penny. Hamilton returned to the Grey Cup in 1989
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:...
, but were on the losing end of a 43–40 thriller to 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 1990s were marked by financial instability, and constant struggles on the field. Quarterback was a weak spot for the Ti-Cats, as in the first half of the decade had names like Don McPherson
Don McPherson
Donald G. McPherson is a former National Football League and Canadian Football League quarterback who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988 after a college career at Syracuse University during which he won the Maxwell Award, the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and finished second...
, 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...
, Timm Rosenbach
Timm Rosenbach
Timm Lane Rosenbach is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League . Rosenbach was selected in 1st round of the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals...
, 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...
, Lee Saltz and Todd Dillon taking their turns at the pivot. Despite the excellent play of Eastern All Star Earl Winfield
Earl Winfield
Earl Winfield is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who, in an 11 year career from 1987-1997, caught 573 passes for 10,119 yards and 75 touchdowns....
rewriting the team's record books for pass catching, Hamilton struggled to attract crowds to Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
. It was not until 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...
with the arrival of head coach 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...
and the pitch-and-catch duo of 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...
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...
plus the pass rush abilities of Joe Montford
Joe Montford
Joe Montford is a Canadian and American football defensive end. Montford was released by the Edmonton Eskimos prior to the 2006 season after playing one year with the team...
that led Hamilton back to the CFL's elite, reaching the Grey Cup finals in 1998 and winning the cup the following year
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...
.
Native Hamiltonian Bob Young has owned the Tiger-Cats since 2004, and although the team has had a resurgence in home attendance, corporate sponsorship plus a brand new "Tiger Vision" scoreboard at Ivor Wynne, it has struggled with its on field performance. Last place finishes both in 2005 (5–13) and 2006 (4–14), have resulted in an overhaul of the coaching staff for 2007. The moves still did not immediately help, as the team continued to lag in last place in 2007 and 2008 despite numerous apparent upgrades. In 2009, their fortunes turned around when they finished in second place in the East, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in several years. However, they failed to win the Grey Cup, marking the 2000s as the first decade since the 1890s that Hamilton failed to do so.
On August 31, 2011, the Tiger-Cats announced plans to close Ivor Wynne Stadium in 2012 and begin play in the long-planned Pan American Stadium in 2014. The team has not finalized plans for the 2013 season, when the new stadium will be under construction and the old one will have been demolished; people from Moncton have been negotiating to bring the Tiger-Cats to Moncton Stadium for a portion of the Tiger-Cats' 2013 home schedule, and other proposals include relocating to Ron Joyce Stadium, TD Waterhouse Stadium
TD Waterhouse Stadium
TD Waterhouse Stadium is an 8,000-seat Canadian football stadium located at 100 Philip Aziz Avenue on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 2000 at a cost of approximately $10.5-million and replaced J.W...
in London, UB Stadium in Buffalo or another regional stadium, with another possibility being converting the Tiger-Cats into a traveling team
Traveling team
In professional team sports, a traveling team is a member of a professional league that never or rarely competes in its home arena or stadium. This differs from a barnstorming team in that the latter does not compete within a league or association framework...
for the year (which would be only the second such team in CFL history).
Logo
The Tiger-Cats logo for many decades was an exact reverse of the Princeton University Tigers athletic logo. The artwork for the original "leaping tiger" is claimed by Hamilton. Both logos have since been revised or replaced.Rivals
Since 1873, the arch-rivals of the Ti-Cats have been the Toronto ArgonautsToronto 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 first ever meeting between the two teams took place on October 18, 1873 at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where the Argonauts defeated the Hamilton Football Club by a Goal and a Try to Nil. Hamilton and Toronto are merely 51 km apart along the Queen Elizabeth Way
Queen Elizabeth Way
The Queen Elizabeth Way, commonly abbreviated as the QEW, is a 400-Series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The freeway links Buffalo, New York and the Niagara Peninsula with Toronto. It begins at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie and travels around the western shore of Lake Ontario, ending...
(QEW) highway and are currently the only 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....
teams in Ontario. The two teams have recently played each other every year at Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium during the Labour Day Classic
Labour Day Classic
The Labour Day Classic is a particular week of the Canadian Football League schedule that is played over the Labour Day weekend. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its matchups that do not change from year to year, unlike other weeks of the...
, with the 2011 season
2011 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season
The 2011 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 62nd overall. The Tiger-Cats finished 3rd place in the East division with a 8–10 record. After hosting the East Semi-Final in 2009 and 2010 with no success, the Tiger-Cats had to go on the...
being a recent exception. On some occasions, the two teams would have a rematch
Rematch
Rematch is a the first US-released Sammy Hagar compilation album. After Sammy left Capitol Records for Geffen in 1981, and after Rick Springfield had a hit with the Hagar-penned "I've Done Everything for You", this collection was released to capitalize on that momentum.The album was originally...
the following week at Toronto's Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
. On November 14th, 2010 the Tiger-Cats were defeated by the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division Semi-Final game in the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2004.
Broadcasters
Hamilton Tiger-Cats games are currently broadcast on CHML with announcers Rick Zamperin, John SalavantisJohn Salavantis
John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties...
, and Matt Holmes. Zamperin, CHML's sports director, became the play-by-play announcer in 2007 after six seasons as sideline reporter. Color commentator John Salavantis
John Salavantis
John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties...
is a former football coach with the Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Rough Riders, Montreal Machine
Montreal Machine
The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the World League of American Football, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three European teams and six U.S.-based teams...
, and the Ottawa University Braves
Ottawa University Braves
Ottawa University Braves are the athletic teams that represent Ottawa University. They participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.Men's Sports* Baseball* Basketball* Cross Country...
. CHML's Matt Holmes is the pre-game show host and sideline reporter. The post-game show, "The Fifth Quarter", is hosted by Ted Michaels.
Tiger-Cats radio announcers
| Years | Flagship station | Play-by-Play | Color Commentator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–59 | CHML | Norm Marshall Norm Marshall Norm Marshall was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster. He and Larry O'Brien were commentators for the first telecast of a Grey Cup football game 29 November 1952 on CBLT Toronto. CBC paid both Marshall and O'Brien CAD$250 for this inaugural broadcast.-Biography:Marshall's radio... |
|
| 1960–66 | CHML | Norm Marshall Norm Marshall Norm Marshall was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster. He and Larry O'Brien were commentators for the first telecast of a Grey Cup football game 29 November 1952 on CBLT Toronto. CBC paid both Marshall and O'Brien CAD$250 for this inaugural broadcast.-Biography:Marshall's radio... |
Perc Allen |
| 1967–78 | CHML | Perc Allen | John Michaluk |
| 1979–83 | CHAM Cham Cham may refer to:*Cham Albanians, also spelled as Çam, a people originating in northern Greece of Albanian descent*Cham , a people living in Vietnam and Cambodia**Cham language, the language of the Cham people... |
Norm Marshall Norm Marshall Norm Marshall was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster. He and Larry O'Brien were commentators for the first telecast of a Grey Cup football game 29 November 1952 on CBLT Toronto. CBC paid both Marshall and O'Brien CAD$250 for this inaugural broadcast.-Biography:Marshall's radio... |
Bobby Dawson |
| 1984–87 | CHML | Perc Allen | John Michaluk |
| 1988–92 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
John Michaluk |
| 1993 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
John Salavantis John Salavantis John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties... and Bob Hooper |
| 1994 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
John Bonk John Bonk John Bonk is a former all-star offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The four-time All-Star played from 1973 to 1985 for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bonk won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 1984... |
| 1995 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
Bob Hooper |
| 1996 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
Russ Jackson Russ Jackson Russell Stanley "Russ" Jackson, OC is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. Jackson spent his entire 12-year professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League... |
| 1997–2001 | CHML | Bob Hooper | Russ Jackson Russ Jackson Russell Stanley "Russ" Jackson, OC is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. Jackson spent his entire 12-year professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League... |
| 2002 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
Guest Analysts |
| 2003 | CHML | Bob Bratina Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:... |
John Salavantis John Salavantis John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties... |
| 2004–06 | CHML | Tim Micallef | John Salavantis John Salavantis John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties... |
| 2007 | CHML | Rick Zamperin | John Salavantis John Salavantis John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties... |
| 2008 | CHML/CJXY | Rick Zamperin | 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... |
| 2009–present | CHML | Rick Zamperin | John Salavantis John Salavantis John Salavantis was the 22nd head college football coachfor the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansasand he held that position for the 1978 season.His career coaching record at Ottawa was 7 wins, 3 losses, and 0 ties... |
Canadian Football Hall of Famers
- John BarrowJohn Barrow (football player)John B. Barrow is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive and defensive tackle in the Canadian Football League for fourteen seasons in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s...
- Tommy Joe CoffeyTommy Joe CoffeyTommy Joe Coffey was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and place kicker who played for the Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.-CFL:...
- Grover CovingtonGrover CovingtonGrover Covington is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-Personal life:...
- Rocky DiPietroRocky DipietroRocky DiPietro is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his 14 year career as a slotback and wide receiver, DiPietro became the CFL's all-time pass reception leader in 1989 and had a career total of 706 receptions for 9,762 yards and 45 touchdowns...
- Matt DuniganMatt DuniganMatt 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...
- Bernie FaloneyBernie FaloneyBernie Faloney was a professional football player in the Canadian Football League and an outstanding American college football player at the University of Maryland...
- Tony GabrielTony GabrielTony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
- Garney HenleyGarney Henley-College career:He attended Huron University in South Dakota, starring as a running back from 1959 to 1959 A First Team NAIA All-America in 1959, set NAIA career records with 394 points scored and over 4,000 rushing yards.-CFL career:Henley was drafted in 1960 by the NFL's Green Bay Packers in the...
- Ellison KellyEllison KellyEllison Lamar Kelly is a former American and Canadian football offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1960–1970 and the Toronto Argonauts from 1971-1972 of the Canadian Football League. He also played in the National Football League for the New York Giants. Kelly never missed a game...
- Joe MontfordJoe MontfordJoe Montford is a Canadian and American football defensive end. Montford was released by the Edmonton Eskimos prior to the 2006 season after playing one year with the team...
- Angelo MoscaAngelo MoscaAngelo 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...
- Peter NeumannPeter Neumann (football player)Peter Neumann is a former Canadian Football League player for 14 seasons the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was a 9-time CFL's Eastern All-Star and a part of three Grey Cup championship teams.Neumann was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979....
- Hal Patterson
- Ralph SazioRalph SazioRalph Joseph Sazio is a former football player, assistant coach, head coach general manager and team president for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also served as president of the Toronto Argonauts...
(inducted 1988 in Builders category) - Vince ScottVince ScottVincent Joseph "Boomer" Scott was a Canadian football player. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and was later a Hamilton city councillor. He became a Canadian citizen in the mid 1950s...
- Dave S. Sprague
- Don SutherinDon SutherinDonald Paul "Suds" Sutherin is a former Canadian Football League and National Football League defensive back and placekicker...
- Brian TimmisBrian TimmisBrian Timmis was a star football player in the Canadian Football League for twenty seasons, mainly for the Hamilton Tigers and the Ottawa Rough Riders. Timmis's teams won three Grey Cups. He later coached the Hamilton Flying Wildcats, leading them to the 31st Grey Cup championship...
- Ben ZambiasiBen ZambiasiBenjamin Ray Zambiasi was a linebacker for the University of Georgia and in the Canadian Football League.Zambiasi was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and played for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1974 to 1977. While at Georgia Zambiasi led the Bulldogs with 467 career tackles tackling 173 in 1977...
Head coaches
- Carl Voyles (1950–1955)
- Jim TrimbleJim TrimbleJames W. "Jim" Trimble was a football coach who served as head coach in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League, but his legacy is more connected to football products, thanks to his "slingshot" goal posts...
(1956–1962) - Ralph SazioRalph SazioRalph Joseph Sazio is a former football player, assistant coach, head coach general manager and team president for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also served as president of the Toronto Argonauts...
(1963–1967) - Joe ResticJoe Restic-External links:...
(1968–1970) - Al DorowAl DorowAlbert Richard "Al" Dorow was an American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played collegiately for Michigan State and professionally in the National Football League and the American Football League....
(1971) - Jerry Williams (1972–1975)
- George DicksonGeorge DicksonGeorge Dickson is a retired American football player and coach was the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League for the first two games of the 1976 season.-Early life:...
(1976) - Bob Shaw (1976–1977)
- Tom Dimitroff, Sr.Tom Dimitroff, Sr.Thomas George Dimitroff was a Gridiron football player and coach. He is the father of current Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff....
(1978) - John PayneJohn Payne (American football)John D. Payne is a former Gridiron football coach.After serving as an assistant with Central High School and BYU, Payne moved to the Canadian Football League in 1968. He served as an assistant with the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders before becoming the Roughriders head coach in 1973...
(1978–1980) - Frank KushFrank KushFrank Joseph Kush is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Arizona State University from 1958 to 1979, compiling a record of 176–54–1...
(1981) - Bud RileyBud RileyEdward "Bud" Riley is an American former football coach with the Idaho Vandals, Oregon State Beavers, and in the Canadian Football League...
(1982–1983) - Al BrunoAl BrunoAlbert P. "Al" Bruno is a retired gridiron football player, administrator, and coach who served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1983–1990.-Early life:...
(1983–1987) - Ted SchmitzTed SchmitzTed Schmitz is a gridiron football executive, coach, and broadcaster who currently serves as the Director of Player Personnel of the Indoor Football League's Bloomington Extreme....
(interim) (1987) - Al BrunoAl BrunoAlbert P. "Al" Bruno is a retired gridiron football player, administrator, and coach who served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1983–1990.-Early life:...
(1987–1990) - David BeckmanDavid BeckmanDavid Beckman is a former Canadian Football League head coach.Beckman began coaching as an assistant at his alma mater Baldwin-Wallace. From there he coached at University of Evansville and spent the years of 1973-1978 with the Iowa Hawkeyes.The next six years Beckman spent in the front office of...
(1990–1991) - John Gregory (1991–1994)
- Don SutherinDon SutherinDonald Paul "Suds" Sutherin is a former Canadian Football League and National Football League defensive back and placekicker...
(1994–1997) - Urban BowmanUrban BowmanUrban M. Bowman, Jr. is a retired Gridiron football player and coach who served as the interim head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.-Early life:...
(interim) (1997) - Ron LancasterRon LancasterRonald "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...
(1998–2003) - Greg Marshall (2004–2006)
- Ron LancasterRon LancasterRonald "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...
(interim) (2006) - Charlie TaaffeCharlie TaaffeCharlie Taaffe is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the UCF Knights. Taaffe's coaching career stretches back to 1973, when he was an offensive coach for the University at Albany...
(2007–2008) - Marcel BellefeuilleMarcel BellefeuilleMarcel Bellefeuille was a Canadian football head coach, most recently for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.-University of Ottawa:...
(2008–Present)
See also
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats all time records and statisticsHamilton Tiger-Cats all time records and statisticsHamilton Tiger-Cats all time records and statisticsCurrent to the 2011 CFL season.- Scoring :Most Points – Career*2856 – Paul Osbaldiston - *1069 - Bernie Ruoff - *603 - Tommy Joe Coffey -...
- 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
- Oski Yell
- Oldest football clubs