Pinball Clemons
Encyclopedia
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons, O.Ont
(born January 15, 1965 in Dunedin, Florida
) is the current Vice-Chair for the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach
. His No. 31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos
. He is one of their most famous former players and also one of the most popular professional athletes in the history of Toronto. Clemons has stated that he feels CFL football is the best football in the world. Clemons is 5 ft 6 in(167 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77 kg).
where he played running back
and return specialist on the football team
, as well as playing soccer for a year. In his four-year college football career, he compiled 4,778 all-purpose yards and was named a Division I-AA all-American.
of the National Football League
. During the 1987 NFL season
, Clemons played in eight games, predominantly as a punt returner, where he collected 19 returns for 162 yards.
The following year, Clemons tried out for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, but was cut during their training camp.
When Clemons first joined the Toronto Argonauts in 1989
, guest running backs coach Tom Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" because of his running style. His diminutive size and extraordinary balance allowed him to bounce between defensive players much like a pinball
inside a pinball machine. During home games, The Who
song Pinball Wizard
would play on the P.A. whenever Pinball was involved in a great play. In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player of the game. In 1990, Clemons was awarded as the CFL most outstanding player after setting what was a single season record for all-purpose yards (3300). The following year, Clemons won his very first football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders
to win the Grey Cup
. Clemons would go on to win two more Grey Cups as a player when Doug Flutie
led Argonauts won back-to-back titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons. It was also in 1997 that Clemons surpassed his single season all-purpose yards record he set in 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards. To this day, this record still stands. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his last ever game as an Argonaut. During his 12 year playing career with the Argonauts, set many team records in the process, including career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300). He also set single season single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a career 25,438 combined yards during the regular season, a CFL record.
of the Toronto Argonauts upon ending his playing career on September 15 of the 2000 CFL season
replacing John Huard
who resigned as head coach of the team after compiling a 1–6–1 record. When offered the head coaching job by team general manager J. I. Albrecht
, He was reluctant to accept it, wanting to spend more time with his family. According to Clemons, "it was an awkward situation. After saying no, they said do us the favour of going home and discussing it with your family. The burden was that this team, this organization, had given our family so much that Canada was going to be our home. The Argos had everything to do with my family becoming a part of this country. Because of all I had been given I decided it was my time to reciprocate." After his playing in his last game, Clemons coached the Argos to 6 wins out of their remaining 8 games. In November, 2001, he was promoted to President of the Argonauts and relinquished his role as head coach in the process to Gary Etcheverry
.
When Etcheverry was fired as head coach on September 17, 2002, Clemons returned as head coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2002 CFL season
. Clemons was officially given the head coaching job again on December 17, 2002, while also relinquishing his role as team president. Clemons has been nominated for the Annis Stukus Trophy
(awarded to the CFL's coach of the year) for six straight years (between 2002 and the 2007 CFL season
) and has come up short each time.
Clemons also became the first black head coach to appear in a Grey Cup
game in 2004 CFL season and would go on to be the first black head coach to win a Grey Cup championship during that same Grey Cup game
, while also being the second ever to have guided his team to a pro-football championship in North America. (Darren Arbet
of the San Jose SaberCats
was the first to do so in 2002 with an ArenaBowl XVI
victory.) After accomplishing this, Clemons downplayed the milestone achievement. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what it means to the first Black coach in the (Grey) Cup and to win it. I know that I can't do anything by myself, and on my own strength I'm very little good. Anything I accomplish has to be with the aid of individuals, and this team became like a family and is a family, it had very little to do with the colour of my skin".
Clemons has the second most head coaching wins in Argonauts history with 68. Bob O'Billovich is first with 89. Clemons' record is 68–55–1 in the regular season, and a 6–5 playoff record (including 1–0 in Grey Cup games). As a coach, his nickname was often shortened to "Pinner" by his players.
, Clemons announced that he would no longer act in the day-to-day business of the organization and on May 6, 2009, Bob Nicholson was announced as the new president and chief executive officer of the Argonauts. On that same day, Clemons was appointed the Vice-Chair of the team. In his new role, Clemons will report to Nicholson as his special advisor, handling a range of duties including providing input and assistance with key sales and corporate partner programs, significant community initiatives, and brand and media relations.
Clemons started playing football at age 8 with the Dunedin Golden Eagles, a youth organization co-ordinated by the Police Athletic League.
Clemons and his mother lived in public housing across the street from the city's sewer plant until he was 14 years old. At this point in Clemons' life, his mother married his stepfather, and would also become the first African-American to get an administrative job for the City of Dunedin.
Clemons' mother was also a heavy influence in him becoming a devout Christian as she was also a clerk at a Baptist church in Dunedin.
Clemons later founded a relationship with his father, Willie, during his college years. Even then, the relationship between him and his father was more like a nephew to an uncle, being limited to visits during his family vacations down in Florida and regular phone calls. Willie was also invited to the 2003 CFL Eastern Division semi-final game his son was coaching in Toronto vs. the B.C. Lions, marking the first time his father had actually seen him in any capacity with the Argonauts. Shortly afterwards, his father died.
Clemons is also a motivational speaker
, making frequent public appearances throughout the community. He is also a partner of the children's brand Simply Kids, a line of diapers, baby food and healthcare products found in supermarkets across Canada and the United States.
Currently, Clemons resides in Oakville, Ontario
with his wife, Diane (a native Floridian), and three daughters (who were all born in Canada) as a permanent resident of Canada. His oldest daughter, Rachel, is 16, his middle daughter Raven is 14, and his youngest daughter Rylie is now 7. Clemons has described himself (borrowing a quote from C.D. Howe) as an "American by birth but Canadian by choice". It has been suggested that Clemons has remained an American citizen to rebuff any calls for him to run for political office, such as for mayor of Toronto.
Clemons was the subject of Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero (ISBN 978-0-470-83690-3) a biography written by Perry Lefko published in 2006.
In April, 2007 he visited Calderstone Middle School in Brampton
to help start a reading program.
On August 21, 2007, Clemons founded the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation" which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth.
On March 23, 2009, Clemons appeared on the CTV
news @ 6 as a celebrity guest host to do the weather in celebration for Dave Devall
's retirement.
He is currently working with Marc Kielburger
and Craig Kielburger
, founders of Free the Children
, in an initiative to build schools and clean water systems in Africa.
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born January 15, 1965 in Dunedin, Florida
Dunedin, Florida
Dunedin is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The population was 35,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632...
) is the current Vice-Chair 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...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. His No. 31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by 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...
. He is one of their most famous former players and also one of the most popular professional athletes in the history of Toronto. Clemons has stated that he feels CFL football is the best football in the world. Clemons is 5 ft 6 in(167 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77 kg).
College career
Clemons graduated with an economics degree from the College of William and MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
where he played 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...
and return specialist on the football team
William & Mary Tribe football
The William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2010, Jimmye Laycock is in his 31st...
, as well as playing soccer for a year. In his four-year college football career, he compiled 4,778 all-purpose yards and was named a Division I-AA all-American.
Professional football career
In 1987, Clemons was drafted by the Kansas City ChiefsKansas 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...
of the 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...
. During the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
, Clemons played in eight games, predominantly as a punt returner, where he collected 19 returns for 162 yards.
The following year, Clemons tried out for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, but was cut during their training camp.
When Clemons first joined the Toronto Argonauts 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:...
, guest running backs coach Tom Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" because of his running style. His diminutive size and extraordinary balance allowed him to bounce between defensive players much like a pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
inside a pinball machine. During home games, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
song Pinball Wizard
Pinball Wizard
"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...
would play on the P.A. whenever Pinball was involved in a great play. In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player of the game. In 1990, Clemons was awarded as the CFL most outstanding player after setting what was a single season record for all-purpose yards (3300). The following year, Clemons won his very first football championship as his Argonauts defeated 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...
to 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...
. Clemons would go on to win two more Grey Cups as a player when 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 Argonauts won back-to-back titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons. It was also in 1997 that Clemons surpassed his single season all-purpose yards record he set in 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards. To this day, this record still stands. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his last ever game as an Argonaut. During his 12 year playing career with the Argonauts, set many team records in the process, including career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300). He also set single season single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a career 25,438 combined yards during the regular season, a CFL record.
Coaching career
Clemons became head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Toronto Argonauts upon ending his playing career on September 15 of the 2000 CFL season
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...
replacing John Huard
John Huard
John Roland "Big John" Huard is a former National Football League linebacker and Canadian Football League coach.-Playing career:...
who resigned as head coach of the team after compiling a 1–6–1 record. When offered the head coaching job by team general manager J. I. Albrecht
J. I. Albrecht
J. I. Albrecht worked in college and professional sports for 53 years. He worked in the CFL, NFL and NCAA, and NASL.-Background:...
, He was reluctant to accept it, wanting to spend more time with his family. According to Clemons, "it was an awkward situation. After saying no, they said do us the favour of going home and discussing it with your family. The burden was that this team, this organization, had given our family so much that Canada was going to be our home. The Argos had everything to do with my family becoming a part of this country. Because of all I had been given I decided it was my time to reciprocate." After his playing in his last game, Clemons coached the Argos to 6 wins out of their remaining 8 games. In November, 2001, he was promoted to President of the Argonauts and relinquished his role as head coach in the process to Gary Etcheverry
Gary Etcheverry
Gary Etcheverry is an American football coach who has coached in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, German Football League, Canadian Junior Football League, CIS, and NCAA...
.
When Etcheverry was fired as head coach on September 17, 2002, Clemons returned as head coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2002 CFL 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:...
. Clemons was officially given the head coaching job again on December 17, 2002, while also relinquishing his role as team president. Clemons has been nominated for 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...
(awarded to the CFL's coach of the year) for six straight years (between 2002 and the 2007 CFL 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...
) and has come up short each time.
Clemons also became the first black head coach to appear in a Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
game in 2004 CFL season and would go on to be the first black head coach to win a Grey Cup championship during that same Grey Cup game
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...
, while also being the second ever to have guided his team to a pro-football championship in North America. (Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet is an Arena Football League head coach for the San Jose SaberCats. He has a career record of 109-45, including 3 titles, ArenaBowl XVI, ArenaBowl XVIII, and ArenaBowl XXI.-High school years:...
of the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
was the first to do so in 2002 with an ArenaBowl XVI
ArenaBowl XVI
ArenaBowl XVI was played between the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in San Jose, California on August 18, 2002. A game with considerable expectations given the teams' intense rivalry and respective success that year, the SaberCats surprised everyone by posting the most dominant victory in...
victory.) After accomplishing this, Clemons downplayed the milestone achievement. "To tell you the truth, I don't know what it means to the first Black coach in the (Grey) Cup and to win it. I know that I can't do anything by myself, and on my own strength I'm very little good. Anything I accomplish has to be with the aid of individuals, and this team became like a family and is a family, it had very little to do with the colour of my skin".
Clemons has the second most head coaching wins in Argonauts history with 68. Bob O'Billovich is first with 89. Clemons' record is 68–55–1 in the regular season, and a 6–5 playoff record (including 1–0 in Grey Cup games). As a coach, his nickname was often shortened to "Pinner" by his players.
Sports administrator
From November 2001 to September 2002, Clemons served as the team President. He ended his tenure as President to resume his second stint as the team's head coach. On December 4, 2007, Clemons stepped down as head coach of the Argonauts to become their new Chief Executive Officer. At the end of the 2008 Toronto Argonauts season2008 Toronto Argonauts season
The 2008 Toronto Argonauts season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 136th season overall. The Argonauts attempted to win their 16th Grey Cup, but they failed to make the playoffs ending the season on a nine game losing streak....
, Clemons announced that he would no longer act in the day-to-day business of the organization and on May 6, 2009, Bob Nicholson was announced as the new president and chief executive officer of the Argonauts. On that same day, Clemons was appointed the Vice-Chair of the team. In his new role, Clemons will report to Nicholson as his special advisor, handling a range of duties including providing input and assistance with key sales and corporate partner programs, significant community initiatives, and brand and media relations.
Personal life
Clemons was born in Dunedin, Florida to an 18-year-old single mother, Anna Marie Bryant, who had just graduated from a segregated high school. His father, Willie Clemons, lived an hour and a half away from them while finishing up his university education and later became a school teacher.Clemons started playing football at age 8 with the Dunedin Golden Eagles, a youth organization co-ordinated by the Police Athletic League.
Clemons and his mother lived in public housing across the street from the city's sewer plant until he was 14 years old. At this point in Clemons' life, his mother married his stepfather, and would also become the first African-American to get an administrative job for the City of Dunedin.
Clemons' mother was also a heavy influence in him becoming a devout Christian as she was also a clerk at a Baptist church in Dunedin.
Clemons later founded a relationship with his father, Willie, during his college years. Even then, the relationship between him and his father was more like a nephew to an uncle, being limited to visits during his family vacations down in Florida and regular phone calls. Willie was also invited to the 2003 CFL Eastern Division semi-final game his son was coaching in Toronto vs. the B.C. Lions, marking the first time his father had actually seen him in any capacity with the Argonauts. Shortly afterwards, his father died.
Clemons is also a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, making frequent public appearances throughout the community. He is also a partner of the children's brand Simply Kids, a line of diapers, baby food and healthcare products found in supermarkets across Canada and the United States.
Currently, Clemons resides in Oakville, Ontario
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
with his wife, Diane (a native Floridian), and three daughters (who were all born in Canada) as a permanent resident of Canada. His oldest daughter, Rachel, is 16, his middle daughter Raven is 14, and his youngest daughter Rylie is now 7. Clemons has described himself (borrowing a quote from C.D. Howe) as an "American by birth but Canadian by choice". It has been suggested that Clemons has remained an American citizen to rebuff any calls for him to run for political office, such as for mayor of Toronto.
Clemons was the subject of Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero (ISBN 978-0-470-83690-3) a biography written by Perry Lefko published in 2006.
In April, 2007 he visited Calderstone Middle School in Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
to help start a reading program.
On August 21, 2007, Clemons founded the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation" which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth.
On March 23, 2009, Clemons appeared on the CTV
CFTO-TV
CFTO-DT, broadcast on channel 9 and cable 8, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Currently branded as CTV Toronto, it is the flagship station of the CTV Television Network, and was one of the charter members of the network when it was launched in 1961. It...
news @ 6 as a celebrity guest host to do the weather in celebration for Dave Devall
Dave Devall
David "Dave" Devall is a retired Canadian weather reporter for the television station CFTO-TV in Toronto. He served in this capacity for more than 48 years beginning in 1961, and was recognized as having had the "longest career as a weather forecaster" by Guinness World Records and the World...
's retirement.
He is currently working with Marc Kielburger
Marc Kielburger
Marc Kielburger, CM, OMC is a Canadian author, humanitarian and activist for children's rights. He is the co-founder of Free The Children, an international development and youth empowerment organization....
and Craig Kielburger
Craig Kielburger
Craig Kielburger, CM, MSM, OMC is a Canadian activist for the rights of children. He is the founder of Free The Children and co-founder of Me to We. On February 20, 2007, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada.-Early life:Kielburger was born in Thornhill,...
, founders of Free the Children
Free The Children
Free The Children is an international charity and youth movement founded in 1995 by children's rights advocate Craig Kielburger. The organization is largely youth-funded, based on the concept of "children helping children." It specializes in sustainable development in countries of Kenya, Ecuador,...
, in an initiative to build schools and clean water systems in Africa.
Achievements
- CFL record for Most Combined Yards, All-Time Regular Season: 25,396 (19891989 CFL seasonThe 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:...
–20002000 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...
) - CFL record for Most Combined Yards, Regular Season: 3,840 (19971997 CFL seasonThe 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:...
) - Recorded over 5,000 career yards in rushing (5,232), pass receptions (7,015), kickoff returns (6,349), and punt returns (6,025)
- Argonauts team records for career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300)
- Argonauts team records for single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997)
- Argonauts team record for single-game kickoff returns (8) on August 21, 1990, versus Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe 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...
- CFL most outstanding player (19901990 CFL seasonThe 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...
) - Three-time Grey Cup champion as a player (1991, 199684th Grey CupThe 84th Grey Cup, also known as The Snow Bowl, was the 1996 Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario...
, 1997) - One-time Grey Cup champion as a head coach (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...
) - First black head coach to win a Grey Cup championship
- Two-time CFL All-Star (1990, 1997)
- Two-time Tom Pate AwardTom Pate Memorial AwardEvery 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....
winner (1993, 1996) - 1995 John Candy Memorial Award
- One-time Eastern Division Most Outstanding Player TrophyJeff Russel Memorial TrophyThe Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding player of the Quebec University Football LeagueThe trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union...
winner (19901990 CFL seasonThe 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...
) - Four-time Eastern Division All-Star (1990, 1993, 1994, 1997)
- Order of OntarioOrder of OntarioThe Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(2001) - Voted one of the CFL's Top 50 playersTSN Top 50 CFL PlayersThe TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
(#31) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSNThe Sports NetworkThe Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
. - Was inducted into the 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...
in 2008. - Retired number by the Toronto Argonauts (#31)
CFL coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | TOR 2000 Toronto Argonauts season The 2000 Toronto Argonauts finished in 4th place in the East Division of the 2000 CFL season with a 7–10–1 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
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... |
6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | 4th in East Division | – | – | (interim coach) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR 2001 Toronto Argonauts season The 2001 Toronto Argonauts finished in 4th place in the East Division of the 2001 CFL season with a 7–11–0–1 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:... |
2001 2001 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:... |
7 | 11 | 0 | .389 | 4th in East Division | – | – | Missed Playoffs | ||
| TOR 2002 Toronto Argonauts season The 2002 Toronto Argonauts finished in 2nd place in the East Division of the 2002 CFL season with a 8–10–0 record. They won the East Division Semi-finals but lost the East Division Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season standings:-Regular season:... |
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:... |
4 | 2 | 0 | .666 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| TOR 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:... |
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:... |
9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| TOR 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:... |
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:... |
10 | 7 | 1 | .583 | 2nd in East Division | 3 | 0 | Won Grey Cup 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... |
||
| TOR 2005 Toronto Argonauts season The 2005 Toronto Argonauts season was the 48th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 133rd season overall. The Argonauts finished the regular season 11–7 and finished in first place in the CFL's Eastern Division.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
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:... |
11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 1st in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| TOR 2006 Toronto Argonauts season The 2006 Toronto Argonauts season was the 49th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 134th season overall. The Argonauts finished the regular season 10–8 and finished in second place in the CFL's Eastern Division.-Offseason:... |
2006 2006 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... |
10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| TOR 2007 Toronto Argonauts season The 2007 Toronto Argonauts season was the 50th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 135th season overall. The Argonauts finished the regular season 11–7 and finished in first place in the CFL's Eastern Division.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
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... |
11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 1st in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| Total | 68 | 55 | 1 | .552 | 2 East Division Championships |
6 | 5 | 1 Grey Cup | |||
Further reading
- Q & A with Pinball Clemons for Now Magazine (July 12–18, 2007)
- Interview with The Good Point (Oct. 7, 2008)
- Liberal senator likes Clemons' 'politics of hope' (Toronto Star Column, Oct. 26, 2008)