Toronto Argonauts
Encyclopedia
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
team competing in the East Division 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....
. The Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, after the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1870) and the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1871) of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. They have played their home games at 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...
since the stadium opened in 1989
1989 Toronto Argonauts season
The 1989 Toronto Argonauts finished in 2nd place in the East Division with a 7–11–0 record. They appeared in the East Semi-Final. This was the first season at the Skydome for the Argos.-Regular season:...
and prior to that, played in Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
from 1959 to 1988.
The Argonauts have won the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championship a record fifteen times, most recently in 2004. Having appeared in the Grey Cup 21 times, the Argonauts also hold the record for the best winning percentage in the championship game at 71.4%. Additionally, the franchise has the longest current winning streak in the Grey Cup, having won their last four appearances in the Grey Cup game (1991
79th Grey Cup
The 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36-21 in an entertaining game....
, 1996
84th Grey Cup
The 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
85th Grey Cup
The 85th Grey Cup was held in 1997 in Edmonton before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a score of 47-23.-Game summary:...
, 2004
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...
).
Team facts
The Toronto Argonauts are notable for being the oldest professional football team in North America, and they are also the oldest professional sports franchise in North America to still retain its original name. They have the most 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...
wins with 15 in the league; they have the third most Grey Cup appearances with 21, behind Edmonton
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
(22) and Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
(23).
The Argonauts are one of six professional football teams to feature multiple Heisman Trophy winners on their roster. The 1997 team featured Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
and Andre Ware
Andre Ware
Andre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
, the first time a team has had two Heisman winners at the quarterback position. The 2006 team featured Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
and Eric Crouch
Eric Crouch
Eric Eugene Crouch is an American quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks. He also is a TV sports analyst and recreational equipment vendor....
. The five other teams are the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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...
, and the Jacksonville Bulls
Jacksonville Bulls
The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985...
and New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
of the defunct United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
.
- Helmet design: Oxford Blue background; Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue round shield inscribed with a white, capital letter "A".
- Uniform colours: OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Blue (dark), CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Blue (light), and White.
- Stadium: Rogers CentreRogers CentreRogers 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...
(formerly known as SkyDome) (1989–present).
- Former Stadiums: Rosedale FieldRosedale FieldRosedale Field was a grandstand stadium located in Rosedale Park in Rosedale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It could hold 4,000 for seating and upwards of 10,000 standing. It was home to the Toronto Argonauts from 1874-1897, and again from 1908-1915...
(1874–1897, 1908–1915), Original Varsity Stadium (1898–1907, 1916–1923), Varsity StadiumVarsity StadiumVarsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
(1924–1958), Exhibition StadiumExhibition StadiumCanadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
(1959–1988).
- Grey Cup Wins: 15—(19146th Grey CupThe 6th Grey Cup was played on December 5, 1914, before 10,500 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 14 to 2....
, 19219th Grey CupThe 9th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1921, before 9,558 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto. Edmonton was the first western team to challenge for the Grey Cup.The Toronto Argonauts shut out the Edmonton Eskimos 23 to 0....
, 193321st Grey CupThe 21st Grey Cup game was the Canadian football championship in 1933. Toronto Argonauts defeated Sarnia Imperials 4–3 at Sarnia's Davis Field on December 9 before a crowd of 2,751....
, 193725th Grey CupThe 25th Grey Cup was played on December 11, 1937, before 11,522 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 4 to 3....
, 193826th Grey CupThe 26th Grey Cup was played on December 10, 1938, before 18,778 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30 to 7....
, 194533rd Grey CupThe 33rd Grey Cup was played on December 1, 1945, before 18,660 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35 to 0....
, 194634th Grey CupThe 34th Grey Cup was played on November 30, 1946, before 18,960 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28 to 6....
, 194735th Grey CupThe 35th Grey Cup was played on November 29, 1947, before 18,885 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10 to 9....
, 195038th Grey CupThe 38th Grey Cup, played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto on November 25, 1950, before 27,101 fans, also known as the Mud Bowl, was the Canadian football championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers...
, 195240th Grey CupThe 40th Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship held on 29 November 1952. The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.-Game highlights:...
, 198371st Grey CupThe 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
, 199179th Grey CupThe 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36-21 in an entertaining game....
, 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...
, 199785th Grey CupThe 85th Grey Cup was held in 1997 in Edmonton before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a score of 47-23.-Game summary:...
, 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...
).
- Eastern regular season championships: 20—1911, 1912, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1936, 1937, 1945, 1960, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2007.
- Main Rivals: Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, 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...
, Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe 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...
- 2011 Regular Season2011 Toronto Argonauts seasonThe 2011 Toronto Argonauts season is the 54th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 139th season overall. The Argonauts were eliminated from playoff contention on October 10, 2011 and failed to make a second straight playoff appearance, finishing 4th place in the East...
Record: 6 wins, 12 losses, 0 ties.
1873–1989
The Toronto Argonauts were founded in 1873 by the Toronto Argonaut Rowing ClubArgonaut Rowing Club
The Argonaut Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club in Toronto, Ontario. It is located on Lake Ontario at the foot of Dowling Avenue, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, west of Exhibition Place. The club was founded in 1872...
. This also makes them one of the oldest professional sports teams in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the oldest to continue under the same name and in the same city. Aside from a few college teams, they are the oldest continuously existing football club of any type in North America.
In the 19th century, the most renowned rowers in the world were the teams from Oxford University and Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the Toronto rowers adopted uniforms incorporating the two shades of blue used by the English schools. When the Argonauts expanded into football, the "double blue" uniform was used by the football team as well, starting a tradition of top-level Toronto teams wearing blue (e.g. Toronto Maple Leafs
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...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
). Because of their roots in the rowing club (which still exists today), the team is often nicknamed the "Boatmen."
In Canadian football's early years, the Argonauts were the dominant team. They put together a number of Grey Cup dynasties in the 1930s and 1940s. At some time during this period, the phrase "Argo Bounce" came into being. It referred to the Argonauts' propensity to receive a lucky bounce of the football. However, after the 1952 season
1952 in Canadian football
-Canadian Football News in 1952:The Canadian Rugby Union received television revenue for the first time when it was paid $7,500 by CBC for the rights to televise the Grey Cup game...
the Argos entered a funk that was to last for over 30 years. The team struggled throughout much of the '50s, '60s and '70s despite the presence of greats such as Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
, Tobin Rote
Tobin Rote
Tobin Cornelius Rote was an American college and professional football player who played quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, and the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.-Early life:Rote...
, Jim Corrigall
Jim Corrigall
Jim Corrigall, born May 7, 1946, in Barrie, Ontario, is a former all-star defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League.-High school and college:...
, Bill Symons
Bill Symons
Bill Symons, born in Nucla, Colorado, is a former professional Canadian football running back with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- College football career :Symons played for the University of Colorado Buffaloes between 1962 and 1964...
, Jim Stillwagon
Jim Stillwagon
Jim Stillwagon is a former all star American college football player and Canadian Football League player.Stillwagon was a three-year starter with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a consensus All-America selection as a junior and senior, and won the Outland Trophy and was the first-ever winner of...
and Granville "Granny" Liggins
Granville Liggins
Granville 'Granny' Liggins was an American football and a Canadian Football League player.-College:At the University of Oklahoma, Liggins was not only a football player, but also a wrestler...
. The Boatmen's best chance to end their drought came in 1971
1971 CFL season
The 1971 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the eighteenth season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the fourteenth Canadian Football League season.-CFL News for 1971:...
, when they faced the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in the 59th Grey Cup
59th Grey Cup
The 59th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1971, before 34,404 fans at Vancouver's Empire Stadium.The Calgary Stampeders beat the Toronto Argonauts on a slick rain covered field in an extremely close 14 to 11 match.-Box Score:First Quarter...
, the first to be played on artificial turf. In a defensive struggle at Vancouver's soggy Empire Stadium, a late fumble by Leon "X-Ray" McQuay
Leon McQuay
Leon McQuay was an American football running back.-College career:McQuay played college football with the now disbanded University of Tampa Spartans He was the first black athlete to receive a scholarship to UT...
sealed a 14–11 Stampeder victory. While the play was ruled a fumble, head coach Leo Cahill suggested that the ground cannot cause a fumble and the ball should have been ruled a dead ball. The Argonaut touchdown or field goal that could have ensued may well have altered the game's outcome.
The Argos reached an all-time low 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:...
when they finished 2–14; this despite having such talented players as Condredge Holloway
Condredge Holloway
Condredge Holloway Jr. was a star quarterback for the University of Tennessee and later in the Canadian Football League.-Early years and College:...
, Cedric Minter
Cedric Minter
Cedric Alwyn Minter, , is a former professional football player, and an award-winning running back in the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
, David Newman and Terry Greer
Terry Greer
Terry Greer is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers...
. However, with the 1982 season
1982 CFL season
The 1982 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1982:After the 1981 season the Montreal Alouettes folded...
came the hiring of Bob O'Billovich
Bob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
as head coach and Mouse Davis
Mouse Davis
Darrel "Mouse" Davis is an American football coach and former player. A veteran coach at the high school, college, and professional levels, he is currently the wide receivers coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Davis served as the head football coach at Portland State University from...
as offensive co-ordinator. Davis implemented the Run & Shoot offence for that season. The Argos enjoyed an unprecedented turnaround, going 9–6–1 that year. Condredge Holloway was the CFL's most outstanding player and receivers Terry Greer
Terry Greer
Terry Greer is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers...
and Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert
Emanuel Tolbert is a former slotback and wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. He was a part of the Argonauts 1983 Grey Cup victory...
were among the class of the CFL. But the team ultimately fell short in their quest for a Grey Cup, losing 32–16 to the mighty Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in front of a disappointed crowd at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
.
The 1983 season
1983 CFL season
The 1983 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 30th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 26th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1983:...
brought renewed success. The Argos finished 12–4 and Terry Greer set a CFL record with 2,003 receiving yards. Joe Barnes
Joe Barnes
Joe Barnes was an all-star quarterback in the Canadian Football League.Barnes was a graduate of Texas Tech University, playing from 1971 to 1973, and was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Honor in 1986. His senior year, he dated Dianna Delp. They married June of 1974...
and Condredge Holloway
Condredge Holloway
Condredge Holloway Jr. was a star quarterback for the University of Tennessee and later in the Canadian Football League.-Early years and College:...
were a potent duo at quarterback. The Double Blue returned to the Grey Cup, this time facing the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
at BC Place Stadium
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Despite the hostile crowd, Toronto defeated B.C. 18–17 to win their first Grey Cup
71st Grey Cup
The 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
since 1952
40th Grey Cup
The 40th Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship held on 29 November 1952. The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.-Game highlights:...
.
The Argos enjoyed success through much of the '80s (though 1985 and 1989 were notable exceptions), thanks in large part to talented players such as Gil "The Thrill" Fenerty and Darrell K. Smith
Darrell K. Smith
Darrell K. Smith was a wide receiver and slotback who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. His move to the Edmonton Eskimos in 1993 was a part of the largest trade in CFL history, involving 16 players...
. However, a return the glory of 1983 proved elusive.
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...
Bob O'BillovichBob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
left following the 1989 season
1989 CFL season
The 1989 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 36th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 32nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1989:...
. Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
took over the head coaching reins, and the new Vice-President and General Manager, Mike McCarthy, rebuilt the franchise around star pivot 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...
. The Argos put up a record 689 points during the regular season, but had trouble handling the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
all season long, and ended up losing the Eastern Final to Winnipeg 20–17 on a last-minute field goal. Michael "Pinball" Clemons set a pro football record with 3,300 all-purpose yards, and became the third Argo to win the CFL's Outstanding Player award.
19911991 CFL seasonThe 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:...
Harry Ornest sold the Toronto Argonauts to a group spearheaded by Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
owner Bruce McNall
Bruce McNall
Bruce Patrick McNall is a former Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and a sports executive who once owned the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League .McNall claimed to have made his initial fortune as a coin collector, though...
, and NHL great Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
and comedian/actor John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
. Their acquisition of the team spawned immediate success. The team snatched Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
runner-up Raghib “Rocket” Ismail from the NFL draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
, signing him to the richest contract in North American gridiron football history at the time. Coach Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
was replaced by Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
. The 1991 Argo squad was one of the most electrifying teams that Toronto
Toronto sports
Sports in Toronto has a long and distinguished history. The city is home to a few historic clubs such as: Granite Club , the Royal Canadian Yacht Club , the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club , the Argonaut Rowing Club , Toronto Argonauts football club , the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club Sports in...
had ever seen. A 13–5–0 regular season record earned the Argos a home playoff game at SkyDome. In front of a club record crowd of over 50,000, the Argos thumped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
42–3 en route to a Grey Cup berth. Led by a thrilling 87-yard kickoff return by Rocket Ismail, the Argos captured the 79th Grey Cup
79th Grey Cup
The 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36-21 in an entertaining game....
by defeating Calgary
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
36–21 in the coldest championship game on record at Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. Adam Rita would be named the CFL’s Coach of the Year.
19921992 CFL season-1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos...
The Cinderella story of 19911991 CFL season
The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:...
would unfortunately only last one year as 1992 was the beginning of a rough couple of years for the Argos. Popular head coach Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
was dismissed in September as the team struggled to find its way, 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...
left for Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
as his replacement, Rickey Foggie
Rickey Foggie
Rickey Foggie is a former quarterback. Foggie was the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers for four seasons, before going on to play professionally in – first the Canadian Football League, and then later in the Arena Football League...
struggled as the starting QB. Eventually, they finished last in the East with a 6–12–0 record. Assistant Coach Dennis Meyer took over from Rita after 11 games and finished the season 3–4–0 and out of the playoffs. The City of Toronto hosted the Grey Cup
80th Grey Cup
The 80th Grey Cup was the 1992 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto's SkyDome...
for the 45th time.
19931993 CFL seasonThe 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
The CFL made its first venture into the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the addition of the Sacramento Gold Miners
Sacramento Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
. Argonauts GM Mike McCarthy
Michael P. McCarthy
Michael P. "Mike" McCarthy is a professional football executive and scout. He was born in Oneida, New York and raised in Rome, New York. McCarthy began playing football at Rome Free Academy H.S. where he earned All-State football honours and was an all-star in lacrosse and wrestling...
pulled off the biggest trade in CFL history that saw Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham is a retired Canadian Football League quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. He was known for his abilities as a dual threat quarterback...
come to Toronto in a blockbuster 16-player deal with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
. However Ham's presence and a great season by rookie receiver Manny Hazard
Manny Hazard
Manny Hazard is a former professional American football wide receiver who played collegiately at the University of Houston and in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts....
did not stop the slide as the Argos dropped to 3–15–0, their worst record since 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:...
. Bob O'Billovich
Bob O'Billovich
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
returned to the Boatmen and replaced Dennis Meyer as head Coach on September 10, 1993, and was later named GM.
19941994 CFL seasonThe 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
McNall, Gretzky and John Candy sold the club to TSNThe Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
Enterprises. Under GM Bob O’Billovich, the Argonauts doubled their win total from the year previous and qualified for the CFL playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The Argos new found success was short lived, however, losing to the eventual Grey Cup
82nd Grey Cup
The 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club and the BC Lions at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States-vs-Canada matchup...
Finalist Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
.
19951995 CFL seasonThe 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
1995 was a transition year for the Argos and change within the franchise was evident. Bob O’Billovich remained as the clubs GM, however handed over his coaching whistle to Mike Faragelli. Veteran QB Kent AustinKent Austin
Richard Kent Austin is the Head Coach for the Cornell University Big Red football team. Prior to this, he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. He is the former Head Coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders...
was introduced to lead the club and the familiar “A” logo was replaced by a bold shielded warrior. The off-field transformations did little for the club. O’Billovich returned to finish the season on the sidelines and the Argos finished a woeful 4–14–0. O'Billovich was dismissed at season's end, and left as the club's all-time winningest coach with 89 victories, 79 losses and three ties in 11 seasons.
19961996 CFL seasonThe 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
Vice President Paul Beeston
Paul Beeston
Paul McGill Beeston, CM is the former president of Major League Baseball and current president of the Toronto Blue Jays. On October 27th, 2009 Rogers Media announced the appointment of Paul Beeston as President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre for a three year...
was named the Argonauts new team President. The Argos went from basement dwellers to the class of the CFL. Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
returned as 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...
and he surrounded himself with free agent talent that would eventually win him a Grey Cup
84th Grey Cup
The 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...
. Free agents 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...
, Mike O'Shea and Reggie Givens were perfect complements for Michael Clemons, Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
and the electrifying Jimmy “The Jet” Cunningham. Flutie would lead the Argonauts to a 15–3–0 season and a berth in the 1996 Grey Cup Championship game. Flutie’s Argonauts defeated 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...
43–37 in a snowy 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...
.
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:...
Paul Beeston continued his position as the Argos team President. Repeating as champions is one of the most difficult accomplishments in professional sportsProfessional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
. The season saw the emergence of SB Derrell “Mookie” Mitchell
Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League slotback.-Junior College Career:Mitchell attended Joliet Junior College...
. The speedy receiver helped lead the Argos to another 15–3–0 season. At the East Final in Toronto Michael “Pinball” Clemons was the hero catching the game-winning TD with just 40 seconds on the clock. The Argonauts easily defeated 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...
47–23 in the Grey Cup
85th Grey Cup
The 85th Grey Cup was held in 1997 in Edmonton before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a score of 47-23.-Game summary:...
. The team finished the year with 11 players named to the All-Star team and four CFL awards. 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...
won the Most Outstanding Player award, Mike Kiselak
Mike Kiselak
Michael John Kiselak was an American football player who played center for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, where he was an All-Star and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 1996 and 1997...
as Most Outstanding Lineman, Derrell Mitchell as Most Outstanding Rookie and Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
as Coach of the Year.
19981998 CFL season-1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
The Argos looked to “three-peat” in 1998, however, roster changes and numerous rookies entering camp, the task was going to be difficult. Star QB Doug FlutieDoug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
and kicker Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
left for the NFL and RB Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
became a member of the B.C. Lions. After starting the year slow, the Argonauts starting pivot Kerwin Bell
Kerwin Bell
Kerwin Douglas Bell is an American college and professional football coach and former player who was a quarterback in the National Football League , World League of American Football and the Canadian Football League for fourteen seasons in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s...
returned to lead the club to an 8–3–0 mid-season run. The team fell to 9–9, crept into the playoffs and lost to Montreal East Semi-Final. Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League slotback.-Junior College Career:Mitchell attended Joliet Junior College...
emerged as one of the best receivers in Argo history following his CFL record 160 reception season and all-star honour. Paul Masotti passed Darrell K. Smith as the team's all-time leading receiver after 11 seasons of play.
19991999 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...
Eric Tillman returned to the club as GM after spending a year in television. He hired Offensive Coordinator Jim Barker to replace Don MatthewsDon Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
as 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...
. Injuries riddled the Argonauts early, but the league’s best defence helped the club fight to another 9–9 record. The team would qualify for the playoffs but lost to the eventual champions Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
27–6. Linebacker Mike O'Shea became the first Argo player to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
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...
On December 20, 1999, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
businessman Sherwood Schwarz was named the ninth owner in the history of the Argonauts franchise. Schwarz named J.I. Albrecht as the managing director and John Huard as the 37th head coach in Argonauts history. This season also saw the retirement of two Argo all-time greats as receiver Paul Masotti retired in May as the team's all-time leading receiver, and on September 15, Michael Clemons went straight from cleats to the coaching ranks as he retired to take over the coaching reins from a fired Huard after a 1–6–1 start. The team responded to their former teammate and the Argos battled to a 6–4 record the rest of the way, just missing out on a playoff berth after finishing the season with a 7–11–1 record.
20012001 CFL seasonThe 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:...
With Clemons entering his first full season as a head coach, after 13 seasons as an Argo player and 12 team records to his credit, the Argos went about the business of getting the team back into the post-season. After a difficult 2–7 start to the season, which was not helped with injuries to starting quarterback Kerwin BellKerwin Bell
Kerwin Douglas Bell is an American college and professional football coach and former player who was a quarterback in the National Football League , World League of American Football and the Canadian Football League for fourteen seasons in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s...
, the Argos, led by veteran players Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League slotback.-Junior College Career:Mitchell attended Joliet Junior College...
, Mike O'Shea and Adrion Smith
Adrion Smith
Adrion "Pee Wee" Smith was a football player in the CFL for twelve years. Smith played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs and Toronto Argonauts from 1994–2005. He was a CFL All-Star four times and won three Grey Cup Championships with the Argos...
, won 4 of the last 6 games to narrowly miss out on the playoffs again, finishing with a 7–11 mark.
20022002 CFL seasonThe 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:...
With the addition of new head coach Gary Etcheverry, a renowned defensive strategist, and newcomers like former defensive player of the year Joe MontfordJoe 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...
and quarterback Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop (football player)
Michael Paul Bishop is a professional football quarterback who is currently on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Practice Squad. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots....
, hopes were high for 2002. After a disappointing 4–8 start, Etcheverry was relieved of the coaching duties, and Michael Clemons, who was serving as the club's president, took over his now-familiar place on the sidelines to put his team back on the playoff track. Clemons' impact was immediate, and the Argos won 4 of the remaining 6 games, including a dramatic 33–32 win over the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in the last game of the season, to push the Boatmen into the CFL playoffs for the first time in three years. The Argos proved in the Eastern semi-final that they were not content on just making the post-season and handed 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...
a 24–14 loss at SkyDome in a "cross-over" CFL playoff matchup. The Argos then headed down the 401 to face the league-leading Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in the Eastern Final, losing to the eventual Grey Cup champions 35–18 in front of a boisterous sell-out crowd at Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
.
20032003 CFL seasonThe 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:...
The 2003 season began under head coach Mike Clemons and a host of faces both old and new. Noel Prefontaine and Bashir LevingstonBashir Levingston
Bashir A. Levingston [ba-SHAR] is a professional Canadian football cornerback and kick returner in the Canadian Football League who is currently a free agent.-College football career:...
returned as well as Michael Jenkins, who came back to the CFL after a short absence. With the acquisition of players such as Tony Miles
Tony Miles
Anthony John Miles was an English chess Grandmaster.- Early achievements in chess :Miles was born in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham...
and future hall-of-famer 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...
, and the emergence of Marcus Brady as the quarterback to watch, the Toronto Argonauts provided an exciting combination of offence and defence on the field. Finishing the season with a 9–9 record, the team advanced to the playoffs defeating the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in the Eastern Semi-Final, only to lose by a close margin in the Eastern Finals to the defending Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. The winning touchdown in the Eastern Finals was a controversial one, as quarterback Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo is a Canadian Football League quarterback, currently playing for the Montreal Alouettes. He is the all-time professional football passing yards leader and first in all-time CFL passing yards...
appeared to fumble the ball before crossing the goal line. Instant replay was not available at the time, so the play stood. The 2003 season was also one which saw many CFL records broken by Toronto Argonauts players. Most notably were the records broken by Damon Allen. Moving past Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
into 2nd place in all-time professional football passing yards, Allen also broke records in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, passing touchdowns and total games played. The season ended with 6 Toronto Argonauts (Adrion Smith, Noel Prefontaine, Tony Miles, Eric England
Eric England
Eric Jevon England is a gridiron football player who plays defensive end. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. England also played in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. Most recently, England was signed by the New...
, Clifford Ivory, Orlando Steinauer) being named to the CFL All-Star Team—the most of any CFL team. Furthermore, the CFL named Bashir Levingston the Outstanding Special Teams Player for 2003 at the annual CFL Player Awards. In October 2003, Toronto businessmen David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski became the new owners of the Toronto Argonauts, marking the first time in over 30 years that the team has had local ownership.
20042004 CFL seasonThe 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:...
Local businessmen and avid CFL fans David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski purchased the Argonauts and provided financial stability and a passionate, new attitude to the club. Keith Pelley was hired as president and former Argonaut QB Kent AustinKent Austin
Richard Kent Austin is the Head Coach for the Cornell University Big Red football team. Prior to this, he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. He is the former Head Coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders...
was brought aboard as the offensive coordinator. In addition, star running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
John Avery, back from the NFL, signed as a free agent. The new enthusiasm spilled over from the front office and onto the football field. The team posted its best record since 1997
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
(10–7–1) and earned yet another home playoff game. The Argonauts went on to defeat the Hamilton Tiger Cats 30–7 in front of more than 37,000 fans in the East Semi-Final at Rogers Centre. They then headed to Montreal to face the Alouettes for the third consecutive year. The Argos walked into a sold-out Olympic Stadium and stole the East Championship from the Als, 26–18. The ageless wonder, Damon Allen, played his best game as an Argonaut in the 2004 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...
Game in Ottawa. Allen won game MVP honour, but more importantly helped the Argos capture their 15th Grey Cup in a 27–19 win over the BC Lions. The Argonauts realized 10-year attendance highs during the regular-season, and a resurgence occurred within the city of Toronto as Boatmen returned to glory, becoming the city-wide leader in per-game attendance.
20052005 CFL seasonThe 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:...
Despite not returning to the 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...
game to defend their title, 2005 saw the Argos post their best season of football since 1997 with an 11–7 record and first place in the East, earning the right to host the East Championship. Quarterback Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
recorded his best numbers in 21 years as a CFL quarterback, passing for 5,082 yards, rushing for 461 more and totalling 37 touchdowns (both passing and rushing). His efforts were rewarded as he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and was voted as the Rogers
Rogers
-Places:Canada*Rogers Island *Rogers PassUnited States*Rogers, Arkansas*Rogers, California*Rogers, California, alternate name of Muroc, California*Rogers, Minnesota*Rogers, Nebraska*Rogers, Ohio*Rogers, Virginia*Rogers City, Michigan...
CFL Fans’ Choice Award winner. For the first time since 1997, three Argo receivers caught for more than 1000 yards on the season. Receivers Arland Bruce III
Arland Bruce III
Arland Richard Bruce III is a Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League. In July 2011, Bruce declared his intention to change his name to "Runako Reth".- High School career :...
, Tony Miles and Robert Baker
Robert Baker (football player)
Robert Cedrick Baker, III is a former professional gridiron football player, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League from 2004 to 2006 as a slotback and wide receiver...
all recorded career highs in yards, receptions and touchdowns. Defensively, the Argonauts led the league in numerous categories. Kevin Eiben and Michael Fletcher
Michael Fletcher
Michael Edward Fletcher is a professional Canadian football linebacker who most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
both shattered career numbers generating a combined 200 defensive tackles and received East Player of the Year awards for Outstanding Canadian and Defensive Player respectively. The Special Teams continued to prove that it was among the elite units in football. Bashir Levingston captured his unprecedented 10th Special Teams Player of the Week Award in August and Noel Prefontaine won the East Division Special Teams Player of the Year award. The awards continued to amass as the 2005 season came to a close with a league-high 12 Argos being named to the East Division All-Star team and five players being named CFL All-Stars including Damon Allen, Jonathan Brown, Kevin Eiben, Michael Fletcher and Jordan Younger. However, the biggest highlight of the season may have occurred off the field as regular season attendance in 2005 averaged 30,196 fans per game, an increase of 17% over the 2004 average of 25,813.
20062006 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...
The Argos made a splash just before training camp when they lured high-profile RB Ricky WilliamsRicky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
to Canada. Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
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...
became professional football's all-time leading passer, moving ahead of Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
on Labour Day in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. The team, however, was decimated by injuries at almost every position and the Argonauts stumbled out of the gate to a 2–5 record. Mid-season health bred new promise as the team gained the majority of its starters back including Allen and Williams, who both fell to injury early in the year. Upon his return, Williams joined forces with fellow RB John Avery to deliver a late-season one-two punch out of the backfield. Combined with the stellar play of their dominant defence, the Double Blue was able to turn the season around and win 8 of their remaining 11 regular season games to finish in a first-place tie with the Montreal Alouettes. The CFL tie-break rule landed the Argos in second place, hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a thrilling East Semi-Final at 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...
. With the season on the line, QB Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop (football player)
Michael Paul Bishop is a professional football quarterback who is currently on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Practice Squad. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots....
and LB Chuck Winters
Chuck Winters
Charles "Chuck" Winters is a former Canadian Football League linebacker and defensive back who played for the Toronto Argonauts....
teamed up to lead the Boatmen to one of the greatest come-from-behind victories in recent Argo memory. The Argos fell to Montreal in the East Championship. Despite their early exit from the playoffs, the Boatmen finished the season with 11 East Division All-Stars and three CFL All-Stars. Kicker/Punter Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine is a professional Canadian football punter / kicker with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
was once again named the East's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and elusive receiver Arland Bruce III
Arland Bruce III
Arland Richard Bruce III is a Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League. In July 2011, Bruce declared his intention to change his name to "Runako Reth".- High School career :...
finished with a division leading 1,370 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. A bright star on defence came in the form of CB Byron Parker
Byron Parker
Byron Wesley Parker is a gridiron football cornerback for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
. The speedy defender re-joined the Boatmen mid-season and made his mark in both the Argos and the CFL record books in only nine regular season contests. By season's end, the Tulane product had accumulated 8 interceptions for a CFL record 348 return yards and 4 touchdowns. Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Mike O'Shea became just the third player, and first Canadian, in CFL history to record 1,000 or more defensive tackles in a career. Ricky Williams would leave the team after the end of the season.
20072007 CFL seasonThe 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...
20082008 CFL seasonThe 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
Toronto started the season off well, winning against the Blue Bombers 23–16, but after that they compiled a 2–5 record the next 7 games. After the Bye week, everything went downhill, they won only one game and lost 9 start to finsh the season 4–14 and missed the playoffs. On September 9, Rich StublerRich Stubler
Richard Stubler is the defensive coordinator for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado, Stubler began his coaching career in 1971 at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colorado...
was released as head coach of the Argonauts after posting a 4–6 record. There was the belief he could not get along with those he worked with. The Argos hired Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
, the head coach with the most wins in CFL history and head coach during Toronto's back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
and 1997
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
, to return to the club as head coach for the third time in his coaching career.
Matthews resigned from the Argonauts a day after the conclusion of the Argonauts 2008 regular season
2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
, which saw the Argos fail to win a game in the eight games under his leadership and finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2001 CFL season
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:...
.
20092009 CFL seasonThe 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
20102010 CFL seasonThe 2010 CFL season is the 57th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it is the 53rd season of the league. Edmonton is scheduled to host the 98th Grey Cup on November 28...
Entering the 2010 season under new ownership, many around the league expected the Argos to once again be a non-factor, because the team had an inexperienced roster and a rookie quarterback in Cleo LemonCleo Lemon
Cleo "Cleonardo" Lemon, Jr. is a Canadian football quarterback in the Canadian Football League who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
. However, under the leadership of new head coach Jim Barker
Jim Barker
Jim Barker is the head coach and general manager of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League....
and the stellar running game of Cory Boyd
Cory Boyd
Cory J. Boyd is a gridiron football running back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, the Argonauts would shock many and finish with a 9–9 record, good enough for third place in the Eastern Division. The Argonauts would begin the post season by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in the Eastern Semi-finals before losing to eventual Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champion Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. The season was viewed as a success on multiple levels, as coach Jim Barker
Jim Barker
Jim Barker is the head coach and general manager of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League....
would go on to win the CFL Coach of the Year
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...
award, and kick returning standout Chad Owens
Chad Owens
Chad Owens is a professional American, Canadian and Arena football wide receiver and kick returner for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
would bring home the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
John Agro Special Teams Award
The John Agro Special Teams Award is awarded to the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams player that is voted by his peers .-John Agro Special Teams Award winners:*2011 - Paul McCallum , BC Lions...
award. Many Argonauts fans, players and media credit coach Barker for the team's impressive turnaround and for his efforts he would be name the new General Manager of the team, taking over for Adam Rita
Adam Rita
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts....
whose contract was not renewed by the team.
Season-by-season records
From 1958 to 2010, the Argos have a 395–459–12 regular season record (.463 winning percentage). The Argos are 23–25 (.478) in the playoffs since 1958.Facilities
- Rogers CentreRogers CentreRogers 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...
(known as SkyDome from 1989 to 2005) 1989–present - Exhibition StadiumExhibition StadiumCanadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
1959–1988 - Varsity StadiumVarsity StadiumVarsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
1898–1907, 1916–1958 - Rosedale FieldRosedale FieldRosedale Field was a grandstand stadium located in Rosedale Park in Rosedale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It could hold 4,000 for seating and upwards of 10,000 standing. It was home to the Toronto Argonauts from 1874-1897, and again from 1908-1915...
1874–1897, 1908–1915
See also
- Toronto Argonauts all time records and statisticsToronto Argonauts all time records and statisticsToronto Argonauts all time records and statistics.Current to the 2011 CFL season.- Games Played :*222 – Don Moen *205 – Michael O'Shea *204 – Danny Nykoluk *195 – Chad Folk...
- List of Canadian Football League stadiums
- 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...
- List of Canadian Football League seasons
- 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...
- ArgonotesArgonotesArgonotes, the unofficial band of the Toronto Argonauts is an all volunteer organization committed to bringing quality musical entertainment and a "traditional football atmosphere" to all Argonauts home football games...
, the Toronto Argonauts Band