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  • 1921 Saskatchewan Provincial Championship Game Protested and Replayed

    1921 was a significant year in Canadian football. With the Western Canadian Rugby Football Union joining the Canadian Rugby Union, western clubs were finally eligible to compete for the Grey Cup.

    Article in the Regina Leader-Post about Regina initially winning the SRFU championship (31 November 1921).
    Article in the Regina Leader-Post about Regina initially winning the SRFU championship (31 November 1921).

    The Regina Rugby Club was one of the favourites to win the Hugo Ross trophy (the WCRFU championship) and represent the West in this historic season of Canadian football. They finished with a perfect 4-0 record and went on to defeat Saskatoon 10-8 on Saturday October 29th to win the Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union championship. But hold on. Not quite so fast.

    Article in the Saskatoon Daily Star summarizing the SRFU championship game that was protested by Saskatoon (31 October 1921).
    Article in the Saskatoon Daily Star summarizing the SRFU championship game that was protested by Saskatoon (31 October 1921).

    The Saskatoon club protested the result and demanded a rematch. A controversial play early in the game saw Regina kick the ball into the Saskatoon endzone. Saskatoon’s Wyn Griffiths let up retrieving the ball as it appeared to have hit a fence. In the meantime, Regina player Freddy Wilson quite shrewdly jumped on the ball to score a touchdown.

    Notice of meeting published in the Regina Leader-Post to hear protest by Saskatoon (31 October 1921).
    Notice of meeting published in the Regina Leader-Post to hear protest by Saskatoon (31 October 1921).

    A meeting was held in Regina by the SRFU on November 1st to hear the protest. Presided over by SRFU Secretary-Treasurer C.M. Johnston, the protest was disallowed, and Regina was greenlighted to travel to Winnipeg to play the Victoria Rugby Club in the western semi-final game.

    But…..

    Another meeting was held in Saskatoon by the President of the SRFU, Hub Bishop. At this meeting, the Saskatoon protest was allowed, and the teams were ordered to play a rematch.

    Article in the Saskatoon Phoenix Star about the conflicting decision on the Saskatoon protest (2 November 1921).
    Article in the Saskatoon Phoenix Star about the conflicting decision on the Saskatoon protest (2 November 1921).

    The WCRFU found themselves in a bit of a dilemma. Its president, Stuart Fraser, refused to get involved in sorting out the mess. He felt it was a matter strictly to be decided by the Saskatchewan union.

    The saga continues (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 3 November 1921).
    The saga continues (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 3 November 1921).

    Regina was steadfast against a rematch (and who can blame them really?) when Hub Bishop finally gave them the ultimatum. Play the rematch or lose by forfeiture. According to the press, Regina sent a wire to Bishop saying, “We’ll play it off, dingbust your hide” to which Bishop replied “Ah, they’re good sports.”

    Article in the Saskatoon Daily Star with the final resolution: Regina and Saskatoon will play a rematch (4 November 1921).
    Article in the Saskatoon Daily Star with the final resolution: Regina and Saskatoon will play a rematch (4 November 1921).

    So, on November 4th the rematch was played at Saskatoon’s Cairns Field. The end result? Saskatoon defeated Regina 9-6. I can’t help but imagine how the fans in Saskatchewan and (elsewhere for that matter) would’ve reacted on social media had it been around at the time of this saga.

    Game coverage of Saskatoon's victory in the rematch (Saskatoon Daily Star, 5 November 1921).
    Game coverage of Saskatoon’s victory in the rematch (Saskatoon Daily Star, 5 November 1921).

    Anyway, Saskatoon would go on and lose to the Victorias in Winnipeg a few days later, putting an end to the drama and controversy. And ultimately, Edmonton would represent the West in the 1921 Grey Cup.

    Sources:
    Regina Leader-Post, 31 October 1921
    Saskatoon Daily Star, 31 October 1921
    Saskatoon Daily Star, 4 November 1921
    Saskatoon Daily Star, 5 November 1921
    Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 2 November 1921
    Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 3 November 1921

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  • Advertisements for CFL Football at BC Place Stadium in 1983

    My background is in sales and marketing. That’s what I studied at university, and that’s been my career for the last 25+ years. Coincidently, I discovered my interest in marketing around the same time I started following CFL football. That was back in Grade 10. As a marketer who likes history and nostalgia, I like looking back at vintage and retro advertising. So, I thought let’s do a blog post on some old advertisements for the CFL.

    To set the tone. The year is 1983, and the new BC Place Stadium has just been built in Vancouver. The 59,000-seat stadium is the first domed stadium in Canada. New beginnings for the B.C. Lions.

    Here are some advertisements for the B.C. Lions and CFL football that appeared in Vancouver newspapers throughout the year.

    Advertisement for BC Lions season tickets in the Province, 12 June 1983.
    Advertisement for BC Lions season tickets in the Province, 12 June 1983.

    The first game at BC Place Stadium was a pre-season match between the Lions and the Calgary Stampeders. The game featured a kick-off concert by The Guess Who.

    Advertisement for the BC Lions' first game at BC Place Stadium, an exhibition game vs. the Calgary Stampeders (Vancouver Sun, 16 June 1983).
    Advertisement for the BC Lions’ first game at BC Place Stadium, an exhibition game vs. the Calgary Stampeders (Vancouver Sun, 16 June 1983).

    The Lions hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their regular season home opener at BC Place. The game was sponsored by Rothman’s and you could win a “magnificent Eskimo carving.” A different era when tobacco advertising was quite common.

    Advertisement for the BC Lions' regular season home opener at BC Place Stadium (Vancouver Sun, 23 July 1983).
    Advertisement for the BC Lions’ regular season home opener at BC Place Stadium (Vancouver Sun, 23 July 1983).

    A&B Sound, a former electronics retailer, was a corporate sponsor of the B.C. Lions. They ran the promotion below.

    A&B promo ad in the Province (30 June 1983).
    A&B promo ad in the Province (30 June 1983).

    The two best teams in the CFL in 1983 squared off on September 10th. A Grey Cup preview.

    Advertisement for the big game between BC and Toronto (Vancouver Sun, 8 September 1983).
    Advertisement for the big game between BC and Toronto (Vancouver Sun, 8 September 1983).

    A purchase of a Sony radio or Walkman also got you into the big game between the Lions and Argos.

    Promo ad (The Province, 9 September 1983)
    Promo ad (The Province, 9 September 1983)

    The SuperValu grocery chain ran a ticket promotion, as well. Customers could get a coupon for a free Lions ticket when purchasing a $9 ticket.

    SuperValu BC Lions ticket promo ad
    SuperValu BC Lions ticket promo ad.

    The B.C.Lions hosted the Western Final on November 20th versus Winnipeg. Season ticket holders, as expected, had first dibs. The tickets cost between $10 and $19.

    Ad for Western Final tickets (The Province, 30 October 1983).
    Ad for Western Final tickets (The Province, 30 October 1983).

    Player’s was another tobacco sponsor at the time. Here’s an ad promoting Grey Cup Week and the first Grey Cup to be played indoors at BC Place Stadium. Remember to heed the health advice given and avoid inhaling when smoking your cigarette.

    Grey Cup advertisement in The Province (24 November 1983).
    Grey Cup advertisement in The Province (24 November 1983).

    There weren’t any official Grey Cup tickets ads in Vancouver papers leading up to the big game because the game was virtually sold out well in advance. This article talks about the scarcity of Grey Cup tickets and how they were allocated across the CFL.

    Article in the Vancouver Sun about the availability and distribution of Grey Cup tickets (29 October 1983).
    Article in the Vancouver Sun about the availability and distribution of Grey Cup tickets (29 October 1983).

    So, if you didn’t have tickets, yet, your only option was the scalpers and resellers. The classifieds were full of ads like these. You could try John on Monday morning.

    Grey Cup tickets Classifieds ads
    Grey Cup tickets Classifieds ads

    The Grey Cup wasn’t the final game played in 1983. On December 3, the CFL and CFLPA staged an all-star game at BC Place Stadium.

    Advertisement for the 1983 CFL-CFLPA All-Star Game (Vancouver Sun, 2 December 1983).
    Advertisement for the 1983 CFL-CFLPA All-Star Game (Vancouver Sun, 2 December 1983).

    Sources:
    The Province, 12 June 1983
    The Province, 9 September 1983
    The Province, 30 October 1983
    The Province, 24 November 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 16 June 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 23 July 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 8 September 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 29 October 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 2 November 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 12 November 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 23 November 1983
    Vancouver Sun, 2 December 1983

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  • Tiger-Cats Spoil Argos’ SkyDome Opener

    In the aftermath of the 1982 Grey Cup, which was played in a rainstorm at Exhibition Stadium, football fans in Toronto were clamouring for an indoor stadium. They got their wish when the new SkyDome hosted the 1989 CFL season opener on July 12, 1989. No more football in the rain, wind, or snow. Fans could now enjoy the game in a climate-controlled environment. Yet, the spectacular venue’s fully retractable roof meant fans could still enjoy outdoor football when the weather permitted. It was the best of both worlds.

    Ad for the CFL opener at SkyDome
    Advertisement in the Toronto Star for the first CFL game at SkyDome.

    I remember when the SkyDome was built and marvelled at seeing it when driving through downtown Toronto. It really was a sight to behold. The first time I was inside it was for Wrestlemania VI in 1990. Twelve-year-old me was absolutely awestruck.

    OK, back to football. The SkyDome was touted a lifeline to the Toronto Argonauts and the entire the Canadian Football League. Surely, North America’s newest multi-million dollar major league stadium would be able to attract a whole new generation of fans to the CFL. The novelty factor alone was expected to bring in over 40,000 fans on opening night.

    Article in the Toronto Star touting the SkyDome as a saviour for the CFL
    Article in the Toronto Star touting the SkyDome as a saviour for the CFL
    Article in the Toronto Star touting the SkyDome as a saviour for the CFL.

    Unfortunately for the Argos, the home opener turnout fell a bit short of expectations. Mind you, a still solid crowd (especially by today’s standards) of 32,527 was on hand to watch the historic game between the Argonauts and the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Equally unfortunate for Toronto football fans, the Argos ended up on the losing end of scoreboard at SkyDome’s football christening.

    Led by quarterback Gilbert Renfroe, Toronto’s offence sputtered and managed to put up just 15 points. The Tiger-Cats scored two fourth quarter touchdowns – one a pass completion by rookie running back Derrick McAdoo and one an interception return by defensive back Sonny Gordon.

    The Tiger-Cats stole the show and won the game by a score of 25-14.

    Coverage in the Toronto Sun of the opening CFL game at SkyDome.
    Coverage in the Toronto Sun of the opening CFL game at SkyDome.
    Coverage in the Toronto Sun of the opening CFL game at SkyDome.

    The Argos did get a good bump in attendance in 1989 largely because of their new stadium. A crowd of over 54,000 attended the Grey Cup held at SkyDome that year. I do find it rather interesting how playing in a large, multipurpose, domed stadium went from being a huge positive with so much potential to more or less an albatross around the Argos within a couple of decades. Ironically, the Argonauts ultimately returned to the CNE grounds in 2016 when they moved into the smaller outdoor BMO Field.

    Sources:
    The Toronto Star, 12 July 1989
    The Toronto Sun, 13 July 1989

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  • Canadian Football’s Quirky Playoffs, Part IV: Three Leagues Compete for the New Grey Cup in 1909

    This is the fourth article examining some of Canadian football’s rather interesting playoff formats used over the years. Be sure to check out parts I, II, and III.

    1909 was a special year in Canadian football. That’s the year when Earl Grey, who was serving as the Governor General of Canada, donated a trophy to be awarded to Canada’s amateur rugby football champion. Of course, this trophy as well as the championship game itself would become known as the Grey Cup.
    Only teams affiliated with the Canadian Rugby Union were eligible to compete for the new Grey Cup championship. So that meant no western clubs could challenge for the trophy.

    Canadian football at the time was still an amateur affair, with senior football being the top level of play (above intermediate and junior). It was initially (mis)understood that the Grey Cup would be given to the winner of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (which was formed two years earlier) and Intercollegiate union game. But the CRU ruled a third league – the Ontario Rugby Football Union – was also a senior union and had the right to compete for the Grey Cup, as well.

    The Montreal Gazette published the final standings for 1909 in all three senior leagues of the Canadian Rugby Union:

    Canadian Rugby Union standings and playoffs in 1909 (Montreal Gazette)
    Montreal Gazette, 15 November 1909

    The Canadian Rugby Union had previously established a rotational playoff system where the champion of each union would alternately receive a bye to and host the Dominion championship. Since the new Grey Cup was now the Dominion championship, the CRU simply extended this arrangement. For 1909, it was the ORFU’s year to host; so, the winner of the ORFU final would host the first-ever Grey Cup.

    Canadian Rugby Union Decided the Play Offs Saturday (Montreal Star)
    Montreal Star, 22 November 1909
    Winners Must Play Parkdale (Ottawa Citizen)
    Ottawa Citizen, 25 November 1909

    On November 20th, Toronto Parkdale won the ORFU championship with an 8-3 win over the Toronto Amateur Athletic Club, securing their berth in the Grey Cup. On the same day, the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Hamilton Tigers 14-8 to win the IRFU championship.

    Below is some excellent coverage in the Toronto Star of the IRFU and ORFU playoffs.

    ORFU, IRFU playoff coverage (Toronto Star)
    Toronto Star, 22 November 1909

    On November 27th, the Rough Riders travelled to Toronto to play the University of Toronto in the Interprovincial-Intercollegiate final. Varsity won handily by a score of 31 to 7, setting up a Varsity vs. Parkdale all-Toronto final for the Grey Cup.

    Varsity to play Parkdale in first Grey Cup (Toronto Star)
    Toronto Star, 3 December 1909

    The historic matchup took place on December 4th at Toronto’s Rosedale Field. In the end, the University of Toronto came out on top, defeated Parkdale 26-6 to become the first Grey Cup champions.

    Sources:
    Montreal Gazette, 15 November 1909
    Montreal Star, 22 November 1909
    Ottawa Citizen, 25 November 1909
    Toronto Star, 22 November 1909
    Toronto Star, 6 December 1909

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  • Canadian Football’s Quirky Playoffs, Part III: Manitoba’s Unbalanced Schedule and Weighted Points System in 1906

    This is the third part of an ongoing series of articles looking back at some of Canadian football’s quirky playoff formats. Today, we’re going to go west and examine a rather peculiar set up for the 1906 season of the Manitoba Rugby Football Union.

    The MRFU was founded in 1892 and included a number of teams over the years. In 1906, four teams competed in the league’s senior competition: the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club (known as the Winnipegs), the St. John’s Rugby Football Club, the Winnipeg Rowing Club, and the Brandon Football Club.

    Financial constraints led to an unbalanced schedule. For instance, Brandon – being the only team from outside of Winnipeg – was allowed to play just four games. On the other hand, St. John’s and the Rowing Club were scheduled to play five games each. The Winnipegs were originally scheduled to play six games.

    To compensate for the unbalanced schedule, the MRFU devised a somewhat complicated but rather ingenious points system to provide some equity in the standings. Teams could receive a total of 30 points maximum on the season (if they won all their games). A value for a team’s win would be weighted depending on how many games they were to play. The formula used was 30 divided by the number of games played. In summary, Brandon would receive 7-1/2 points for each win (30 divided by four games played), St. John’s and the Rowing Club would receive 6 points for a win (30 divided by five games played), and a Winnipeg win would be worth five points (30 divided by six games played).

    Here is how the Winnipeg Tribune explained the schedule and points system:

    1906 MRFU schedule and points system explained in the Winnipeg Tribune (14 September 1906).
    Winnipeg Tribune (14 September 1906)

    The team with the most points in the standings was determined the champion. The Winnipegs picked up one win but lost two games and defaulted three of their remaining games after pulling out of the competition, finishing with a 1-5 record and five points.

    Here is the article published in the Winnipeg Tribune about the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club ceasing operations during the 1906 MRFU season:

    Article in the Winnipeg Tribune about the Winnipegs ceasing operations (19 October 1906).
    Winnipeg Tribune (19 October 1906)

    The top two teams – Winnipeg Rowing Club and Brandon – squared off on Sunday October 28th in a game that ultimately determined the championship. The “Oarsmen” (as the rowing club was nicknamed) defeated Brandon by a score of 20-1. The win gave the Winnipeg Rowing Club an undefeated 4-0 record and 24 points in the standings. Brandon ended the season 3-1 with 22-1/2 points.

    Article in the Winnipeg Tribune about Winnipeg Rowing Club winning the 1906 MRFU championship (29 October 1906).
    Winnipeg Tribune (19 October 1906)

    The Rowing Club had one more game to play versus St. John’s, but the game was cancelled as it had no meaning in the standings, the Oarsmen having already earned the highest number of points to win the 1906 MRFU championship.

    Of course, the MRFU wasn’t a member of the Canadian Rugby Union, so the Manitoba champion wasn’t eligible to compete in any playoff for the Dominion championship.

    Sources:
    Winnipeg Tribune (14 September 1906)
    Winnipeg Tribune (19 October 1906)
    Winnipeg Tribune (29 October 1906)

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