Category: Montreal

1907 IRFU Debut Game Draws Controversy On and Off the Field

In 1907, four football clubs – Hamilton Tigers, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Montreal Football Club – formed a new league called the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. Up until then, the champions of the Ontario Rugby Football Union and the Quebec Rugby Football Union would usually square off for a Dominion championship. But there were otherwise no meaningful games between clubs from the two leagues. So the new league was established to become a new competition for what were considered the top teams in the ORFU and QRFU.

Montreal Football Club players including Babe Reynolds and Ernie Russell (Montreal Star, 24 October 1907).

On October 5, 1907, the first ever game in the new IRFU was held before a crowd of 3,000 fans at the M.A.A.A. grounds in Montreal. The home side hosted the Toronto Argonauts (kind of, sort of) in the historic matchup.

The game attracted more attention for its controversy than historical significance, though. Both on and off the field.

Coverage of the IRFU’s first game between Montreal and Toronto (Montreal Star, 7 October 1907).

While Montreal had dominated the first half of play, Toronto arguably had the upper hand in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Toronto’s Peter Flett kicked the ball on third down to Montreal’s James Craig, who returned the ball some 40 yards before either punting or fumbling the ball (I’ve read differing accounts). Toronto’s G.B. Balfour, instead of picking it up or falling on it, attempted to kick it. Montreal’s left wing substitute Babe Reynolds picked it up and scurried into Toronto’s end zone for a try. Reynolds should’ve been called offside and the touchdown disallowed. But no instant replay in those days. Toronto’s comeback attempt was over. The final score was 17-8 in favour of Montreal.

Coverage of the IRFU’s first game between Montreal and Toronto (Toronto Star, 7 October 1907).

The bigger controversy happened off the field thanks to a player named Ernie Russell (of Hockey Hall of Fame fame). At the time an organization called the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union was the governing body for amateur sports in Canada. Football was still an amateur sport. And many football players at the time played other sports, as well.

Coverage of the IRFU’s first game between Montreal and Toronto (Toronto Telegraph, 7 October 1907).

To say the CAAU’s strict interpretation of professionalism tested the IRFU’s patience is an understatement.

The CAAU deemed a player to be professional even if he simply played with or against a professional player. It is this rule that caused Ernie Russell to be “professionalized” by the CAAU. While Russell had sworn an affidavit that he was an amateur player having never taken money himself, he still didn’t receive clearance by the CAAU by the time the Argonauts arrived in Montreal.

Rather than risk losing amateur status for the Argonaut Rowing Club, the Argonaut players cleverly rebranded themselves as the “Torontos” for the IRFU debut game.

In hindsight, the CAAU flexed its muscle a bit too much here. Other IRFU teams simply decided to proceed without the sanction of the amateur athletic union. In time, of course, the IRFU would become a fully professional league anyway. And the CAAU would soon cease to even exist.

Article about the new IRFU proceeding with games despite row with the CAAU (Toronto Star, 8 October 1907).

So, what should have been a day of celebration for the new Interprovincial Rugby Football Union was largely overshadowed by a blown call by the referees and a nasty public spat with the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union.

Sources:
Montreal Star, 7 October 1907
Toronto Star, 7 October 1907
Toronto Star, 8 October 1907
Toronto Telegram, 7 October 1907

October 16, 2026
Alouettes Beat the Rough Riders 1-0 in Lowest Scoring Game in CFL History

Most football fans like a lot of scoring. You really can’t beat seeing two teams going back and forth and lighting up the scoreboard. Of course, a good defensive matchup can still make for some entertaining football now and then. But back in 1966, a game between Montreal and Ottawa redefined the meaning of a defensive battle.

On October 30, 1966, the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Ottawa Rough Riders by a score of 1-0. No, that’s not a typo. The lone score in this affair came by way of a rouge.

Article in the Montreal Gazette about the Alouettes beating Ottawa 1-0 (31 October 1966).

It was the last game of the regular season for both teams, and the game didn’t have any significance when it came to the standings. The Rough Riders had already locked up first place in the CFL’s Eastern Football Conference. And, win or lose, Montreal was going to finish third.

The game, played before about 12,000 fans who braved the cold at Montreal’s Molson Stadium, produced a total offence of just 386 yards collectively. Montreal’s offence came mostly from their ground game with 165 yards rushing. Of note, Montreal running back Don Lisbon surpassed over 1000 yards on the season during this game. On the other hand, most of Ottawa’s offence was produced in the air by star quarterback Russ Jackson, who passed for 132 yards.

Montreal Star (31 October 1966)

With the game scoreless, it wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that Montreal kicked the single point. A rouge from a missed 36-yard field goal attempt by Peter Kempf. It was the lowest scoring game in CFL history and, thankfully, the record still stands.

Montreal-Ottawa Game Summary in the Montreal Gazette (31 October 1966).

Interestingly, it is suggested that the game tied a previous Canadian football record set in 1948 or 1949 when Winnipeg supposedly defeated Calgary 1-0. But I can’t find any reference to this WIFU game in newspapers or historical statistics. I suspect it was a reporting error in the Montreal Gazette article above that contributed to this incorrect notion.

Sources:
Montreal Gazette, 31 October 1966
Montreal Star, 31 October 1966
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June 10, 2026
Marv Levy Named CFL’s 1974 Coach of the Year

Recently, Marv Levy – a legend in both Canadian and American football – celebrated his 100th birthday. He was born on August 3, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

After several college and professional coaching gigs in the United States, Marv Levy headed north in 1973 to become the new head coach of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.

In 1974, his second season at the helm in Montreal, Levy guided the Alouettes to a 9-5-2 regular season record to finish first in the Eastern Division. After knocking off Ottawa in the Eastern Final, Levy’s Alouettes defeated Edmonton 20-7 to win the Grey Cup.

Levy’s quick success in the CFL earned him the 1974 Coach of the Year. He was presented with the Annis Stukus Trophy (the trophy awarded to the CFL’s top coach) by Mr. Annis Stukus himself on January 15, 1975 at league meetings in Edmonton.

Annis Stukus presenting the Coach of Year trophy to Marv Levy as well as pictures of the CFL’s other eight head coaches.
(Jones, Terry. “No surprises, Levy coach of the year.” The Edmonton Journal, 16 January 1975, p. 53.)

Montreal and Edmonton met again in the Grey Cup in 1975. This time Edmonton came out on top. But in the 1977 Grey Cup, the Alouettes crushed Edmonton 41-6 on an icy turf at the Olympic Stadium.

In his five years as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, Marv Levy led the team to three Grey Cups, winning two of them. Not bad.

In 1978, he returned to the United States to coach in the National Football League. His most successful run in the NFL was with the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately, Levy’s regular season success in Buffalo didn’t translate into championships. His Bills failed to win a Super Bowl despite four straight appearances from 1990 to 1993.

Marv Levy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He is one of only two head coaches to have coached in both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl, the other being Bud Grant.

Here’s to Marv Levy, the Canadian Football League’s Coach of the Year in 1974, who can now add Centenarian to his long list of titles and accomplishments.

A picture of Alouettes head coach Marv Levy published in the Montreal Gazette after winning the CFL’s 1974 coach of the year award.

August 6, 2025
Montreal Crushes Ottawa in Olympic Stadium Opener Before Record Crowd

Midway through the 1976 CFL season, the Montreal Alouettes played their first game in their new home. After leaving behind the Autostade (that stadium likely warrants its own article), the Als hosted the Ottawa Rough Riders at the Olympic Stadium, the largest stadium ever built in Canada.

Bacon, Dick. “A new era in Montreal football set to start in Olympic Stadium.” Montreal Gazette,
25 September 1976, p. 11.

Post-Olympic fever was still gripping Montreal in the weeks leading up to the game. The Alouettes were expecting a record crowd to come see a .500 home side take on the East Division leaders from Ottawa. No doubt, many just wanted to catch a glimpse of the so-called billion-dollar sports palace. Without question, Olympic Stadium – affectionately known as the Big O or disparagingly known as the Big Owe – with its sheer size and modern-day amenities put other CFL stadiums to shame. In 1976, Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium was still a couple years away and the domed stadiums in Vancouver and Toronto came much later.

Olympic Stadium layout for football (Montreal Star)

The stadium was designed by Roger Taillibert, a French architect, and was the main stadium for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. It featured state-of-the-art scoreboards with video capabilities as well as modern artificial turf. Plus comfortable seats and corporate boxes. Of course, the promised “retractable” roof would have to wait.

The Alouettes were the first permanent tenant for the Big O once the Olympics were over. On Sunday September 25, 1976, a record Canadian Football League crowd of 68,505 fans were on hand to see the first game. They were treated to a pre-game ceremony that included former Montreal quarterback Sam Etcheverry performing the ceremonial kickoff.

Bacon Dick, “Als crush Ottawa before record 68,505.” Montreal Gazette, 27 September 1976, p. 13.

Led by quarterback Joe Barnes and kicker Don Sweet, the Alouettes cruised to a 23-2 victory over the Rough Riders. The Alouettes’ win helped put Montreal back in the playoff hunt in the CFL East. The 1976 Alouettes were coached by the legendary Marv Levy. Levy understood the impact a large vocal crowd could have on the game.

“The crowd could be the 13th man on the field. If they’re a supportive crowd, it could be the start of a new era in fan enthusiasm and what it means to the team.”
– Marv Levy

I’ve been to Olympic Stadium only once. That was for a Grey Cup game. When the place is packed – just like it was in the late 70s – it’s an awestriking experience. But the atmosphere diminishes exponentially the smaller the crowd.

Today, the Alouettes play their home games at the much more intimate (and much older) Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on the campus of McGill University. They haven’t played a football game at the Big O since 2012. But a new roof is being constructed, and there are hints of a further refurbishment down the road.
Is it possible that the Alouettes will once again look at playing some if not all their games at Olympic Stadium in the future?

Perhaps the team can recapture some of that post-Olympic pride that helped them shatter attendance records. At the very least, it won’t be too long before the Grey Cup game returns to Montreal – and with that the roar of the crowd will once again reverberate throughout Olympic Stadium.

Montreal Gazette, 27 September 1976

Montreal Star, 27 September 1976

July 23, 2025
CFL Media Guides in the 1960s

For eons, the Canadian Football League published Media Guides or Fact Books for its teams. These little handbooks were meant to familiarize local journalists with the players and coaching staff of the team they were covering. They included biographies, statistics, records, and team histories.

Team media guides were also a great little souvenir for the savvy football fan. I have several in my own collection I like to peruse every now and then.

The CFL still produces them at least in electronic form. At least for some teams. I’m not sure if the league still offers print copies, though. It looks like they’ve met the same fate as game day programs and printed tickets, which is unfortunate.

Anyway, I thought what better way to spend the dog days of summer than by taking a look at some of these CFL media guides from the 1960s (or the late 1950s in a couple of cases). It was an exciting decade for the CFL and Canadian football.

Here are some photos of the media guides (front and back covers) for each CFL team from that era:

The above photos are courtesy of the good folks at the Canadian Football Research Society.
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July 16, 2025