If any CFL fans out there are feeling the absence of something in your life this week, that would most likely be the Grey Cup.
Unfortunately, since the CFL season was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we won’t get to see any of our favourite teams in action this year. This week would’ve been Grey Cup week, and after snapping their 28-year championship drought, you know the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were looking forward to mounting their title defence.
Since we’re missing the CFL as much as anyone right now, we decided to throw it back to some of the best moments in Grey Cup history — both the game themselves, and some of the... frivolities from Grey Cup week.
44th Grey Cup, 1956 — A fan steals the ball
After Jackie Parker’s touchdown on the final play of the game, Edmonton fans flooded the end zone in Toronto and one stole the game ball. Since the officials had left the field, the extra point could not be converted without the ball... so the game just ended without a final convert.
45th Grey Cup, 1957 — A fan trips a player
Yes, back-to-back years of fan hijinks in the 1950s CFL. A local Toronto fan snuck behind the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ bench and tripped Hamilton defensive player Ray Bawel during a play that seemed to be a pick-six in the making. After some deliberation, the officials gave the ball to Hamilton halfway to the goal-line as a compromise.
50th Grey Cup, 1962 — The Fog Bowl
During the 50th Grey Cup in Toronto, fog rolled in from Lake Ontario into Exhibition Stadium, reducing visibility to almost zero and resulting in missed catches and tackles. This was the only game in Grey Cup history to be suspended until the next day.
64th Grey Cup, 1976 — The Catch
One of the best Canadians to play in the CFL, Tony Gabriel is also remembered for making one of the most clutch plays in Grey Cup history. Trailing the Saskatchewan Roughriders with just 31 seconds left in the game, Gabriel found the endzone with just 31 seconds left to win it for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
(Yes, it was a Roughriders-Rough Riders Grey Cup.)
79th Grey Cup, 1991 — Gretzky wins another Cup
In 1991, the Toronto Argonauts won the 79th Grey Cup under the new ownership group of Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy. Gretzky and Candy’s names were retroactively added to the Grey Cup trophy in 2007, and Gretzky is just one of four people with their names etched on the Grey Cup as well as the Stanley Cup.
83rd Grey Cup, 1995 — An American team hoists the Grey Cup
While a handful of American-based teams have played in the CFL, only one has captured the Grey Cup when the Baltimore Stallions emerged on top of the Calgary Stampeders in ‘95. With all due respect to tradition here, we think we’re good on keeping the Grey Cup in the hands of Canadian teams going forward.
84th Grey Cup, 1996 — The Snow Bowl
Played in Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium under some wintry conditions, this was one of the most memorable Grey Cups for the scenes alone. The Toronto Argonauts captured their 13th Grey Cup, but the play of the game was definitely Eddie Brown’s recovery on a bobbling 64-yard pass for the touchdown from Eddie McManus. One of the best catches in CFL history, for sure.
CFL Alumni Legends Luncheon, 2011 — Cane-swinging mayhem
During the 99th Grey Cup week’s annual legends luncheon, Canadian Football Hall of Famers Joe Kapp and Angelo Mosca reignited a feud from their playing days with a cane-swinging fight on stage. The two were in their mid-seventies!
105th Grey Cup, 2017 — Shania Twain arrives in a dog sled
She’s Canadian royalty for a reason, right? For her halftime performance in Ottawa, Shania Twain pulled up in a dog sled. We kid you not — here’s the video evidence.
107th Grey Cup, 2019 — Shorts Guy!
Blue Bombers fan Chris Matthew was 18 years into a deal made with some friends that he wouldn't put on any pants until Winnipeg won the Grey Cup. When the Bombers finally ended their drought, so did Matthew, putting an end to that local phenomenon.
