Hi again, folks. The CFL Beat is back this week with a look at the CFL’s 1995 championship game featuring the sole trophy won by a non-Canadian team – the Baltimore Stallions in the 83rd Grey Cup. Read on!
Date: November 19th, 1995
Venue: Taylor Field, Regina, SK
Attendance: 52,064
Baltimore Stallions fast facts:
- Season record: 15-3 (1st in South Division)
- Head Coach: Don Matthews
- Quarterback: Tracy Ham
The Stallions began their CFL existence in 1994, midway through a three-year experiment on American-based teams in the CFL. Carling-O’Keefe Breweries had ended their lucrative TV sponsorship deal with the league in 1987, and it hurt league revenues immensely – there was an appetite to expand the CFL brand and identity in new markets in order to make up for this lost revenue, and with the NFL having dealt previously with labour strife in the 1980s, some CFL owners felt an American expansion to be a worthwhile gamble. In ’93, the Sacramento Gold Miners and San Antonio Texans were admitted to the league, though San Antonio pulled out at the last minute. With Sacramento surprisingly competitive, in 1994, the league shifted to a full-scale expansion into the USA with the addition of three new American teams. In 1995, the CFL completely shook up its traditional East-West divisional alignment to accomodate the new American franchises; Sacramento relocated to San Antonio in ’95 to become the Texans, and were joined in the new South Division by the Birmingham Barracudas, Shreveport Pirates, Memphis Mad Dogs, and, of course, the Baltimore CFL Colts. Thanks to trademark issues and feuds with Robert Irsay, the new Baltimore team couldn’t officially be called the Colts, so they were the Baltimore CFLers on paper until Week 3 of the ’95 regular season, when they officially became the Stallions. Despite the myriad issues that American teams had in CFL expansion, Baltimore was actually a complete success, making the Grey Cup in both years as a CFL franchise, and finishing 1st in the league in average attendance in 1994, and 2nd in 1995. When Art Modell announced out of nowhere his relocation of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens, the writing was on the wall – despite strong fan and community support, the Stallions knew they couldn’t compete with the NFL, and relocated to Montreal to become the reborn Alouettes franchise. By the end of 1995, there were no American teams left in the CFL. Virtually everyone considers the US expansion years to be a dismal failure – although it brought back the CFL to Montreal in the end, which is definitely some solace for fans of the Alouettes.
Calgary Stampeders fast facts:
- Season record: 15-3 (1st in North Division)
- Head Coach: Wally Buono
- Quarterback: Doug Flutie
The Wally Buono years kicked off a rebirth of the Stampeders franchise; while they lost in the 1991 Grey Cup to Toronto, they won in 1992, and would later go on to win again in 1998. In 13 seasons at the helm, Buono went 153-79-2, making the playoffs every year and appearing in six Grey Cups. Doug Flutie had been traded to Calgary in 1992 after breaking records with the BC Lions for two and a half years; he continued his success with the Stamps before signing with Toronto in 1996, continuing to win everywhere in Canada before his triumphant return to the NFL in 1998 with the Buffalo Bills. Despite Bills management not liking him, Flutie remains a beloved figure in Canada, consistently at or near the top of all-time great CFL player polls. The crowd in this game was strongly pro-Calgary, as it was the first time in Grey Cup history that the championship game was being played in Regina – a hop, skip and a jump away for loyal Stamps fans. (More like a seven and a half hour drive, but Canadians love doing that, for some inexplicable reason. Myself included.)
GAME RECAP
FIRST QUARTER
0:0:48 – The Stallions’ uniforms look real sharp. Fun fact: most of the American CFL teams’ uniforms looked like dogshit. I know a lot of us are nostalgic for ’90s fashion – and I wholeheartedly include myself in this population segment – but there’s ’90s-core, and then there’s abjectly fucking tasteless. Look at this shit:
1:30 – Four picks for Flutie in the ’95 playoffs? The fuck? Whatever. When you have a mullet like that, you can do whatever you want.
2:05 – Stamps RT Rocco Romano’s name, coupled with his picture, is one of the most Italian things I’ve ever seen.
4:10 – Holy shit! Talk about a quick strike – Chris Wright takes the Calgary punt 82 yards for a touchdown. Sick run, and a celebratory backflip in the end zone. Baltimore is up 7-0 after the convert.
5:30 – A very, very important point – it’s windy as fuck out there. This game is now known as “The Wind Bowl” by fans, as it was gusting up to 85 km/h (50 mph) during play. Officials were worried that they might actually have to postpone the game to the following night, as they weren’t sure one of the temporary end zones stands that got erected would be safe for fans to use if the wind stayed that strong. The wind will be a big factor for the rest of the game.
6:38 – Calgary’s Tony Stewart returns the kickoff and… fumble! Wow. What a terrible start.
7:15 – RB Mike Pringle runs for a first down; to many fans, Pringle is considered the greatest running back in the history of the league. In 1994, Pringle ran for 1972 yards and 13 touchdowns, and racked up a total of 2414 yards from scrimmage; this was the most any running back had ever done, until Pringle shattered his own record in 1998 with 2065 rushing yards. He leads the CFL in both all-time and single-season rushing yards to this day.
9:50 – Calgary stops the Baltimore field goal with some strong kick-rush pressure, not to mention a bobbled snap.
14:25 – Doug Flutie is on the run, looking end zone to Allen Pitts, but can’t make the connection.
15:10 – Calgary is on the board with a 35-yard field goal from Mark McLoughlin.
27:30 – Mark McLoughlin kicks a second field goal, and it’s now 7-6, Baltimore. Doug Flutie limps off to the sidelines just before the kick; he appears to be favouring his left knee.
SECOND QUARTER
31:20 – Talk about an egregious fumble! Stallions receiver Gerald Alphin badly mishandles a swing pass, and Will Johnson pounces on the live ball, running it back 36 yards and setting up Calgary for another scoring possibility.
32:35 – Doug Flutie hits linebacker – yes, linebacker!! – Marvin Pope in the end zone on a fade for the touchdown. Wow. What a series of events. After the kick, it’s now 13-7, Calgary.
38:12 – Carlos Huerta kicks a 30-yard field goal for Baltimore, and the score is now 13-10, Calgary.
46:35 – BLOCKED PUNT TD!!! OJ Brigance, the Baltimore linebacker, steps in front of Tony Martino’s kick, and safety Alvin Walton dives on the loose ball, taking it in to score. Baltimore leads 17-13 after the convert by Carlos Huerta. This game has been all over the map so far, and I absolutely love it.
52:30 – Tracy Ham hangs out in the pocket forever, trying to look for Robert Clark – amazing to see him get that kind of line protection. Unfortunately, the pass is incomplete. On the next play, Carlos Huerta kicks a 45-yarder to put Baltimore up 20-13.
54:32 – Dave Sapunjis has a nice catch from Flutie to move the chains for the Stampeders, who have gone quiet in this this second quarter.
58:20 – Calgary sets up for the field goal, but Mark McLoughlin intentionally kicks it out of bounds, marking the ball at the Baltimore 8-yard line.
1:00:20 – Tracy Ham gets sacked by Stamps DT Srecko Zizakovic. (His brother Lubo also plays for Calgary.)
1:02:35 – Doug Flutie escapes the pocket and tries to hit Tony Stewart over the middle, but Stewart can’t corral the ball, and Calgary is forced to punt again.
1:06:10 – Carlos Huerta cranks a 53-yard kick through the uprights for the Stallions, and they take a 23-13 lead into halftime.
1:13:50 – Don Matthews getting interviewed in a Starter toque on the sidelines is a hell of a fit from mid-’90s sports fashion. It’s got a full-on condom shape to it. Hilarious.
THIRD QUARTER
1:16:05 – Fans in the west end zone can’t get back to their seats on time – apparently there’s something going on. The start of the second half is delayed.
1:19:55 – Apparently a fan had a heart attack, and thousands of people had to move to get him to the hospital. Yikes. At any rate, game on!
1:23:05 – Josh Miller’s 70-yard punt travels out the back of the end zone, resulting in a Baltimore…
ROUGE!
The score is now 24-13, Stallions.
1:23:40 – The Grey Cup MVP gets a Dodge Ram. Not a bad gift at all. I mean, other than the fact it’s a Chrysler product, of course.
1:27:20 – Doug Flutie rolls right and hits Dave Sapunjis in the slot. Another first down for Calgary – they’re showing some signs of life!
1:28:00 – Terry Vaughn has a nice 22-yard pickup to take the Stamps down to the 10-yard line!
1:29:30 – Doug Flutie scrambles with it, moving the ball down to the one. It’s 2nd and 1.
1:30:35 – Flutie’s on the one-yard line, and he keeps it for a QB sneak – did he score? No, but he did pick up a first down. Wow. When was the last time that happened?
1:31:40 – This time, he scores. On a second straight QB sneak, Calgary responds – after the convert, it’s now 24-20, Baltimore.
1:36:50 – On 3rd and 1, Baltimore elects to go for it. Tracy Ham surges, and gets the first down – by about half a hair. The drive continues!
1:39:46 – Tracy Ham sees the pocket collapse and decides to run the ball in for the touchdown! His 13-yard run puts the Stallions up 31-20 after the convert.
1:43:48 – Stamps LB Matt Finlay is out with a pinched nerve in his neck – this is a blow for the Stamps, as Finley is their on-field defensive playcaller.
FOURTH QUARTER
1:46:43 – Calgary continues to lead in regards to net yards and time of possession, but the turnovers have killed them in this game.
1:48:55 – Tracy Ham connects on a little flip pass to Mike Pringle, who picks up a few yards, but it’s Matt Finlay making the tackle – pinched nerve and all, he’s back out there on the field.
1:50:55 – Carlos Huerta’s field goal kick is blocked and recovered by Calgary! They’re down by 11, but not dead yet.
1:52:05 – Stallions DE Grant Carter swats down Doug Flutie’s pass – his fifth knockdown of the playoffs!
1:56:55 – Carlos Huerta connects this time, and the 42-yard kick gives Baltimore a 14-point lead – 34-20.
1:58:45 – Doug Flutie looks deep sideline and airs it out towards Allen Pitts, but his throw is picked off by defensive halfback Charles Anthony. Time is running out for Calgary…
2:05:30 – Flutie keeps the ball on a QB sneak and picks up a first down for the Stamps, but time continues to tick away as the teams hit the three-minute warning.
2:07:15 – Doug Flutie’s pass is knocked down again, this time by Alfred Payton, and the Stallions take over on downs.
2:08:40 – Mike Pringle shakes a tackle and has a big 40-yard open-field run! There’s not much time left on the clock, but Baltimore’s in the red zone once again.
2:10:01 – Pringle continues to slice up the Stamps’ D-line. He’s over 130 yards rushing now.
2:11:09 – Carlos Huerta kicks his fifth field goal of the game, and the score is now 37-20, Baltimore. The Stamps are toast.
2:11:55 – Doug Flutie hits Allen Pitts over the middle for a first down – there’s 1:55 left on the clock.
2:12:28 – Incomplete to Tony Stewart. A valiant final-minute showing by Doug Flutie to not give up on this final drive.
2:14:30 – Tyrone Williams has a first down on his first catch of the game.
2:14:55 – Terry Vaughn juggles a catch, but can’t stay inbounds – no TD for the Stamps.
2:15:50 – The Gatorade is out, and Don Matthews is soaked!
2:16:18 – Another incomplete. Turnover on downs. The Baltimore Stallions have won the Grey Cup – the only American team to ever accomplish this feat!
GAME AFTERMATH
Tracy Ham was named Grey Cup MVP, with 213 passing yards and a rushing TD; Calgary’s SB Dave Sapunjis was the most valuable Canadian, racking up 113 yards on 8 catches. It was a surreal experience for many seeing Baltimore celebrate their Grey Cup win; the only shame for the players was the victory hadn’t come a year sooner – when the city was truly on board with the team. However, with the Cleveland Browns poised to arrive in the coming months, owner Jim Speros knew he had to look elsewhere if he wanted to keep his franchise going. Initial talks to move the team to Houston to have them play in the Astrodome failed, and it was almost certain the team would have simply folded had the CFL not decided to allow Speros to revive the dormant Montreal Alouettes instead. On paper, the team folded, as player contracts were wiped out due to legalities, but with the reborn Alouettes, the Stallions’ coaching staff and most of their key players signed on to spark what became one of the powerhouse teams of the early 21st century. Mike Pringle and Tracy Ham were beloved in Montreal, and Don Matthews won many more Grey Cups after his time in Baltimore. Some chose not to make the move – sixteen members of the Stallions received NFL tryouts in 1996, which, by my guess, is the highest I’ve ever seen from any one CFL roster ever. Linebacker OJ Brigance is the only player in football history to win both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl (as a member of the 2000 Ravens) with teams based in the same city.
Thanks for reading! Check back next week when we take a look at another 2000s classic, featuring the strong last-decade rivalry of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes.
From Liverpool we take you to North Carolina, for the Evertonian reaction:
Do they overreact?
It’s ok, no one will mention the title during any coverage for the rest of the season.
oh, I turn teh teevee box off as soon as they confirmed the handball
We now take you directly to Liverpool…
Man, it’s times like this I wish Mark David Chapman had been a little more obsessed with the other half of the Plastic Ono Band.
That’s a hell of a save.
And won’t change a thing.
Congrats to Hippo, the biggest Liverpudlian fan on this site. RED GUYS FOREVER or whatever the stupid lame slogan is.
I think it’s “You’ll Never Be Able To Be Alone”
In fairness, one person can’t crush themselves.
Only if you don’t consider my dreams to be part of myself.
Found a funny:
50% of Roger Federer‘s name is “er”
and there it is!
hopefully John Oliver is happy now that Liverpool win da title!
Knew they was a reason I ain’t NEVAR watched his show.
Actually I think you’d really like his stuff…….. except for that part of course.
Yoooo
Red Card. man city down to 10.
come on chelski. do something.
How are the announcers even puzzled that this was a handball?
LOL
how is that not in?
Whatttttttt
Banana Puddings Fixture achieved!
HAND BALL!!!
Totally
Well, ok.
/does that
OUCH. Thanks a lot, jerk.
Im ded
major surrender cobra
Pulisic almost put chelski up 2-1
whatttttt
yoooooo side vertical bar save!
yoooo
De Broyne is legit
sheeesh that was good
The Broom with a beauty
the dude Pulisic scoring goals.
nice.
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
#RedStatesMatter
#RedMeatMatter #CholesterolsArePeopleToo !
Delaware is clearly Hunter Biden’s fault.
CLEARLY!
The VP expedited the permits for several Steak-n-Shakes….
I’m doing what I can to move California up the list.
Hey, did you want some more Mac-n-Cheese? If not I’m finishing it.
Nice run by Pulisic against a defensive scheme that MCity clearly stole from Arsenal.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has grounded 150 pilots over claims they may not hold a valid licence.
Well, 150 pilots is less than ideal, especially since their fleet is like 30 planes 😀
Plenty of trained pilots originating in Saudi Arabia from the early 2000s…….
Getting a huge kick out of the English thinking that a “sweltering” evening is 81 degrees.
Talk about a pale and pasty people that are ill-prepared for global warming.
Pfft, that’s nothing. Here in Dublin we get to shelter in place at full moons so we don’t get burnt to a crisp 🙂
DRINK BREAK!
(someone’s mom cut up orange slices I hope)
They only do well in hot places when they are part of the empire.
ohhhh
Chelski plays Man city in a bit. gonna try and sneakily watch that.
Why would you do such a horrid thing? Won’t it be better to watch stuff like this instead?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1rsV-Oqfc
My brother and I were just talking this weekend about how that may be the only really good punch that’s ever been thrown, never mind connected, in a baseball fight.
That’s probably, because all these “brawls” are more of a performance theatre between people too scared to really go at it and risk essentially metsing themselves outta some really fat contracts. That said, I want to see at least once someone to display the bare minimum of self-defence skills and break the charger’s arm or jaw (it’s not that hard, especially when you use those cunts’ inertia against them 😀
Fun observation, I’m reading this match report mentioning sweltering heat at St. Mary’s and I can help but laugh my arse off – 250 miles away (give or take) it’s hot as frig, here… same old 20*C and as rainy as always 😀
So if you’re a Young Dubliner, whom do you root for? A Premier League team or a mick team?
(“You” is generic but can also be specific)
(Also, fair warning…gonna visit Ireland after the plague stops)
Uh, just full disclosure – I’ve been afflicted with Arsenal fandom for way longer that I’ve been Irish, lol. From the locals, I’m rooting for my university’s team (UCD) , ’cause why not? 😀
Edit: As for visiting Ireland – it’s always fun, though I suggest late spring or early autumn as the weather is most pleasant and the country doesn’t feel a tad empty, ’cause everyone’s off to hide from the sun in Ibiza or somesuch 😀
Thanks for the reply Gooner!
My BBC sport app claims Arsenal won, so anyone knows where I can submit a bug about their app? Also, evenin’ loons
It was 1-0 heading into the 88th minute and I was convinced they were going to fuck it up.
I’m so disgusted of my lads of late, that as soon as I got a notification for the lineups, I just muted the app. At least I get to troll some buddies about this season, ’cause (and I still have their texts) that Emery is the key and that Wenger was what held us back. Honestly, at this point I’m appreciating more and more what he could do with what little FUCKYOU Kroenke (that’s his birth name, right?) gave him 😀
I try to remind myself that, every time Arsenal loses, an angel kicks Stan Kroenke in the dick, and it makes me feel better.
And I just hope he starts taking finance advice from the Willpons and has to sell off the team in a year XD
Unfortunately Kroenke’s worth billions, apparently most of it from marrying into the Wal-Mart family fortune, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kroenke#Personal_life) so Arsenal’s best bet for getting rid of him is probably being so bad that they lose so much money that he gets sick of it.
No need to link to that, unfortunately I already had that daydream shattered when I perused that wiki page in the past, but damn it… ONE CAN DREAM. Hell, maybe he has a morality clause in his prenup or something and gets caught… idk, using High Grant’s transsexual hooker from the 90s? XD
Gosh, it’s too bad NBC is so soft-spoken and shy about mentioning the imminent and inevitable Redshite title.
I almost hope that City lose so they quit talking about them monkeycunts.
Dammit Watford is dominating but C. Montgomery Burnley gets a lucky goal.
Excellent??
LOL
live look-in to the local diner in South Carolina
‘We’re going to have to blow Rock.”
I’d do ‘er.
Dope uniform
I love sharing our own personal descents into madness. OK, into deeper madness.
Today, I have bet on wins by Not-Pretend Man City, Stromgoedset, plus a draw between Owners and Saints.
Looks like i’mma be 1-for-2 going into the late fixture.
I am happy to announce that the answer to “What’s In Horatio’s Colon” was a big, fat, nothing, so I don’t have to do that for ten more years, by which time Most Glorious Meteor will have hopefully rendered the point moot.
What no one told me, however, is about the crippling gas pain that can show up in the aftermath of having two feet of tube shoved up your ass. I am honestly surprised that the sounds I’ve been making haven’t shattered every window in the house.
Good time to weigh yourself ppl forget that
Lost 5 lbs overnight.
Congrats on the good news and getting to share in our current hellscape indefinitely!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXHkFZ-nG4Y
This will make me laugh until, and possibly after, my death.
Your body expels gas out of the openings for quite some time, especially when it is laying in the woods before being discovered, so yes it will appear you are laughing.
JUST LIKE THE OLD GYPSY WOMAN SAID
This is hilarious because, true story, the anesthesiologist asked me what my favoUrite movie was and I managed to say ‘Blazing Saddles’ before waking up 40 minutes later in a different room, (fortunately both kidneys), and a lovely African-American nurse asking me what I last remembered and I said “telling the doctor that my favorite movie is ‘Blazing Saddles'” and then realizing that there wasn’t a single goddamn line I could share with her without great risk to my immediate health.
She then laughed and said it was a great movie, but I still restrained myself.
They kept asking me not to back up and stop making porn noises.
Apparently this is your first time getting pegged. You should have asked Mr. Hippo for some…… tips first.
“Calgary’s SB Dave Sapunjis was the most valuable Canadian, racking up 113 yards on 8 catches” along with 8 apologies to the other team for making them feel bad after each catch.
Even though the CFL has always figured prominently here at DFO, I’ll be honest and say that I only subscribed to ESPN+ (which showed select CFL games, which was the sole way to watch them in L.A.) only after Montreal signed Johnny Manziel. I signed up to watch him get killed in his first game. They signed him to increase attendance: he fulfilled his part of the bargain.
Little did I know that a year later I would be living in Montreal among the Frenchies, who I actually grew to like very much. But what I really grew to like in Montreal was watching Canadian college football! I prefer NCAA football to the NFL, and Canadian school ball is just as entertaining. It’s like watching a game, with good athletes, yet they’re not so murderous good that it’s more like a video game.
I watched the Dinos beat the Carabins last November for the Vanier Cup and it was pretty danged good. The broadcast I saw was actually in French.
Canadian U Sports are insane. BC Dick played at UBC and I did at U of Manitoba. Issue is that we have jr football after high school so I was 18 lined up against a 25 year old who played 3 yrs of jr then uni. It was difficult to say the least. Quebec crushes most provinces and Laval is the Gold standard for programs.
/I only played 1 year was way outmatched.
Whatever happened to BC Dick? Did the Covid get him?
I think the isolation did. He did mention in a thread that he would be stepping away for a bit…
I am going to his place on Saturday will see what is what. He was/is taking a break from the internets.
Oh god. Sounds like you need to implant a tracer before you go, so that we can find you when he buries you alive as part of some weird cult thing.
BC Dick is apprenticing under Scotchnaut?
Give him a big smooch for us!