Toronto Argonauts

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Toronto Argonauts
Image:CFL Argonauts.gif Image:TORONTO ARGONAUTS.jpg
Division	Image:East.gif East Division
Founded	1873
Home field	Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome)
Based in	Toronto, Ontario
Colours	Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue
League	Canadian Football League
Head coach	Michael "Pinball" Clemons
General manager	Adam Rita
Owners	David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski

The Toronto Argonauts are a Canadian Football League team based in Toronto, Ontario.

1 Team facts
2 Franchise history
3 Recent success
4 Players of note
5 See also
6 External links

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Team facts

They are notable for being the oldest team in the Canada or the USA to still retain its original name, as well as for having the second most Grey Cup appearances (21, tied with Winnipeg) behind Edmonton who has 23. The Argonauts also have the most Grey Cup wins with 15.

Helmet design: Blue background, Blue and silver round shield inscribed with the letter "A".

Uniform colours: Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue.

Stadium: Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) (1989-present).

Former Stadiums: Original Varsity Stadium (1898-1923), Varsity Stadium (1924-1958), Exhibition Stadium (1959-1988).

Grey Cup Wins: 15 -- (1914, 1921, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004).

2006 Regular Season Record: 0 wins, 0 losses, 0 ties. (See 2006 CFL season).

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Franchise history

The Toronto Argonauts were founded in 1873 by the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club, thus making them one of the oldest pro-sports teams in North America and the oldest to continue under the same name. At the time the most renowned rowers in the world were the teams from Oxford University and Cambridge University in England, 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 the tradition that almost all top-level Toronto sport teams wear blue. The team is often nicknamed the "Boatmen."

The Argonauts were the dominant team in Canada in the early days of football. They put together a number of Grey Cup dynasties in the 1930's and 1940's. However after the 1952 season the drought started. The team struggled throughout much of the 50's, 60's and 70's despite having such greats as Joe Theismann, Tobin Rote, Joe Corrigall, Bill Symons and Jim Stillwagon. The best chance that the Argos had to break their drought was in 1971 when they faced the Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup. However, a late fumble by Leon "X-Ray" McQuay sealed a 14-11 Calgary victory.

The Argos reached an all-time low in 1981 when they finished 2-14 despite having talented players such as Condredge Holloway, Cedric Minter, David Newman and Terry Greer. However, the 1982 season saw the hiring of Bob O'Billovich as head coach and "Mouse" Davis as offensive co-ordinator. Davis implemented the run 'n' shoot offence for that season. The Argos enjoyed an unprecedented turnaround going 9-6-1 in the 1982 season. Condredge Holloway was the CFL's most outstanding player and receivers Terry Greer and Emanuel Tolbert were among the class of the CFL. But, the 1982 season fell short as the Argos were defeated by the dynastic Edmonton Eskimos 32-16 in front of a disappointed crowd at Exhibition Stadium.

But, the 1983 season brought new success. The Argos finished 12-4 and Terry Greer set a CFL record with 2,003 receiving yards. Joe Barnes and Condredge Holloway were a potent duo at quarterback. The Argos went to the Grey Cup to face the B.C. Lions at BC Place in Vancouver. Despite the hostile crowd the Argos defeated the Lions 18-17 to win their first Grey Cup since 1952.

The Argos enjoyed success throughout much of the 80's with 1985 and 1989 being the notable exceptions. They had talented players such as Gill "The Thrill" Fenerty and Darrell K. Smith. However, they weren't able to return to their glory of 1983.

In 1990, the Argos traded for star quarterback Matt Dunigan and hired Don Matthews as head coach. Loaded with superstars such as Dunigan, Smith, Jeff Boyd, Paul Masotti plus a new 5'6" running back named Michael "Pinball" Clemons, the Argos massacred the CFL scoring records scoring 50+ points on a few occasions. But, the defence wasn't up to par with the offence and the Argos fell short to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20-17 in the Eastern Final.

In 1991, the Argonauts were purchased by Bruce McNall, the owner of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, actor John Candy and Wayne Gretzky, the "Great One" himself. The Argos made even more headlines when they signed Raghib "Rocket" Ismail to play for them. With Dunigan, Smith, Masotti, Clemons, Ismail and David Williams on offence plus Don Moen, Rodney Harding, Carl Brazley, Reggie Pleasant and Don Wilson on defence the team was well rounded finishing 13-5. They defeated the Calgary Stampeders 36-21 in the Grey Cup that saw Ismail return a kickoff for a touchdown and Dunigan start despite a damaged collarbone. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail after the game credited special teams coach Russ Steele for helping him with adjustments that were necessary from changing his style of play from the type of football he played in the United States and the style that he played in Canada. Coach Russ Steele had previously worked as a running back coach for the LA Cobras from the Arena Football League in the United States.

1992-1995 were a struggle for the Argonauts. Dunigan had left after the 1991 season and the Argos struggled to find a new quarterback, experimenting with players such as Rickey Foggie, Tracy Ham, Mike Kerrigan and Kent Austin.

In 1996, the Argos re-hired Don Matthews as head coach and signed CFL legend Doug Flutie. Stacked with players such as Flutie, Robert Drummond, Masotti, Clemons and Jimmy "The Jet" Cunningham the Argos finished 15-3 and narrowly defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 43-37 in the 1996 Grey Cup.

The 1997 team was even better. With Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell lining up at receiver and Flutie throwing 47 touchdowns the Argos rolled to a 15-3 record. The Argos won the Grey Cup easily 47-23 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Flutie left for the NFL in 1998 and the Argos struggled to find a new identity. The Argos finished 9-9 two seasons in a row and found no playoff success.

In 2000, the Argos were purchased by Sherwood Schwarz and he hired John Huard to be the Head Coach. It was a disaster as the Argos started extremely slowly. Huard was fired and Mike "Pinball" Clemons retired to become the team's head coach. A late season charge by the Argos fell short.

2001 was a similar situation as the Argonauts started slowly, found their niche towards the end, but fell short of the playoffs yet again. However, in 2002 the Argos' late season charge was enough to propel them into the playoffs as they made it to the Eastern Final where they were defeated 35-18 by the Montreal Alouettes.

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Recent success

The Argos acquired the services of CFL legend Damon Allen prior to the 2003 season, boosting the fortunes of the Argonauts. The Argonauts made the playoffs again losing to Montreal on a late controversial touchdown by Anthony Calvillo.

The 2004 season promised to be a great one. The Argos signed former NFL player John Avery. Loaded with a receiving corps of Tony Miles, Robert Baker, Andre Talbot and later Arland Bruce III and Andre Rison the Argos enjoyed success. The defence was led by stalwarts such as Adrion Smith, Mike O'Shea and Kevin Eiben. The Argos finished with a 10-7-1 record and demolished the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24-6 in the Eastern semi and then went into Montreal and faced the Alouettes yet again. This time the Argos came up on top 26-18 and went to the Grey Cup to face the B.C. Lions. Damon Allen made his former team regret trading him as he threw for 299 yards as the Argos won 27-19.

The Argonauts have won the Grey Cup 15 times, more than any other team. This is the fourth highest number of league championships in North American professional sports, behind the New York Yankees (baseball, 26 championships), the Montreal Canadiens (hockey, 24 championships) and the Boston Celtics (basketball, 16 championships). However, the Argonauts also hold the record for longest Grey Cup drought – an astounding 31 years between Grey Cup wins in 1952 and 1983.

In November 2004 it was announced that a new stadium for the Argos was to be built on the campus of York University by 2007. This followed the failure of an earlier plan to build a new facility at the site of Varsity Stadium at the University of Toronto. If the move were completed it would mark a move by the Argonauts from downtown Toronto where they have played since their inception to the suburbs. One plan to make the suburban location attractive to fans was to import the American tradition of tailgating parties in the parking lot before the game. The Argos' move to York was also expected to increase pressure on the provincial and city governments to finance an extension of the subway to the university.

However, in April 2005, the Argonauts announced their plans to move to York University had been changed as the up-front costs payable by the team to build the stadium had risen, and the owners of the Rogers Centre announced that the Argos would be able to remain at the stadium rent-free (prior to this, the Argos were paying the highest rental fees in the league). The team officially announced they would remain at Rogers Centre on May 2, 2005; soon afterward, the University officially cancelled the stadium plans.

On November 21, 2004, the Toronto Argonauts defeated the B.C. Lions 27-19 in the 92nd Grey Cup to end a seven year championship drought. Head coach Pinball Clemons became the first Black coach to win the Grey Cup.

In the 2005 season, the Argonauts had an average home attendance of 30,196, the first time in 13 seasons that they averaged more than 30,000 per game, and the first time since 1992 over 250,000 fans have seen the Argonauts play their 9 home games at the Rogers Centre. The team drew 44,211 for the Eastern Final – a 33-17 loss to the Montreal Alouettes – which was the largest Argo playoff crowd since 1991.

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