November 18th 2012: Toronto Argonauts vs. Montreal Alouettes

[ArgoRedneck]

Not to be a buzz killer and for what it is worth the odds have Us at 5.5 underdogs. That's alot and these "guys" are pretty good. I am taking Argos to win, but it will clearly be an upset.

[argonaut11xx]

Not to be a buzz killer and for what it is worth the odds have Us at 5.5 underdogs. That's alot and these "guys" are pretty good. I am taking Argos to win, but it will be clearly a upset.

Your bang on Redneck....but alot of us are feeling upset...like in 2004, ...or in 1982 for that matter....

I am going with my gut on this one....the Argos have a GREAT chance....

[ArgoRedneck]

Your bang on Redneck....but alot of us are feeling upset...like in 2004, ...or in 1982 for that matter....

I am going with my gut on this one....the Argos have a GREAT chance....

I am with ya. I have money on Argos and when I bet, I bet with my head not my heart. "I've got a Feeling".

[Ron]

Your bang on Redneck....but alot of us are feeling upset...like in 2004,

04 was not that much of an upset.

[ArgoRavi]

04 was not that much of an upset.

The Argos were 11-7-1 (including their playoff win over Hamilton) while Montreal was 14-4 IIRC heading into that '04 East Final. It was an upset but there have certainly been much bigger ones than that over the years including the 6-11 Ottawa Rough Riders beating the 11-4-1 Ticats in '81 and the 10-9 Saskatchewan Roughriders beating the 16-2 Esks in '89.

The Argos are presently 10-9 while the Als finished the regular season at 11-7 so there wasn't a huge difference between the teams this season. I still believe that if Ricky Ray had been able to play that last game against the Als, this East Final would be at SkyDome instead of Olympic Stadium.

[AngeloV]

Your bang on Redneck....but alot of us are feeling upset...like in 2004, ...or in 1982 for that matter....

I am going with my gut on this one....the Argos have a GREAT chance....

Just wondering, how was '82 an upset? They finished first and beat a 3rd place Ottawa team (that I believe was 5-11 or something like that) 44-7. The upset happened the week before when a Kevin Stakey QB'd team upset the Tiger-Cats in IWS.

[gilthethrill]

Just wondering, how was '82 an upset? They finished first and beat a 3rd place Ottawa team (that I believe was 5-11 or something like that) 44-7. The upset happened the week before when a Kevin Stakey QB'd team upset the Tiger-Cats in IWS.

I believe Skip Walker had a field day against Hamilton in the 82 ESF, running for something like 200 yards...I seem to recall his entire O-line getting some kind of Carling game award afterward on CBC...the next week in T.O. I believe db Jo Jo Heath set the tone early on big hit as Walker attempted to get outside.

[paulwoods13]

Ah, the 1982 Eastern Final . . .

Riders get the ball first, move to midfield, stall, punt. Carinci runs it back 58 yards. Next play, Greer and Brazley one-on-one deep down the right sideline. Greer makes a great adjustment to reach back for the ball and dives into the end zone. The rout is on. Later Pearson gets a 60-plus-yard score up the middle in the fog. 29-0 at halftime. Riders get it to 30-7 in the fourth, Jo Jo Heath salts it away with a long INT return and we are going to the Grey Cup!

[mchesher03]

The Argos were 11-7-1 (including their playoff win over Hamilton) while Montreal was 14-4 IIRC heading into that '04 East Final. It was an upset but there have certainly been much bigger ones than that over the years including the 6-11 Ottawa Rough Riders beating the 11-4-1 Ticats in '81 and the 10-9 Saskatchewan Roughriders beating the 16-2 Esks in '89.

The Argos are presently 10-9 while the Als finished the regular season at 11-7 so there wasn't a huge difference between the teams this season. I still believe that if Ricky Ray had been able to play that last game against the Als, this East Final would be at SkyDome instead of Olympic Stadium.

Agree 100% - that three game homestand with the Montreal game being the largest of the three - kept us in 2nd place vs. getting this game at home. I still remember hearing Winnipeg had beat Montreal the week after and being excited only to watch Sheets run all over us right afterward. Ah well - with a veteran QB we'll see what happens down there.

[gilthethrill]

Ah, the 1982 Eastern Final . . .

Riders get the ball first, move to midfield, stall, punt. Carinci runs it back 58 yards. Next play, Greer and Brazley one-on-one deep down the right sideline. Greer makes a great adjustment to reach back for the ball and dives into the end zone. The rout is on. Later Pearson gets a 60-plus-yard score up the middle in the fog. 29-0 at halftime. Riders get it to 30-7 in the fourth, Jo Jo Heath salts it away with a long INT return and we are going to the Grey Cup!

Maybe it was Zac Henderson that hit Walker early..I do recall the late JoJo Heath with that pic 6....

[ArgoRavi]

I believe Skip Walker had a field day against Hamilton in the 82 ESF, running for something like 200 yards...I seem to recall his entire O-line getting some kind of Carling game award afterward on CBC...the next week in T.O. I believe db Jo Jo Heath set the tone early on big hit as Walker attempted to get outside.

Great memory! Yeah, Skip Walker set a single-game playoff rushing record IIRC that still stands. I won't lie - I was thrilled that Ottawa won that game as the Ticats had beaten the Argos twice that season and I knew that Ottawa would be an easier opponent. Having said that, I still think that the Argos would have beaten Hamilton if they had played them the following week.

[ArgoRavi]

Just wondering, how was '82 an upset? They finished first and beat a 3rd place Ottawa team (that I believe was 5-11 or something like that) 44-7. The upset happened the week before when a Kevin Stakey QB'd team upset the Tiger-Cats in IWS.

IIRC, Chris Isaac and Kevin Starkey were the QBs for Ottawa that season and Isaac somehow won rookie of the year in the league that year beating out Bob Bronk in the east and Mervyn Fernandez in the west. Another interesting note about Isaac is that he may have been the first ever CFL QB to go to the shotgun on every play. I remember George Brancato saying at the time that it was easier to read defences from the shotgun rather than from under centre so that is why he made that move.

[ArgoRavi]

Ah, the 1982 Eastern Final . . .

Riders get the ball first, move to midfield, stall, punt. Carinci runs it back 58 yards. Next play, Greer and Brazley one-on-one deep down the right sideline. Greer makes a great adjustment to reach back for the ball and dives into the end zone. The rout is on. Later Pearson gets a 60-plus-yard score up the middle in the fog. 29-0 at halftime. Riders get it to 30-7 in the fourth, Jo Jo Heath salts it away with a long INT return and we are going to the Grey Cup!

The funny thing about that game is that I didn't feel comfortable that the Argos would win until about midway through the fourth quarter. As dominant as they were, I had the "too good to be true" feeling and was waiting for the other shoe to drop because of all of the heartbreak that I had witnessed over the previous few years. IMO, this was one of the most significant victories in Argo history.

[gilthethrill]

Great memory! Yeah, Skip Walker set a single-game playoff rushing record IIRC that still stands. I won't lie - I was thrilled that Ottawa won that game as the Ticats had beaten the Argos twice that season and I knew that Ottawa would be an easier opponent. Having said that, I still think that the Argos would have beaten Hamilton if they had played them the following week.

Great memory? Check out Paul Woods post. Kinda scary.

Speaking of Kevin Starkey....he is doing quite well these days...


Kevin Starkey was named Vice President of Operations for Anaheim Arena Management (AAM) on Oct. 24, 2007. He oversees all arena operations, including marketing and public relations.

Starkey’s career in public facilities and arena management has spanned more than 17 years. Along the way he has accumulated a long list of accomplishments. Most recently he was the point person for Honda Center’s highly successful $13 million renovation, which included a new 95-foot marquee located adjacent to the 57 Freeway, a completely remodeled club level restaurant (Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7), a second in-arena LED ring and a remodeled Anaheim Ducks Team Store.

Starkey, hired by the arena in 1993, has also been instrumental in all facets of the building’s day-to-day operational efforts, including all beautification, maintenance, changeover and capital improvements.

Prior to coming to Honda Center, Starkey worked at the Great Western Forum, then home to the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers and the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings.

A native of Torrance, California, Starkey graduated from California State University, Long Beach where he played quarterback for the school from 1979-80. In addition, he played three seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Montreal Concorde and was a member of the 1981 Ottawa club that fell to Warren Moon and the Edmonton Eskimos (26-23) in the CFL’s Grey Cup. He also played two seasons in the United States Football League with the Oakland Invaders and Portland Breakers.

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[paulwoods13]

The funny thing about that game is that I didn't feel comfortable that the Argos would win until about midway through the fourth quarter. As dominant as they were, I had the "too good to be true" feeling and was waiting for the other shoe to drop because of all of the heartbreak that I had witnessed over the previous few years. IMO, this was one of the most significant victories in Argo history.

You and me both. At 30-7 I was sill holding my breath. But when Jo Jo raced down the right sideline to the end zone to make it 37-7, I finally relaxed.

[294life]

04 was not that much of an upset.

it was pretty big in my book. the only playoff game AC was ever knocked out of. Argo karma had to be very strong that night. If the argos win sunday it will likely be by a closer margin. Hebert with a sore ankle may or may not be 100% sunday.

[1argoholic]

In 82 I sat in the Scotia Bank cheap seats as my first seasons tickets. I was tanked at CNE and ran on the field and ran up to Carl Brazley and slapped him on his shoulder pad and said thanks because if it's wasn't for you we wouldn't have won. He gave me this pissed off puzzled look. Next year he won a Grey Cup with us. Yah I have plenty of crazy drunk CFL stories. 82 was my first Grey Cup. WOW noe I'm up to 27 or something.

[294life]

That was actually a pretty crafty tweet by Huntley towards the als fans. He'll have them booing and making loud noise while the als' offence is on the field.

[mchesher03]

it was pretty big in my book. the only playoff game AC was ever knocked out of. Argo karma had to be very strong that night. If the argos win sunday it will likely be by a closer margin. Hebert with a sore ankle may or may not be 100% sunday.

For us as per twitter: Pat Watkins doubtful - Jalil Carter taking his spot.

[AngeloV]

George Brancato saying at the time that it was easier to read defences from the shotgun rather than from under centre so that is why he made that move.

That's one of the reason's George Brancato was a lousy coach. Shotgun gives a QB a little more time, but it doesn''t make it easier for a QB to read a defence. He has to take his eyes off the defence to catch the snap.