Argo games posted by Newton Minnow

[Will]

August 9, 1985: Edmonton Eskimos @ Toronto Argonauts



He has not posted Part 2 yet.

August 23, 1969: BC Lions @ Toronto Argonauts



July 11, 1996: Toronto Argonauts @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers



On viewer's choice, WTF!

[ArgoRavi]

I was a poor student at the time of the pay per view game against Winnipeg so I put the scrambled telecast on and listened to the commentary.

Regarding the 1985 season, it is interesting that the two games posted from that year were both home wins. The '85 Argos finished out of the playoffs at 6-10 but Bob O'Billovich retained his job for several more seasons after that one. Ralph Sazio must have thought that the season likely would have turned out much differently if Condredge Holloway didn't get hurt. Also, I don't recall any blowout losses that season. Most of the losses that year occurred because the Argos struggled to move the ball but their defence didn't give up a lot of points.

I would rate the 1985 season as an "off" season as I would the 2014 season. Then there are seasons that are just "bad" ones (including lots of one-sided losses) and 2016 would qualify for that. Those tend to result in significant changes following the season.

[AngeloV]

I remember ordering that game on Viewer's choice, for I believe $6.95.

[Will]

I watched the Edmonton-Toronto game and the crowd was around 29,000 which we could only dream about right now, however, that size of a crowd was quite low for Argo games and Pat Marsden remarked that "everyone must be swept up by the Blue Jays" as that was their first year of winning the pennant. It is worth noting that in the years that the Blue Jays have won pennants/World Series, etc the Argos have happened to go 54-71. While it is only among several factors, it is hard to stay remotely relevant as well when that occurs.

As for the game itself, an interesting contrast as even though the Argos won the game they featured two QB's who would remote to bupkes in the CFL while Edmonton trotted out two Hall of Fame QB's in Matt Dunigan and Damon Allen.

[OV Argo]

Great to be able to see wayyyy back to 1969 there; Wilkie actually looked like he could move a bit for the Argos at QB; compared to the dinky little beer-gut looking (but still effective) QB he was with the Esks later.

Marv Luster at safety for the Argos ! - what a player; nobody even in the same area code as a CFL safety nowdays.

Symons & Raimey dual threat backfield = awesome talent there; and another long-gone CFL scenario.

[ArgoRavi]

I watched the Edmonton-Toronto game and the crowd was around 29,000 which we could only dream about right now, however, that size of a crowd was quite low for Argo games and Pat Marsden remarked that "everyone must be swept up by the Blue Jays" as that was their first year of winning the pennant. It is worth noting that in the years that the Blue Jays have won pennants/World Series, etc the Argos have happened to go 54-71. While it is only among several factors, it is hard to stay remotely relevant as well when that occurs.

The Jays have made the post-season in 1985, 1989, 1992-93 and 2015-16, correct? Am I missing any years? The Argos were 6-10 in '85 (missed playoffs), 7-11 in '89 (lost ESF), 6-12 in '92 (missed playoffs), 3-15 in '93 (missed playoffs), 10-8 in '15 (lost ESF and played only four home games), and are 5-10 so far in 2016 so, yes, the Argos tend to go in the tank when the Jays hit their stride.

[argos1873]

The Jays have made the post-season in 1985, 1989, 1992-93 and 2015-16, correct? Am I missing any years? The Argos were 6-10 in '85 (missed playoffs), 7-11 in '89 (lost ESF), 6-12 in '92 (missed playoffs), 3-15 in '93 (missed playoffs), 10-8 in '15 (lost ESF and played only four home games), and are 5-10 so far in 2016 so, yes, the Argos tend to go in the tank when the Jays hit their stride.

They made the playoffs in 1991, and bowed out to the Twins, so that year is anomaly, since we all know what the Argos did that year.

[argolio]

I watched the Edmonton-Toronto game and the crowd was around 29,000 which we could only dream about right now, however, that size of a crowd was quite low for Argo games and Pat Marsden remarked that "everyone must be swept up by the Blue Jays" as that was their first year of winning the pennant. It is worth noting that in the years that the Blue Jays have won pennants/World Series, etc the Argos have happened to go 54-71. While it is only among several factors, it is hard to stay remotely relevant as well when that occurs.

As for the game itself, an interesting contrast as even though the Argos won the game they featured two QB's who would remote to bupkes in the CFL while Edmonton trotted out two Hall of Fame QB's in Matt Dunigan and Damon Allen.

Take out 1991 when the Argos were 15-5, and that 54-71 drops to an ugly 39-66.

I'll always fondly remember that 82-89 home winning streak vs the Esks. Good times.

[mint83]

The Argos played a lot of great football in the 80s but there was also a lot of heartbreak too. As a kid, I was disappointed with the movement of fans from the Argos to the Blue Jays. To me, Toronto became a city of American wannabes. Total lack of respect for the exciting Canadian version of football and the incredible athletes playing.

[Will]

The Argos played a lot of great football in the 80s but there was also a lot of heartbreak too. As a kid, I was disappointed with the movement of fans from the Argos to the Blue Jays. To me, Toronto became a city of American wannabes. Total lack of respect for the exciting Canadian version of football and the incredible athletes playing.

I'm not sure if American wannabee is the right term, but there is definitely a propensity to thumb ones nose at leagues that they deem to be inferior. But, you don't see the NLL or AHL get attacked. With CFL haters, they always seem to like to tell you that they hate the CFL. Whether one can infer that the haters see the CFL has more of a threat is unknown. I don't understand why it has to be one or the other for a lot of people. I'm capable of enjoying both the NFL and CFL.

[AngeloV]

The Argos played a lot of great football in the 80s but there was also a lot of heartbreak too. As a kid, I was disappointed with the movement of fans from the Argos to the Blue Jays. To me, Toronto became a city of American wannabes. Total lack of respect for the exciting Canadian version of football and the incredible athletes playing.

I'm in the same boat. The arrival of the Blue Jays to far too many people meant Toronto had evolved from a great Canadian city to a world class city, with snobby types thumbing their noses at the Argos and CFL. Everyone at work teases me about my passion for the Argos. I also believe that Toronto in general is obsessed with money, and sees how little these guys make compared to the Jays, Raps and Leafs and automatically have no interest as a result

[Will]

A game from the fall of 1983 between the Eskimos and Argos. Joe Barnes starts in place of an injured Condredge Holloway.

[ArgoRavi]

The 1983 Esks/Argos game was played on Thanksgiving Sunday. It was a terrific game and I strongly recommend watching it.

[Will]

The 1983 Esks/Argos game was played on Thanksgiving Sunday. It was a terrific game and I strongly recommend watching it.

It was a pretty good game. I don't think either team scored as many points as they were capable of, but both defence's played quite well.

[1971GreyCup]

Great football! Enjoyed Lancaster and Cahill calling the plays. No penalties called well into the second quarter. But did see what would now be considered infractions. Sorry to see the CFL turn into penalty happy games. What is worse with the new challenge rules, is giving the coaches the opportunity to challenge after big plays, hoping for an infraction to be found.

[Will]

Geoff Townsend had some nice speed. I never saw him play live because he retired well before I can remember, but it seems like he was stuck in that receiver spot opposite Terry Greer for so long and he was sort of behind Tolbert, Pearson, Carinci and Minter on the pecking order that he never had a chance to live up to potential.

I think Greer had more unbelievable games in 1983, but from the second he catches that pass from Barnes and turns the corner the crowd is going ballistic. Witnessing a 2000-yard season back then must have been awesome.

[OV Argo]

Geoff Townsend had some nice speed. I never saw him play live because he retired well before I can remember, but it seems like he was stuck in that receiver spot opposite Terry Greer for so long and he was sort of behind Tolbert, Pearson, Carinci and Minter on the pecking order that he never had a chance to live up to potential.

I think Greer had more unbelievable games in 1983, but from the second he catches that pass from Barnes and turns the corner the crowd is going ballistic. Witnessing a 2000-yard season back then must have been awesome.

Townsend did have great speed - I recall a play where he tracked down from behind & tackled an opponent kick-off returner who seemed like he was gone to the house for a TD. Townsend was a decent receiver but he was always well down the order behind other good Argo receivers and never had that many passes thrown his way; not sure if he could have been a # 1 or 2 type receiver if he had that opportunity, but with that kind of speed - maybe ?

[AngeloV]

Townsend did have great speed - I recall a play where he tracked down from behind & tackled an opponent kick-off returner who seemed like he was gone to the house for a TD. Townsend was a decent receiver but he was always well down the order behind other good Argo receivers and never had that many passes thrown his way; not sure if he could have been a # 1 or 2 type receiver if he had that opportunity, but with that kind of speed - maybe ?

Greg Holmes was another good one on that team that just got caught in the numbers game, but always did well when he played.

[doubleblue]

It was a pretty good game. I don't think either team scored as many points as they were capable of, but both defence's played quite well.

Them were the good old days. Best uniforms, few penalties (even though Jake was the referee) good crowd, exciting plays and players. Cahill and Lancaster in the booth.

[Will]

Greg Holmes was another good one on that team that just got caught in the numbers game, but always did well when he played.

As I understand it from Paul's book the reason for that may have been because he was Greer's backup in that particular receiver spot. Paul "laments" in his book that Greer was held to 100 yards even in that 50-16 win over Hamilton and that Joe Barnes threw an 87-yard touchdown to Holmes late in the game after Greer had been taken out because the Argos were up by so much.