Argos winning play at the Lions 2002

[bluto]

from Landry's article on the OS: http://www.argonauts.ca/article/argos-hope-to-manage-the-clock-on-trip-to-the-west-coast


http://cfl.uploads.mrx.ca/tor/images/en/general/2013/06/crop_19530452605.jpg
On July 9th, 2002, the Argos were clinging to a one point lead over the Lions, with seconds remaining. That's when things got really interesting.
O'Shea and kicker Noel Prefontaine would combine to salt away a 30 - 22 victory for the Boatmen.
"It happens to be one of the most memorable plays I’ve ever been a part of and not because I scored a touchdown," claimed O'Shea.
It's also the cause of some consternation for O'Shea. He regrets not having tossed the ball to Prefontaine, who was beside him the length of the field as O'Shea ran to the end zone for the major.
Why?
A Lions' field goal attempt sailed wide of the uprights, but a single would have tied the game.
O'Shea picks it up from there.
“It should be going out of the end zone," he says of the off target ball.
"And Pre, instead of backing up with his heels on the end line and reaching over his head, turns with his toes at the end line and caught the ball over his shoulder."
"He brought it back and started to run it out. Realized that he couldn’t because it was so deep. He punted it," explained the retired linebacker.
The ball then went back to the Lions' kicker, Matt Kellett, who - as O'Shea remembers it, was likely about to attempt kicking it back into the end zone.
"Out of nowhere comes Prefontaine and causes a fumble. Which I happen to pick up."
"I did," explains Prefontaine, who then offers pretty much the same account as O'Shea.
"I caught it over the shoulder, he recalls and then gives himself some storytelling instruction. "Pump it up. Yes, Pre, pump it up." He continues:
"Turned around, kicked it. Didn’t kick it very far. I ended up hitting Kellett and the ball ends up coming out. Osh picks it up. I get onside with him and tell him to pitch it and he says ‘block.’ Prefontaine then repeats that. “He says ‘no, you block.’ So, I come back to the inside of him and escorted him to the end zone."
This is where O'Shea observes some remorse.
“To this day, it’s one of the greatest plays I’ve been associated with and I still have my regrets of not pitching it to Pre.”
“He saved the game by making sure the ball was not going out of bounds, which was an unbelievable catch. He had a great punt out of the end zone and then he ran down and I’m sure he caused the fumble."
When I tell Prefontaine about O'Shea's regret, he's suspicious of how genuine it might be.
“Yeah, probably because I mention it every year," he says.
When I tell O'Shea that Prefontaine forgives him, there is more suspicion.
“He doesn’t. Trust me, he’s lying,” is his response.
By the way, O'Shea claims he's not seen the play since it happened and worries that it might not be on tape anywhere. So, if you have a dusty old VHS tape in your basement labelled "Argos/Lions, July 2002," I know a retired linebacker who'd like to hear from you.

Last part bolded... PW13, i'm looking in your direction... ;)

[ArgoRavi]

IIRC, that game marked the first win for Michael Bishop as a starter. It was also the first of Gary Etcheverry's four wins as head coach.

BTW, Bob Ackles went home and cried that night as he had just returned to the Lions from the NFL and was so disappointed and alarmed with just how far that franchise had fallen. They drew something like 15k for that home opener.

[Stevoman]

I was wondering if PW13 would have read that article. I remember watching that game on a break at work and was hoping they'd be able to hang on for the win. Yes, Ravi that was Bishop's first win as a starter and they then went to Calgary where he threw the ball and hit the thing hanging at mid-field.

[paulwoods13]

from Landry's article on the OS: http://www.argonauts.ca/article/argos-hope-to-manage-the-clock-on-trip-to-the-west-coast



Last part bolded... PW13, i'm looking in your direction... ;)

I have that game for sure. I have not got as far as 2002 in my digitizing efforts, but I will dig that one out of the box it's in and get on it! The funny thing is that I remember O'Shea scoring but I didn't remember the great play made by Pre, who was my favourite player for much of his tenure as an Argo. Great piece by Landry, stay tuned for the video as soon as I can find and convert it.

[bluto]

I have that game for sure. I have not got as far as 2002 in my digitizing efforts, but I will dig that one out of the box it's in and get on it! The funny thing is that I remember O'Shea scoring but I didn't remember the great play made by Pre, who was my favourite player for much of his tenure as an Argo. Great piece by Landry, stay tuned for the video as soon as I can find and convert it.

{Like}

looking forward to seeing it againg... you should let Landry and O'sh know when you find it.

[ArgoRavi]

I was wondering if PW13 would have read that article. I remember watching that game on a break at work and was hoping they'd be able to hang on for the win. Yes, Ravi that was Bishop's first win as a starter and they then went to Calgary where he threw the ball and hit the thing hanging at mid-field.

I was thinking today that Bishop and Ricky Ray both started in the CFL that same year - 2002. Bishop had more pro experience than Ray though and was certainly considered a much better prospect at the time (beginning of that season).

[ArgoGabe22]

Can't wait to see this. I never knew this happened. The only time I know of that this happened was that famous clip in the 60's or 70's of WPG punting the ball out of their endzone and then the play ended on a no yards call. And of course there was the failed attempt we had vs MTL 2 yeras ago.

[ArgoRavi]

Can't wait to see this. I never knew this happened. The only time I know of that this happened was that famous clip in the 60's or 70's of WPG punting the ball out of their endzone and then the play ended on a no yards call. And of course there was the failed attempt we had vs MTL 2 yeras ago.

You are speaking of the 1972 Western Final when Saskatchewan upset Winnipeg.

[argos1873]

Can't wait to see this. I never knew this happened. The only time I know of that this happened was that famous clip in the 60's or 70's of WPG punting the ball out of their endzone and then the play ended on a no yards call. And of course there was the failed attempt we had vs MTL 2 yeras ago.

And here's the clip from Toronto in 2010. Beautiful display of Canadian football, if you ask me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5BFaykcxGg

[bluto]

And here's the clip from Toronto in 2010. Beautiful display of Canadian football, if you ask me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5BFaykcxGg

lol! awesome clip... i assume that when you say it was "beautiful" what you mean is: chaotic, disordered, muddled, confused, messy, untidy, hectic, frenzied, unruly, anarchic or maybe tumultuous?

[paulwoods13]

I have the clip and will post it asap. Unfortunately TSN had no angle showing Pre catching the ball at the back of the end zone, or kicking it out. The camera work on the play was pretty terrible, actually. But you do get to see Prefontaine race up field and cause some chaos as O'Shea picks up the ball and runs to the end zone with Pre as an escort.

[paulwoods13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufk36JTvrOc&feature=youtu.be

[Mulder]

You email that to Landry and the Argos?

[paulwoods13]

Tweeted link to Landry.

[Will]

I miss good old Clifford Ivory coming off the edge on FG block attempts.

[bluto]

FUN stuff! thanks Paul!

[Stevoman]

Thanks for posting. Fun to watch and yes it is unfortunate that Pre's catch was not caught by any of the cameras. TSN has come a long way since then. Kind of fun to see the TSN panel from back then on there also.

[ArgoRavi]

The officials must have ruled that Kellett had touched that ball before any Argo had come within five yards of him. I must admit that it looked like it was no yards against the Argos but fortunately there was no replay used to review plays back then. :)

[argos1873]

lol! awesome clip... i assume that when you say it was "beautiful" what you mean is: chaotic, disordered, muddled, confused, messy, untidy, hectic, frenzied, unruly, anarchic or maybe tumultuous?

Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I like the orderly, planned, tactical game of regular football, but I really love when the chaos breaks out, in examples like this. It is a rare glimpse of what Canadian football used to be, with quick kicks on 2nd down, onside punts, plays with multiple lateral passed (ok this play didn't have that), and other less defined and free flowing plays.

[argos1873]

Thanks for posting. Fun to watch and yes it is unfortunate that Pre's catch was not caught by any of the cameras. TSN has come a long way since then. Kind of fun to see the TSN panel from back then on there also.

This must have been before TSN took the CFL as seriously as they do now. TSN CFL productions were once pretty Mickey Mouse, compared to what they are now. I can't remember when that really started to kick in, but given this shoddy camera work, it must have been after 2002. Either that or the camera men were Toronto boys and were jetlagged and falling asleep.

[argos1873]

The officials must have ruled that Kellett had touched that ball before any Argo had come within five yards of him. I must admit that it looked like it was no yards against the Argos but fortunately there was no replay used to review plays back then. :)

I'm not even sure this would be a reviewable now days. If I read the rules correctly, this play could only be reviewed if the refs threw a flag for No Yards. Then the Argos could challenge. But I don't see a rule that states the lack of a No Yards call being challengable. It seems the refs ruling on the field would stand. Correct me if I'm wrong.

PS, I'm just throwing that out there for discussion purposes, not for the purpose of starting arguments. If I read the rule correctly, it leaves out this sort of situation, and I find that an interesting omission. :)

[Argocister]

It would be reviewed now, as it is a scoring play..... But how far back is the play reviewed for a score? ... Just as the ball crosses?
I don't think a no yards flag is reviewable.

[argos1873]

It would be reviewed now, as it is a scoring play..... But how far back is the play reviewed for a score? ... Just as the ball crosses?
I don't think a no yards flag is reviewable.

Well that's the thing, no yards IS reviewable, if team B (the receiving team) might have touched the ball but a No Yards call was called. But it doesn't say anything about if team B might not have touched the ball (opposite of the refs call on the field), and as a result there WASN'T a No Yards call.

[ArgoRavi]

This must have been before TSN took the CFL as seriously as they do now. TSN CFL productions were once pretty Mickey Mouse, compared to what they are now. I can't remember when that really started to kick in, but given this shoddy camera work, it must have been after 2002. Either that or the camera men were Toronto boys and were jetlagged and falling asleep.

I think that it was more of a case that they had a bad night. TSN started to put much more resources into CFL games when they became the primary broadcaster in 1997.

[argos1873]

I think that it was more of a case that they had a bad night. TSN started to put much more resources into CFL games when they became the primary broadcaster in 1997.

Was it really that long ago? Something tells me they didn't really step things up until they were the sole broadcaster, or the year before that. When did CBC step out?

[ArgoRavi]

Was it really that long ago? Something tells me they didn't really step things up until they were the sole broadcaster, or the year before that. When did CBC step out?

CBC stepped out completely after the 2007 season. They stepped out for half of the season starting in the mid 1990s although they did come back in for the full season starting in '03 through '07. TSN brought back Friday Night Football - CTV originated FNF from '81 to '86 - in 1997. IIRC, they increased the number of cameras they used at that point although they decreased them again at another point; at some point after '02, I think. I believe that TSN has again increased the numbers of cameras they are using in recent years or at least since instant replay began to be utilized by the league.

[argos1873]

CBC stepped out completely after the 2007 season. They stepped out for half of the season starting in the mid 1990s although they did come back in for the full season starting in '03 through '07. TSN brought back Friday Night Football - CTV originated FNF from '81 to '86 - in 1997. IIRC, they increased the number of cameras they used at that point although they decreased them again at another point; at some point after '02, I think. I believe that TSN has again increased the numbers of cameras they are using in recent years or at least since instant replay began to be utilized by the league.

Well, I guess the fact that they had a camera in the end zone might suggest they were putting some effort into the games, although the cameraman was obviously asleep. Thanks for the little history lesson, its always appreciated.

[argolio]

This must have been before TSN took the CFL as seriously as they do now. TSN CFL productions were once pretty Mickey Mouse, compared to what they are now. I can't remember when that really started to kick in, but given this shoddy camera work, it must have been after 2002. Either that or the camera men were Toronto boys and were jetlagged and falling asleep.The visual presentation is so much better now, and the upgraded and new stadiums will only make it better.

One place you really notice shoddy camera work is when Canadian NHL teams play in the U.S., especially in non-traditional hockey markets. Union rules mean they have to use local camera people, and some of those guys have a lot of trouble following the play.