QB - Edmonton Eskimos 1978-1983

Houston (1984-93), Minnesota (1994-96),

Seattle (1997-99), Kansas City, (1999 - Current)

By RAJEEV MULLICK

November rain gusted in light intermittent sheets making a darkened parking lot of the artificial field at cold, wet Exhibition Stadium. On the water-stained playing surface, the final moments of the surprising 1982 Grey Cup game between the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos were already becoming blurred window-pane images as one quarterback took a knee and leapt for joy and another quarterback's tears mingled with the rain.

A rainy day ending to the greatest dynasty in Canadian football history, while painful, would have been almost apt for Edmonton fans some of whom had even tired of the winning drone of the Green and Gold machine.

But Edmonton fans, along with the rest of the bored CFL would accept the result: a numbing, unprecedented and convincing fifth straight Grey Cup victory by the dynastic Edmonton Eskimos.

And under a bleak sky framed by the cold concrete of Exhibition Place, a gallant and wondrous quarterback grasped a misted and glimmering golden football. Warren Moon's second MVP Trophy as offensive player of the game became a cherished national proof of his standing amongst all quarterbacks in Canadian football history.

The Rifle, Sam Etcheverry, would awe viewers of the fifties. The sixties and seventies would acclaim Russ Jackson and Ron Lancaster. And Doug Flutie would reign in the nineties. But despite only a six-year career Moon is the eighties' stalwart.

Yes, Etcheverry, a feared bomber, will hold the record for longest pass in CFL history, 109 yards, likely forever. And it is true Jackson was a fearless runner and Lancaster a superlative tactician. Undoubtedly, Flutie's deadly, elusive style is unique. Yet it is only Warren Moon who ranks highly in each of the key categories.

A leader, a deep passer with touch and an evasive, almost brash runner, Warren Moon earned fear from opponents and respect from all. He was called The Franchise. And this, the most prolific passer in all of professional football may well have been the best ever.

Harold Warren Moon began his passing odyssey in his birth-city, Los Angeles. At Hamilton High School, the congenial Moon earned letters in each of his three years and, as a senior, was named the city's most valuable player in 1973.

He entered West Los Angeles Junior College, distinguishing himself before transferring to the University of Washington Huskies football program in Seattle. Joining the Huskies and head coach Don James, Moon became part of a renowned history of great Husky quarterbacks including Sonny Sixkiller, Steve Pelluer, Billy Joe Hobert, Brock Huard and B.C. Lion Tim Cowan who joined the B.C. Lions in 1983.

Moon restored Husky pride, leading the "Dawgs" to the 1978 Rose Bowl against a powerful Michigan team. It was the team' s first appearance in that game since 1963. Warren completed 12 of 23 passes in an unexpected 27-20 upset and was named the game's MVP. Moon finished his Washington years with 3277 yards passing and 19 TDS and was named Pac 8 Conference Player of the Year in 1977. Moon's 1.64 INT PCT rating in 1975 (2 interceptions on 122 attempts) still stands as a school record. The Huskies, with Moon, were 21-13 overall and 10-2 in Moon's final year.

Despite his achievements, Moon was completely overlooked by the NFL, going unselected in the league's 1978 US College Draft.

Regardless, Moon had an option. The Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League had signed Moon prior to the NFL Draft and were hoping they could woo Moon away from the southern league following an NFL selection. But Edmonton and their fans would get Moon without conflict and the respected quarter would begin his exemplary service in the Canadian league.

Moon was joining an established West division power with 4 Grey Cup victories (to that point) and 8 finals appearances since 1949. The Eskimos held the CFL record for consecutive Grey Cup victories, collecting 3 in a row from 1954 to 56, each time over the Montreal Alouettes.

By 1978, the team had made appearances in three of the decade's Cup matches, winning in 1975, again over the Alouettes. The offence featured twin-slot Tommy Scott, Waddell Smith and Jim Germany. The defensive unit was Alberta Crude. It was a proud team with a special tradition.

Moon apprenticed under shrewd veteran Tom Wilkinson. Wilkie was the CFL career leader in passing percentage and knew a thing or two about moving the chains. The Eskimos believed in their tobacco-chewing leader and in clutch situations knew that old Tom would win games for them. And, to Alberta fans, no game is more crucial than a Battle of Alberta: a matchup between Calgary and Edmonton. And no game between the two is more cherished than the annual Labour Day Classic played at McMahon Stadium.

Warren Moon was quickly inducted. Labor Day, September 5th, 1978, Moon and the Esks fought snarled to a 28-28 standstill with the Men from McMahon. It was the first point Calgary had gotten from Edmonton since 1971.

On McMahon turf, led by inventive quarterback John Hufnagel, the Stampeders blew out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Moon was inserted and on his second possession, in the 2nd quarter, guided the Eskimos 83 yards in 9 plays settling for a field goal. A 25-yard pass to Waddell Smith and a 29-yard draw with the agile Jim Germany were of note.

With the score 17-10, Moon steered a 75 yard, 8 play jaunt relying chiefly on short passes. Wingback Tommy Scott's 23-yard catch gave Edmonton their first lead at 21-18. Moon finished 14-25 passing but with 3 interceptions and only 149 yards, but it was enough to avoid the loss.

Moon's spirited game earned head coach Hugh Campbell's trust. Campbell had allowed Moon 173 passes in 78, creating a promising foundation for 1979. But first, the Eskimos avenged their 1977, 41-6 Grey Cup loss to Montreal, stopping the Als 20-13 in the 78 final. It was the fourth time in five years the Eskimos had met Montreal in the National Classic. On the way, Edmonton defeated Calgary in the West Final, 26-13.

Nineteen seventy-nine was the year of the Moon as he slowly eclipsed Wilkinson as the starter, finishing with 274 passes thrown to Wilkie's 206. Coach Campbell, Wilkinson and Moon alike made the phase-in a smooth one for the team.

Following Moon's first appearance in 79, an exhibition match against the Ottawa Rough Riders Campbell ascertained, "He played really well. He showed the same poise as last year. And his maturity is starting to show."

Maturity was a motif for the new Grey Cup Champions. And it glittered from the crown. Jack Gotta, Stamp coach and three-time winner of the Annis Stukus trophy as CFL coach of the year observed, "Hugh Campbell may have been the first coach ever to come into the league and instantly surround himself with people who knew more than he did. Most coaches, some until their dying day, surround themselves with people who are inferior." This noble approach was both humble and shrewd. Esk defensive coordinator Don Matthews and offensive line coach Cal Murphy would both go on to Grey Cup championships as head coaches in 1984 and 85 with Winnipeg and B.C. respectively.

The Eskimos improved from 10-4-2 in 1978 to 12-2-2 in 1979 good for first in the West and a first-round bye. Moon ruled all CFL passers with 20 passing TDs and despite splitting passing chores with Wilkinson, finished second in the West in passing yardage by a mere yard. Ralph (Dieter) Brock finished first with 2383.

Edmonton would renew their prairie rivalry with the Stampeders in the West final on Moon's 23rd birthday, November 18th, 1979. The game was cold and slow. Edmonton, normally a solid blitzing team, held back, keeping defenders in coverage and relying on an exemplary run-stopping effort to force Johnson to pass into a loaded secondary. Calgary backs gained 32 yards on 14 vain carries. Against the new look, Johnson was ordinary, completing just 20 of 48 attempts for 251 yards.

Wilkinson had suffered through a 0-6 passing start which ushered Moon in. Edmonton Journal columnist Terry Jones would look on Moon's performance as a harbinger saying after the game, "If there's to be a great future for this young quarterback, I believe you'll say this was the day Moon reached maturity."

Moon, called on to replace Wilkinson, did less, completing 10 of 21 for 109 yards. His 24 rushing yards, a game high, were testament to the defensive titans deployed by both teams. The difference was a grim catch by Brian Kelly to close the first half. Said Kelly, "It was at the point where Waddell got hurt, and Warren asked me what I wanted to run. I said, 'a post'. I don't know why I said it. I hardly ever run a post." The 32-yard scoring play at 14:20 of the 2nd gave Edmonton a 14-3 perch.

Calgary fought off the ropes and closed to 14-7 by the fourth. But Edmonton would endure in wintry Commonwealth and with a late field goal by Dave Cutler would have enough to secure their seventh Grey Cup berth of the decade.

Moon was bolstered by both Campbell's confidence and his own performance saying, " This was a team looking to go to the Grey Cup and I was put in there, not to get playing time and experience, but to get something going and help get us there. Today was the ultimate for me as an Eskimo so far."

The Eskimos would advance to the Grey Cup final and would meet the Alouettes for the fifth time in the decade. It would be billed as a "rubber match" to crown the "Team of the Seventies."

If Calgary was a provincial rival, then Montreal was a national one. The teams had met in Canada's Single Game Event four times in the seventies, splitting the games. They had thrice clashed in the fifties with an underdog Edmonton team winning all three.

The teams were similar in their domination of their respective divisions and in their championship history. But this was sophisticated, urbane Montreal against cold, oil boomtown Edmonton. It was what made the Grey Cup game such a fascination every year.

Tactical differences existed as well. Montreal, in East division tradition, ran the ball often and ran it well. David Green was the league's Schenley MVP. Edmonton, to the curiosity of most football observers used the pass to set up the run. And they used the "30" defence consisting of 3 down linemen and four linebackers. Even more intriguing, the Eskimos blitzed heavily and very successfully from the formation.

The rubber match was a ton of bricks falling on a house of lead. Defences collided to create a tough opening half and Edmonton had pounded out a 7-6 lead at the half. Montreal took their first lead, 9-7 in the third, which warranted Warren. Moon hit two medium passes, scrambled for 11, then fired a 33-yarder to Tommy Scott for a 14-9 lead. Cutler added a field goal to close the third with Edmonton leading 17-9. It was the final score. The Eskimos were almost everybody's Team of the Seventies.

It would be the last time Montreal would play Edmonton in a Grey Cup in the 20th century. The Montreal team sagged and in the final regular season game of 1980 would host the 12-3 Eskimos. Montreal had slipped to 8-7 but talk was unhindered about yet another Montreal-Edmonton final and possible revenge for the Als. Edmonton ended that talk, annihilating Montreal 44-14 in front of 42,234 shocked Montreal fans. Moon was diplomatic asserting, " We were trying to spread out the defence. Montreal makes you prepare better than most teams. And this week we were prepared."

The Eskimos took a 13-3 record into the West final and bounced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34-24. Edmonton and Moon showed character overcoming a 17-4 first half deficit with Moon completing 17 of 33 attempts for 257 yards. In the East, 8-7-1 Hamilton mired fading Montreal holding their running game to 56 sludge yards, to advance with a 24-13 win.

Prognosticators weren't optimistic about a close match. Terry Jones opined, "Hamilton isn't much, but they're somebody different."

It would be the most lopsided win in modern Grey Cup history. Moon was named player of the game and the Eskimos tied their predecessors' record with their 3rd consecutive championship, ironing the hopeful Tiger-Cats 48-10.

Moon, who ran frequently during the match commented, "I knew there was no tomorrow and I had six months to heal if I took some chances." Coach Campbell added, "He played awfully well considering the magnitude of the game.

What many believe to be the greatest team in CFL history took to the field at Olympic Stadium on November 22, 1981 to play in their 4th straight Grey Cup. They were 14-1-1. Their defence showed no weakness and Moon had completed the best season in CFL history, finishing with a108.3 passer rating, a CFL record which bested Russ Jackson's 107.9 from 1967.

Moon's offensive rampart was stabilized by tackles Bill Stevenson and Hector Pothier and interior linemen Eric Upton, Leo Blanchard and Ted Milian. Throwing to Brian Kelly, Tommy Scott and Waddell Smith and running with Jim Germany, Neil Lumsden and Angelo Santucci the Edmonton Eskimos scored the most points in a single season (576) in Canadian football history.

They faced a plucky 5-11 Ottawa Rough Rider team who almost forced the greatest upset in CFL history. Ottawa led 20-1 at the half and 23-15 late in the fourth. But timely passing by Moon and key catches by Neil Lumsden, Marco Cyncar and a 34-yard major by Tom Scott set up a two-point conversion attempt with 4:05 remaining. A harried Moon fled to the right and zipped a dream to Marco Cyncar and the game was tied. The Eskimos got the ball back and Jim Germany collected 30 yards on several runs to take the Eskimos into field goal range. Cutler's kick was true and the Eskimos had a record fourth straight Grey Cup.

The entire CFL watched like savannah predators as the Edmonton Pride faltered in 1982.

Tom Wilkinson had retired and the Eskimo roster, though intact, had almost unnoticeably aged and weakened. While Moon improved, the team began losing. After a 2-0 start, the Eskimos one by one, fell to foes that were once helpless prey. B.C., Winnipeg and Toronto brought the Esks to 2-3. And following a predictable 46-8 unplugging of a now unrecognisable Montreal team, Edmonton would continue losing, this time to Saskatchewan and Calgary. Losses to all four West opponents and fast-rising Eastern power Toronto gave credence to the theory that the Eskimo dynasty was at an end. It was Toronto's first win against Edmonton in 8 years.

Yet the Eskimos held the stubborn pride of a once-great leader. And they stirred the imagination and fears of their opponents. Edmonton crushed Ottawa 47-11 and one rung after another climbed to the top of the West division. Calgary fell 36-17. B.C. was corrected 30-1. And finally, the Eskimos reigned yet again, this time 11-5. They would host the Bombers.

But Winnipeg still believed they could topple the dynasty. And almost did. The final was 24-21 Edmonton but despite the win, the Eskimos knew the magic had changed. Winnipeg's Trevor Kennerd missed two very late field goals from close range, the final one a potential game-tier. Edmonton had survived, but barely. And they knew nothing was guaranteed in the final. Ottawa had taught them that the year prior.

Said Moon after the West final, "I was crying. I don't think I've cried in 18 years. But it was a combination of the way my body felt, the fact that it came down to the last play of the game - and because I wanted this one so bad for coach Campbell."

Edmonton would do enough to win the final against Toronto but the result was unsure until the wind and rain began. Until then, the Eskimos were locked in a mortal duel exchanging score for score with an opponent younger, hungrier and faster.

Condredge Holloway and the Double Blue run and shoot offence had chilled the league in 1982 and they appeared sure to win the alley fight. But Grey Cups have been won on defensive pride alone. And in the fourth, perhaps because of field conditions or of Edmonton's defensive experience, the Eskimos were able to pull away. The final was 32-16, Edmonton.

Entertaining Toronto writer Jay Teitel elaborated, "Edmonton's plays were completed with generous margins of error; the Argos' were precise burglaries carried out with split-second timing. When the rain fell, timing was a luxury neither team could afford."

Moon was chosen offensive player of the game for his 21 completions on 33 attempts for 319 yards. He rambled for 91 yards besides. Campbell was effusive, exulting, " What can you say about perfection? He ran, he passed, he did everything. In my book, no quarterback has so many strengths as Moon. I remember Russ Jackson for his toughness and his intelligence, Ron Lancaster for his intelligence and poise. Moon has all that and other qualities besides. Moon's performance was as good as I've seen in a Grey Cup game. He's got to be the number one quarterback in football, tied with Terry Bradshaw or Joe Montana."

Nineteen eighty-three saw the departure of Campbell to Houston of the NFL and new hope for Eskimo opponents who appeared cautiously optimistic. Calgary's Jack Gotta postulated, "Maybe this year...with Hugh Campbell gone, maybe the Eskimos are more vulnerable. I hope so. I really felt like last year was going to be the end of the era. At times it looked like it had caught up. But then Warren Moon got the hot hand and they got it back together and won their last ten in a row."

Winnipeg boss Cal Murphy countered, "If people are expecting them to fall over now, I don't think that's true. It comes down to the players. They still have some awfully good people. They still have the ability to do it."

But the Eskimos were at the end. Campbell's absence was immeasurable. The defensive unit remained exactly the same with only Eric Upton and Ted Milian disappearing from the lineup on offence. Moon set new passing standards but the defense collapsed. It was a surprising and painful process.

Moon passed for 5648 yards on 664 attempts, both professional records, but couldn't prevent an 8-8 record. Winnipeg finished 9-7, setting up the West semi-final at hallowed Winnipeg Stadium.

So Winnipeg was in position to finish their unfinished business. On game-day an aggressively anxious Bomber squadron took flight and fired with precision and devastating impact. The score at the half was 28-7, Winnipeg. Despite twice vanquishing the proud Eskimos in the regular season, Winnipeg remained unconvinced by the half-time score and kept pressing, increasing the advantage to 36-8. The aging northern bear finally awoke and the Eskimos struck. Brian Kelly caught a deep pass, broke Wylie Turner's tackle and completed a 75 Yd TD. But Winnipeg responded with an innocent hitch pass to House which exploded for 60 yards. That made it 43-15.

The besieged Eskimos bravely struck back with another major but Winnipeg stoutly matched it. A last Time ended the Bombers' fears. The final was 49-22. And the Eskimos' long rule finally came to an end.

Journal scribe Cam Cole summarised, "By the third quarter, the Eskimos were out of it. Edmonton too, put a lot of men in motion offensively, but without much success. The Winnipeg pass rush got to Warren Moon repeatedly, at the right times, and receivers dropped three probable touchdown passes."

Warren Moon sadly added, "There comes a point where you know the game's over and you just try to survive and not be embarrassed. It got to be kind of like a joke. When Brian Kelly lost the football on their five-yard-line, I just told him: 'It's not our day'".

But Moon and the Eskimos had left a permanent imprint on the Grey Cup and on the nation. They had won an unprecedented 5 times. And they had years of memories to look back on. The Eskimos with Moon were a stellar 78-23-5 in the regular season and a pristine 9-1 in post-season play. While Moon would leave the following spring, Edmonton would return to glory quickly, winning a 1987 Grey Cup aided by Moon's understudy, Matt Dunigan.

In 1984, Warren Moon would begin his next long journey, joining the NFL's Houston Oilers as the highest-paid player in football. He would reunite with Hugh Campbell, new head coach of the Oilers and embark on a passing expedition never seen in football history.

Warren would lead the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in April of 1999. Former Washington Redskin quarterback Doug Williams observed, "I think Warren Moon probably has the best release in the game. He has such a good, high over-head release. And Warren is really a tough guy. If you knock him down, you know he's going to get right back up and come back after you.

Today, Warren Moon holds several CFL, NFL and pro football records. Moon's most notable record is that of most prolific passer in pro football history with 62,501 yards following week 8 of the NFL 2000-2001 season. He has also appeared in 8 consecutive Pro Bowls, an NFL record for quarterbacks. As an Oiler, Moon threw for 527 yards against Kansas City in 1990, the second-highest single game total in NFL history. Interestingly, his 555 passing yards against Montreal in 1983 is still an Eskimo record.

In 1993, Moon led the Oilers to 11 straight regular season victories, the longest such streak since 1972; he finished that season with 655 attempts and 404 completions, establishing new NFL records.

Moon's excellence and longevity were underscored when in 1997, he had the best season for an over-40 quarterback in NFL history completing 313 of 528 attempts for 25 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Moon's humanitarian efforts include work with the United Negro College Fund, Special Olympics, Cystic Fibrosis and the March of Dimes. He was named the NFL's Man of the Year in 1989 for his community work and pioneered the Crescent Moon Foundation to generate funds for collegiate academic scholarships in Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

On Sunday, October 22nd of this year, a red-clad quarterback entered a game against the defending Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams. He didn't look as quick of step nor as youthful as when he started playing this game. He immediately completed an intermediate pass. Then he stepped back and spiraled a deep pass: another completion. His third pass was caught for a touchdown. And then he returned to the bench, finished for the day. His team completed a 54-34 upset. And the quarterback by virtue of his near-perfect drive is the NFL top-ranked passer in 2000. As a result, many surmise 43 year-old Warren Moon can still lead a team to victory.

He probably will.

Warren Moon Records, Awards and Statistics

CFL Awards:

Grey Cup Champion: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Grey Cup Finalist: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Schenley Award

Most Outstanding Player 1983

Jeff Nicklin Award

Outstanding Player in the West 1983

NFL and Associated Awards:

Football News AFC Player of the Year 1989

NFL's Man of the Year 1989

UPI, AP and Kansas City's 101 Awards

AFC Offensive Player of the Year 1990

USA Today's AFC MVP 1990

Special Honours

City Most Valuable Player (Secondary School) 1973

Houston Firefighter's Man of the Year 1989

South Texas March of Dimes "Headliner of the Year" 1989

National Urban Coalition Superstar Award 1989

Travelers Man of the Year for Community Work 1989

Selected to then-President George Bush's

Media Advisory Committee for the '90 Economic Summit 1990

CFL and NFL All-Star Recognition

All-Canadian All-Star 1983

West Division All-Star 1983

First team All-Rookie Honor from Pro Football Writers, UPI,

Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest 1984

Pro Bowl Selection 1988-1995, 1997

CFL Records:

Regular Season

Second most Passing Yards per Game, Season - 353.0, 1983

Third highest Passing Efficiency Rating, Season - 108.3, 1981

Tenth-highest Passing Percentage Career (Minimum 1000 ATT) - 57.5, 1978-1983

Twenty-third most Passing Yards - 21,228, 1978-1983

Grey Cup

Sixth most Passing Yards Career - 994, 1978-1983

Second most Passing Touchdowns Game - 3 (tie) vs. Hamilton, Nov. 23, 1980

Third most Passing Touchdowns Career - 6 (tie) 1978-1983

NFL Records (entering 2000-01 season):

Regular Season

Third most Pass Attempts Career - 6788

Third most Pass Completions Career - 3973

Third most Passing Yardage Career - 49, 117

Most Pass Completions Season - 404, Houston, 1991

Third most Pass Completions Game - 41

Third most seasons, 3,000 yards or more Passing - 9, 1984-1999

Second most Passing Yardage Game - 527, vs. Kansas City, Dec. 16, 1990

Second most Games 400 yards or more Passing - 7(tie), 1984-99

Third most Games 300 yards or more Passing Career - 49, 1984-99

Most Games 300 yards or more Passing Season - 9(tie), 1990

Third most consecutive games 300 yards or more Passing - 4, 1990

Most times Sacked Game - 12(tie), vs. Dallas, Sept. 29, 1985

Playoffs

Most Pass Completions Game - 36 vs. Buffalo, 1992 (OT)

Second most Pass Completions Game - 32(tie) vs. Kansas City, 1993

Second highest Passing Percentage Career - 64.3 (10 games), 1984-99

Third most Games 300 yards or more Passing Career - 3, 1984-99

Second most consecutive Games 300 yards or more Passing - 3, 1991-93

Third most Touchdown Passes Game - 4(tie) vs. Buffalo, 1992

Most Passes without an Interception Game - 48, vs. Pittsburgh, 1989 (OT)

Sources

Canadian Football League. 2000 CFL Facts, Figures and Records. Toronto:General, 2000, 1998,1987, 1985

Canadian Football League. CFL Illustrated, Volume IX, Oct. 1978. Toronto: International Sports Properties, 1978

Canadian Football League. CFL Illustrated, Volume X, July 1979. Toronto: International Sports Properties, 1979

Canadian Football League. CFL Illustrated, Volume X, Aug. 1979. Toronto: International Sports Properties, 1979

Canadian Football League. CFL Illustrated, Volume XVII, Number 9, Oct. 1987. Toronto: International Sports Properties, 1987

Hollander, Zander. The Compete Handbook of Pro Football, 1989. New York: Signet, 1989

The Official National Football League 1999 Record and Fact Book. New York: Workman Publishing, 1999

National Football League. NFL Report '78 USA: National Football League Properties, 1978

Neft, David S., Cohen, Richard M., Korch, Rick. The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 1994. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994

Stats Inc., Zminda, Don - Editor. Pro Football Handbook, 1998. USA: Stats Publishing

Stats Inc., Zminda, Don - Editor. Pro Football Revealed, 1996. USA: Stats Publishing

Stats Inc., Zminda, Don - Editor. Pro Football Revealed, 1998. USA: Stats Publishing

Edmonton Journal 1978: July, August, October, November; 1979: July, August, October, November; 1980: July, October, November; 1981: July, October, November; 1982: July, October, November; 1983: July, October, November; 1984: February 4th

Toronto Star 1978: November; 1979; November

MVP Magazine, Williams, Paul - Editor. MVP Canada's Sports Magazine November 1987. Toronto: MVP Magazine, 1987

Cahill, Leo with Scott Young. Goodbye Argos. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973

Jones, Terry. Canadian Pro Football '83. Toronto: Paperjacks, 1983

Teitel, Jay. The Argo Bounce. Toronto: Sarner Young Books, 1982.

Thiele, Stephen. Heroes of the Game. Norval: Moulin, 1997

Williams, Doug with Hunter, Bruce. Quarterblack. Chicago: Bonus Books, 1990

Rajeev Mullick is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto. He also coaches high school football at Senator O'Connor High School and is Editor in Chief of Rouge Magazine. Mr. Mullick's full-time occupation is as a counsellor at Eva's Phoenix Shelter and he can be contacted at blightning@canoemail.com