Brian Snelgrove
CFL.ca
By any yardstick the 1970’s were a glorious decade for the Montreal Alouettes.
The Larks made six trips to the Grey Cup in the 70’s and came away with their hands on the trophy three times. Montreal made the playoffs every year with the exception of 1971.
The Als and Edmonton Eskimos waged battle five times for the mug in the decade with Montreal winning twice, in 1974 and ’77. The other Cup win came against the Calgary Stampeders in 1970.
Despite a third place finish in 1970 the Alouettes advanced to the Grey Cup by upsetting Hamilton in the two game total point Eastern Final. Coached by legendary quarterback Sam Etcheverry, the Als beat the Calgary Stampeders, who had finished third in the West, by a score of 23-10.
The ‘74 game saw Don Sweet kick four field goals as the Als beat Edmonton 20-7 on a soggy field at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Defensive End Junior Ah You (1972-81) a two-time CFL all-star, was named Most Valuable Defensive Player.
In ’77 Sweet set a CFL record with 23 points and six field goals before a hometown crowd as Monreal overwhelmed Edmonton 41-6 in the Ice-Bowl that was Olympic Stadium. Alouette Quarterback Sonny Wade threw three touchdown passes.
The Most Valuable Player in each of those Grey Cup victories was a Martinsville, Virginia native and graduate of Emory and Henry College who was picked 236th in the 1969 NFL draft. Sonny Wade (1969-78) won his first of three Grey Cup MVP awards as he launched the decade with a Montreal victory over Calgary in the 1970 Grey Cup. He won again in 1974 and 1977. Wade was generally regarded as an average QB during the regular season but when it mattered most, in the Grey Cup, he delivered.
Canadian kicker Don Sweet, Montreal Alouettes (1972-81) and Montreal Concordes (1982-84) was one of the most reliable kickers of the era and won three Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian Awards. Sweet picked up the honours on the winning side in 1974 and ’77 and on the losing side in 1979.
Some of the most memorable players in the exalted history of the Montreal Alouettes played in the 1970’s.
Peter Dalla Riva, one of many outstanding tight ends of the era, spent his entire 14 year CFL career with Montreal. He was a three-time CFL all-star (1972, ‘73 and ’75) whose sweater #74 was retired by Montreal in 1981. He left the game with 450 receptions for 6,413 yards and 55 touchdowns. Dalla Riva was elected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1993.
Wide Receiver Johnny Rodgers (1973-76) the “Ordinary Superstar” from Nebraska won the Heisman Trophy in 1972. Rodgers was the CFL Rookie of the Year in 1973. In both ’74 and ’75 he was the Eastern nominee for Most Outstanding Player. In his four years with the Als, Rodgers was a CFL all-star three times (1973, ’74 and ’75) and was a member of the Cup winning ’74 squad.
Terry Evanshan (1965, 1970-73) a Montreal native spent five of his 14 years in the CFL with the Als and was a member of the 1970 Grey Cup team. The wide receiver was inducted in to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1984.
Moses Denson was a terrific running back who played from 1970-72 and even threw a 10 yard touchdown pass to Ted Alflen in the 1970 Grey Cup game. In 1979 running back David Green (1978-80) won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award. Andy Hopkins (1976-77) was an Eastern all-star in 1976 and three times in his career.
Ed George, named the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1974 was a four time CFL all-star. He made the team as an offensive tackle in 1971 and ’72 and as an offensive guard in ’73 and ’74. He entered the CFL Hall of Fame in 2005. Teammate Dan Yochum (1972-80) won the award two years later and was also a four-time league all-star (1975-78). Yochum preceded George into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Defensive End Junior Ah You played for Montreal from 1972-81 and was a CFL all-star in both 1976 and ’79. He was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player of the 1974 Grey Cup and is one of only seven Alouette players to have their sweater retired. Big #77 was sent to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1997.
Defensive Back Dickie Harris (1972-80, 1982) was an all-star eight times in his eleven year CFL career. He holds the Alouette record for most career interceptions with 38 and most return yards with 631. He also holds the team record for longest interception return of 118 yards. Harris was inducted to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1999. Backfield mate Randy Rhino (1976-80) joined Harris on the all-star squad in 1977 and ’78.
Defensive Tackle Glen Weir had a 13 year CFL career, ten of those in Montreal. A three-time CFL all-star he was sent to the Hall of Fame in 2009.
Linebacker Mike Widger spent nine years in the league, seven of those with the Alouettes (1970-76). He was named a CFL all-star four times (1973, ’74, ’75, and ’77).
Steve Smear, (has there ever been a better football name?) was a defensive end and linebacker for the Als from 1970-72. He was a CFL all-star in 1970.
Gene Gaines had an outstanding 16 year career in the CFL as a defensive back and was named to the Hall of Fame in 1994. He spent eight of those years (1961, 1970-76) wearing a Montreal Alouettes uniform.
Other defensive greats from the 70’s include linebackers Carl Crennell (1972-79, Mark Kosmos (1970-71) and defensive lineman Gordon Judges who was with Montreal for 14 years (Alouettes 1968-80 and Concordes 1982).
For most of the decade (1973-77) the Als were coached by Marv Levy. Levy was named CFL Coach of the Year in 1974 and guided Montreal to two of their Grey Cup victories. Levy’s playing and coaching career at the college and professional level spans nearly 60 years. In many ways the coaching legend, perhaps more than anybody else, was responsible for the tremendous success of the Alouettes in the 1970’s.
