Baltimore CFL Memories

by AidanB on Jan 16, 2012 6:37 PM EST

Anyone care to share their memories of the 1994-1995 Baltimore CFL experience?

It's been just about 20 years since the CFL expanded into the USA for a few years. By far, the biggest success south of the Canadian border was the Baltimore "Stallions" (quotes because I think most fans still called them the Colts). If any of you BBD types have any memories of the 1994-95 CFL seasons you'd like to share, as a Canadian football fan I'd love to hear your thoughts. No need for this to degenerate into a debate over which game is better, but no need either to censor any of your memories. Have at it, eh.

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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Here's my take, as I was just talking about this the other day!

In 1994, the Stallions made the CFL Grey Cup, but lost on a bogus pass interference penalty on the game’s next to last play, setting up a game-winning chip shot FG. No question, IMHO, that the CFL did not was a team from the USA to win THEIR game.

The next year Baltimore made it to the Grey Cup again and never gave anyone a chance to screw them, winning big. I believe current Ravens staff member, OJ Brigance was a “Rush End” on that team, and now is confined to a wheelchair and not doing well due to Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Thanks for the memories….

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 16, 2012 6:43 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for the response

I was 10 years old and on the other side of that Baltimore-B.C. Grey Cup Game, so my abiding memory is of course the winning field goal with zeros on the clock (uniquely Canadian: one last play after the clock runs down as long as the ball is set). Do you have any memories of adjusting to the CFL rules, e.g. unlimited backfield motion, 3-minute warning with clock stoppages to reset the ball, “no yards” instead of fair catch, etc?

@aidanbc
Roar you Lions roar

by AidanB on Jan 16, 2012 6:50 PM EST up reply actions

Loved the open offense

and the bigger field and the huge end zone. But still loved the old fashioned hitting and Baltimore’s unique run game compared to other team’s throwing the ball al over the field. Even in the CFL, it showed that defense can still win championships.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 17, 2012 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, defence is still very important

The Grey Cup game this year (the first championship game I’ve been to in any pro sport) was fought between the two teams with the best defences in the (8-team, haha) league. The huge end zone definitely makes things exciting: so much room for the corner fade. Have you thought of taking a road trip up to Montréal for old time’s sake? They play their regular season games in a great little stadium at McGill University, very close to downtown.

@aidanbc
Roar you Lions roar

by AidanB on Jan 18, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

I still don't get it

Even though the NFL is better, how can players as good as Mike Pringle and Tracy Ham not have made it there? Makes no sense.

Also, I’ll never forget how the Tagliabue and the NFL decided to step on Baltimore one more time by suing over the name “CFL Colts.” Throw in the phony 1994 expansion process and I will never, ever stop hating that man.

by Fang Guy on Jan 17, 2012 4:14 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, it's hard to know when the star CFL players

would rather be 6-figure stars than 7-figure role-players. Check out this tweet from the CFL’s soon-to-be all-time receiving yards leader:

https://twitter.com/#!/geroysimon/status/159006467284934656

@aidanbc
Roar you Lions roar

by AidanB on Jan 17, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

I remember the PA announcer would say something like...

“for your Baltimore CFL….” and the fans would answer in unison, “Colts” because he couldn’t say it but we could!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 17, 2012 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

The Stallions were a very good team

I do vaguely remember some b.s. call at the end of the Stallions GC loss. I also remember the great fan support the team received. If all the expansion teams had received that much support the CFL would be a much larger league now.

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 20, 2012 12:44 AM EST reply actions

Coincidence?

Strange how the CFL had signifigent success in Baltimore and then all of a sudden BAM we get an NFL team back. Makes you wonder if the NFL would have given Modell a harder time if the Stallions weren’t here.
The CFL pulling in a top 20 US market had to eat at them

Veni, Vidi, Vici - Julius Caesar 47 BC

by PSU RAVEN on Jan 20, 2012 8:15 PM EST reply actions