1996 Montreal Alouettes season
Encyclopedia
The 1996
Montreal Alouettes
finished in 2nd place in the East Division
with a 12–6 record in the franchise's first season in the Canadian Football League
since 1986
. They were defeated in the East Final by the eventual Grey Cup
champions, the Toronto Argonauts
.
, the league began expanding into the United States
with hopes of boosting revenues and saw five US
-based teams in 1995
, including the dominant Baltimore Stallions
. Prior to the 1996 NFL season
, Cleveland Browns
owner, Art Modell
, announced his intentions to move the Browns to Baltimore
, meaning there would be two professional football teams in the city. Stallions owner, Jim Speros
, realized that his team could not realistically compete with an NFL team and decided to move the team elsewhere. He looked into moving the team to Richmond, Virginia
, but after a deal could not be resolved, he decided to move the team to Montreal, Quebec and usher in the third installment of the Montreal Alouettes
.
Stallions General Manager
Jim Popp
came with Speros to Montreal, but he had to build the team from scratch as all Baltimore players were released from their contracts. He signed future Canadian Football Hall of Fame
quarterback
Tracy Ham
and future hall of fame and all-time leading rusher Mike Pringle, both of whom would play large roles in the success of the franchise. The new Alouettes played their first regular season game on June 27, 1996; almost ten years since their last game in the city of Montreal.
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
finished in 2nd place in the East Division
Canadian Football League East Division
The East Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the East Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.- Pre-1907 :...
with a 12–6 record in the franchise's first season in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
since 1986
1986 CFL season
The 1986 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1986:...
. They were defeated in the East Final by the eventual Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champions, the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
.
Start of a new franchise
Starting in the 1993 CFL season1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
, the league began expanding into the United States
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
with hopes of boosting revenues and saw five US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based teams in 1995
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
, including the dominant Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
. Prior to the 1996 NFL season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
owner, Art Modell
Art Modell
Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...
, announced his intentions to move the Browns to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, meaning there would be two professional football teams in the city. Stallions owner, Jim Speros
Jim Speros
Jim Speros is an American businessman and former American football player and coach from Great Falls, Virginia, best known for his ownership of teams in the Canadian Football League and United Football League.-Early career:...
, realized that his team could not realistically compete with an NFL team and decided to move the team elsewhere. He looked into moving the team to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, but after a deal could not be resolved, he decided to move the team to Montreal, Quebec and usher in the third installment of the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.
Stallions General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Jim Popp
Jim Popp
Jim Popp is the general manager of the Montreal Alouettes football club of the Canadian Football League ....
came with Speros to Montreal, but he had to build the team from scratch as all Baltimore players were released from their contracts. He signed future Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham is a retired Canadian Football League quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. He was known for his abilities as a dual threat quarterback...
and future hall of fame and all-time leading rusher Mike Pringle, both of whom would play large roles in the success of the franchise. The new Alouettes played their first regular season game on June 27, 1996; almost ten years since their last game in the city of Montreal.
CFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Denis Montana | WR | Concordia University Concordia University Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction... |
| 2 | 18 | Bryan Chiu Bryan Chiu Bryan Chiu is a retired professional Canadian football player who played centre for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League since the 1997 CFL season... |
DT | Washington State |
| 3 | 27 | Adam Cassidy | OL | Alberta University of Alberta The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada... |
| 4 | 36 | Tom Hipsz | DE | Toronto University of Toronto The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada... |
| 6 | 53 | Adrian Rainbow | QB | British Columbia University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley... |
| 7 | 62 | Marc Charles | DT | Morgan State |
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Result | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | June 13 | Ottawa Rough Riders Ottawa Rough Riders The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a... |
Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium (Montreal) The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics... |
38–7 | Win | 11,215 | 1–0 |
| B | June 20 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... |
Ivor Wynne Stadium Ivor Wynne Stadium Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada... |
43–39 | Win | 16,346 | 2–0 |
Season Standings
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Argonauts Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta... |
18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 556 | 359 | 30 |
| Montreal Alouettes Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions... |
18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 536 | 467 | 24 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... |
18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 426 | 576 | 16 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders Ottawa Rough Riders The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a... |
18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 352 | 524 | 6 |
Season Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Result | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 27 | Toronto Argonauts 1996 Toronto Argonauts season The 1996 Toronto Argonauts finished in 1st place in the East Division of the 1996 CFL season with a 15–3–0 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Grey Cup:-Awards and records:... |
Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium (Montreal) The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics... |
27–24 | Loss | 24,653 | 0–1 |
| 2 | July 5 | Edmonton Eskimos | Commonwealth Stadium Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton) Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :... |
16–13 | Loss | 26,211 | 0–2 |
| 3 | July 10 | Calgary Stampeders 1996 Calgary Stampeders season The 1996 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record. They appeared in the West Final but lost to the Edmonton Eskimos.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-West Final:-References:... |
Olympic Stadium | 62–22 | Loss | 19,362 | 0–3 |
| 4 | July 19 | BC Lions 1996 BC Lions season The 1996 BC Lions finished in 5th place in the West Division with a 5–13 record and failed to make the playoffs.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-Western Division All-Star Selections:... |
BC Place Stadium BC Place Stadium BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the... |
44–24 | Win | 21,855 | 1–3 |
| 5 | July 24 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1996 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season The 1996 Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished in 3rd place in the West division with a 9–9 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final.-CFL Draft:-Season standings:-Season schedule:-West Semi-Final:-References:... |
Olympic Stadium | 36–10 | Win | 20,302 | 2–3 |
| 6 | Aug 1 | Toronto Argonauts | SkyDome | 40–31 | Loss | 20,302 | 2–4 |
| 7 | Aug 7 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1996 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season The 1996 Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished in 3rd place in the East division with a 8–10–0 record. They appeared in the East Semi-Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Schedule:-Postseason:-References:... |
Olympic Stadium | 29–22 | Win | 25,210 | 3–4 |
| 7 | Aug 11 | Saskatchewan Roughriders 1996 Saskatchewan Roughriders season The 1996 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in 4th place in the West division with a 5–13 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.-CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season standings:-Season schedule:-Roster:-References:... |
Taylor Field Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field is a sports stadium located in Regina, Saskatchewan which is used primarily to play Canadian football. It has been the home of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders in rudimentary form since 1910 and as a complete stadium since 1936... |
32–20 | Win | 21,997 | 4–4 |
| 8 | Bye | ||||||
| 9 | Aug 23 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Olympic Stadium | 23–16 | Win | 26,511 | 5–4 |
| 10 | Aug 30 | Ottawa Rough Riders 1996 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1996 Ottawa Rough Riders finished 4th place in the East division with a 3–15–0 record and failed to make the playoffs. This was the final season in Ottawa Rough Riders franchise history as they folded after the season ended.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
Frank Clair Stadium Frank Clair Stadium Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:... |
17–6 | Loss | 28,451 | 5–5 |
| 11 | Sept 7 | BC Lions | Olympic Stadium | 28–27 | Win | 15,161 | 6–5 |
| 12 | Sept 13 | Calgary Stampeders | McMahon Stadium McMahon Stadium McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.... |
25–23 | Win | 19,196 | 7–5 |
| 13 | Bye | ||||||
| 14 | Sept 29 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Ivor Wynne Stadium Ivor Wynne Stadium Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada... |
39–38 | Loss | 17,740 | 7–6 |
| 15 | Oct 4 | Edmonton Eskimos | Olympic Stadium | 32–18 | Win | 17,886 | 8–6 |
| 16 | Oct 14 | Ottawa Rough Riders | Frank Clair Stadium | 25–18 | Win | 14,080 | 9–6 |
| 17 | Oct 19 | Ottawa Rough Riders | Olympic Stadium | 28–21 | Win | 18,671 | 10–6 |
| 18 | Oct 25 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Olympic Stadium | 45–41 | Win | 20,231 | 11–6 |
| 19 | Nov 1 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Winnipeg Stadium Canad Inns Stadium Canad Inns Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located north of Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Stadium, named for hotel chain Canad Inns, and originally completed in 1953, seats 29,533 for football... |
42–24 | Win | 25,968 | 12–6 |
Roster
| Montreal Alouettes roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks Running Backs Receivers |
Offensive Linemen Defensive Linemen Defensive Backs Special Teams Practice Roster |
|||||
East Semi-Final
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... |
? | ? | ? | ? | 11 |
| Montreal Alouettes Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions... |
? | ? | ? | ? | 22 |
East Final
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Alouettes Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions... |
? | ? | ? | ? | 7 |
| Toronto Argonauts Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta... |
? | ? | ? | ? | 43 |
1996 CFL All-Star Selections
- Grant Carter – Defensive End
- Charles GordonCharles Gordon (Canadian football)Charles Gordon was a cornerback football player in the Canadian Football League for seven years between 1991 and 1997. Gordon played for three different teams...
– Defensive Back - Tracy GravelyTracy GravelyTracy Gravely , a native of Kimball, West Virginia, is a former all star linebacker in the Canadian Football League.A graduate of Concord University, where he was West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1989, he signed with the New York Giants, but never...
– Linebacker
1996 CFL East All-Star Selections
- Terry BakerTerry BakerFor the Canadian football player of the same name see Terry Baker .Terry Wayne Baker is a former quarterback for the Oregon State University football team. He played for them through the 1960-1962 seasons. He is most notable for winning the 1962 Heisman Trophy and playing the Final Four in the...
– Placekicker - Bruce BeatonBruce BeatonBruce Beaton is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played 13 seasons in the Canadian Football League for five different teams. He was named CFL All-Star three times and was a part of two Grey Cup championship teams with the Edmonton Eskimos...
– Offensive Guard - Grant Carter – Defensive End
- Jock ClimieJock ClimieJock Climie is a Canadian retired Canadian Football League player who played the slotback position primarily with the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Montreal Alouettes. He is currently a sportscaster with Canadian sports television channel TSN as part of the CFL on TSN studio panel...
– Slotback - Neal FortNeal FortNeal Fort is a former professional American football player. In college, he played for Brigham Young University. He was an offensive lineman in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams and the Canadian Football League for the Baltimore Stallions and Montreal Alouettes for most of his career...
– Offensive Tackle - Charles Gordon – Defensive Back
- Tracy Gravely – Linebacker
- Spencer McLennanSpencer McLennanSpencer McLennan is a former Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League for ten years years. McLennan played safety and slotback for the three teams, the British Columbia Lions, Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1991-2000. He was a CFL East All-Star in...
– Defensive Safety - Mike Pringle – Running Back
- Paul Randolf – Linebacker
- Irvin SmithIrvin SmithIrvin Smith is a former gridiron football defensive back. He played for the Baltimore Stallions in the Canadian Football League. Smith played college football at Maryland....
– Cornerback