82nd Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 82nd Grey Cup was the 1994
Canadian Football League
championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club
and the BC Lions
at BC Place Stadium
in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States
-vs-Canada
matchup. The Lions won the game by a score of 26-23, on a last second field-goal by Lui Passaglia
.
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
(4); cons., Passaglia
(2).
Baltimore F. C. (23) - TDs, Tracy Ham
, Karl Anthony
; FGs, Donald Igwebuike
(3); cons., Igwebuike
(2).
First Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 47-yard field goal 2:24
Second Quarter
BAL - TD Ham 1-yard run (Igwebuike convert) 8:39
BAL - TD Anthony 46-yard lateral interception return from Walton (Igwebuike convert) 9:21
BC - TD Gordon 17-yard interception return (Passaglia convert) 12:48
BAL - FG Igwebuike 17-yard field goal 14:08
Third Quarter
BAL - FG Igwebuike 26-yard field goal 4:34
BC - TD McManus 1-yard run (Passaglia convert) 9:39
BC - FG Passaglia 42-yard field goal 14:08
Fourth Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 27-yard field goal 3:09
BAL - FG Igwebuike 29-yard field goal 8:26
BC - FG Passaglia 38-yard field goal 15:00
The Grey Cup
, exclusively a Canadian
event for the first 82 seasons of its existence, became an international affair when Baltimore
became the first U.S.-based club to vie for the trophy. The appearance of an American team in the Grey Cup united Canadian fans for the first time behind the Lions as representatives of Canada. The 82nd Grey Cup is considered by many to be one of the ten best Grey Cup
games of all time, because it was a nail-biter from start-to-finish.http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/GreyCup/2006/11/13/2339461.html.
Kent Austin
started at quarterback for the Lions, which was somewhat of a surprise given that his backup, Danny McManus
, engineered a last-second victory over the Calgary Stampeders
in the West Final. Austin was playing with a tender left shoulder, but it didn’t prevent him from moving the Lions downfield to set up Lui Passaglia
’s 47-yard field goal for the initial points of the game.
Baltimore responded in the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead. Quarterback Tracy Ham
put Baltimore on the scoreboard on a one-yard run, while Alvin Walton
picked off an Austin throw and completed a lateral pass to Karl Anthony
who scampered 36 yards for Baltimore’s second touchdown.
The Lions got a defensive touchdown of their own when Charles Gordon intercepted a pass by Ham and scored on a 17-yard return. Baltimore added a late field goal by Donald Igwebuike
to take a 17-10 halftime lead.
Austin, who was playing with an injured shoulder, was ineffective for B.C., getting intercepted three times. With a minute remaining in the first half, head coach Dave Ritchie
turned to Danny McManus
. A week earlier in the Western Final, McManus had also relieved an injured Austin and orchestrated a second-half come-back.
Baltimore added to its lead with another field goal. But the momentum shifted in B.C.’s favour late in the third quarter. Setting up for a 34-yard field goal, holder Darren Flutie
took the ball, jumped to his feet and ran to his right to the 10-yard line, giving the Lions a first down. Three plays later, McManus scored on a third down gamble.
B.C. tied the score with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Passaglia’s 42-yard field goal. The score was deadlocked at 23-23 after both clubs exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter.
Passaglia had an opportunity to kick a 37-yard field goal with 1:02 left in regulation, but he missed. However, Baltimore was unable to advance the ball on their next possession, going two-and-out, and giving the ball back to BC with excellent field position. Passaglia received another opportunity for the winning kick with no time remaining, and he made good on a 38-yard attempt to keep the Grey Cup in Canada. Passaglia's last-second field goal was named the greatest play in BC Lions history in 2007.
was announced as the Most Valuable Player and awarded the trophy. Running Back Sean Millington
was announced as the Most Valuable Canadian
. However, it was later learned that the actual winner of the MVP vote was Baltimore's Karl Anthony, who was the first player to be awarded with such an honour in a losing cause. The vote had actually taken place before Passaglia's game-winning field goal, while the game was still tied. Instead of receiving MVP honours, Passaglia was awarded with the Most Valuable Canadian Award for the second time in his career.
Baltimore's all-star
running back, Mike Pringle had only 71-yards rushing and fullback Robert Drummond
had 38-yards rushing for a total of 109 yards. The Lions rushing tandem of running back Cory Philpot
and fullback Sean Millington
combined for 194-yards rushing, with Philpot having 17 carries, for 109-yards rushing and Millington having 13 carries, for 85-yards rushing. Furthermore, Philpot and Millington gained those yards against an impressive Baltimore defence that was exempt from following the CFL's import rule and was made up solely of American players. There is a common perception that such a team would be stronger than one which was required to have Canadian players.
The same Lions defence that limited Baltimore's running game, were also able to get four sacks on Baltimore's Tracy Ham and John Congemi
(sacked on his only play of the game). The Lions' defensive front of Andrew Stewart, Angelo Snipes
, Doug Petersen and Henry Newby had one sack, each.
The teams had about equal time of possession, with the Lions having 31:22 compared to Baltimore's 28:38.
.
The 1994 BC Lions Championship team was inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame
, which is located inside BC Place Stadium
.
1994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
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....
championship game played between the Baltimore Football Club
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...
and the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
at 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...
in Vancouver, BC. It was the first-ever championship in professional football history to feature a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-vs-Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
matchup. The Lions won the game by a score of 26-23, on a last second field-goal by Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
.
Game summary
BC Lions (26) - TDs, Charles Gordon, Danny McManusDanny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(4); cons., Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(2).
Baltimore F. C. (23) - TDs, 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...
, Karl Anthony
Karl Anthony
Karl Anthony is a former all-star and award winning Canadian Football League defensive back and Grey Cup champion.Anthony played his college football at Southwest Missouri State University and first played professionally for 3 years with the Calgary Stampeders, where he was an all-star in 1993...
; FGs, Donald Igwebuike
Donald Igwebuike
Donald Amechi Igwebuike is a former Nigerian kicker of American football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He is the fourth place all-time scorer for the Buccaneers with 416 overall points...
(3); cons., Igwebuike
Donald Igwebuike
Donald Amechi Igwebuike is a former Nigerian kicker of American football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He is the fourth place all-time scorer for the Buccaneers with 416 overall points...
(2).
First Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 47-yard field goal 2:24
Second Quarter
BAL - TD Ham 1-yard run (Igwebuike convert) 8:39
BAL - TD Anthony 46-yard lateral interception return from Walton (Igwebuike convert) 9:21
BC - TD Gordon 17-yard interception return (Passaglia convert) 12:48
BAL - FG Igwebuike 17-yard field goal 14:08
Third Quarter
BAL - FG Igwebuike 26-yard field goal 4:34
BC - TD McManus 1-yard run (Passaglia convert) 9:39
BC - FG Passaglia 42-yard field goal 14:08
Fourth Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 27-yard field goal 3:09
BAL - FG Igwebuike 29-yard field goal 8:26
BC - FG Passaglia 38-yard field goal 15:00
The 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...
, exclusively a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
event for the first 82 seasons of its existence, became an international affair when Baltimore
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...
became the first U.S.-based club to vie for the trophy. The appearance of an American team in the Grey Cup united Canadian fans for the first time behind the Lions as representatives of Canada. The 82nd Grey Cup is considered by many to be one of the ten best 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...
games of all time, because it was a nail-biter from start-to-finish.http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/GreyCup/2006/11/13/2339461.html.
Kent Austin
Kent Austin
Richard Kent Austin is the Head Coach for the Cornell University Big Red football team. Prior to this, he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. He is the former Head Coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders...
started at quarterback for the Lions, which was somewhat of a surprise given that his backup, Danny McManus
Danny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
, engineered a last-second victory over the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in the West Final. Austin was playing with a tender left shoulder, but it didn’t prevent him from moving the Lions downfield to set up Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
’s 47-yard field goal for the initial points of the game.
Baltimore responded in the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead. Quarterback 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...
put Baltimore on the scoreboard on a one-yard run, while Alvin Walton
Alvin Walton
Alvin Earl Walton is a former American football safety who was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'0", 180 safety from the University of Kansas, Walton played in six NFL seasons from 1986-1991. He started in Super Bowl XXII for the Redskins...
picked off an Austin throw and completed a lateral pass to Karl Anthony
Karl Anthony
Karl Anthony is a former all-star and award winning Canadian Football League defensive back and Grey Cup champion.Anthony played his college football at Southwest Missouri State University and first played professionally for 3 years with the Calgary Stampeders, where he was an all-star in 1993...
who scampered 36 yards for Baltimore’s second touchdown.
The Lions got a defensive touchdown of their own when Charles Gordon intercepted a pass by Ham and scored on a 17-yard return. Baltimore added a late field goal by Donald Igwebuike
Donald Igwebuike
Donald Amechi Igwebuike is a former Nigerian kicker of American football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He is the fourth place all-time scorer for the Buccaneers with 416 overall points...
to take a 17-10 halftime lead.
Austin, who was playing with an injured shoulder, was ineffective for B.C., getting intercepted three times. With a minute remaining in the first half, head coach Dave Ritchie
Dave Ritchie (football coach)
Dave Ritchie is a former coach in the Canadian Football League. He is best known for his days as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Head Coach from 1999 to 2004...
turned to Danny McManus
Danny McManus
Danny McManus , is a retired professional American football and Canadian football quarterback who passed for over 50,000 yards in seventeen seasons in the Canadian Football League...
. A week earlier in the Western Final, McManus had also relieved an injured Austin and orchestrated a second-half come-back.
Baltimore added to its lead with another field goal. But the momentum shifted in B.C.’s favour late in the third quarter. Setting up for a 34-yard field goal, holder Darren Flutie
Darren Flutie
Darren Paul Flutie is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's third all-time leader in catches, behind Ben Cahoon and Terry Vaughn; he is also third all-time in career receiving yardage behind...
took the ball, jumped to his feet and ran to his right to the 10-yard line, giving the Lions a first down. Three plays later, McManus scored on a third down gamble.
B.C. tied the score with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Passaglia’s 42-yard field goal. The score was deadlocked at 23-23 after both clubs exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter.
Passaglia had an opportunity to kick a 37-yard field goal with 1:02 left in regulation, but he missed. However, Baltimore was unable to advance the ball on their next possession, going two-and-out, and giving the ball back to BC with excellent field position. Passaglia received another opportunity for the winning kick with no time remaining, and he made good on a 38-yard attempt to keep the Grey Cup in Canada. Passaglia's last-second field goal was named the greatest play in BC Lions history in 2007.
Statistics and awards
At the end of the game, Lions kicker Lui PassagliaLui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
was announced as the Most Valuable Player and awarded the trophy. Running Back Sean Millington
Sean Millington
Sean Millington is a former Canadian Football League fullback and currently does colour commentary for cfl.ca and the CBC. He is also an actor in several movies and television shows.-Before the CFL:...
was announced as the Most Valuable Canadian
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
The Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League....
. However, it was later learned that the actual winner of the MVP vote was Baltimore's Karl Anthony, who was the first player to be awarded with such an honour in a losing cause. The vote had actually taken place before Passaglia's game-winning field goal, while the game was still tied. Instead of receiving MVP honours, Passaglia was awarded with the Most Valuable Canadian Award for the second time in his career.
Baltimore's all-star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
running back, Mike Pringle had only 71-yards rushing and fullback Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
had 38-yards rushing for a total of 109 yards. The Lions rushing tandem of running back Cory Philpot
Cory Philpot
Cory Philpot is a former running back for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at The University of Mississippi. He was two-time winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy for top rusher in 1994 and 1995...
and fullback Sean Millington
Sean Millington
Sean Millington is a former Canadian Football League fullback and currently does colour commentary for cfl.ca and the CBC. He is also an actor in several movies and television shows.-Before the CFL:...
combined for 194-yards rushing, with Philpot having 17 carries, for 109-yards rushing and Millington having 13 carries, for 85-yards rushing. Furthermore, Philpot and Millington gained those yards against an impressive Baltimore defence that was exempt from following the CFL's import rule and was made up solely of American players. There is a common perception that such a team would be stronger than one which was required to have Canadian players.
The same Lions defence that limited Baltimore's running game, were also able to get four sacks on Baltimore's Tracy Ham and John Congemi
John Congemi
John Congemi is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and current college football analyst for ESPNU and the Big East Network.Congemi played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1982-1986. He finished second all time in passing yards and led his team to the 1984 Fiesta...
(sacked on his only play of the game). The Lions' defensive front of Andrew Stewart, Angelo Snipes
Angelo Snipes
Angelo Bernard Snipes is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the San Diego Chargers, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He later played six seasons in the Canadian Football League for four different teams. He played college football at the...
, Doug Petersen and Henry Newby had one sack, each.
The teams had about equal time of possession, with the Lions having 31:22 compared to Baltimore's 28:38.
Trivia
This was the last Grey Cup to be won by the host city until 201199th Grey Cup
The 99th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the East Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the West Division champion BC Lions to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League in the 2011 season. The Lions defeated the Blue Bombers, 34–23, and became the first team in CFL...
.
The 1994 BC Lions Championship team was inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
, which is located inside 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...
.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 12 @ Edmonton, Alberta) BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
24-23 Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
- Semi-final (November 13 @ Calgary, Alberta) Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
36-3 Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
- Final (November 20 @ Calgary, Alberta) BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
37-36 Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 12 @ Baltimore, Maryland) Baltimore Football Club 34-15 Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe 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...
- Semi-final (November 13 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
26-16 Ottawa Rough RidersOttawa Rough RidersThe 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...
- Final (November 20 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Baltimore Football Club 14-12 Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...