Allen Pitts
Encyclopedia
Allen Pitts was a receiver for the Calgary Stampeders
in the Canadian Football League
from 1990 to 2000. He attended Cal-State Fullerton and played his entire professional career as a receiver for the Calgary Stampeders
. He retired as the CFL's all-time leading receiver in term of career yardage until he was passed by Milt Stegall
in 2008.
broke the record; Pitts still holds the record for receiving yards by a Stampeder. He played in 5 Grey Cup
games, and was instrumental in two Grey Cup
victories in 1992 and 1998. In 1992 Pitts became the second CFL player to have more than one season with at least 100 receptions, but the first player to do so in consecutive seasons. The year prior, Pitts had 118 catches for 1764 yards and 15 touchdowns and then had 103 catches for 1591 yards and 13 touchdowns. Injuries in 1993 saw Pitts accumulate 45 receptions for 776 yards and 4 scores. However he had a monster year in 1994 setting a new receiving yards record with 2036, a receptions record with 126, and a touchdown record with 21. The latter two have since been eclipsed by other players. The power of the Stampeders' passing attack was proved in 1995 despite a serious injury to star quarterback Doug Flutie
. The rise of Jeff Garcia
saw the two combine for over 6000 yards, which gave Pitts 100 catches for 1492 yards and 11 touchdowns. Remarkably he was the team's second leading receiver, behind David Sapunjis
(111-1653-12). This marked the first time a CFL team had two receivers with 100 or more receptions in the same season. Despite a very respectable season in 2000 with 77 catches for 1045 yards and six scores, the Stampeders chose to release the great receiver and he then retired rather than playing for another team.
At the time of his retirement, Pitts held the record for career receptions with 966 but has since been passed by Darren Flutie
with 972 and by Terry Vaughn
with 1006. Currently Pitts shares the record for most games in a season with 100 more yards at 11 with Terry Greer
, Hal Patterson, and Joey Walters
. He also holds the career record for plus 100 yard receiving games with 64.
Perhaps remarkably Pitts was the Stampeder nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
twice in his career. The first in 1991, losing the division acknowledgment to Doug Flutie
who was then with the Lions. His second came in 1999 and was the runner-up to Danny McManus
of the Tiger-Cats. Being on a team that included, over the years, quarterbacks Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, and Dave Dickenson plus Kelvin Anderson at running back perhaps made being the team's award-nominee more difficult.
He was elected into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 2006. He was enshrined on the Stampeders Wall of Fame in 2005, with the retirement of his jersey number 18. In November, 2006, Allen Pitts was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
(#10) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network
/TSN.
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 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....
from 1990 to 2000. He attended Cal-State Fullerton and played his entire professional career as a receiver for 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...
. He retired as the CFL's all-time leading receiver in term of career yardage until he was passed by Milt Stegall
Milt Stegall
Milton Eugene Stegall is a retired professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.Stegall was an All-Star...
in 2008.
Career
Pitts holds many Stampeder records including most career touchdowns with 117, which at the time was also a CFL record, and held the CFL All-Time receiving yards with 14,891 until September 12, 2008 when Milt StegallMilt Stegall
Milton Eugene Stegall is a retired professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.Stegall was an All-Star...
broke the record; Pitts still holds the record for receiving yards by a Stampeder. He played in 5 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, and was instrumental in two 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...
victories in 1992 and 1998. In 1992 Pitts became the second CFL player to have more than one season with at least 100 receptions, but the first player to do so in consecutive seasons. The year prior, Pitts had 118 catches for 1764 yards and 15 touchdowns and then had 103 catches for 1591 yards and 13 touchdowns. Injuries in 1993 saw Pitts accumulate 45 receptions for 776 yards and 4 scores. However he had a monster year in 1994 setting a new receiving yards record with 2036, a receptions record with 126, and a touchdown record with 21. The latter two have since been eclipsed by other players. The power of the Stampeders' passing attack was proved in 1995 despite a serious injury to star quarterback Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
. The rise of Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia
Jeffrey Jason "Jeff" Garcia is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State University....
saw the two combine for over 6000 yards, which gave Pitts 100 catches for 1492 yards and 11 touchdowns. Remarkably he was the team's second leading receiver, behind David Sapunjis
Dave Sapunjis
David B. Sapunjis is a former wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders from 1990-1996. Sapunjis won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award two times and was the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian three times. He played college football at the University of Western Ontario where he was also a...
(111-1653-12). This marked the first time a CFL team had two receivers with 100 or more receptions in the same season. Despite a very respectable season in 2000 with 77 catches for 1045 yards and six scores, the Stampeders chose to release the great receiver and he then retired rather than playing for another team.
At the time of his retirement, Pitts held the record for career receptions with 966 but has since been passed by 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...
with 972 and by Terry Vaughn
Terry Vaughn
Terry Vaughn is a former Canadian Football League receiver most recently with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On July 14, 2006 he became the all-time leader in receptions in the Canadian Football League, surpassing Darren Flutie's previous record of 973 receptions...
with 1006. Currently Pitts shares the record for most games in a season with 100 more yards at 11 with Terry Greer
Terry Greer
Terry Greer is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers...
, Hal Patterson, and Joey Walters
Joey Walters
Joey Walters is a former slotback and wide receiver who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He later played for the Washington Federals and the Orlando Renegades of the USFL...
. He also holds the career record for plus 100 yard receiving games with 64.
Perhaps remarkably Pitts was the Stampeder nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
twice in his career. The first in 1991, losing the division acknowledgment to Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
who was then with the Lions. His second came in 1999 and was the runner-up 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...
of the Tiger-Cats. Being on a team that included, over the years, quarterbacks Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, and Dave Dickenson plus Kelvin Anderson at running back perhaps made being the team's award-nominee more difficult.
He was elected into the 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...
in 2006. He was enshrined on the Stampeders Wall of Fame in 2005, with the retirement of his jersey number 18. In November, 2006, Allen Pitts was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
(#10) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
/TSN.
Statistics
| Receiving | Regular season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Games | No. | Yards | Avg | Long | TD | |
| 1990 1990 CFL season The 1990 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 37th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 33rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1990:J... |
CGY 1990 Calgary Stampeders season The 1990 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 11–6–1 record. They were defeated in the West Final by the Edmonton Eskimos.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-West Final:-References:... |
18 | 65 | 1172 | 18.0 | 67 | 6 | |
| 1991 1991 CFL season The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:... |
CGY 1991 Calgary Stampeders season The 1991 Calgary Stampeders finished in 2nd place in the West Division with a 11–7 record. The Stampeders appeared in the Grey Cup game for the first time in 20 years but they lost to the Toronto Argonauts.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:... |
18 | 118 | 1764 | 14.9 | 87 | 15 | |
| 1992 1992 CFL season -1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos... |
CGY 1992 Calgary Stampeders season The 1992 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record and won the Grey Cup for the first time since 1971, ending the longest drought of any team at that time.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
18 | 103 | 1591 | 15.4 | 53 | 13 | |
| 1993 1993 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:... |
CGY 1993 Calgary Stampeders season The 1993 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 15–3 record. They attempted to defend their Grey Cup championship in front of a home crowd at McMahon Stadium, but they lost in the West Final to the eventual Grey Cup champions Edmonton Eskimos.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-... |
7 | 45 | 776 | 17.2 | 37 | 4 | |
| 1994 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:... |
CGY 1994 Calgary Stampeders season The 1994 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 15–3 record. They appeared in the West Final but lost to the eventual Grey Cup champions BC Lions.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:... |
18 | 126 | 2036 | 16.2 | 54 | 21 | |
| 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:... |
CGY 1995 Calgary Stampeders season The 1995 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the North Division with a 15–3 record. They appeared in the Grey Cup but lost to the Baltimore Stallions... |
16 | 100 | 1492 | 14.9 | 63 | 11 | |
| 1996 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:... |
CGY 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:... |
17 | 86 | 1309 | 15.2 | 41 | 11 | |
| 1997 1997 CFL season The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:... |
CGY 1997 Calgary Stampeders season The 1997 Calgary Stampeders finished in 2nd place in the West Division with a 10–8–0 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final but lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:... |
11 | 53 | 885 | 16.7 | 43 | 9 | |
| 1998 1998 CFL season -1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats... |
CGY 1998 Calgary Stampeders season The 1998 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–6–0 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-West Final:-Grey Cup:-References:... |
18 | 97 | 1449 | 14.9 | 63 | 10 | |
| 1999 1999 CFL season -1999 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Danny McManus , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike O'Shea , Toronto Argonauts*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Calvin Tiggle , Hamilton Tiger-Cats... |
CGY 1999 Calgary Stampeders season The 1999 Calgary Stampeders finished in 2nd place in the West Division with a 12–6–0 record. They attempted to repeat as Grey Cup champions but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season standings:-Season schedule:... |
17 | 96 | 1372 | 14.3 | 62 | 11 | |
| 2000 2000 CFL season -2000 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Dave Dickenson , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Sean Millington , BC Lions*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats... |
CGY 2000 Calgary Stampeders season The 2000 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 12–5–1 record. They appeared in the West Final but they lost to the BC Lions.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-West Final:-References:... |
18 | 77 | 1045 | 13.6 | 29 | 6 | |
| CFL 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.... totals |
176 | 966 | 14,891 | 15.4 | 87 | 117 | ||