Bob Dawson (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Bob Dawson is a former award winning and Grey Cup
champion Canadian Football League
player.
Dawson was a standout junior player with the Windsor AKO Fratmen team, winners of the 1952 national junior championship (the "Little Grey Cup") in a 15-12 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats
. Several CFL teams were bidding for his services, but he chose the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, with whom he'd have a 7 season career. In his first season he won the Gruen Trophy
as best rookie in the east (no stats were kept, and only Canadians qualified for the award) and won the Grey Cup
championship. He also won the Grey Cup in 1957.
Primarily a defensive back, he made 5 interceptions in his career, he could substitute on offense, catching 11 passes in 1956. He could also play quarterback, and in 1956 he got the chance, which was a rarity, as very few Canadians got to play QB during this era. On October 20 the Cats were suffering a record setting defeat to the Montreal Alouettes
, 82-14, when coach Jim Trimble
replaced starting QB Tony Curcillo
. Dawson came on and completed 5 of 8 passes for 1 touchdown.
Dawson was enshrined in the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
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...
champion 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....
player.
Dawson was a standout junior player with the Windsor AKO Fratmen team, winners of the 1952 national junior championship (the "Little Grey Cup") in a 15-12 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats
Edmonton Wildcats
The Edmonton Wildcats are Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The Wildcats play in the Prairie Football Conference, which is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes for the league championship, the Canadian Bowl...
. Several CFL teams were bidding for his services, but he chose the 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...
, with whom he'd have a 7 season career. In his first season he won the Gruen Trophy
Gruen Trophy
The Gruen Trophy was a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding Canadian rookie in the East Division. The award, sponsored by the Gruen Watch Co...
as best rookie in the east (no stats were kept, and only Canadians qualified for the award) and won 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...
championship. He also won the Grey Cup in 1957.
Primarily a defensive back, he made 5 interceptions in his career, he could substitute on offense, catching 11 passes in 1956. He could also play quarterback, and in 1956 he got the chance, which was a rarity, as very few Canadians got to play QB during this era. On October 20 the Cats were suffering a record setting defeat to 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...
, 82-14, when coach Jim Trimble
Jim Trimble
James W. "Jim" Trimble was a football coach who served as head coach in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League, but his legacy is more connected to football products, thanks to his "slingshot" goal posts...
replaced starting QB Tony Curcillo
Tony Curcillo
Anthony Curcillo Jr. is a former football player in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.- Career :...
. Dawson came on and completed 5 of 8 passes for 1 touchdown.
Dawson was enshrined in the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.