Was it the best Grey Cup ever?
Through ninety-nine often-spectacular games, that bar has been set very high. But you know that in one football-loving province of this country, there isn’t even a debate.
EPILOGUE
INTO THE FUTURE
Through more than a century, through two world wars, through changing times and changing tastes and in an evolving nation, the Grey Cup has been a constant, Canada’s great autumn ritual.
Once, it was just a football game – and not even the biggest one of the year. Once, it belonged only to central Canada. Once, before the fans from Calgary took things into their own hands, it came and went and was defined only by what happened between kickoff and the final whistle. And for a short while, the truth is that its continuity, its future, seemed anything but secure.
But now, as the 100th Grey Cup is played in Toronto in 2012 – amid the largest, most ambitious, most spectacular festival ever staged around the championship game – it is clearer than ever that we have come to value, to cherish, and to celebrate that which is uniquely ours.
Canadian football is a pure product of our country and of our culture. It is our game, not someone else’s, played under our rules on our field. Somehow, across the decades, for more than a century, it has retained its special character, even as so much in sport and elsewhere has become homogenized.
Hockey gets most of the attention as our “national” sport, but the Swedes and Finns and Czechs and Russians and more than a few Americans embrace it with nearly equal passion. And though the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup share much in terms of their origins, the hockey championship long ago became the property of the National Hockey League, a business operated out of the United States, with the vast majority of its franchises located outside of our borders.
But for the brief American expansion in the early 1990s, dictated by necessity, the Canadian Football League has been ours and ours alone; nowhere else on the planet do they play three-down, twelve-man, 110-yard football. And nowhere else is there the true equivalent of the Grey Cup game, with its long history, its homey, small-town character, its status as an unofficial national holiday.
It is organic. It wasn’t invented in a boardroom. It wasn’t the product of marketing research. It’s not a brand. Like the trophy itself, it has been through highs and lows, has accumulated a few dents along the way, but every year, with a little polish and elbow grease, it shines anew.
Not everyone in Canada is a football fan. But on Grey Cup Sunday, so many of us sit back, find a rooting interest, and revel – even if only for that one day of the calendar year – in the same game our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents enjoyed.
And what does all of that mean in an era in which the entire planet, including every sporting event from everywhere at any time, is instantly accessible through one gadget or another?
Well, it could be that it means more than it ever did.
There was a time when it was easy to take the Grey Cup for granted. It came along every fall, always right on schedule, so comfortable, so familiar, that it might get lost in all that was new and different and novel and of the moment. Yesterday’s news, in other words.
But something interesting has been happening as so many of those familiar lines of demarcation between countries and cultures have become blurred or erased altogether. We Canadians seem to want and need those things that remind us of their Canadian-ness – those touchstones, those traditions, those opportunities to wrap ourselves in the flag and celebrate what is ours and ours alone. Looking back at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, it’s clear that that longing is what so much of the ecstatic, patriotic celebration was all about.
And that’s why the Grey Cup not only endures but thrives as we head deeper into the twenty-first century. That’s why it doesn’t just have a glorious, colourful, idiosyncratic past, but also a bright future. This sport, invented more than 150 years ago, and this game, about to be played for the 100th time, are part of what makes us us, what defines on this ever-shrinking planet. It’s part of what links our Canadian tribe. Whether our families have been in this country for generations or arrived yesterday, the Grey Cup is one of the answers to the ever-tricky question: “So, what is it that makes you a Canadian?”
Which isn’t to say that everyone who piles into the Spirit of Edmonton room or Riderville – who knows what “Oskee Wee Wee” means – who can holler a mournful “Arrrrrr-goooos” or belt out “Green Is the Colour” – who loves their Stamps or their Lions or their Bombers or their Als – will be thinking about profound issues of cultural autonomy when this year’s Grey Cup kicks off at Rogers Centre.
No – they’ll just be there for the game, and for the party.
But that’s the beauty of ritual, isn’t it? A grand coming together, a powerful collective experience, a pillar of national identity, and a heck of a good time – all rolled into one.
Yes, that’s the Grey Cup.
APPENDICES
THE GREY CUP – 1909 TO 2011 YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS
2011
No: 99
Date: Nov 27
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 54,313
Champion: B.C. Lions
Pts: 34
Runner-Up: Winnipeg
Pts: 23
Winning Coach: Wally Buono
Losing Coach: Paul LaPolice
2010
No: 98
Date: Nov 28
Site: Edmonton
Stadium: Commonwealth
Attend: 63,317
Champion: Montréal
Pts: 21
Runner-Up: Saskatch’n
Pts: 18
Winning Coach: Marc Trestman
Losing Coach: Ken Miller
2009
No: 97
Date: Nov 29
Site: Calgary
Stadium: McMahon
Attend: 46,020
Champion: Montréal
Pts: 28
Runner-Up: Saskatch’n
Pts: 27
Winning Coach: Marc Trestman
Losing Coach: Ken Miller
2008
No: 96
Date: Nov 23
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 66,308
Champion: Calgary
Pts: 22
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 14
Winning Coach: John Hufnagel
Losing Coach: Marc Trestman
2007
No: 95
Date: Nov 25
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Rogers Centre
Attend: 52,230
Champion: Saskatch’n
Pts: 23
Runner-Up: Winnipeg
Pts: 19
Winning Coach: Kent Austin
Losing Coach: Doug Berry
2006
No: 94
Date: Nov 19
Site: Winnipeg
Stadium: Canad Inns
Attend: 44,786
Champion: B.C. Lions
Pts: 25
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 14
Winning Coach: Wally Buono
Losing Coach: Jim Popp
2005
No: 93
Date: Nov 27
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 59,157
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 38
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 35
Winning Coach: Dan Maciocia
Losing Coach: Don Matthews
2004
No: 92
Date: Nov 21
Site: Ottawa
Stadium: Frank Clair
Attend: 51,242
Champion: Toronto
Pts: 27
Runner-Up: B.C. Lions
Pts: 19
Winning Coach: Mike Clemons
Losing Coach: Wally Bu
ono
2003
No: 91
Date: Nov 16
Site: Regina
Stadium: Taylor Field
Attend: 50,909
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 34
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 22
Winning Coach: Tom Higgins
Losing Coach: Don Matthews
2002
No: 90
Date: Nov 24
Site: Edmonton
Stadium: Commonwealth
Attend: 62,531
Champion: Montréal
Pts: 25
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 16
Winning Coach: Don Matthews
Losing Coach: Tom Higgins
2001
No: 89
Date: Nov 25
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 65,255
Champion: Calgary
Pts: 27
Runner-Up: Winnipeg
Pts: 19
Winning Coach: Wally Buono
Losing Coach: Dave Ritchie
2000
No: 88
Date: Nov 26
Site: Calgary
Stadium: McMahon
Attend: 43,822
Champion: B.C. Lions
Pts: 28
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 26
Winning Coach: Steve Buratto
Losing Coach: Charlie Taaffe
1999
No: 87
Date: Nov 28
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 45,118
Champion: Hamilton
Pts: 32
Runner-Up: Calgary
Pts: 21
Winning Coach: Ron Lancaster
Losing Coach: Wally Buono
1998
No: 86
Date: Nov 22
Site: Winnipeg
Stadium: Winnipeg
Attend: 34,157
Champion: Calgary
Pts: 26
Runner-Up: Hamilton
Pts: 24
Winning Coach: Wally Buono
Losing Coach: Ron Lancaster
1997
No: 85
Date: Nov 16
Site: Edmonton
Stadium: Commonwealth
Attend: 60,431
Champion: Toronto
Pts: 47
Runner-Up: Saskatch’n
Pts: 23
Winning Coach: Don Matthews
Losing Coach: Jim Daley
1996
No: 84
Date: Nov 24
Site: Hamilton
Stadium: Ivor Wynne
Attend: 38,595
Champion: Toronto
Pts: 43
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 37
Winning Coach: Don Matthews
Losing Coach: Ron Lancaster
1995
No: 83
Date: Nov 19
Site: Regina
Stadium: Taylor Field
Attend: 52,564
Champion: Baltimore
Pts: 37
Runner-Up: Calgary
Pts: 20
Winning Coach: Don Matthews
Losing Coach: Wally Buono
1994
No: 82
Date: Nov 27
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 55,097
Champion: B.C. Lions
Pts: 26
Runner-Up: Baltimore
Pts: 23
Winning Coach: Dave Ritchie
Losing Coach: Don Matthews
1993
No: 81
Date: Nov 28
Site: Calgary
Stadium: McMahon
Attend: 50,035
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 33
Runner-Up: Winnipeg
Pts: 23
Winning Coach: Ron Lancaster
Losing Coach: Cal Murphy
1992
No: 80
Date: Nov 29
Site: Toronto
Stadium: SkyDome
Attend: 45,863
Champion: Calgary
Pts: 24
Runner-Up: Winnipeg
Pts: 10
Winning Coach: Wally Buono
Losing Coach: Urban Bowman
1991
No: 79
Date: Nov 24
Site: Winnipeg
Stadium: Winnipeg
Attend: 51,985
Champion: Toronto
Pts: 36
Runner-Up: Calgary
Pts: 21
Winning Coach: Adam Rita
Losing Coach: Wally Buono
1990
No: 78
Date: Nov 25
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 46,968
Champion: Winnipeg
Pts: 50
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 11
Winning Coach: Mike Riley
Losing Coach: Joe Faragalli
1989
No: 77
Date: Nov 26
Site: Toronto
Stadium: SkyDome
Attend: 54,088
Champion: Saskatch’n
Pts: 43
Runner-Up: Hamilton
Pts: 40
Winning Coach: John Gregory
Losing Coach: Al Bruno
1988
No: 76
Date: Nov 27
Site: Ottawa
Stadium: Landsdowne
Attend: 50,604
Champion: Winnipeg
Pts: 22
Runner-Up: B.C. Lions
Pts: 21
Winning Coach: Mike Riley
Losing Coach: Larry Donovan
1987
No: 75
Date: Nov 29
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 59,478
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 38
Runner-Up: Toronto
Pts: 36
Winning Coach: Joe Faragalli
Losing Coach: Bob O’Billovich
1986
No: 74
Date: Nov 30
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 59,579
Champion: Hamilton
Pts: 39
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 15
Winning Coach: Al Bruno
Losing Coach: Jack Parker
1985
No: 73
Date: Nov 24
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 56,723
Champion: B.C. Lions
Pts: 37
Runner-Up: Hamilton
Pts: 24
Winning Coach: Don Matthews
Losing Coach: Al Bruno
1984
No: 72
Date: Nov 18
Site: Edmonton
Stadium: Commonwealth
Attend: 60,081
Champion: Winnipeg
Pts: 47
Runner-Up: Hamilton
Pts: 17
Winning Coach: Cal Murphy
Losing Coach: Al Bruno
1983
No: 71
Date: Nov 27
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: B.C. Place
Attend: 59,345
Champion: Toronto
Pts: 18
Runner-Up: B.C. Lions
Pts: 17
Winning Coach: Bob O’Billovich
Losing Coach: Don Matthews
1982
No: 70
Date: Nov 28
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Exhibition
Attend: 54,741
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 32
Runner-Up: Toronto
Pts: 16
Winning
Coach: Hugh Campbell
Losing Coach: Bob O’Billovich
1981
No: 69
Date: Nov 22
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 52,478
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 26
Runner-Up: Ottawa
Pts: 23
Winning Coach: Hugh Campbell
Losing Coach: George Brancato
1980
No: 68
Date: Nov 23
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Exhibition
Attend: 54,661
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 48
Runner-Up: Hamilton
Pts: 10
Winning Coach: Hugh Campbell
Losing Coach: John Payne
1979
No: 67
Date: Nov 25
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 65,113
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 17
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 9
Winning Coach: Hugh Campbell
Losing Coach: Joe Scannella
1978
No: 66
Date: Nov 26
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Exhibition
Attend: 54,695
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 20
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 13
Winning Coach: Hugh Campbell
Losing Coach: Joe Scannella
1977
No: 65
Date: Nov 27
Site: Montréal
Stadium: Olympic
Attend: 68,205
Champion: Montréal
Pts: 41
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 6
Winning Coach: Marv Levy
Losing Coach: Hugh Campbell
1976
No: 64
Date: Nov 28
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Exhibition
Attend: 53,389
Champion: Ottawa
Pts: 23
Runner-Up: Saskatch’n
Pts: 20
Winning Coach: George Brancato
Losing Coach: John Payne
1975
No: 63
Date: Nov 23
Site: Calgary
Stadium: McMahon
Attend: 32,454
Champion: Edmonton
Pts: 9
Runner-Up: Montréal
Pts: 8
Winning Coach: Ray Jauch
Losing Coach: Marv Levy
1974
No: 62
Date: Nov 24
Site: Vancouver
Stadium: Empire
Attend: 34,450
Champion: Montréal
Pts: 20
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 7
Winning Coach: Marv Levy
Losing Coach: Ray Jauch
1973
No: 61
Date: Nov 25
Site: Toronto
Stadium: Exhibition
Attend: 36,475
Champion: Ottawa
Pts: 22
Runner-Up: Edmonton
Pts: 18
Winning Coach: Jack Gotta
Losing Coach: Ray Jauch
100 Grey Cups Page 17
