ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
In a three-part series, Argonauts.ca takes a look at some of the ups and downs of the last decade of Argos football. From a Grey Cup championship to record-setting performances, the 2000’s seemed to have it all.
Have a memory that sticks out in your mind? Click here to submit your Argos memories from the last 10 years and it may be posted on Argonauts.ca.
______________________________________________________________________
2000
A new decade and a new millennium brought the opening of a new chapter in the storied history of the Argonauts both on and off the field. Just prior to the opening of training camp, New York businessman Sherwood Schwarz became the ninth owner of the Argonauts and entrusted the late J.I. Albrecht to run the
Click here to check out the Decade In Review photo gallery.
day-to-day operations of the club as Managing Director.
In the interest of adding some fire to the locker room, Albrecht brought in relatively unknown sideline boss John Huard to coach the club and at first his no-nonsense approach seemed like just the thing needed for a struggling team that was only three years from showing signs of a blossoming dynasty. However, the John Huard experiment was very short-lived as his abrasive and often unorthodox coaching style clashed with many, leading to his dismissal after posting a 1-6-1 record heading into the midway point of the season.
After playing two games as a player-coach, RB Michael “Pinball” Clemons replaced his helmet with a headset to becoming the club’s new head coach. On September 15, 2000, Michael Clemons played his final game in front of the Double Blue faithful in what culminated in a very powerful and emotional post-game sendoff.
Once planted on the sidelines, Clemons’ team rallied behind him and the team made a respectable push for the playoffs, finishing with a 7-10-1 record but still last in the CFL East Division.
2001
Another lean year in the record books but rarely short on storylines, the 2001 edition of the Argos missed the playoffs again in Clemons’ first full year as bench boss. Injuries hampered the club and the offence was often stagnant under starting QB Kerwin Bell and backup QB Jimmy Kemp. The year was so tough for the Argos offence that arguably the most memorable drive put together by the Boatmen concluded with a now infamous touchdown celebration that culminated with Bell spiking the ball off the SkyDome turf only to bounce right back up and hit him “where the sun rarely shines”.
There was a foundation laid on offence however, as RB Michael Jenkins emerged as the league’s top rusher and receivers Ted Alford and Tyron Brown became viable options to support all-star SB Derrell “Mookie” Mitchell.
2002
While neither best nor the worst, the 2002 season was easily one of the most entertaining versions of the Double Blue both on and off the field. On the field, Michael Clemons’ move to the front office gave way to defensive innovator Gary Etcheverry who took the reigns as Head Coach. Etcheverry’s coaching style failed to click despite creative attempts to generate different offensive packages (such as the Jumbo Offence, featuring CB Adrion Smith at quarterback and DT Demetrious Maxie at RB); he would be replaced by Clemons after yet another slow start.
The club would also bring in the league’s top rush end Joe Montford from the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats but his impact was rarely felt. The club also brought back familiar faces from the past such as RB Robert Drummond, LB Martavious Houston, LB Reggie Givens, WR/KR Jimmy “The Jet” Cunningham and QB Reggie Slack. Slack and company would lead the Boatmen into the playoffs thanks to the ever-consistent leg of Noel Prefontaine and would defeat Saskatchewan in the East Semi-Final en route to the division final in Montreal where they were lost 35-18 to the Alouettes.
Off the field, the Boatmen brought in local theatre impressario Garth Drabinsky to run the club’s marketing. Halftime shows and celebrations featuring the likes of Muhammad Ali, Shaggy and Tony Hawk were exciting but did little to attract new fans.
2003
On the field, the 2003 Argos were beginning to quickly put together a contender. CFL legend Damon Allen was brought in to lead the charge and his supporting cast which featured Prefontaine, Jenkins, WR Tony Miles and KR Bashir Levingston put together a 9-9-0 record and a berth in the East Final against Montreal after defeating the B.C. Lions at home in the semis a week prior. An injury to Allen in the first half after absorbing a hit from Alouettes DL Tito Simpson, combined with a controversial finish spoiled a valiant effort by backup QB Marcus Brady and for the second straight year, the Argos season ended a game short of their goal at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
Off the field, the organization was in its roughest shape financially since its inception and its eventual fall into receivership made many wonder if the team would fold after being operated by the CFL for the last third of the season. Low attendance and a failure to put a consistent winning team on the field led many to believe that the book was finally closing on the storied franchise – until two local businessmen stepped up to the plate in November 2003 and took a leap of faith on the Argos.
Stay linked to Argonauts.ca for Parts 2 & 3 of Decade In Review.