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 submit your Argos memories from the last 10 years and it may be posted on Argonauts.ca.
______________________________________________________________________
2005
Coming off their strongest season in six years both on the field and at the box office, the Boatmen entered the 2005 season expecting to once again challenge for the Grey Cup. The core group of superstars on both sides of the ball had returned but despite leading the franchise to a title the year before, many questioned how much QB Damon Allen had left in the tank. Allen would go on to prove all of his critics wrong in the biggest way possible. The ageless wonder had a career year, passing for over 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player for the first time in his career.
Click here to check out the Decade In Review photo gallery.
Allen would help the Argos clinch first place in the East for the first time in 8 years and they would host the Montreal Alouettes in the East Final. Allen would come out on fire in game, jumping out to a 14-0 lead early, capped by a touchdown strike to WR R. Jay Soward. Soward’s touchdown celebration, now known simply as the “popcorn incident”, was the end of the Argos celebrations as a now fired up Alouettes team battled back and ended Allen’s storybook season with a 33-17 victory.
2006
The Argos’ brass made its biggest free agent splash since Rocket Ismail in 1991 when they brought in former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams to Toronto with much fan fare. After a first place finish the year before and a Grey Cup title before that, the city was a buzz surrounding the team and Williams. The year began flat however, and injuries took their toll. Injuries to Allen, Williams, RB John Avery, RB Jeff Johnson, SB Arland Bruce and OG Jude St. John had the Argos in a hole, sporting a 2-6 record with backups QB Spergon Wynn and QB Eric Crouch attempting to put wins up on the board.
The Boatmen would eventually heal both their players and their record, coming back strong in the second half and earning the right to host the East Semi-Final versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. QB Michael Bishop would be the hero, stringing together two late touchdowns off the bench to force yet another meeting with the Als in the East Final. Neither Bishop nor Allen could lift the Argos over their Eastern rivals the next week however and the season would once again fall short of a Grey Cup berth.
Despite finishing a game short of their ultimate goal and the acquisition of one of the world’s premier running backs, it was Allen who stole the spotlight once again. This time, Allen used the national stage that is the Labour Day Classic to surpass Warren Moon as professional football’s all-time leading passer.
2007
After a strong 2006 playoffs and an impressive training camp, Bishop was emerging as the Argos new starting quarterback heading into ’07. After boasting perhaps the best game of his career in Week 3 versus Calgary, Bishop suffered a major arm injury that would sideline him for over six weeks and the club would suffer yet another 2-6 start. Allen would also suffer an injury and ineffective play from backups Mike McMahon and Rocky Butler left the Double Blue clinging onto playoff contention until Bishop returned. Bishop would return to lead the club to an 11-1 record as a starter, a first place finish in the East, with the chance to lead the Boatmen to the Grey Cup game at home in Toronto.
Another East Final exit occurred, this time at the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It would be the club’s last playoff game of the decade.
2008
If the off-season, Damon Allen would retire after a prolific 23-year career with numerous CFL and pro football records. For the second time in three years, Argos management made the biggest off-season move by acquiring reigning CFL MOP Kerry Joseph in a trade with Saskatchewan. With Joseph and Bishop competing for the starting job and defensive mastermind Rich Stubler now taking over Michael Clemons’ post as head coach, the Argos entered the ’08 season in a situation that most teams would enjoy. The season could not have turned out much more disappointing than it did. After a 4-6 start, Stubler was ousted as head coach and replaced by a familiar face in Don Matthews and Bishop was traded to the Roughriders after a presumed divide permeated the Argos locker room.
After a first place finish the year before, the Argos finished with their worst record in over a decade (4-14) and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The lone bright spot for the Argos occurred at the kick returner position. One season after supplanting fan favourite Bashir Levingston as the club’s premier returner, the pint-sized Dominique Dorsey emerged as the CFL’s most dangerous weapon on special teams. Dorsey ended the season with 2,892 all-purpose yards and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The disappointment of the play on the field could not compare to the sorrow felt by the organization and Argo fans in December of 2008 when one of the CFL’s greatest, Joe Krol, passed away at the age of 89.
2009
The search for the 40th head coach in club history ended as the Argos brought in NFL Europa veteran and Tennessee Titans Offensive Assistant Bart Andrus to lead the Boatmen. As well, industry veteran Bob Nicholson returned to the Boatmen as President and CEO. Despite a new coaching staff, the Argos would have a similar result as they did a year before, finishing 3-15 and out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Gone were veterans Mike O’Shea and Chad Folk and before long, SB Arland Bruce lll and CB Byron Parker were wearing different CFL uniforms. Joseph did not ignite the offence for the second straight year and split his time at QB with backups Cody Pickett and Stephen Reaves. Following another disappointing finish, the Argos relieved Andrus of his coaching duties in December after only one season.