Reaction #1: Remembering the ’91 Team
MIKE MALLORY – ARGOS ADMIRALS
TORONTO – Inducting Dan Ferrone into the CFL Hall of Fame is almost a no-brainer. The question is, what category do you place him in? Player, Coach, Builder, Leader, all of the above?
After a distinguished 12 year playing career (11 with the Argos), he went on to serve with the Argos as O-line Coach, VP Football Operations, and eventually club President. In between, he was also President of the CFL Players Association.
With so much history in the CFL, and so many accomplishments, there is a multitude of memories. But it was the 1991 Grey Cup championship team that had the magic. “1991 was a different year in Toronto,” explains Ferrone. “There were great players, there was a great atmosphere – it was a Cinderella story.”
That was the year that Wayne Gretzky, John Candy (RIP) and Bruce McNall bought the Argos from previous owner Harry Ornest. They immediately made headlines by signing Heisman Trophy finalist Rocket Ismail from Notre Dame to an $18.4 million salary over four years – up to that point, the largest contract ever offered to a CFL or NFL player.
This was truly one of the great Argo teams of all time. Matt Dunigan quarterbacked the team featuring other offensive stars such as Pinball Clemons, Paul Masotti, and Darrell K. Smith. Ferrone, then in his 11th year in the CFL anchored a strong offensive line along with fellow Canadian Chris Schultz. The defence was equally loaded with all-stars, Carl Brazley, Rodney Harding, Don Moen, Reggie Pleasant and Don Wilson.
Argos dominated in the regular season, compiling a 13-5 record. They smothered Winnipeg 42-3 in the Eastern final, and went on to meet Calgary in the Grey Cup. That game brought more mystique to the Argos legend, as the Rocket returned a kick-off 87 yards for a touchdown, and Matt Dunigan played the game with a broken collarbone. Argos won 36-21.
“The 1991 team was simply extraordinary,” says Ferrone. “Gretzky, Candy and McNall were so prominent in Toronto that they brought a lot of attention to the Argos. And going into the locker room, it was like you were surrounded by stars.”
The following year, Dunigan left for Winnipeg, Rocket became frustrated and the team fell to 6-12. Ferrone finished the season, and then called it quits, capping one of Argos’ finest careers. In 2006, his #69 jersey was given a permanent home above the field at the Rogers Centre, and he was named an “All-time Argo.”
Reaction #2: Ferrone Humbled
DANIELE FRANCESCHI – ARGOS ADMIRALS
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club and Argos Admirals would like to congratulate former Argonauts, Dan Ferrone and Don Loney on their induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame class of 2013. Born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Ferrone played eleven seasons with the Argonauts from 1981 to 1992 and remains as the organization’s all-time awards winner. The late Don Loney played just one season with the Argonauts’ in 1946 but captured the Grey Cup in his only season while donning the Double Blue.
“I am so excited. I am so proud to be a part of the Hall. It is a part of history”, commented Ferrone in a media conference call following the Hall of Fame announcement. “It is very exciting. I’ve been humbled, excited, and it’s an incredible thing to be a part of.”
Ferrone’s outstanding career includes nine CFL Divisional All-Star selections, five CFL All-Star selections, and ten Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman nominations.
Ferrone is a former Offensive Captain of the Argonauts’ and captured two Grey Cup Championships with the Club in 1983 and 1991. Dan reiterated that the greatest moments of his professional football career came when he was presented with the oldest championship trophy in the history of sports, the Grey Cup.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have so many great memories. We won the Grey Cup in 1991 in Winnipeg and my son somehow got past security and joined me in -35° weather. That’s the moment I always remember,” said Ferrone when asked about his fondest memories as a member of the Argonauts.
Following his retirement from the CFL, Ferrone served as President of the Canadian Football League Players Association from 1993-2000.
In 2002, Ferrone returned to the Argonauts organization as an Offensive Line Coach and later became VP prior to becoming the team’s President in 2004. He was inducted into the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and recently was named an all-time Argonaut in 2006.
Fellow Grey Cup Champion, Don Loney played nine seasons as a Centre in the Canadian Football League from 1945-1952. The offensive lineman’s hall of fame career includes four East All-Star selections and the Jeff Russell Memorial Trophy as East Division MVP in 1950. In addition to his Grey Cup Championship as a member of the Argonauts in 1946, Loney also captured a Championship title with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1951.
Following his retirement from the CFL, Loney accepted a head coaching position at St. Francis Xavier University. In seventeen seasons at the helm, he complied 308 wins and an impressive winning percentage of .807. Loney will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Builder’s category.
To date, there are 258 members enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s Zone of Champions featuring busts of each member of the Hall. The Hall is home to more than 50,000 Canadian football artifacts including equipment, trophies, photos and videos.
The Argonauts and Argos Adrmials would also like to congratulate fellow inductees Earl Winfield, Miles Gorrell, Jake Ireland, and Brian Fryer.