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CFL 2005 in Review: Post-Season

December 23, 2005 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release


Toronto, ON (December 23, 2005) - In celebration of the 2005 season, the CFL continues to revisit this past year to recapture some of the great moments from the post-season through to the 93rd Grey Cup.

November

Renegades Hire Jenkins - The Ottawa Renegades hired John Jenkins to be the second head coach in Renegades history.

Attendance & Broadcast - Over the course of the 2005 season, 2,303,445 CFL fans flocked to stadiums across the country to catch CFL action from the stands. This number represented a four percent increase over 2004 and broke a record for the nine team League set in 1978 (2,291,834).

TSN Average Audience: 395,000 viewers based on 55 regular season games and one pre-season game, the highest average CFL audience in TSN history.

CBC Average Audience: 462,000, a six percent increase from 2004.

RDS Average Audience: 201,000, also a six percent increase from 2004.

Penalties Decreased: With a heightened focus on officiating development, and a collaborative approach and understanding of penalties, officials and coaches saw a significant decrease in penalties per game through the first six weeks of the season and a continuation of the trend through the entire year. The season ended with 17.8% less penalties called per game versus 2004.

2007 Grey Cup Host City Announced - The CFL and the Toronto Argonauts announced that the 95th Grey Cup will be played in Toronto at the Rogers Centre. The 2007 festivities will celebrate football at all levels, including a showcase of CIS football with the 2007 Vanier Cup also being played in Toronto the same weekend.

Scotiabank Championships - The Scotiabank Championships were hosted by the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts. The Toronto Argonauts fell to the Montreal Alouettes 33-17 while the Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Lions 28-23.

Matthews Breaks CFL Record - Montreal Alouettes' Head Coach Don Matthews reached post-season play for the 18th time in his coaching career, setting a new CFL record for the most post-seasons by a head coach, surpassing Frank Clair.

US CFL Fans get Interactive with Verizon and the Grey Cup - Canadian Football League (CFL) fans in the U.S. were able to test their CFL championship knowledge with the first ever Grey Cup TXT-2-WIN challenge, offered exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the United States.

2005 Rogers CFL Player Awards - Damon Allen (Outstanding Player, Rogers Fans' Choice Award), Brent Johnson (Outstanding Canadian), John Grace (Outstanding Defensive Player), Gene Makowsky (Outstanding Offensive Lineman), Corey Holmes (Outstanding Special Teams), Danny McManus (Tom Pate Award), The Waterboys (Commissioner's Award)

2005 CFL All-Stars - Offence: Damon Allen (QB), Charles Roberts (RB), Joffrey Reynolds (RB), Jason Tucker (SB), Milt Stegall (SB), Kerry Watkins (WR), Jason Armstead (WR), Bryan Chiu (C), Scott Flory (G), Andrew Greene (G), Uzooma Okeke (T), Gene Makowsky (T) Defence: Scott Schultz (DT), Adriano Belli (DT), Brent Johnson (DE), Jonathan Brown (DE), John Grace (LB), Kevin Eiben (LB), Michael Fletcher (LB), Omarr Morgan (CB), Jordan Younger (CB), Korey Banks (DB), Eddie Davis (DB), Richard Karikari (S) Special Teams: Sandro DeAngelis (K), Jon Ryan (P), Corey Holmes (KR)

CFL and Purolator Extend Partnership - The CFL and Purolator announced a multi-year partnership which sees Canada's largest courier company maintain its designation as the Official Courier of the CFL. New to the deal is the company's title sponsorship of the CFL's Live Play-by-Play feature on www.cfl.ca. Purolator's Sack Tally, an integral part of the Purolator Tackle Hunger initiative, will return in 2006 through to 2008. In 2005, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program donated the equivalent of over 275,000 lbs of food.

93rd Grey Cup - In front of a crowd of 59,157 at BC Place, the Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Montreal Alouettes 38-35 in the 93rd Grey Cup. In only the second overtime game in Grey Cup history, Edmonton's Ricky Ray (named the 2005 Grey Cup MVP) set a new CFL record for most pass completions in a title match with 35, surpassing Danny Barrett's mark of 34 set in 1991. Ray threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Teammate and rookie Tony Tompkins also left a mark on the CFL record books. In the third quarter Tompkins returned a kickoff 96 yards for a major, the longest kickoff return in Grey Cup competition. Both teams combined for 27 points in the third frame, the second highest output in a single quarter in Grey Cup history. Edmonton's Mike Maurer was honoured as the 93rd Grey Cup All-Canadian.

Stampeders Lock-Up Coaching Staff - The Calgary Stampeders extended the contract of Senior Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach Tom Higgins, Defensive Coordinator Denny Creehan, Offensive Coordinator Steve Buratto. Special Teams Coordinator Craig Dickenson, Defensive Line Coach Casey Creehan and Secondary Coach Tim Burke will all be returning for the 2006 season.

Trades & Transactions - (Nov. 17) - The Calgary Stampeders Football Club re-signed receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, linebacker Marc Calixte, punter Burke Dales and running back Tony Stallings to multi-year deals.

December

Shivers to Return for 2006 - The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced that General Manager Roy Shivers will return for the 2006 season.

Marketers That Mattered - The CFL was named one of Canada's ‘Top Marketers That Mattered' for 2005 by Marketing Magazine. Final company selections were based on excellence in marketplace innovation, made-in-Canada decision-making and proven execution clout and leadership within the Canadian marketing community. The Marketer of the Year winner will be announced at the Marketing Magazine gala dinner on February 23, 2006.

Bombers Hire Berry - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hired Doug Berry as head coach. Berry was an offensive coordinator with the Montreal Alouettes.

Paopao Joins Ticats - Joe Paopao was hired by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator while Kani Kauahi was hired as the offensive line coach. The Ticats also extended the contracts of Head Coach Greg Marshall and Defensive Coordinator Kavis Reed.

Austin to Stay on Through Grey Cup 2007 - Offensive Coordinator Kent Austin has signed a deal that will see him stay with the Argos through the 2007 Grey Cup.

Trades & Transactions - (Dec. 5) - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired quarterback Jason Maas from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for veteran quarterback Danny McManus, offensive lineman Tim Bakker and the Ticats first-round selection in the 2006 CFL Canadian College Draft.

(Dec. 5) - The Edmonton Eskimos re-signed defensive lineman Joe Montford, running back Troy Davis and safety William Loftus.

(Dec. 7) - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed defensive linemen Tim Cheatwood and James Cotton.

(Dec. 8) - The Calgary Stampeders re-signed defensive backs Wes Lysack and Jermaine Chatman to multi-year contracts.

(Dec. 14) - The Edmonton Eskimos re-signed defensive lineman Jabari Issa.

(Dec. 14) - The Toronto Argonauts re-signed offensive lineman Dave Costa.

(Dec. 15) - The Montreal Alouettes re-signed defensive lineman Ed Philion.

(Dec. 16) - The Toronto Argonauts extended the contract of wide receiver Tony Miles.


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