"Gizmo" and Dunigan headed for the Hall
January 27, 2006 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
(Edmonton) A pair of Edmonton Eskimos are members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006. Legendary Eskimo kick returner Henry "Gizmo" Williams and former quarterback Matt Dunigan who started his celebrated career with the Green and Gold will be inducted later this year.
A perennial fan favorite who thrilled crowds, the "Giz" left a trail of tacklers and records in his wake. In 149 career regular season games over 14 seasons , all of them with Edmonton, Williams returned 26 punts for touchdowns, including five in one season. Born May 5, 1963 in Memphis, Tennessee, Gizmo emerged as a leader off the field with his charitable work and in 1999 was honoured with the Eskimos Community Services Award. In 2002, Gizmo's name was added to the Wall of Honour at Commonwealth Stadium.
Gizmo - by the numbers
Combined yards: 23, 927
Punt return yards: 1, 003 for 11, 177 and 26 TDs
Kickoff return yards: 333 for 7, 291 yards and two TDs
Missed Field goal returns: 58 for 1, 612 yards and three TDs
Fifth on Esks all time list of games played: 200
CFL All-star selections: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997
Member of the Eskimos 1987 and 1993 Grey Cup winning teams
Grey Cup record for most yards on missed field goal returns: 143 vs Toronto Nov 29th, 1987.
Grey Cup record for longest missed field goal return: 115 yards vs. Toronto Nov 29th 1987
Longest punt return in playoffs: 103 yds vs Sask Nov 15, 1992
Often described as "a linebacker in a quarterback's body", Matt Dunigan got his CFL start in 1983 with Edmonton. After spending his first season as an understudy to the great Warren Moon, the Louisiana Tech product got his chance to run the offence for the next four seasons which was capped off with Edmonton's victory in the 1987 Grey Cup.
A five-time divisional All-Star (1985, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995) and three-time CFL All-Star (1985, 1988, and 1995), Dunigan was his team's nominee as outstanding player five times and was the runner-up to as the league's outstanding player in 1993. When he retired Dunigan was second in all-time passing statistics (3,057 completions in 5,476 attempts for 43,857 yards and 306 touchdown passes.
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Canadian Football League Stories from January 27, 2006
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- Esks open '06 season with Grey Cup rematch - Edmonton Elks
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- "Gizmo" and Dunigan headed for the Hall - Edmonton Elks
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