2000's scrapbook                                                     

        ' Over the decade the Roughriders evolved

                    into the model CFL franchise.'

-- team --

Toronto

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Montreal

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Hamilton

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Ottawa

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Winnipeg

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Saskatchewan

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British Columbia

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Edmonton

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Calgary

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U.S. Expansion

-- 2000 --

Charlie Taafe coached the Montreal Alouettes to a 1st place finish as Anthony Calvillo assumed command of the offence from Tracy Ham who retired. The Alouettes faced off with the surprise B.C. Lions and coach Steve Buratto in the Grey Cup in Calgary. The Lions led by the three headed attack of Damon Allen, Sean Millington and Robert Drummond capped their surprising playoff run with a Grey Cup championship. Hamilton finished 2nd in defence of their title in1999 as Joe Montford continued to terrorize quarterbacks. Winnipeg served notice with a 7 win season as Khari Jones emerged as a star in the making. Winnipeg defeated Hamilton on a last second field goal before falling to Montreal in the East Final. Toronto finished out of the playoffs on tie-break. Dave Dickenson (pictured) was outstanding leading Calgary to top spot in the West only to suffer an injury in the West Final defeat to the B.C. Lions. Edmonton had a similar fate falling to BC in the playoffs and Saskatchewan limped to a 5 win season with Henry Burris as a starter before leaving for the NFL.

-- 2001 --

Khari Jones (pictured) arrived in full force with the Winnipeg offence that included such stars as Milt Stegall, Charles Roberts (pictured), Mike Sellers, Arland Bruce and Geroy Simon. The Blue Bombers were the top team in the league and heavy favorites all the way to the Grey Cup. Missed field goals and a blocked Bob Cameron punt betrayed the dream season as Winnipeg lost to the suprising Calgary Stampeders. Hamilton put up a strong challenge with 11 wins as Montreal slipped to 9 wins with Rod Rust leaving Montreal as coach partway through the season. Toronto again finished with 7 wins as Michael Jenkins starred out of the Argonaut backfield. Edmonton finished first in the West with 9 wins with Jason Maas at the helm only to fall to Calgary in the West final. With 8 wins Calgary went on to capture the Grey Cup led by Marcus Crandell, Kelvin Anderson and Marc Boerigter. The B.C. Lions could not duplicate the magic of 2000 while Saskatchewan improved from 5 wins to 6.

-- 2002 --

Two big name NFL stars arrived in 2002; Lawrence Phillips (pictured) was a force for Montreal who finished first in the East with 13 wins while John Avery led Edmonton to an identical record in the West. The two high-powered teams met in the Grey Cup in Edmonton with Don Matthews Alouettes coming out on top in icy conditions at Commonwealth. Toronto was strong finishing in second place with Michael Clemons at head coach and Reggie Slack at Quarterback while Hamilton slid with just 7 wins. Football returned to Ottawa but with Dan Crowley at the control only managed 4 wins. Ricky Ray went from a Frito Ray salesman in California to leading the Edmonton Eskimos to the Grey Cup in 1 year - a truly remarkable arrival. Winnipeg back in the West continued their strong play with 12 wins and Milt Stegall establishing a league record with 23 Touchdowns. B.C. had 10 wins as first round pick and Regina product Jason Clermont burst onto the scene to claim top rookie honours. Saskatchewan turned a corner with 8 wins under Danny Barrett. Calgary finished last with Wally Buono chafing under new ownership it would be his last season as head coach of the Stampeders.

-- 2003 --

-- 2004 --

In his final season Mike Pringle (pictured) became the leagues all-time leading rusher for the Edmonton Eskimos who would finish 9-9. The B.C. Lions would be the class off the West as Casey Printers burst onto the scene taking over for injured Dave Dickenson to capture League Most Outstanding Player. Coach Wally Buono would elect to go with Dickenson in the Grey Cup in Ottawa versus Toronto who under the leadership of Damon Allen would capture a surprise Grey Cup championship. Toronto advanced upsetting Montreal in the East Final as Anthony Calvillo was injured in the game. Hamilton returned to respectability under Greg Marshall while uncertainty off the field hurt Ottawa with just 4 wins. Saskatchewan was buoyed with the return of Henry Burris but would lose to BC in the West Final as kicker Paul McCallum missed chip shot to force overtime. Winnipeg continued to slide trading away Khari Jones to Calgary who under coach, offensive coordinator and GM Matt Dunigan did not have success. Dunigan did however uncover Nik Lewis and Joffrey Reynolds who would become league all-stars.

-- 2005 --

Damon Allen (pictured) captured the first Most Outstanding Player award of his illustrious career in leading Toronto to 11 wins and first place in the East. The Alouettes would ruin the party in the East final and take Edmonton into overtime in a thrilling Grey Cup contest at B.C. Place only to fall 38-35. The Alouettes would put up an incredible 592 points of offence but finish 2nd in the East. Ottawa in their last season as the Renegades and again under the fractured ownership of the Glieberman's managed 7 wins under Joe Paopao and Hamilton fell back to earth with just 5 wins in Steeltown. Calgary acquired Henry Burris and managed 11 wins matching Edmonton with Ricky Ray back from his year with the NY Jets leading the Eskimos to a Grey Cup championship. Saskatchewan led by Kenton Keith won 9 games while Winnipeg struggled under Jim Daley with just 5 wins.

-- 2006 --

The B.C. Lions dominated the league in 2006 like few others in history - on top of having the most wins in the circuit by 3 and sweeping the individual player awards; Wally Buono's crew topped it off with a Grey Cup championship over Montreal in Winnipeg. It was a remarkable season in British Columbia with Geroy Simon (pictured) leading the way with an Outstanding season. Calgary finished runner-up with 10 wins and was defeated by Saskatchewan in the West Semi. Danny Barret led his Roughriders to 9 wins with Kenton Keith leading the way. Edmonton missed the playoffs for the first time since 1971. Montreal saw Jim Popp replace Don Matthews and lead the team past Toronto into the Grey Cup on the capable arm of Anthony Calvillo. Michael Bishop assumed more of the quarterback duties in Toronto. Doug Berry turned the Blue Bombers around with 9 wins, while Hamilton floundered under Jason Maas with just 4 wins.

-- 2007 --

Toronto hosted the Grey Cup for the first time since 1992 and finished first in the East. Michael Bishop struggled mightily in the East final as Toronto fell to Winnipeg. Winnipeg had a strong season behind Kevin Glenn and Charles Roberts; Glenn broke his arm in the East final and unproven Ryan Dinwiddie started in the Grey Cup and the Bombers fell to the Saskatchewan Roughriders 23-17?. Saskatchewan returned to the site of their 1989 Grey Cup victory and matched that victory capturing the franchises 3rd championship. Montreal struggled under coach Jim Popp and lost Anthony Calvillo to injury finishing with 8 wins. Hamilton had a forgettable season with just 3 wins. The Lions finished first in the West and were bolstered by the arrival of defensive end Cameron Wake. Wake was an absolute menace posting an incredible 24? sacks and keeping opposing offensive coordinators up at night. Saskatchewan under Kent Austin had a strong season and hosted their first playoff game since 1988. Kerry Joseph (pictured) was named the leagues Most Outstanding Player. Calgary disappointed with 7 wins and Tom Higgins was shown the door while Edmonton finished with just 5 wins as Ricky Ray missed time due to injury.

-- 2008 --

Two dynamic head coaches took over teams in 2008. In Calgary, John Hufnagel returned to where he had been as a player and offensive coach and instantly produced results with Henry Burris and the Stampeders with 13 wins. Marc Tressman a long time NFL coach and offensive coordinator arrived in Montreal with no CFL experience and along with capable assistants posted a strong 11 win season for the Als. The two would meet in the Grey Cup in Montreal with Hufnagel and the Stampeders coming out on top 22-14 and ruining the home town party. Winnipeg finished 8-10 as fans grew tired of Doug Berry and QB Kevin Glenn. Toronto pulled the chute on Rich Stubler as coach just past Labour Day only to see Don Matthews go winless in 9 games as his replacement. Bob O’Billovich started the long rebuild in Hamilton with just 3 wins. Saskatchewan followed up their Grey Cup season with 12 wins and a home playoff game – Michael Bishop came aboard and imploded in the playoffs versus BC. Cameron Wake (pictured) dominated again in his 2nd season in the league with the NFL paying close attention and Edmonton with 10 wins crossed over advancing to the East Final falling to Montreal.

-- 2009 --

The Montreal Alouettes had payback on their mind in 2009 and opened the season with a convincing win over Calgary. “Own the Day” the clubs mantra for the season took them to a franchise high 15 wins in the regular season. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were powered by the defensive bookends of John Chick and Stevie Baggs and along with QB Darian Durant advanced to the Grey Cup. In one of the most memorable finishes in Grey Cup history a too many men call against Saskatchewan negated the game losing field goal and Damon Duval did not miss twice as Anthony Calvillo (pictured) had his 2nd career championship. Hamilton under Marcel Bellefuille improved greatly with Kevin Glenn at the controls and DeAndre Cobb surprising at running back. Winnipeg survived the embarrassment of Mike Kelly to manage 7 wins as Michael Bishop’s career was resurrected again. Bart Andrus was a complete disaster coaching the Toronto Argonauts to just 3 wins and trading away the team’s best receiver Arland Bruce to Hamilton in the process. Calgary found the role of defending champion difficult and won 10 games. Edmonton slumped to 8 wins as Richie Hall transitioned from being a defensive coordinator. Wally Buono overcame a number of injuries and NFL defections to post 8 wins and a playoff victory over Hamilton with Casey Printers back at quarterback.