1990
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:40 pm
1990
Under new Head Coach Lary Kuharich and General Manager Joe Kapp, the Lions generated a good deal of pre-season hype with the signings of quarterback Major Harris, who was fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting, former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau and Doug Flutie. However, the publicity did not translate into on-field victories and turmoil plagued the team. Two coaches left very early in the season amid controversy. The Lions tied their first game against Calgary in the dying seconds of the contest as Doug Flutie tossed a “Hail Mary” pass to Ray Alexander in the end zone. However, the team kept close in every game winning a tight one against Winnipeg at home on a last-second Passaglia field goal, and then losing one to Hamilton in the final seconds. The eastern road trip to Ottawa and Toronto, during which the Lions lost both games, spelled the beginning of the end for the coach and general manager. The following week the team dropped another one to Toronto 49-19 and one week later Jim Young was behind the bench as interim Head Coach. Bob O'Billovich took over as Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach on Sept. 14 and promptly guided the team to a strong 34-4 victory over Hamilton. The team gained stability and although they missed the playoffs, “Obie's” charges went 4-3 over the last seven games of the season and their strong finish fuelled hopes for a much brighter 1991season. Highlights of the season included Lui Passaglia's new pro football scoring record as he booted his 2,238th point, finishing the year with 2,312 points. Lui also became the longest-playing Lion in history, appearing in a total of 236 games, overtaking Al Wilson's previous mark of 233 games.
West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Calgary Stampeders 18 11 6 1 588 566 23
Edmonton Eskimos 18 10 8 0 612 510 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 9 9 0 557 592 18
British Columbia Lions 18 6 11 1 520 620 13
East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 12 6 0 472 398 24
Toronto Argonauts 18 10 8 0 689 538 20
Ottawa Rough Riders 18 7 11 0 540 602 14
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 6 12 0 476 628 12
Semi-Finals - Saskatchewan 27 - Edmonton 43
Semi-Finals - Ottawa 25 - Toronto 34
Finals - Edmonton 43 - Calgary 23
Finals - Toronto 17 - Winnipeg 20
Grey Cup - Winnipeg 50 - Edmonton11
Under new Head Coach Lary Kuharich and General Manager Joe Kapp, the Lions generated a good deal of pre-season hype with the signings of quarterback Major Harris, who was fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting, former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau and Doug Flutie. However, the publicity did not translate into on-field victories and turmoil plagued the team. Two coaches left very early in the season amid controversy. The Lions tied their first game against Calgary in the dying seconds of the contest as Doug Flutie tossed a “Hail Mary” pass to Ray Alexander in the end zone. However, the team kept close in every game winning a tight one against Winnipeg at home on a last-second Passaglia field goal, and then losing one to Hamilton in the final seconds. The eastern road trip to Ottawa and Toronto, during which the Lions lost both games, spelled the beginning of the end for the coach and general manager. The following week the team dropped another one to Toronto 49-19 and one week later Jim Young was behind the bench as interim Head Coach. Bob O'Billovich took over as Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach on Sept. 14 and promptly guided the team to a strong 34-4 victory over Hamilton. The team gained stability and although they missed the playoffs, “Obie's” charges went 4-3 over the last seven games of the season and their strong finish fuelled hopes for a much brighter 1991season. Highlights of the season included Lui Passaglia's new pro football scoring record as he booted his 2,238th point, finishing the year with 2,312 points. Lui also became the longest-playing Lion in history, appearing in a total of 236 games, overtaking Al Wilson's previous mark of 233 games.
West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Calgary Stampeders 18 11 6 1 588 566 23
Edmonton Eskimos 18 10 8 0 612 510 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 9 9 0 557 592 18
British Columbia Lions 18 6 11 1 520 620 13
East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 12 6 0 472 398 24
Toronto Argonauts 18 10 8 0 689 538 20
Ottawa Rough Riders 18 7 11 0 540 602 14
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 6 12 0 476 628 12
Semi-Finals - Saskatchewan 27 - Edmonton 43
Semi-Finals - Ottawa 25 - Toronto 34
Finals - Edmonton 43 - Calgary 23
Finals - Toronto 17 - Winnipeg 20
Grey Cup - Winnipeg 50 - Edmonton11