Lionbackers.com

Now that I have your attention I would like to thank "D" for creating this amazing website. I really enjoy talking to everyone on here and meeting up for drinks and conversation.

So thank you D for all your hard work. If you agree with me on this, please post on this thread. A little bit counts. Just to show D and the administration team for all the hard work.

THANK YOU!!!

Also this is my 100th post

TFWTF
GO LIONS GO!!!

I'll echo the sentiment. While I cannot meet you fine gentlemen and ladies for the occassional celebritory drink, I enjoy having a place to stop in and discuss a team I consider my own. It makes it much easier for a Southerner like myself who loves a sport that is utterly unknown in my area to have a place to call home online.

Thank you Dixie that means alot maybe one day we will physically meet each other. Maybe!!!

I can definitely get behind this message. I've learned a lot in my year and a half here.

Thanks guys ... and a BIG thanks to the Mod team and all of you who visit and post. without your participation there really wouldn't be much point so thank you all ..... group hug!

I have to say that this forum is way better than the alouettes'. Thanks for allowing a montrealer on board. We deserved to get our asses kicked last nov. 5 in your house.

274always wrote:We deserved to get our asses kicked last nov. 5 in your house.

And this year don't forget!!!

274always wrote:Thanks for allowing a montrealer on board. We deserved to get our asses kicked last nov. 5 in your house.

I like playing the Als, win or lose it's always an exciting game. Just the other day I was thinking about the game in 01? 02? and Alfred "Action" Jackson's 109 yard TD. What a game that was!

D wrote:

274always wrote:Thanks for allowing a montrealer on board. We deserved to get our asses kicked last nov. 5 in your house.

I like playing the Als, win or lose it's always an exciting game. Just the other day I was thinking about the game in 01? 02? and Alfred "Action" Jackson's 109 yard TD. What a game that was!

IIRC it was 02, things were looking bleak and then there was the INT on the GL and the next play to one very tired AJ for the TD. An announced crowd of 17K, but more like 15K at best were as loud as twice as many that night, and were a factor in the outcome. That game ranks right up there with the Darren Flutie catch in the WDF of 94 and the GC of that same year with the Lui Passaglia FG. Good times and very nice that we are able to share those memories and current discussions of the Lions here on Lionbackers.com, thanks D.

Rammer wrote:

D wrote:

274always wrote:Thanks for allowing a montrealer on board. We deserved to get our asses kicked last nov. 5 in your house.

I like playing the Als, win or lose it's always an exciting game. Just the other day I was thinking about the game in 01? 02? and Alfred "Action" Jackson's 109 yard TD. What a game that was!

IIRC it was 02, things were looking bleak and then there was the INT on the GL and the next play to one very tired AJ for the TD. An announced crowd of 17K, but more like 15K at best were as loud as twice as many that night, and were a factor in the outcome. That game ranks right up there with the Darren Flutie catch in the WDF of 94 and the GC of that same year with the Lui Passaglia FG.

Do you really consider that game in the same ranks as the 1994 WDF?

Maybe in the sense that the 2002 season was the last one for long-time veterans as a Lion like Damon Allen, Alfred Jackson, Sean Millington, and Adam Rita. And perhaps that was the last time there was a huge play in an otherwise mediocre season and that was the farewell play as there wasn't too many other spectacular plays after that.

That game on August 21, 2002 drew a crowd of only 17,221 and Damon Allen threw a 109-yard TD pass to Alfred Jackson with 67 seconds remaining in a Lions 48-37 win over the Allouettes. That was game 9 for both teams and it was the first loss for Montreal after starting the season 8-0.

But I wouldn't say the game ranks as the 1994 WDF in terms of long-term effects. The Alouettes still managed to finish first in the east and win the Grey Cup. And the Lions went 6-3 to finish the regular season with Adam Rita firing and replacing Steve Buratto as head coach, but the Lions still had to settle for third in the west and fourth place Saskatchewan also made the playoffs so the Lions weren't really going for a playoff spot unless you call the recovery from 1-5 to start the season that costed Steve Buratto his job.

In the 2002 WDSF though, the Lions were demolished 30-3 by Winnipeg. When it comes to foe to friend stories, how about Arland Bruce III? In the 2002 WDSF, returned a missed FG 112 yards for a TD early on in the game and the Blue Bombers never looked back. Nine years later, Arland Bruce III then helped the Lions in beating Winnipeg in the 2011 Grey Cup with the Lions third TD to really put the game away.

Robbie wrote:

Rammer wrote:

D wrote: I like playing the Als, win or lose it's always an exciting game. Just the other day I was thinking about the game in 01? 02? and Alfred "Action" Jackson's 109 yard TD. What a game that was!

IIRC it was 02, things were looking bleak and then there was the INT on the GL and the next play to one very tired AJ for the TD. An announced crowd of 17K, but more like 15K at best were as loud as twice as many that night, and were a factor in the outcome. That game ranks right up there with the Darren Flutie catch in the WDF of 94 and the GC of that same year with the Lui Passaglia FG.

Do you really consider that game in the same ranks as the 1994 WDF?

Maybe in the sense that the 2002 season was the last one for long-time veterans as a Lion like Damon Allen, Alfred Jackson, Sean Millington, and Adam Rita. And perhaps that was the last time there was a huge play in an otherwise mediocre season and that was the farewell play as there wasn't too many other spectacular plays after that.

That game on August 21, 2002 drew a crowd of only 17,221 and Damon Allen threw a 109-yard TD pass to Alfred Jackson with 67 seconds remaining in a Lions 48-37 win over the Allouettes. That was game 9 for both teams and it was the first loss for Montreal after starting the season 8-0.

But I wouldn't say the game ranks as the 1994 WDF in terms of long-term effects. The Alouettes still managed to finish first in the east and win the Grey Cup. And the Lions went 6-3 to finish the regular season with Adam Rita firing and replacing Steve Buratto as head coach, but the Lions still had to settle for third in the west and fourth place Saskatchewan also made the playoffs so the Lions weren't really going for a playoff spot unless you call the recovery from 1-5 to start the season that costed Steve Buratto.

In the 2002 WDSF though, the Lions were demolished 30-3 by Winnipeg. When it comes to foe to friend stories, how about Arland Bruce III? In the 2002 WDSF, returned a missed FG 112 yards for a TD and the Blue Bombers never looked back. Nine years later, Arland Bruce III then helped the Lions in beating Winnipeg in the 2011 Grey Cup with the Lions third TD to really put the game away.

I guess that you wouldn't know if you weren't at that game. That brought life back to the Lions fans, exponentially to those that actually attended, IMO. IIRC attendance hit the lowest of low that evening, then moved upwards afterwards.

Rammer wrote:IIRC attendance hit the lowest of low that evening, then moved upwards afterwards.

Okay, you may have a point in that after the game, home attendance did increase to break the 20,000 barrier.

Lions home attendance in 2002
1. Toronto at BC - 15,796
2. Hamilton at BC - 14,218
3. Calgary at BC - 15,117
4. Ottawa at BC - 15,258
5. Montreal at BC - 17,221
6. Edmonton at BC - 21,886
7. Winnipeg at BC - 20,191
8. Calgary at BC - 20,950
9. Saskatchewan at BC - 25,929

It's fair to say though that it was the replacement of Rita by Buono, and maybe of Allen by Dickenson as well 2003 that really brought the fans back.

The Lions had a typically slow start to 2002. Some things rarely change. They went in to that Monreal game 3-5 but were able to turn things around and finish a respectable 10-8. Also, a weird Wednesday night game.