Top Ten Most Underrated BC Lions

[West Coast Blue Fan]

I guess everyone has a different definition of under rated. Getting an all-star selection or an addition to the wall of fame certainly shouldn't change the fact that during a players career he was overlooked numerous times for accolades.

As a fan of the Bombers growing up, I would certainly agree that Roy Dewalt was under rated. He killed our team on many occasions with surgical precision. No one threw a better deep ball and although Mervyn got a lot more credit....Roy certainly deserves some for being able to get the ball to him.

Can't believe no one mentioned Ty Williams. For years he had been overlooked for all star recognition, and only recently has he been recognized. No one better in the trenches.

Damon under-rated? Rammer hit the nail on the head and I too remember that play. It always seemed to me that it was Damon first, everyone else second. Guess I'll agree to disagree on him.

Good topic.

[Robbie]

Can't believe no one mentioned Ty Williams. For years he had been overlooked for all star recognition, and only recently has he been recognized. No one better in the trenches.

Yeah, he was finally rewarded with an all-star selection for 2006.

I guess for every position, there's only a few that could be recognized at any given time. And in the case of Tyrone Williams and his defensive lineman position, he was simply overshadowed by Brent Johnson, Aaron Hunt, and most recently, Cameron Wake.

[notahomer]

Well Robbie, your semantics could make sense if you didn't pick Damon Allen as your most underrated BC Lion.

I personally feel the tandem I chose was underrated AS BC LIONS (what I said in the original post). Yes the CFL must have picked up on it as Hamilton made good use of them.

I think Damon Allen had stay here like Mark Messier did with the Canucks. One key difference, DA brought home at least one trophy. I certainly didn't quibble with your choice even if you choose to quibble with mine. The Argos thought Allen was good enough to use (perhaps cuz they thought he was underrated?) to defeat the the Lions in a Grey Cup game. Using that line of reasoning I think the chemistry exhibited between Mac/Flutie was underrated during THEIR TIME AS BC LIONS. I certainly wish they hadn't left and even during Grey Cup 2004 I wasn't saying that about Damon Allen.

[Big Time]

Damon Allen did not beat the Lions in 2004. The Lions beat themselves. It was the single worst game plan every executed by Wally and I think any QB could have beaten the Lions on that day due to their kicking and defensive strategy. I have never in my life been more disappointed by a Lions loss than the 2004 Grey Cup game if only because of how large a missed opportunity it was.

[Robbie]

I personally feel the tandem I chose was underrated AS BC LIONS Using that line of reasoning I think the chemistry exhibited between Mac/Flutie was underrated during THEIR TIME AS BC LIONS.

Okay, I think I finally understand what you mean now. You are saying that the Danny McManus and Darren Flutie tandem was underrated during their brief time as BC Lions, even if they were not underrated later on in their careers. I can somewhat agree with that. I suppose one reason their tandem was underrated when both of them were BC Lions is because they only started showing their chemistry in the 1994 playoffs, if not officially in the 1995 season when both of them became #1 in their respective positions. McManus did not become a full-time starting quarterback until 1995 while in the wide receiver position, I’d say Ray Alexander always got more attention than Darren Flutie until Alexander left the team after 1994. McManus and Darren Flutie continued to show their chemistry in Edmonton and Hamilton, and that’s when everyone finally noticed them.

It looks like many of you disagree with my selection of Damon Allen as the #1 most underrated Lion. That’s fine and I can respect your differences in opinion. And some of you have commented on my underrated rookie selections.

I’d like to hear what all of you think about my other underrated selections, specifically:

1988 MOP David Williams
1980’s guards Gerald Roper and Jamie Buis
Running backs Cory Philpot and Robert Drummond
1994 starting QB Kent Austin

[Big Time]

Can't comment on the guys from the 80's as I only started watching the Lions in 1990. Philpot and Drummond were both decent backs. Drummond had a brighter career outside of BC and I think he benefited playing next to Sean Millington. Drummond was a decent back but he didn't really stand out for me. Philpot had one good year that I remember but the Lions had some bad years in the 90's so maybe I'm guilty of underrating them. One guy you didn't mention was Jon Volpe who I thought was a much better RB than he was given credit for.

As for Austin, for whatever reason I never caught on to him. Again, I think it was mostly because his reputation was largely made outside of BC. He was part of the 1994 Grey Cup team but let's face it, it was MacManus that got us that championship. So I guess IMO Austin is not underrated in my books because he wasn't here long enough to create any kind of legacy. My lasting memory of Austin is when he got injured in the 1994 playoffs. Not a good way to remember a player!

[Robbie]

One guy you didn't mention was Jon Volpe who I thought was a much better RB than he was given credit for.

Yes, I remember Jon Volpe but I did not list him because I don’t think he was really underrated since he received his fair share of appropriate praise by both the league and the fans for his brief three years as a Lion. In his rookie 1991 season, he was selected as a west division all-star and more importantly, he deservedly won Most Outstanding Rookie over the east division finalist who had far more media attention, Raghib “Rocket” Ismail. And he was well liked by the fans in the 1991 Flutie-led offence.

But I don’t mind fans losing respect for him when after the 1992 disappointing season, he initially refused to report to the Lions for his third and final year of his contract in 1993. It took a lot of convincing and persuasion from then-new manager Eric Tillman to force him to play in 1993.

[notahomer]

I can somewhat agree with that. I suppose one reason their tandem was underrated when both of them were BC Lions is because they only started showing their chemistry in the 1994 playoffs, if not officially in the 1995 season when both of them became #1 in their respective positions.
...
1988 MOP David Williams
1980’s guards Gerald Roper and Jamie Buis
Running backs Cory Philpot and Robert Drummond
1994 starting QB Kent Austin

Exactly. And that is why I think they were underrated here in BC, in large part due to what they did after BC.

And my choice of Thewell, I think he gets credit (as you noted) but maybe he's underrated too. Calgary didn't exactly have a great year last year and Thewell didn't see a heck of a lot of the ball, WHY? What worries me is if he starts getting some balls thrown his way, maybe he's a better reciever than he's shown so far (even in BC). It's rather moot since in this SMS era, BC probably couldn't afford him. I hope there isn't some kinda special chemistry between DD/Thewell.

Williams- remember him, I won't disagree

Roper/Buis- I think this current crop (2007-2008) is one of the few OLines that get any recognition amongst casual fans, so yes in a general sense Roper/Buis will be underrated. I lump myself in this category of fans ignorant of how much the Oline means in terms of on-field success but I'm getting better, in large part due to what I learn here on this site.

Running backs Philpot/Drummer certainly not over-rated (warren for eg)

Kent Austin is the one of your picks that really stands out for me just because of what he's done after the game too. He was obviously underrated in terms of what he knew then as he has gone on to do as an OC, HC and now down to the alma mater. I respect his choices but he has walked out on the Riders TWICE now. Both times made sense in my opinion and I feel we'll get to see how underrated he was as a CFL Coach in terms of how the Riders proceed this season without him.

I remember Vic Rapp just because he was the HCoach when I first started watching the Lions. I think at the time he was probably a good coach but would his style work well in todays CFL? I certainly think he was underrated compared to some of the guys who followed in his footsteps.

[nelson95]

charuk
Pankratz
Dewalt
Nelson Martin

[Lionut]

You beat me to it on Pankratz - he was a clutch receiver who wasn't afraid to go into traffic despite not being a classic big bodied slotback.

Kevin Konar is another Canadian who made an immense contribution to the club's success in the 80s. He was Javy Glatt before Javy Glatt was Javy Glatt.

[David]

Here is my Top 10 list - in no particular order:

Gary Robinson - a lot of people forget that this SFU product put in 10 solid years on the defensive line.

Rocky Long - wasn't blessed with great speed, but had an uncanny knack of finding the hole as a punt returner, and seemed to always manage to get great yards. Had a 10.13 career average.

Bret Anderson - one of the best local athletes to ever play in the CFL, he doesn't 'wow' you but does a lot of little things extremely well. Mr. Versatile.

John Sciarra - came to us as a Rose Bowl quarterback in 1976 and played most positions on the field! He was good at everything....except quarterback.

Tyrone Williams - starting to finally get his due, but it's taken awhile.

Jim Evenson - despite being a Western All-Star 3 times, the contributions of this bruising 6'3" 220lb fullback seem to have diminished in our collective memory over time.

Mike Trevathan - one tough S.O.B.

John Pankratz - great route runner. Always came through in the clutch.

Noah Cantor - surprisingly effective defensive lineman. Should never have been allowed to leave the Lions Den for Toronto.

DH 8)

[TheLionKing]

Barry Ardern

[sports & stuff----ric]

vic rapp !!!!!

kevin konar!!!!!! sorry glatt not even close yet

rocky long!!!!

john pankratz!!!!!!

lou harris !!!!!!!!!

al charuk !!!!!!!!!

[B.C.FAN]

Jan Carinci: Like John Pankratz, he was a dependable and versatile non-import slotback who could be counted on to make the crucial catches in second-and-long. He also was the holder on field goals. He has said that one of the greatest memories of his 10-year CFL career (5 with the Lions) was holding for Lui Passaglia when Lui surpassed George Blanda's all time football scoring record. Carinci was also a great ambassador for the team. Aside from family members, he was the first Lion that my kids met in the community at a Lions' booth at the Cloverdale Rodeo. He was gracious and accommodating (as most players are) and made a great impression on them and made me proud to be a Lions' fan.

[Rammer]

Jan Carinci: Like John Pankratz, he was a dependable and versatile non-import slotback who could be counted on to make the crucial catches in second-and-long. He also was the holder on field goals. He has said that one of the greatest memories of his 10-year CFL career (5 with the Lions) was holding for Lui Passaglia when Lui surpassed George Blanda's all time football scoring record. Carinci was also a great ambassador for the team. Aside from family members, he was the first Lion that my kids met in the community at a Lions' booth at the Cloverdale Rodeo. He was gracious and accommodating (as most players are) and made a great impression on them and made me proud to be a Lions' fan.

Carinci was a favourite of mine, he even did the KO duty when the Lions needed someone to step up. His versatility always seemed to come in handy.