Franchise history Montreal Alouettes

1 franchise history

1.1 original alouettes
1.2 montreal concordes
1.3 re-branding , demise
1.4 current alouettes
1.5 1998–present

franchise history
original alouettes

prince hal patterson in 1958 alouettes uniform.

canadian football has long history in montreal, dating 1850s. alouettes first formed in 1946 cfl hall of famer lew hayman along businessmen eric cradock , léo dandurand. named after alouette , work song plucking feathers skylark, had become symbol of québécois. (similarly, during second world war rcaf s no. 425 (french canadian) (bomber) squadron assumed skylark badge , motto je te plumerai — shall pluck .) won first grey cup championship in 1949, beating calgary 28–15 led quarterback frank filchock , running virgil wagner.

the 1950s productive decade als, quarterback sam etcheverry throwing passes john red o quinn, prince hal patterson, , pat abbruzzi carrying ball, montreal fielded dangerous offence in canadian football. 1954 1956, reached grey cup in 3 straight years, questionable defensive units led alouettes defeat against edmonton eskimos 3 times.

the team purchased in 1954 ted workman – , while team continued enjoy success, changed @ end of 1960 season. more specific, team shaken announcement on november 10 – namely trade of hal patterson , sam etcheverry hamilton tiger-cats bernie faloney , dan paquette. workman had concluded deal without consulting general manager perry moss. deal fell apart because etcheverry had signed new contract no-trade clause; result, etcheverry free agent. deal reworked , patterson traded paquette. sam etcheverry went on play in nfl st. louis cardinals 2 years (1961 , 1962) followed san francisco 49ers in 1963. faloney remained in hamilton, , teamed patterson form 1 of deadly quarterback-receiver combinations in cfl history.

this episode remains 1 of lopsided trades ever made in alouettes history, , ushered in dark decade team. during time, failed register single winning season. 1968 1976 team played in autostade stadium—which had been built temporary stadium expo 67. stadium s less-than-desirable location on montreal s waterfront near victoria bridge led dismal attendance, putting more strain on team s finances.

the als bottomed out in 1969, finishing 2–12. after season, workman sold team highly capable sam berger, former part-owner of ottawa rough riders. berger made immediate changes team. on december 9, team announced sam etcheverry returning organization—this time team s new head coach. team unveiled new uniforms—their home jerseys predominantly green, red , white trim. white helmets red wings used during 1960s disappeared, replaced white helmet stylized green , red bird s head formed lower-case . 1 might expect team had won 2 games in 1969, many new players brought in.

the changes paid immediate dividends. although team finished third in east, defeated toronto argonauts , hamilton tiger-cats in playoffs. 1970 season culminated when alouettes won 58th grey cup, played on november 28 @ toronto s exhibition stadium before crowd of 32,669. led byquarterback sonny wade (who named game s valuable player, , become fan favourite in montreal—not unlike status coach had enjoyed in 1950s), halfback moses denson, receivers gary lefebvre , tom pullen, along kicker george springate, team defeated calgary stampeders 23–10 city s first grey cup since 1949, against stamps.

that 1970 victory herald beginning of arguably greatest decade in franchise history. during berger s tenure owner, team played 6 grey cups , won three. moved out of autostade , olympic stadium midway through 1976 season , attendance shot up. in 1977, als had successful year both on field , @ box office, winning grey cup @ home field before grey cup-record 68,318 fans. averaged 59,595 fans per game @ big o during regular season, league record still stands.

however, success ended berger s retirement in 1981. sold team vancouver businessman nelson skalbania. flamboyant skalbania set signing 2 first-round picks 1981 national football league draft plus nfl name players such vince ferragamo, james scott, david overstreet, keith gary , billy white shoes johnson. talent, alouettes suffered on field, finishing dismal 3–13 record while attendance plummeted under 20,000 per game. however, east weak year (hamilton team finish winning record) made playoffs, finishing third in east ahead of 2–14 toronto argonauts. in east semi-final, made showing against second-place rough riders before losing, 20–16.

this last game original alouettes franchise play. skalbania reported late in 1981 selling oil magnate pat bowlen, later buy nfl s denver broncos. later in 1981, nfl coach george allen obtained option purchase 51% of club, , named alouettes president. while holding both option , post, allen surprised skalbania arranging sale of same controlling stake harry ornest, later own st. louis blues. ornest reluctant take control of alouettes result of team s high level of debt , extensive commitments high-profile stars. in april 1982, allen looked set take control of alouettes. however, allen left club in late april after skalbania unable resolve 1981 debts. franchise in collapse, berger tried force skalbania relinquish team him payment debt. skalbania returned business trip hong kong in late april , able regain control of team. however, skalbania s highly leveraged business interests collapsed month later. unable meet obligations, forced return team league on may 13.

montreal concordes

montreal concordes (1982)

on may 14, 1982, day after original alouettes franchise folded, montreal businessman , montreal expos founder charles bronfman founded new team under name montreal concordes. team inherited alouettes franchise history , players.

the concordes sported 2–14 record in 1982 under head coach joe galat – worst record in franchise history (percentage points below 1969 als). concordes featured quarterback luc tousignant, québécois quarterback start cfl game besides gerry dattilio. club featured star collegiate running david overstreet rushed 190 yards in 6 games before ending season on injured reserve list. concordes lost last 9 games of 1982. other stars on club included quarterback johnny evans, quarterback turner gill, slot nick arakgi, running lester brown, wide receiver brian deroo, local kick returner denis ferdinand, defensive tackle glen weir, safety preston young, defensive end gordon judges, kicker-punter don sweet , linebacker william hampton. team gradually rebounded, making east final in 1985.

re-branding , demise

in 1986, team attempted embrace predecessor s history , regenerate flagging fan interest rebranding new montreal alouettes. not prove successful, on or off field. on field, team posted 4–14 record, missing playoffs in spite of once again finishing third in east on account of new cross-over rule cfl had implemented 1986 season.

off field, financial losses mounted, , league s television sponsor (carling o keefe brewery) dropping out prior 1987 season proved death blow franchise. bronfman made clear not field team 1987 season unless club sold thousands of additional season tickets. neither necessary season ticket sales nor viable ownership group willing take franchise off bronfman s hands materialized. re-location not option either – although several canadian cities had expressed interest in acquiring cfl team, none had stadium suitable temporary use or metropolitan area of suitable size, , cfl lukewarm possibility of expanding or re-locating u.s. markets.

the new alouettes folded on june 24, 1987, day before 1987 season started. late did alouettes demise come june 28 washington post still announced espn broadcast of alouettes–stampeders game, game never played. team did play 2 preseason games on road before folding, leaving cfl 8 teams. balance out divisions, easternmost-west division team, winnipeg blue bombers, moved east division take alouettes place.

the current alouettes

the baltimore football club granted expansion franchise 1994 canadian football league. after nfl s indianapolis colts (who had moved baltimore in 1983) blocked attempts name new team baltimore cfl colts, owner jim speros settled on stallions nickname. stallions far successful of cfl s american teams, garnering persistent fan support in baltimore area , appearing in grey cup in both seasons (losing in 1994, winning in 1995). week before stallions won grey cup, cleveland browns owner art modell announced intention relocate nfl club baltimore. knowing stallions not begin compete nfl team, speros decided move stallions elsewhere.

at 1 point, speros reported close moving team houston, texas. although houston @ time still home nfl oilers, fan support team had collapsed due pending relocation nashville, speros had reason believe cfl team there repeat success had been enjoyed in baltimore. in addition, team in houston have been natural rivals san antonio texans, still planning play 1996 season provided @ least 1 other u.s. team survived. on other hand, proposed move houston considered in circles little more ploy try , win concessions nfl, presumably not have wanted risk embarrassment of having 1 of teams outdrawn team league in same city.

alouettes home helmet 1996-2016

in end, under prodding league commissioner , former alouettes running larry smith, speros began talks montreal. smith had been looking way return cfl canada s second-largest market and, @ same time, find way out of failing american expansion. believed defending grey cup champions better vehicle reviving football in montreal have been expansion team.

at league meeting on february 2, 1996; speros formally requested permission move stallions montreal. request granted, officially ending cfl s american experiment. however, talks had been far advanced @ least 1 baltimore outlet reported stallions moving montreal in january. according @ least 1 canadian outlet, @ same time speros had begun deciding whether retain stallions moniker or revive alouettes. chose latter course, surrendering stallions franchise , reconstituting organisation third incarnation of alouettes. while speros able reclaim history of 1946–86 alouettes/concordes franchise, not allowed retain history of stallions. alouettes, however, briefly mention stallions on history page.

to restate , clarify rather confusing series of events: bronfman returned alouettes franchise cfl days before start of 1987 season. after stallions won grey cup in 1995, speros returned stallions franchise cfl , reconstituted organisation in montreal. part of deal, speros allowed reclaim dormant alouettes franchise, along history , records. result, alouettes officially reckoned having suspended operations 1987 1995, while stallions franchise regarded having been dissolved in 1995.

while of stallions players released contracts, general manager jim popp, followed team baltimore, able re-sign many of them. however, other u.s.-based cfl teams, stallions had been exempt cfl rules mandated quota of canadian non-import players on team rosters. reason, expansion draft held stock alouettes required number of non-import players. popp hired former stallions assistant coach bob price new head coach of montreal alouettes. result, alouettes able overcome slow start finish first winning record since 1979. defeated hamilton tiger-cats in east semifinal before being throttled argos 43–7 in east final.

in 1997, speros sold team developer , investor robert wetenhall, still owns team today. smith stepped down league commissioner , became president of alouettes. bob price left alouettes head south , coach in ncaa. popp hired former b.c. lions head coach , concordes defensive line coach dave ritchie successor. team had fast start, , made east final, lost doug flutie s argos on last second touchdown pass flutie.

the revived alouettes franchise played first 2 seasons @ olympic stadium, attendance in cavernous domed stadium poor @ first. future of franchise in doubt until twist of fate revitalized floundering club. when scheduled november 1997 u2 concert @ olympic stadium conflicted unexpected home playoff game against lions (due cfl s cross-over playoff format), team decided move game molson stadium, had played 1954 1967. interest in team soared , game sold out, prompting team relocate permanently smaller venue beginning 1998 season. @ time of alouettes return molson, stadium s capacity 20,202; expansion completed prior 2010 season brought current capacity 25,012. prior every sunday home game, club plays sunday bloody sunday on pa system in tribute unintended role u2 played in saving franchise. team did not abandon olympic stadium – 2001 2009, alouettes hosted 1 regular-season game per year home playoff games @ larger stadium. since expansion of molson stadium, team uses big o playoff games.

1998–present

the fortunes alouettes started change during 1998 season, when acquired young free agent quarterback hamilton tiger-cats, anthony calvillo, , drafted ben cahoon. tracy ham , mike pringle, led team second-place finish, , after great season, suffered last-second loss hamilton tiger-cats in east final.

the alouettes broke through in 1999, under new head coach charlie taaffe, winning first division title since 1979. however, lost closely fought east final tiger-cats, 27–26.

tracy ham retired after 1999 season, , anthony calvillo took on full-time starter, led team appeared in first grey cup final since 1979, losing bc, in contested game, came within missed 2 point convert of sending game overtime. after season charlie taaffe resigned become head coach of maryland terrapins.

the next season started under new coach rod rust @ 9–2, after calvillo separated shoulder, team started struggling , after losing remaining games, gm jim popp fired rust, led them playoffs, lost hamilton tiger-cats, ending disappointing season.

during off-season, alouettes signed don matthews, lead team in future. came way in 2002, horrible past season finishing best record in cfl , winning first grey cup since 1977, defeating 1 of oldest rivals, , matthews former team, edmonton eskimos, 25–16.

the alouettes had best record in cfl during 2004 season @ 14–4 , looked liked sure bet grey cup, in east final, anthony calvillo got hurt, , replaced backup ted white, , toronto argonauts rallied defeat alouettes, 26–18.

during off-season, time cfl rusher mike pringle signed one-day contract, retire member of montreal alouettes. team participated in first grey cup overtime game in 50 years. edmonton eskimos defeated alouettes, 38–35.

during 2006 season coach don matthews quit, near end of season, because of health reasons, , jim popp took on rest of season, leading team grey cup, lost 25–14 b.c lions

jim popp stayed on coach team during 2007 season, , team suffered first losing season since coming montreal in 1996, 8–10 record, aided anthony calvillo leaving team near end of season wife sick. team lost east semi-final, 22–20, winnipeg blue bombers backup quarterback marcus brady behind center.

with montreal hosting 2008 grey cup, alouettes wanted there, hired experienced nfl assistant in marc trestman, , helped lead them 11–7 record , berth in grey cup against visiting calgary stampeders led henry burris. stampeders defeated hometown montreal alouettes, 22–14, in front of on 66 000 fans.

the 2009 season record breaking season montreal alouettes, has set team record, , cfl best 15–3 during season, , defence amazing, allowed 324 points, second least in 18-game season. marc trestman won coach of year, after leading them 28–27 comeback grey cup victory, great play of anthony calvillo, beh cahoon, , jamel richardson. alouettes trailed saskatchewan roughriders, 27–11, 8 minutes play in game, when started comeback. came down foot of field goal kicker damon duval, after missing 43-yard field on last play, got second chance, when roughriders called having many players on field (the 13th man), ten-yard penalty, kicking 33 yard line, duval nailed through uprights, giving montreal improbable grey cup victory, after trailing entire game. game turned grey cup classic, great play of alouettes veterans, , broke streak of 4 straight losses in grey cups.

the 2010 season season montreal, went 12–6 , became first team since 1997 toronto argonauts repeat grey cup champions. played against saskatchewan roughriders second straight year, , won game, 21–18, repeating champs.

the 2011 season record breaking year anthony calvillo, broke numerous records, against argonauts. during first meeting calvillo broke cfl time touchdown passes record of 394 td passes on pass eric deslauriers, damon allen @ game @ molson stadium , congratulated him on breaking record. tied allen s record in regina week before touchdown pass ever caught tim maypray. during teams second meeting broke completions record completion brandon london. in teams third meeting, anthony calvillo became pro footballs all-time leading passer, on jamel richardson touchdown pass end third quarter. play stopped family joined him along mark cohan special on field presentation , video tribute. nfl greats warren moon , dan marino, espn s chris berman, , damon allen each sent video messages congratulating him on breaking record. calvillo presented special plaque, number 72382, new pro football all-time yardage mark. team lost overtime thriller in east semi-final @ olympic stadium 52–44 hamilton tiger-cats.

the 2012 season year alouettes, after 11–7 season lost east final toronto argonauts after brian bratton dropped game-tying touchdown pass calvillo minute left in game, giving toronto 27–20 win.

before 2013 season coach marc trestman left alouettes nfl, becoming head coach of chicago bears. jim popp went looking new coach, chose inexperienced coach in dan hawkins had no pro experience. after trying change playbook, , upsetting lot of players, anthony calvillo, , dissmal 2–3 record, jim popp fired hawkins, , coached team rest of year. calvillo not having great year, when suffered season-ending concussion in saskatchewan on hit ricky foley. jim popp went looking quarterback future, , looked found it, in heisman trophy winner troy smith. both tanner marsh , josh neiswander led alouettes comeback wins during year, when troy smith took over, looked more poised , comfortable others. team had 8–10 record, , still made playoffs 18th straight year. troy smith might have led them surprising playoff run, if referees had called pass interference on possible game winning pass duron carter in last minute of play, of east semi-final against tiger-cats.

anthony calvillo announced retirement on january 21, after 20-year career, including last 16 alouettes. on february 24, 2014, alouettes named former edmonton eskimos , calgary stampeders coach tom higgins 21st head coach in franchise history. higgins coached eskimos against alouettes in both 90th , 91st grey cup games.

the 2015 season difficult 1 alouettes, injuries starting qb johnathon crompton, alouettes went through 5 different quarterbacks including 2 rookies rakeem cato, , brandon bridge, before trading veteran kevin glenn. time quarterback shuffle had taken toll on team , finished year 6–12 record , missed playoffs first time since 1986, last year before folding on eve of 1987 season.

in 2007, alouettes launched new website features exclusive news , information in first cfl team. alouettes release player announcements , other news on montrealalouettes.com @ least hour before releasing media. has caused controversy news wires cp, remains favourite alouettes fans. site features exclusive player columns , features make top sports sites popular. beginning in late 2008, alouettes became first cfl team exploit social networking sites such facebook , twitter in marketing campaigns, remaining league leader in technology-based marketing.

since return cfl in 1996, alouettes have appeared in grey cup 8 times, between 2000 , 2010, 3 grey cup wins. won back-to-back grey cup championships in 2009 , 2010, both against saskatchewan roughriders, including comeback classic in 2009. alouettes have been grey cup more other cfl team decade , considered sports experts successful cfl team since 2000 in terms of regular-season statistics , grey cup appearances.

2010 onward saw return of blue, red, , white triangle (flying alouette m ) logo , uniforms used 1974 1981 part of cfl s throwback , retro uniform program.

on may 22, 2015, michael sam signed two-year contract alouettes. signing made him first openly gay player in cfl s history. michael sam left team after dressing 1 game.

on august 21, 2015, owner robert wettenhall announced has relieved tom higgins of head coaching responsibilities , general manager jim popp take on duties of head coach @ time.

on september 19, 2016, popp relieved of coaching duties, while remaining gm. jacques chapdelaine named interim head coach, becoming first quebec-born head coach in alouettes history. named permanent coach on december 13, 2016.

after 3-8 start 2017 season, chapdelaine fired on september 13, 2017.