The 100th Grey Cup was a
Canadian football
Canadian football () is a team sport, sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's sco ...
game between the
East Division champion
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
and the
West Division champion
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-old ...
of the
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
to decide the
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
champions of the
2012 season.
The game took place on Sunday, November 25, 2012, at
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a multi-purpose retractable roof stadium in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it ...
in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
.
This was the fourth (and last) Grey Cup game played at Rogers Centre (by the next Grey Cup game that Toronto hosted in
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
, it was played at
BMO Field
BMO Field is an outdoor stadium located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which is home to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Constructed on the site of the former Exhibit ...
), and the 46th in the city of Toronto.
The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 35–22 to win their 16th Grey Cup title.
This was the third meeting between Calgary and Toronto for the Grey Cup championship and the first since the
79th Grey Cup
The 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36–21 in an entertaining ...
in 1991. This was also the second consecutive year that the Grey Cup game involved, and was won by, the team from the host city. The result of the game also meant that Argonauts owner
David Braley
David Osborn Braley (31 May 1941 – 26 October 2020) was a Canadian businessman and politician who was the owner of the BC Lions and previously owner of the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in ...
became the first team owner to win back-to-back Grey Cups with two different teams; Braley also owned the
2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
champions, the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
(Braley has since sold the Toronto Argonauts). Over 5.8 million viewers watched the game, with roughly 5.5 million originating from English Canada, making the game the most-watched Grey Cup ever recorded on English-language television.
Following the game, Toronto running back
Chad Kackert
Charles "Chad" Kackert (born September 15, 1986) is a former Canadian football running back who played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at New Hampshire. He was also a member of the Jac ...
was named the
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
. His teammate, defensive end
Ricky Foley
Ricky Foley (born June 9, 1982) is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is currently a free agent, having most recently played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the first round of ...
received the
Dick Suderman Trophy
The Dick Suderman Trophy (french: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian (''Le Canadien le plus précieux de la Coupe Grey'') is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup ...
as the Most Valuable Canadian.
Host city selection
On February 5, 2010, news agencies reported that the game had been awarded to Toronto. On June 11, 2010, it was officially announced by the
CFL
The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
that the city of Toronto would host the game.
Toronto hosted the
first Grey Cup and has been the site of the most Grey Cup games. It was the 46th time that Toronto hosted the event (and 4th at Rogers Centre).
100th Grey Cup celebrations
The league promoted the 100th Grey Cup in several ways. The Grey Cup 100 Train Tour, with three CFL-themed
railway coach
A passenger railroad car or passenger car (United States), also called a passenger carriage, passenger coach (United Kingdom and International Union of Railways), or passenger bogie (India) is a railroad car that is designed to carry passenge ...
es, criss-crossed Canada for ten weeks. Starting September 9 at
Pacific Central Station
Pacific Central Station is a railway station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which acts as the western terminus of Via Rail's cross-country '' The Canadian'' service to Toronto and the northern terminus of Amtrak's '' Cascades'' service t ...
in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, the Grey Cup was placed on board the train during an official ceremony. The coaches traveled east across Canada, visiting over 100 communities including all eight CFL cities as well as
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
,
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
,
Moncton
Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
, and
Halifax. It also made stops in
Nunavut
Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' ...
and
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
. The train arrived in Toronto on November 17, 2012. It featured a museum car, a railcar with contemporary memorabilia, and a car containing the Grey Cup itself.
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation (french: Société canadienne des postes), trading as Canada Post (french: Postes Canada), is a Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada (the opera ...
celebrated the 100th Grey Cup by issuing a series of commemorative postage stamps, designed by Bensimon Byrne of Toronto. Stamps have been produced for each team; every franchise chose one player in its history to be on the foreground of their team's stamp and the background features a historical moment from a past Grey Cup.
In the week leading up to the game, the Canadian government recognized the historical significance of the Grey Cup at a ceremony at
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is an outdoor collegiate football stadium located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the Toronto Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto. Athletic events have been hosted on the site since 1898; the ...
in Toronto, which hosted the Grey Cup game twenty-nine times between 1909 and 1957. Because of this recognition the Grey Cup will be placed in Canada's system of national historic sites, persons and events.
On November 22, the Queen of Canada,
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
, issued a message recognizing the hundredth edition of the game, as well as the
48th edition of the
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup (french: Coupe Vanier) is the championship of Canadian university football. It is organized by U Sports football and is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl. It is named after Georges Vanier, ...
, which was played two days prior to the Grey Cup. In her message, the Queen noted the monarchial ties of both championships and wished an enjoyable weekend for the teams, players and fans.
Path to the Grey Cup
Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders finished second in the West Division with a 12–6 record, including four consecutive victories leading into the playoffs. As a result, they hosted the third place
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.
The Roughriders were founded in 1 ...
in the West Semi-Final at
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.
The stadium is between the downtown core and the University of Calgary, north ...
. Calgary was led by running back
Jon Cornish
Jon Cornish (born November 5, 1984) is a former Canadian football running back who played nine seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted 13th overall in the 2006 CFL Draft after playing college fo ...
, whose total of 1,457 rushing yards during the season set a league record for most by a Canadian-born player. Stampeders' head coach
John Hufnagel
John Coleman Hufnagel (born September 13, 1951) is the president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was previously the Stampeders' head coach and played quarterback for fifteen professional seasons ...
named first-string quarterback
Drew Tate
Drew Tate (born October 8, 1984) is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is the tight ends coach at the University of Northern Iowa, a position he had held since 2022. He played college football as a quarterback at the Univer ...
the starter even though it would be his first full game since suffering a shoulder injury on July 7 against Toronto. Tate excelled in the game; he completed 22 of 26 passes for 363 yards and was named the CFL's offensive player of the week to lead Calgary to a 36–30 victory in the game. The game ended in dramatic fashion as, after a Calgary field goal with 1:22 remaining in the game put the Stampeders up 29–23, Saskatchewan quarterback
Darian Durant
Darian Bernard Durant (born August 19, 1982) is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He played college football at the University of North Carolina. By the end of his college career, he held school records for completion percentag ...
engineered a quick touchdown drive to give the Roughriders a one-point lead with one minute to play. However, Tate connected on a 68-yard touchdown pass to
Romby Bryant
Romby Bryant (born December 21, 1979) is a former Canadian football wide receiver. Bryant spent the majority of his professional career playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed b ...
with 19 seconds remaining to complete the Calgary victory.
The victory advanced the Stampeders to the West Final, played in Vancouver, against the 13–5
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
. It was revealed in the days leading up to the November 18 game that Tate suffered a broken wrist late in the game against Saskatchewan that ended his season. Veteran backup
Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn, Jr. (born June 12, 1979) is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played co ...
, who was the team's primary quarterback for much of the season due to Tate's injuries, was named the starter against BC. Glenn threw three touchdown passes to lead the Stampeders to a 34–29 win over the defending champion Lions. Cornish rushed for 112 yards on 18 carries and caught two passes for 42 yards was named the CFL's top Canadian for the week.
Toronto Argonauts
The 9–9 Argonauts finished second in the East Division and hosted the division semi-final against the
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...
, who at 7–11 finished fourth in the West but crossed over by virtue of having a superior record to the third place team in the East, the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...
. Toronto quarterback
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray (born October 22, 1979) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also ...
was the focus of the game, as he spent the first nine years of his CFL career as Edmonton's franchise quarterback until a trade prior to the 2012 season sent him to Toronto. Edmonton struggled throughout the season to replace him, and in the East Final, starter
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph (born October 4, 1973) is an American former gridiron football quarterback and current coach. He is the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in New Iberia, ...
completed only four passes for 64 yards before being replaced at half time. Backup
Matt Nichols
Matt may refer to:
*Matt (name), people with the given name ''Matt'' or Matthew, meaning "gift from God", or the surname Matt
*In British English, of a surface: having a non-glossy finish, see gloss (material appearance)
*Matt, Switzerland, a mu ...
replaced him until suffering a serious ankle injury in the second half.
Ray, meanwhile, completed 23 of 30 passes for 239 yards and led the Argonauts offence to a team-record 31 points in the second quarter en route to a 42–26 victory.
The Argonauts then faced the division leading
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
(11–7) in the East Final. Toronto receiver
Chad Owens
Chad Owens Sr. (born April 3, 1982) is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner. He was most recently a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Jacksonville Ja ...
, who led the CFL with 3,863 all-purpose yards, was a former Alouette who was traded by the team to Toronto in 2010. He led all players in the East Final with 207 receiving yards on 11 catches,
and was named the league's most outstanding player of the week.
Ray threw for 399 yards and Toronto took advantage of turnovers to defeat the favoured Alouettes 27–20.
Head-to-head
Calgary and Toronto met twice in the regular season, both games won by the Argonauts. The first, a 39–36 victory on July 7 in Toronto, was the game where Tate suffered the shoulder injury that forced him onto the injured list for 14 games. The second win came in Calgary, a 22–14 victory on August 18.
Despite the outcome of their two regular season meetings, Calgary was named a two-point favourite over Toronto in the Grey Cup by sports betting agencies.
It was also the third meeting between the two teams in Grey Cup play. They first met in the
59th Grey Cup
The 59th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1971, before 34,404 fans at Vancouver's Empire Stadium.
The Calgary Stampeders defeated the Toronto Argonauts on a slick, rain-covered field, 14–11.
Box Score
First Quarter
Calgary - TD - Herm Ha ...
in 1971, when the Stampeders won a defensive battle 14–11. It was Calgary's first Grey Cup victory since their perfect season in 1948. The two teams met again 20 years later in the
79th Grey Cup
The 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36–21 in an entertaining ...
. Calgary quarterback
Danny Barrett set Grey Cup records of 39 pass completions and 56 attempts as the Stampeders more than doubled the Argonauts offensive production, 406 yards to 174. Special teams were the difference in the game however, as Barrett was intercepted three times and Toronto's
Rocket Ismail ran an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown en route to a 36–21 Argonaut victory.
Game summary
Calgary, being the designated away team, made the call of heads for the coin toss; the result was a tails, allowing Toronto to choose to receive the ball for the first half of the game. The roof of the Rogers Centre was closed for the entirety of the game.
On Toronto's first offensive play of the game, quarterback
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray (born October 22, 1979) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also ...
was intercepted by
Quincy Butler. It was Ray's first interception since October 27. However, Calgary was unable to capitalize on the turnover and was forced to punt the football to end their first drive. Calgary committed their first turnover of the game on their next possession when running back
Jon Cornish
Jon Cornish (born November 5, 1984) is a former Canadian football running back who played nine seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted 13th overall in the 2006 CFL Draft after playing college fo ...
fumbled the ball on a handoff from quarterback
Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn, Jr. (born June 12, 1979) is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played co ...
. Toronto ended up opening up the scoring on the ensuing drive thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by the league's
Most Outstanding Player Chad Owens
Chad Owens Sr. (born April 3, 1982) is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner. He was most recently a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Jacksonville Ja ...
.
The Stampeders responded to the touchdown with a field goal by
Rene Paredes
Rene Paredes (born May 15, 1985) is a professional Canadian football placekicker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Stampeders in 2014 and 2018 and is a fou ...
to cut the score down to 7–3 and they quickly regained possession of the ball, but the drive was cut short when Glenn was picked off by Toronto cornerback
Pacino Horne, who ran the ball in for a touchdown to put the Argos up 14–3 early in the second quarter.
On their following possession, Toronto found themselves at Calgary's 12-yard line following a 62-yard pass from Ray to Jason Barnes, but were forced to settle for a field goal by the Stampeders defence. Calgary responded with a field goal of their own to reduce the Argo lead to 17–6.
Toronto would add another touchdown before halftime on a one-yard touchdown catch by
Dontrelle Inman
Dontrelle Javaar Inman (born January 31, 1989) is an American gridiron football wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Virginia and was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars of ...
from
Jarious Jackson
Jarious K. Jackson (born May 3, 1977) is a professional Canadian football pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also been a coach for the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan R ...
.
Having received the ball at the start of the second half, Calgary moved the ball from their own 10-yard line to scoring range thanks to a 15-yard pass from Glenn to slotback
Marquay McDaniel and a Toronto pass interference penalty. However, the Toronto defence again forced the Stampeders to kick a field goal, cutting the score to 24–9.
Following a Toronto field goal midway through the third quarter, Calgary's
Larry Taylor
Samuel Lawrence Taylor (June 26, 1942 – August 19, 2019) was an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Le ...
ran the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for an apparent touchdown, however the play was called back around midfield due to a holding penalty called against
Keon Raymond
Keon Raymond (born November 27, 1982) is the former head coach and director of football operations for the Prince George Kodiaks of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) and is a former professional Canadian football defensive back President ...
. The penalty negated the score, and the Stampeders were again unable to overcome the Argonauts defence, punting the ball. On their next drive, the Stampeders were unable to capitalize despite a penalty to Toronto player
Adriano Belli
Adriano Belli (born August 25, 1977) is a retired football player who played in the CFL and NFL. Belli is nicknamed "The Kissing Bandit" for his penchant for kissing people on their cheeks. He has gained a reputation for being a kind and f ...
, who received a disqualification after an altercation with Calgary offensive lineman
Jon Gott
Jon Gott (born October 2, 1985) is a former Canadian football offensive lineman. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the fifth round of the 2008 CFL Draft. He played five seasons for the Stampeders before being traded to the RedBlacks fo ...
; Calgary was forced to punt the ball, but was able to force Toronto to concede a safety three plays later to end the third quarter.
The fourth quarter opened promisingly for Calgary. On a second-and-long play by the Stampeders, a pass interference penalty was called on Argos defensive back
Ahmad Carroll
Ahmad Raheem Carroll (born August 4, 1983) is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Arkansas and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
Carroll was also a member of the J ...
to put them in scoring range. However, the Argonauts defence again prevented the Stampeders from reaching the end zone and Calgary settled for their fourth field goal of the game.
With 5:56 left in the game, Ricky Ray threw his second touchdown pass of the night to put the Argos up 34–14.
Stampeders receiver
Maurice Price
Maurice Price (born September 11, 1985) is a former gridiron football wide receiver who played for the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free age ...
scored his team's lone touchdown of the game with twenty seconds remaining on the clock and followed up with the two-point conversion.
After a failed
onside kick
In gridiron football, an onside kick is a kickoff deliberately kicked short in an attempt by the kicking team to regain possession of the ball. This is in contrast with a typical kickoff, in which the kicking team intends to give the ball to the ...
, Toronto allowed the clock run down, winning the game by a final score of 35–22.
Toronto's
Chad Kackert
Charles "Chad" Kackert (born September 15, 1986) is a former Canadian football running back who played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at New Hampshire. He was also a member of the Jac ...
was named the
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
of the Grey Cup after rushing the ball 20 times for 133 yards and adding 62 yards from 8 pass receptions. Defensive end
Ricky Foley
Ricky Foley (born June 9, 1982) is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is currently a free agent, having most recently played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the first round of ...
, a native of
Courtice, Ontario
Courtice () is a community in Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto, within the Municipality of Clarington. Adjacent to Oshawa, it is west of Bowmanville, which is also part of Clarington. Courtice Road (Durham Road 34) connects with Highway ...
, won the
Dick Suderman Trophy
The Dick Suderman Trophy (french: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian (''Le Canadien le plus précieux de la Coupe Grey'') is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup ...
as the game's top Canadian player after recovering a Calgary fumble early in the game and for helping to limit Calgary's Cornish to 57 yards rushing for the game.
Scoring summary
;First Quarter
:TOR – TD Owens 5 yd pass from Ray (Waters convert) (7:32) 7 – 0 TOR
:CGY – FG Paredes 40 (4:09) 7 – 3 TOR
;Second Quarter
:TOR – TD Horne 25 yd interception return (Waters convert) (14:46) 14 – 3 TOR
:TOR – FG Waters 16 (9:25) 17 – 3 TOR
:CGY – FG Paredes 18 (2:33) 17 – 6 TOR
:TOR – TD Inman 1 yd pass from Jackson (Waters convert) (0:22) 24 – 6 TOR
;Third Quarter
:CGY – FG Paredes 27 (6:29) 24 – 9 TOR
:TOR – FG Waters 30 (3:01) 27 – 9 TOR
:CGY – Safety (0:04) 27 – 11 TOR
;Fourth Quarter
:CGY – FG Paredes 19 (9:58) 27 – 14 TOR
:TOR – TD Durie 7 yd pass from Ray (Waters convert) (5:56) 34 – 14 TOR
:TOR – Single Prefontaine 53 yd punt (1:42) 35 – 14 TOR
:CGY – TD Price 12 yd pass from Mitchell (Price 2-pt convert) (0:20) 35 – 22 TOR
Ceremonies and associated events
A "fan parade", called the ''Sun Life Grey Cup Fan March'', took place on November 25, moving from
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is an outdoor collegiate football stadium located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the Toronto Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto. Athletic events have been hosted on the site since 1898; the ...
at the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
to Rogers Centre. The
coin toss
A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to ...
, using the first 100th Grey Cup commemorative coin struck by the
Royal Canadian Mint
}) is the mint of Canada and a Crown corporation, operating under the ''Royal Canadian Mint Act''. The shares of the Mint are held in trust for the Crown in right of Canada.
The Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures ...
, was executed by
Governor General of Canada
The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, t ...
David Johnston
David Lloyd Johnston (born June 28, 1941) is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who served from 2010 to 2017 as Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation. He is the commissioner of the Leaders' Debates Commis ...
, as was the ceremonial
kickoff
Kickoff or kick-off may refer to
* Kick-off (association football)
* Kickoff (gridiron football)
* ''Kick Off'' (series), a series of computer association football games
* ''Kick Off'' (album), a 1985 album by Onyanko Club
* ''Kick Off'' (mag ...
.
Entertainment
The CFL unveiled an "all-Canadian, all-star lineup" of musical acts to perform the pre-game and
halftime shows at the game.
Burton Cummings
Burton Lorne Cummings (born December 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for leading The Guess Who during that band's most successful period from 1965 to 1975, and for a lengthy solo career.
Cummings has ...
, former lead singer of 1960s–1970s rock band
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of "Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After c ...
, performed "
O Canada
"O Canada" (french: Ô Canada, italic=no) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the mus ...
", and country artist
Johnny Reid
John Kirkland Reid (born August 21, 1974) is a Scottish-Canadian country music artist. Reid moved to Canada in July 1988 when he was 13. His father, a diesel mechanic, wanted to give Reid and his brother opportunities he did not think they would ...
performed as part of the pre-game show. The halftime show featured pop artists
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...
and
Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen (born November 21, 1985) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After studying musical theatre for most of her school life and while in university, Jepsen garnered mainstream attention after placing third on the fifth season of ...
, along with rock band
Marianas Trench
The Mariana Trench is an oceanic trench located in the western Pacific Ocean, about east of the Mariana Islands; it is the deepest oceanic trench on Earth. It is crescent-shaped and measures about in length and in width. The maximum known ...
and balladeer
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960 ...
. CFL commissioner
Mark Cohon
Mark Steven Cohon, (born March 16, 1966) is the chairman of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). He was also the 12th commissioner of the Canadian Football League. The son of McDonald's Canada founder George Cohon, he was a ...
explained that the lineup spanned multiple generations of music, was "quintessentially Canadian and undoubtedly world class", and would "command a huge and diverse audience, entertaining our most loyal fans and attracting new ones to our game's greatest showcase."
Despite the CFL's endorsement, many questioned the league's choice of performers. In particular, the selection of Justin Bieber was criticized for his lack of appeal to the demographic attending the game.
During the halftime show, Bieber was booed throughout his performance, whereas Gordon Lightfoot's shortened performance of "
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is a story song that was written, composed, and first performed in 1966 by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who released his original recording of it in 1967. The song was commissioned by the Canadian Broadc ...
" was met with raucous approval from the crowd.
Burton Cummings also received criticism for accidentally omitting a line "God keep our land" from the national anthem.
Television
The game was broadcast in Canada on
TSN in English and its sister station,
RDS, in French. TSN commissioned a documentary series, ''
Engraved on a Nation
''Engraved on a Nation'' is a Canadian sports documentary anthology series commissioned by TSN.
The series originally premiered in 2012, with an anthology of 8 documentaries surrounding the Canadian Football League and the Grey Cup, in honour ...
'', to commemorate the centennial. The game was televised in the United States by
NBCSN
NBCSN was an American sports television television channel, channel owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It originally launched on July 1, 1995, as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which was dedicated t ...
.
With an average of 5.5 million viewers for TSN, it was the most watched Grey Cup game of all-time on English television. Including RDS, viewership averaged 5.8 million, while over 13 million Canadians watched at least part of the contest.
While these totals represented a 28% increase over the year before,
both fell short of the all-time records of 6.1 million viewers on average and 14 million total set in the
97th Grey Cup
The 97th Grey Cup was played on November 29, 2009, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, and decided the Canadian Football League (CFL) champion for the 2009 season. The Montreal Alouettes came from behind to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughrider ...
in 2009.
The half-time show averaged 6.1 million viewers.
References
External links
Official Site
{{2012 CFL season by team
Grey Cup
Grey Cups hosted in Toronto
Calgary Stampeders
Toronto Argonauts
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
2012 in Toronto
2012 sports awards
2012 in Canadian television
November 2012 sports events in Canada