The

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...

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 seas ...

finished in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5–9–2 record and failed to make the playoffs. The Lions platooned quarterbacks in 1976 in order to find the replacement for

Don Moorhead Don Moorhead (born October 11, 1948) is a former Canadian Football League quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the BC Lions from 1971 to 1975 and for the Michigan Wolverines football team in 1969 and 1970. He set 24 football record ...

who had 3 knee surgeries in two years and retired in July. These quarterbacks included journeymen

Eric Guthrie Eric Guthrie (born April 27, 1947) is a Canadian-born quarterback who played in the World Football League (WFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the BC Lions from 1972–1973, the Detroit Wheels in 1974, the BC Lions from 1975– ...

, Rick Cassata, and UCLA star

John Sciarra John Michael Sciarra (born March 2, 1954) is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1978 to 1983. He also played receiver for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Fo ...

. However, the result was the Lions had by far the league's worst passing attack with only 2476 yards in passing offence and 46% completion percentage. After only one win in the final 10 games, head coach

Cal Murphy Cal Murphy (March 12, 1932 – February 18, 2012) was a Canadian football coach, general manager and scout, most notably for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led ...

was fired in December after 18 months as head coach and a 10–14–2 record. Defensive End Bill Baker won the Schenley award for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and rookie John Sciarra (who was converted from quarterback to slotback early in the season and was the Lions top receiver) won the Schenley Rookie award with 563 yards receiving. Centre Al Wilson and Baker made the CFL All-star team for the second consecutive season. Uniform changes included new orange-coloured facemask (the Lions were the first CFL team to introduce a coloured facemask, two years after the Kansas City Chiefs and then-San Diego Chargers did the same in the NFL), a double orange helmet stripe and new trimmed numbers to complete the look that most fans remember from the 1970s Harry Spring is elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Offseason

CFL Draft

Preseason

Regular season

Season standings

Season schedule

Offensive leaders

Awards and records

CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian football League. The winner of the award is selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada along with the head coaches in the CFL. ...

– Bill Baker (DE)

1976 CFL All-Stars

*C – Al Wilson, CFL All-Star *DE – Bill Baker, CFL All-Star

References

BC Lions seasons

1976 Canadian Football League season by team 1976 in sports in British Columbia {{Canadianfootball-stub