HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The 1978 CFL season is considered to be the 25th season in modern-day
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 ...
, although it is officially the 21st
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 ...
season. The league drew 2,229,834 fans to its 72 regular season games, a record that would stand until the 2005 season by which time the league had extended its schedule from 16 to 18 games. The league's average attendance of 31,831 spectators per game remains a league record as of 2015.


Regular season standings


Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.. *''Edmonton and Ottawa have first round byes.''


Grey Cup playoffs

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 ...
are the 1978
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, defeating the
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 ...
, 20–13, at
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 ...
's
Exhibition Stadium Canadian National Exhibition Stadium (commonly known as Exhibition Stadium or CNE Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally built for Canadian National Exhi ...
. This was the fourth championship meeting between Edmonton and Montreal within the last six years. The Eskimos'
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
(QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and Dave "Dr. Death" Fennell (DT) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence. While
Angelo Santucci Angelo Santucci (born February 5, 1951) is a former Canadian football running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa Rough Riders from 1975 to 1984. Santucci played university football for the St. Mary's Huskies starting in ...
(RB) was named
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian 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 ...
.


Playoff bracket


CFL Leaders

*
CFL Passing Leaders 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 ...
*
CFL Rushing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian Fo ...
*
CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian ...


1978 CFL All-Stars


Offence

*QB –
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – James Sykes, Calgary Stampeders *RB – Mike Strickland, Saskatchewan Roughriders *SB – Tom Scott, Edmonton Eskimos *TE –
Tony Gabriel Anthony Michael Peter Gabriel (born December 11, 1948) is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders. ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *WR –
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial ex ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR –
Bob Gaddis Robert C. (Bob) Gaddis (born January 20, 1952 in Jackson, Mississippi) is a former professional American football wide receiver. He was the 13th round draft pick (#337 overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1975 NFL Draft. He would play wi ...
, Montreal Alouettes *C –
Al Wilson Aldra Kauwa Wilson (born June 21, 1977) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and ...
, BC Lions *OG – Harold Holton, Calgary Stampeders *OG – Bill Stevenson, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Jim Coode, Ottawa Rough Riders *OT –
Dan Yochum Dan Yochum (August 19, 1950 – August 26, 2020) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes from 1972–1980 and the Edmonton Eskimos in 1980 of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He wo ...
, Montreal Alouettes


Defence

*DT –
Dave Fennell Dave Fennell (born February 4, 1953) is a former defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1973, he played for Edmonton from 1974 to 1983, and helped lead th ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DT –
John Helton John Helton (born 23 May 1947) is a former defensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders from 1969 to 1978 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1979 to 1982 of the Canadian Football League. High school and college John Helton graduated from Captai ...
, Calgary Stampeders *DE –
Mike Fanucci Michael Joseph Fanucci (born September 28, 1949) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, and Green Bay Packers. He later played with the Montreal Alouettes and Ottaw ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE –
Reggie Lewis Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. Early life Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Lewis attended high schoo ...
, Calgary Stampeders *LB –
Danny Kepley Daniel "Danny" Kepley (born August 24, 1953) is a former star linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Kepley played college football at East Carolina University. He tried out with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys before star ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *LB –
Ben Zambiasi Benjamin Ray Zambiasi (born August 19, 1956) is a former linebacker for the University of Georgia and in the Canadian Football League. Zambiasi was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and attended high school at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon playing ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB –
Chuck Zapiec Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as a linebacker in the only year that he played linebacker at ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB –
Joe Hollimon Joe Hollimon (born November 5, 1952 in Trumann, Arkansas) is a former defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League from 1976-1985. He won six Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB –
Dickie Harris Dickie Harris (born May 24, 1950 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) is a former all-star defensive back with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Harris started his 10-year c ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB –
Larry Brune Larry Brune (born May 4, 1953) is a former American football defensive back. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1976 to 1977, the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 to 1982 and for the Minnesota Vikings The Minnes ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –
Gregg Butler Gregg may refer to: Places * Gregg, California, United States, an unincorporated community * Gregg, Missouri, United States, an unincorporated community * Gregg County, Texas, United States * Gregg River, Alberta, Canada * Gregg Seamount, Atlantic ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Randy Rhino, Montreal Alouettes


Special teams

*P –
Hank Ilesic Henry "Hank" Ilesic (born September 7, 1959, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played in the CFL for 19 seasons. He pl ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *K –
Dave Cutler David Neil Cutler Sr. (born March 13, 1942) is an American software engineer. He developed several computer operating systems, namely Microsoft's Windows NT, and Digital Equipment Corporation's RSX-11M, VAXELN, and VMS. Personal history Cutl ...
, Edmonton Eskimos


1978 Eastern All-Stars


Offence

*QB –
Condredge Holloway Condredge Holloway Jr. (born January 25, 1954) is a former quarterback for the University of Tennessee and later in the Canadian Football League. Holloway was one of the first African-American quarterbacks to receive national exposure. His nickna ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB –
Jimmy Edwards James Keith O'Neill Edwards, DFC (23 March 19207 July 1988) was an English comedy writer and actor on radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in ''Take It from Here'' and as headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in ''Whack-O!''. Early lif ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *RB –
Mike Murphy Michael James Murphy (born 20 October 1941) is an Irish broadcaster, actor and property developer. He is best known for his long broadcasting career with RTÉ, presenting many TV shows such as ''The Live Mike'', '' Winning Streak'' and '' The Bi ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *SB – Art Green, Ottawa Rough Riders *WR –
Bob Gaddis Robert C. (Bob) Gaddis (born January 20, 1952 in Jackson, Mississippi) is a former professional American football wide receiver. He was the 13th round draft pick (#337 overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1975 NFL Draft. He would play wi ...
, Montreal Alouettes *TE –
Tony Gabriel Anthony Michael Peter Gabriel (born December 11, 1948) is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders. ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *WR –
Jeff Avery Jeff Avery (born March 28, 1953) is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted as a territorial exemption in the 1976 CFL Draft by the Rough Riders and would ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *C – Donn Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG – Charlie Brandon, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG – Larry Butler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT – Jim Coode, Ottawa Rough Riders *OT –
Dan Yochum Dan Yochum (August 19, 1950 – August 26, 2020) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes from 1972–1980 and the Edmonton Eskimos in 1980 of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He wo ...
, Montreal Alouettes


Defence

*DT –
Glen Weir Glen Weir (born July 23, 1951) was a star defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes/Montreal Concordes in the Canadian Football League. Weir was born in London, Ontario, and played his amateur football with the London Lords intermediate league ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DT –
Mike Raines Vaughn Michael Raines (born February 14, 1953) is a former professional and college football player. Raines was an Associated Press second-team All American his senior year at Alabama and was also chosen for the All-SEC defensive team. Raines w ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE –
Mike Fanucci Michael Joseph Fanucci (born September 28, 1949) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, and Green Bay Packers. He later played with the Montreal Alouettes and Ottaw ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE –
Jim Corrigall Jim Corrigall (born May 7, 1946) is a Canadian former gridiron football player and coach. He was all-star defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. High school and college Corrigall played football in high school at Scollard Hall, a pr ...
, Toronto Argonauts *LB – Carl Crennell, Montreal Alouettes *LB –
Ben Zambiasi Benjamin Ray Zambiasi (born August 19, 1956) is a former linebacker for the University of Georgia and in the Canadian Football League. Zambiasi was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and attended high school at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon playing ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB –
Chuck Zapiec Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as a linebacker in the only year that he played linebacker at ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB –
Eric Harris Eric David Harris (April 9, 1981 – April 20, 1999) and Dylan Bennet Klebold (; September 11, 1981 – April 20, 1999) were an American mass murder duo who perpetrated the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. Harris and Klebold ...
, Toronto Argonauts *DB –
Dickie Harris Dickie Harris (born May 24, 1950 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) is a former all-star defensive back with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Harris started his 10-year c ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB –
Larry Brune Larry Brune (born May 4, 1953) is a former American football defensive back. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1976 to 1977, the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 to 1982 and for the Minnesota Vikings The Minnes ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –
Jim Burrow James Arthur Burrow (born November 29, 1953), commonly known as Jimmy Burrow, is a former all-star defensive back in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League and retired college football coach. He is the father of Heisman Tro ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Randy Rhino, Montreal Alouettes


Special teams

*P – Ken Clark, Toronto Argonauts *K –
Don Sweet Don Sweet (born July 13, 1948) is a former star football kicker for the Montreal Alouettes and Montreal Concordes of the Canadian Football League. College years Sweet graduated from Washington State University in 1971. He was a Pacific-10 Confere ...
, Montreal Alouettes


1978 Western All-Stars


Offence

*QB –
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – James Sykes, Calgary Stampeders *RB – Mike Strickland, Saskatchewan Roughriders *SB – Tom Scott, Edmonton Eskimos *TE – Willie Armstead, Calgary Stampeders *WR –
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial ex ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR –
Mike Holmes Michael James Holmes (born August 3, 1963) is a Canadian builder/contractor, businessman, investor, television host, and philanthropist. In his first television series, ''Holmes on Homes,'' he rescues homeowners from renovations gone wrong. He ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –
Al Wilson Aldra Kauwa Wilson (born June 21, 1977) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and ...
, BC Lions *OG – Harold Holton, Calgary Stampeders *OG – Bill Stevenson, Edmonton Eskimos *OT –
Lloyd Fairbanks Lloyd Fairbanks (born April 28, 1953, in Raymond, Alberta) is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman who played seventeen seasons in the CFL. Fairbanks was named to the CFL's All-Star team 5 times. Fairbanks was announced as a memb ...
, Calgary Stampeders *OT – Butch Norman, Winnipeg Blue Bombers


Defence

*DT –
Dave Fennell Dave Fennell (born February 4, 1953) is a former defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1973, he played for Edmonton from 1974 to 1983, and helped lead th ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DT –
John Helton John Helton (born 23 May 1947) is a former defensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders from 1969 to 1978 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1979 to 1982 of the Canadian Football League. High school and college John Helton graduated from Captai ...
, Calgary Stampeders *DE –
Ron Estay Ron Estay (born December 22, 1948) is a former defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Career After graduating from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1972, he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DE –
Reggie Lewis Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. Early life Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Lewis attended high schoo ...
, Calgary Stampeders *LB –
Danny Kepley Daniel "Danny" Kepley (born August 24, 1953) is a former star linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Kepley played college football at East Carolina University. He tried out with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys before star ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Tom Towns, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Glen Jackson, BC Lions *DB –
Joe Hollimon Joe Hollimon (born November 5, 1952 in Trumann, Arkansas) is a former defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League from 1976-1985. He won six Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB –
Terry Irvin Terry Irvin (born September 14, 1954) is a former football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for ten years. Irvin played defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes from 1977-1986. He pla ...
, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Ed Jones, Edmonton Eskimos *DB –
Gregg Butler Gregg may refer to: Places * Gregg, California, United States, an unincorporated community * Gregg, Missouri, United States, an unincorporated community * Gregg County, Texas, United States * Gregg River, Alberta, Canada * Gregg Seamount, Atlantic ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB –
Al Burleson Alvin "Al" Burleson (born September 25, 1954) is a former American gridiron football player. He played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders, from 1976 to 1981, and in the United States Football League ( ...
, Calgary Stampeders


Special teams

*P –
Hank Ilesic Henry "Hank" Ilesic (born September 7, 1959, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played in the CFL for 19 seasons. He pl ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *K –
Dave Cutler David Neil Cutler Sr. (born March 13, 1942) is an American software engineer. He developed several computer operating systems, namely Microsoft's Windows NT, and Digital Equipment Corporation's RSX-11M, VAXELN, and VMS. Personal history Cutl ...
, Edmonton Eskimos


1978 CFL Awards

*
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Terry Evanshen Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winner from ...
Tony Gabriel Anthony Michael Peter Gabriel (born December 11, 1948) is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders. ...
(TE), Ottawa Rough Riders *
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually awarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Lew Hayman Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy winner ...
Tony Gabriel Anthony Michael Peter Gabriel (born December 11, 1948) is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders. ...
(TE), Ottawa Rough Riders *
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. ...
Dave "Dr. Death" Fennell (DT), Edmonton Eskimos *
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually awarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Leo Dandurand Trophy winner from the East Division, and the DeMarco-Becket Memor ...
Jim Coode (OT), Ottawa Rough Riders *
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually awarded to the player judged to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Frank M. Gibson Trophy winner from the East Division, and th ...
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial ex ...
(WR), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service AwardPeter Muller (TE), Toronto Argonauts * CFL's Coach of the Year
Jack Gotta Jack "Jocko" Gotta (November 14, 1929 – June 29, 2013) was an American-born Canadian professional football player, coach, and general manager. Gotta played Tight End at Oregon State in 1952 and Hamilton Air Force Base from 1954-1956. He sig ...
, Calgary Stampeders


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1978 Cfl Season
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 ...
Canadian Football League seasons