The 1988 CFL season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day
Canadian football
Canadian football () is a 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 scoring area ( ...
, although it is officially the 31st
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 c ...
season.
CFL News in 1988
The Canadian Football Network reached an agreement with 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 ...
to extend its network for two more seasons.
Game rosters were revised to consist of 20-Non Imports, 14-Imports and 2-Quarterbacks. The reserve list was lowered from 4 players to 2 players. In addition, if a team decided to dress 14-Imports, one of those imports had to be designated as a special teams player.
On Monday, December 12, the CFL Board of Governors appointed
Roy McMurty as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and
Bill Baker as President/Chief Operating Officer, succeeding
Douglas Mitchell
Douglas Harding Mitchell, (February 19, 1939 – July 20, 2022) was a Canadian Football player, executive, and commissioner.
A graduate of Colorado College and the University of British Columbia (UBC), Mitchell played three games for the BC ...
as the league's commissioner (both McMurtry and Baker served as the league's ''de facto'' co-commissioners for the 1989 season). Their appointments were confirmed on Sunday, January 1, 1989. The CFL Board of Governors also approved the sale of the
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 CFL East Division, East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based i ...
from
Carling O'Keefe Breweries to
Harry Ornest
Harry Ornest (June 30, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was a sports entrepreneur who once owned the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played minor league baseba ...
.
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 Toronto have first round byes.''
Grey Cup playoffs
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 Fie ...
were the 1988
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
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 ...
22–21, at
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 c ...
's
Lansdowne Park
Lansdowne Park is a urban park, historic sports, exhibition and entertainment facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, owned by the City of Ottawa. It is located on Bank Street adjacent to the Rideau Canal in The Glebe neighbourhood of central Ot ...
. This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season. The Blue Bombers'
James Murphy (WR) was named the
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and
Michael Gray (DT) was named
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence, while
Bob Cameron (P) was named the
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.
Playoff bracket
CFL Leaders
*
CFL Passing Leaders
*
CFL Rushing Leaders
*
CFL Receiving Leaders
1988 CFL All-Stars
Offence
*QB –
Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan (born December 6, 1960) is an American broadcaster and former professional football player and executive. He is a Canadian Football League (CFL) sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN. Dunigan is a former quarterb ...
, BC Lions
*RB –
Anthony Cherry, BC Lions
*RB –
Gill Fenerty
Lawrence Gill Fenerty, aka "Gill the Thrill", (born August 24, 1963) is a former running back in the Canadian Football League, National Football League, and the Italian Football League.
Fenerty graduated from Jesuit High School (New Orleans) a ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*SB –
Ray Elgaard, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*SB –
Emanuel Tolbert, Calgary Stampeders
*WR –
David Williams, BC Lions
*WR –
James Murphy, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*C –
Ian Beckstead, Toronto Argonauts
*OG –
Roger Aldag, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*OG –
Gerald Roper, BC Lions
*OT –
Chris Schultz, Toronto Argonauts
*OT –
Jim Mills, BC Lions
Defence
*DT –
Mike Walker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DT –
Brett Williams, Edmonton Eskimos
*DE –
Grover Covington
Grover Covington (born March 25, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Covington's career began in 1981 as a free agent signing ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DE –
Bobby Jurasin
Robert Jurasin (born August 26, 1964) is a former defensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1986–1997 and the Toronto Argonauts in 1998. He was a CFL All-Star in 1987, 1988, 1992 and 1997. He was a part of the Roughriders 1989 Gr ...
, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*LB –
Danny Bass
Danny Bass (born March 31, 1958) is a former linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts in 1980, Calgary Stampeders from 1981–1983 and the Edmonton Eskimos from 1984-1991 of the Canadian Football League. He won a Grey Cup for the Eskimos and playe ...
, Edmonton Eskimos
*LB –
Greg Stumon
Greg Stumon (born May 26, 1963) is a former award-winning defensive end and linebacker who played the Canadian Football League.
A native of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, he attended the Southern Arkansas University, and was inducted into that scho ...
, BC Lions
*LB –
Willie Pless
Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to:
People Given name or nickname
* Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and scre ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*CB –
Stanley Blair, Edmonton Eskimos
*CB –
Reggie Pleasant, Toronto Argonauts
*DB –
Selwyn Drain, Toronto Argonauts
*DB –
Howard Fields Howard Fields may refer to:
* Howard Fields (gridiron football)
* Howard Fields (neuroscientist)
* Howard Fields (musician)
{{hndis, Fields, Howard ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DS –
Bennie Thompson
Bennie Gordon Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Thompson has been the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2019 and fr ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Special teams
*P –
Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*K –
Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*ST –
Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1988 Eastern All-Stars
Offence
*QB –
Gilbert Renfroe, Toronto Argonauts
*RB –
Orville Lee, Ottawa Rough Riders
*RB –
Gill Fenerty
Lawrence Gill Fenerty, aka "Gill the Thrill", (born August 24, 1963) is a former running back in the Canadian Football League, National Football League, and the Italian Football League.
Fenerty graduated from Jesuit High School (New Orleans) a ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*SB –
Gerald Alphin
Gerald Alan Alphin (born May 21, 1964) is a former professional gridiron football wide receiver and slotback who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1986 to 1996, mainly for the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Winnipeg B ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders
*SB –
Darrell Smith, Toronto Argonauts
*WR –
Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*WR –
James Murphy, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*C –
Ian Beckstead, Toronto Argonauts
*OG –
Nick Bastaja, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*OG –
Jason Riley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*OT –
Chris Schultz, Toronto Argonauts
*OT –
Miles Gorrell
Miles Gorrell (born October 16, 1955) is a former all star offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The five-time divisional All-Star and two-time Outstanding Lineman finalist sits sixth on the record books for games played (321) from 19 ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Defence
*DT –
Mike Walker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DT –
Rodney Harding
Rodney Harding (born August 1, 1962) was a defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League.
Harding played college football at Oklahoma State University. He had a 12-year career in the Canadian Football League from 1985 to 1996, and he playe ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*DE –
Grover Covington
Grover Covington (born March 25, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Covington's career began in 1981 as a free agent signing ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DE –
Glen Kulka
Glenn Kulka (born March 3, 1964) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, hockey and football player who competed in Canadian independent promotions during the late 1990s and had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation in 1997.
He al ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*LB –
James West James or Jim West may refer to:
People
* James West (Australian journalist) (born 1982), Australian journalist and author
* James West (antiquary) (1703–1772), English politician and antiquary; president of the Royal Society
* James E. West (poli ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*LB –
Don Moen, Toronto Argonauts
*LB –
Willie Pless
Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to:
People Given name or nickname
* Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and scre ...
, Toronto Argonauts
*CB –
James Jefferson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*CB –
Reggie Pleasant, Toronto Argonauts
*DB –
Selwyn Drain, Toronto Argonauts
*DB –
Howard Fields Howard Fields may refer to:
* Howard Fields (gridiron football)
* Howard Fields (neuroscientist)
* Howard Fields (musician)
{{hndis, Fields, Howard ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*DS –
Bennie Thompson
Bennie Gordon Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Thompson has been the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2019 and fr ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Special teams
*P –
Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
*K –
Lance Chomyc, Toronto Argonauts
*ST –
Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1988 Western All-Stars
Offence
*QB –
Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan (born December 6, 1960) is an American broadcaster and former professional football player and executive. He is a Canadian Football League (CFL) sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN. Dunigan is a former quarterb ...
, BC Lions
*RB –
Anthony Cherry, BC Lions
*RB –
Anthony Parker
Anthony Michael Parker (born June 19, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as in Italy and Israel. He is one of the most beloved and successful players in Ma ...
, BC Lions
*SB –
Ray Elgaard, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*SB –
Emanuel Tolbert, Calgary Stampeders
*WR –
David Williams, BC Lions
*WR –
Larry Willis, Calgary Stampeders
*C –
Mike Anderson, Toronto Argonauts
*OG –
Roger Aldag, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*OG –
Gerald Roper, BC Lions
*OT –
Hector Pothier
Hector "Hec" Pothier (born June 12, 1954) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos. After playing college football at McGill University and at St. Mary's University (Halifax), Poth ...
, Edmonton Eskimos
*OT –
Jim Mills, BC Lions
Defence
*DT –
Gary Lewis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DT –
Brett Williams, Edmonton Eskimos
*DE –
Vince Goldsmith
Vince Goldsmith, born July 20, 1959, was a star football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL), as both a linebacker and defensive lineman.
Goldsmith played college football with the University of Oregon Ducks (from 1977 to 1980) as a d ...
, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DE –
Bobby Jurasin
Robert Jurasin (born August 26, 1964) is a former defensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1986–1997 and the Toronto Argonauts in 1998. He was a CFL All-Star in 1987, 1988, 1992 and 1997. He was a part of the Roughriders 1989 Gr ...
, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*LB –
Danny Bass
Danny Bass (born March 31, 1958) is a former linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts in 1980, Calgary Stampeders from 1981–1983 and the Edmonton Eskimos from 1984-1991 of the Canadian Football League. He won a Grey Cup for the Eskimos and playe ...
, Edmonton Eskimos
*LB –
Greg Stumon
Greg Stumon (born May 26, 1963) is a former award-winning defensive end and linebacker who played the Canadian Football League.
A native of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, he attended the Southern Arkansas University, and was inducted into that scho ...
, BC Lions
*LB –
Ken Ford, Calgary Stampeders
*CB –
Stanley Blair, Edmonton Eskimos
*CB –
Larry Crawford
Larry Crawford (born December 18, 1959) is an American former Canadian football player. He played in the Canadian Football League for nine years. Crawford played defensive back for the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts from 1981-1989. He was a CFL ...
, BC Lions
*DB –
Richie Hall, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*DB –
Chris Major, Calgary Stampeders
*DS –
Don Wilson, Edmonton Eskimos
Special teams
*P –
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric (born June 28, 1963 in Windsor, Ontario) is a former placekicker who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Kauric played his early days in the Canadian Junior Football ...
, Edmonton Eskimos
*K –
Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
*ST –
Henry Williams, Edmonton Eskimos
1988 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 ...
–
David Williams (WR), BC Lions
*
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 ...
–
Ray Elgaard (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
*
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. ...
–
Grover Covington
Grover Covington (born March 25, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Covington's career began in 1981 as a free agent signing ...
(DE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award –
Roger Aldag (OG), Saskatchewan Roughriders
*
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award –
Orville Lee (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders
*
CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award –
Hector Pothier
Hector "Hec" Pothier (born June 12, 1954) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos. After playing college football at McGill University and at St. Mary's University (Halifax), Poth ...
(OT), Edmonton Eskimos
*
CFL's Coach of the Year –
Mike Riley, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1988 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