The 1972 CFL season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 15th Canadian Football League season.
CFL news in 1972 The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was officially opened on November 28, 1972, in Hamilton. The Grey Cup game was played on AstroTurf at nearby Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The Western Conference Finals were now played under a single-elimination game. The Eastern Conference continued to play a two-game total-point series affair in their Conference Final round until the following season, when it adopted the West's single-game elimination in the Conference Final round as well.
Regular season standings
Winnipeg and Hamilton have first round byes.
Grey Cup playoffs Note: All dates in 1972
Conference Semi-Finals + Eastern Semi-Finals Montreal Alouettes @ Ottawa Rough Riders Date Away Home November 11 Montreal Alouettes 11 Ottawa Rough Riders 14
+ Western Semi-Finals Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Edmonton Eskimos Date Away Home November 12 Saskatchewan Roughriders 8 Edmonton Eskimos 6
Conference Finals + Western Finals Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers Date Away Home November 19 Saskatchewan Roughriders 27 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24
This game was especially notable for its final play. The game was tied and Saskatchewan attempted a last-second field goal to win, or at least score a single. The kick missed wide, and was recovered by Winnipeg in the end zone. As they were unable to run it out, they punted. The Saskatchewan player who fielded the punt attempted to score a single (winning the game) by punting it through the end zone again, but was unsuccessful, and the punt was fielded by Winnipeg, who punted it out again. The Saskatchewan returner was tackled, ending the play and presumably the game, but a Winnipeg penalty negated the play and gave Saskatchewan another chance. The second Saskatchewan field goal attempt, with no time on the clock, was successful.
+ Eastern FinalsHamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Ottawa Rough RidersGame Date Away Home1 November 18 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 7 Ottawa Rough Riders 192November 26Ottawa Rough Riders 8Hamilton Tiger-Cats 23Hamilton won total-point series 30–27
Playoff bracket
Grey Cup Championship December 3 60th Annual Grey Cup Game: Ivor Wynne Stadium – Hamilton, Ontario Western Champion Eastern Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders 10 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 13 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the 1972 Grey Cup ChampionsChuck Ealey (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player. Ian Sunter (K), Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.
CFL leaders CFL passing leaders CFL rushing leaders CFL receiving leaders
1972 CFL All-Stars
Offence QB – Don Jonas, Winnipeg Blue Bombers RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – Mack Herron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes TE – Tony Gabriel, Hamilton Tiger-Cats WR – Garney Henley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats WR – Jim Young, BC Lions C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OG – Bob Lueck, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes
Defence DT – Jim Stillwagon, Toronto Argonauts DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders LB – Dave Gasser, Edmonton Eskimos LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Grady Cavness, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts
1972 Eastern All-Stars
Offence QB – Chuck Ealey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats RB – Ike Brown, Montreal Alouettes RB – Moses Denson, Montreal Alouettes RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes TE – Tony Gabriel, Hamilton Tiger-Cats WR – Garney Henley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats WR – Eric Allen, Toronto Argonauts C – Paul Desjardins, Toronto Argonauts OG – Ed Chalupka, Hamilton Tiger-Cats OG – Jon Hohman, Hamilton Tiger-Cats OT – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes
Defence DT – Jim Stillwagon, Toronto Argonauts DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders DE – George Wells, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes LB – Gene Mack, Toronto Argonauts LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats DB – Rod Woodward, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts
1972 Western All-Stars
Offence QB – Don Jonas, Winnipeg Blue Bombers RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders RB – Mack Herron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers RB – Tom Campana, Saskatchewan Roughriders TE – Tyrone Walls, Edmonton Eskimos WR – Gerry Shaw, Calgary Stampeders WR – Jim Thorpe, Winnipeg Blue Bombers WR – Jim Young, BC Lions C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OG – Bob Lueck, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders OG – Larry Watkins, Edmonton Eskimos OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos
Defence DT – Joe Critchlow, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders DE – Jim Heighton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers LB – Dave Gasser, Edmonton Eskimos LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions LB – Mickey Doyle, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders DB – Bruce Bennett, Saskatchewan Roughriders DB – Grady Cavness, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB – Dick Dupuis, Edmonton Eskimos DB – Gene Lakusiak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB – Larry Robinson, Calgary Stampeders
1972 CFL awards CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Jim Young (WR), BC Lions CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award – John Helton (DT), Calgary Stampeders CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Chuck Ealey (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL's Coach of the Year – Jack Gotta, Ottawa Rough Riders Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (Eastern MVP) – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (Western MVP) - Mack Herron (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers Gruen Trophy (Eastern Rookie of the Year) - Bob Richardson (OL), Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Walt McKee (K/P), Winnipeg Blue Bombers DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) - John Helton (DT), Calgary Stampeders
References