Edmonton Eskimos

The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian Football League team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They have won the league's Grey Cup championship thirteen times, including an unmatched five consecutive wins between 1978 and 1982, and most recently in 2005. The Eskimos play their home games at Commonwealth Stadium.

Team facts

Founded: 1949, although other teams named the Edmonton Eskimos existed 1895 to 1923 and 1929 to 1939.

Formerly known as: Esquimaux 1897 to 1910

Helmet design: Yellow background, with a gold "EE" monogram on a green oval

Uniform colours: Green, gold, black, and white.

Past uniform colours: Blue and white 1938 to 1939, black and yellow 1907 to 1937

Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium (1978–present)

Past stadium: Clarke Stadium (1954–1978),

Grey Cup Championships: 13—1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005

Runner-up: 9—1952, 1960, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2002

Western Division championships (regular season): 22—1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003,

Main rivals: Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Ownership

The Edmonton Eskimos Football Club is one of three remaining "community owned" teams in the CFL (owned by local shareholders). This was once the most common type of ownership in the CFL. The current board of directors as of the 2007 annual general meeting includes Diane Brickner (president and CEO of Peace Hills Insurance), Harold Roozen (chairman and CEO of CCI Thermal Technologies Inc.), Jeff Polovick (president and CEO of Driving Force), Douglas Goss, and Allan Sawin. Polovick is the chairman. The club's president and CEO is Rick LeLacheur.

For the 2006 year the club announced revenue of $13.116 million, and profits of $153,534.

Franchise history

Edmonton played its first series of organized games with the formation of the Alberta Rugby Football Union in 1895. In 1897 the name Esquimaux was adopted. In 1910 the club was officially named the Edmonton Eskimos. Since 1978 the Eskimos have played their home games in Commonwealth Stadium, which is now the only grass field in the CFL. They are one of the most successful teams in Canadian football history, having won the Grey Cup more than any other team except the Toronto Argonauts, and being the run-away leader in attendance for many years.

The team holds many impressive records, including five consecutive Grey Cup wins (1978 to 1982), and 34 consecutive years in the playoffs (1972 to 2005), a record no other North American professional team (regardless of sport) has equalled. Former Eskimos have figured prominently in Alberta political life: past players include two former provincial premiers (E. Peter Lougheed and Donald Getty), a former mayor of Edmonton (Bill Smith), and a lieutenant-governor (Norman Kwong).

During the glory years of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Edmonton Eskimos won five Grey Cup championships in a row. No other team in the CFL, since Edmonton re-entered the CFL in 1949, has even won three in row, let alone five. The Eskimos have also enjoyed great attendance in the stands as they lead the league.

Origin of the uniform

The current uniform colours, green and gold, were adopted when the Eskimos received uniforms from the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team, which was dormant due to a lack of competition in 1949. The colours have remained since that time, and the Golden Bears maintain them to this day as well.

Wall of Honour

The Eskimos have a policy of honouring the players who have best represented the team on the field; similar to a team retiring a number, the Eskimos keep the number in circulation, although the number is hung on the edge of the concrete separating the upper and lower decks of Commonwealth Stadium.

Numbers so honoured as of 2006:

1 Warren Moon (2001)
2 Henry "Gizmo" Williams (2002)
12 Tom Wilkinson (1982)
13 Larry Highbaugh (1996)
22 Tom Scott (1993)
24 Johnny Bright (1983)
26 Dave Cutler (1986)
27 Don Getty (1992)
30 Danny Bass (1992)
36 Oscar Kruger (1992)
39 Willie Pless (2004)
42 Danny Kepley (1987)
51 Frank "Guts" Anderson (1985)
53 Frank Morris (1984)
65 Dave Fennell (1984)
66 Roger Nelson (1987)
66 John LaGrone (1988)
67 Rod Connop (2005)
70 Brian Kelly (1989)
76 George McGowan (1985)
77 Tommy Joe Coffey (1988)
91 Jackie Parker (1983)
94 Rollie Miles (1983)
95 Normie Kwong (1984)

Players of note

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

Current squad

Not to be forgotten

Head coaches

Annis Stukus (1949–1952)
Frank Filchock (1952)
Darrell Royal (1953)
Pop Ivy (1954–1957)
Sam Lyle (1958)
Eagle Keys (1959–1963)
Neill Armstrong (1964–1969)
Ray Jauch (1970–1977)
Hugh Campbell (1977–1982)
Pete Kettela (1983)
Jackie Parker (1983–1987)
Joe Faragalli (1987–1990)
Ron Lancaster (1991–1997)
Kay Stephenson (1998)
Don Matthews (1999–2000)
Tom Higgins (2001–2004)
Danny Maciocia (2005–present)

External links

References

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia © 2001-2006 Wikipedia contributors (Disclaimer)
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Saturday September 27, 2008 at 15:36:59 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation