1970s All-Decade Team

EDMONTON – From chumps to champions.

The 1970s saw a change in the Green and Gold that would earn Edmonton the moniker ‘The City of Champions,’ and it was the men on the All-Decade team that would be responsible for the turnaround.

The Green and Gold were well over a decade since their last Grey Cup victory at the start of the 70s and had barely survived a financial strife that nearly ended the club’s history before it could get started. However, under general manager Norm Kimball the turnaround began. In 1973, the Double E would appear in their first championship game since 1960 and over the next decade they would win six Grey Cups in nine appearances.

It was under Canadian Football Hall of Fame coach Ray Jauch that Edmonton would capture the 1975 championship, kicking off their dynasty. He began his tenure with the Esks as a 28-year-old running backs coach before finding himself at the helm of the club just four years later. His background as both a player, and a person who was in a similar stage of his life as his players helped galvanize a roster that was slowly being flooded with talent.

“When Ray Jauch came in charge of the club, he was in his mid-thirties. The rest of us were probably late twenties, so there wasn’t a big age difference in our team,” legendary EE kicker Dave Cutler said. “He was a guy that recognized talent and got some people in here.”

RELATED

Wilkinson a catalyst to a Green and Gold dynasty 1950’s All-Decade Team 1960’s All-Decade Team Reunited In History

It was ironically a member of the EE’s 1950s All-Decade team that helped start the build the great 1970s teams in former player and head coach Eagle Keys. Keys was the head coach of the Lions from 1971-1975 and made sweeping changes in the organization, including cutting quarterback and future EE Wall of Honour member Tom Wilkinson.

“At the time when this team actually built itself, it was in Vancouver. Eagle Keys had gone in and cut just a ton of veterans in B.C.,” Cutler said. “Ray Jauch and Norm Kimball, what they did is that they grabbed a whole bunch of them and put it into the squad and they were the start of our team.”

“I mean, there was Wilkie, there was Bob Howes. We had, I think it was eight guys, that came from B.C.. Ray Jauch was smart enough to see all those guys and then knit them together into what we were building here. He had a good eye for talent, and he had a good eye for people.”

The 1970s All-Decade team features nine members of the EE Wall of Honour and was the foundation of that started 34 consecutive playoff appearances by the Green and Gold. Here is the full list:

COACH

Head Coach – Ray Jauch

Edmonton would win the 1975 Grey Cup under the guidance of Jauch, finishing the regular season with a 12-4 record before defeating the Montreal Alouettes by a 9-8 score in the championship game. In all, Jauch helmed the Esks from 1970 to 1976, and is the third winningest coach in club history with a 65-43-4 record.

OFFENCE

Quarterback – Tom Wilkinson

A three-time CFL All-Star through 15 seasons, “Wilkie” never missed a game in his 10 years (1972-1981) with Edmonton that included five wins in eight Grey Cup games. In 1974, he was named the CFL’s Outstanding Player. Wilkinson was the first inductee to the Wall of Honour at Commonwealth Stadium in 1982.

Running Back – Roy Bell

Bell was a dynamic runner out of the University of Oklahoma, becoming a two-time CFL All-Star and Grey Cup champion with Edmonton. He finished his career with 4,667 Rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.

Running Back/Full Back – Don Warrington

Warrington played 10 seasons in the Green and Gold and was a four time Grey cup Champion. He sadly passed away from a car accident while an active player with the team. No one has worn his #21 in Green and Gold since his passing.

Wide Receiver – Waddell Smith

One of many excellent receivers to grace the Green and Gold in the 70s and 80s, Smith’s 1979 season earned him the West Division Most Outstanding Player nod. Smith finished the year with 1,214 yards on 74 receptions with an outstanding 13 touchdowns.

Wide Receiver – George McGowan

McGowan was a three-time CFL All-Star and West Division All-Star (1973, ’75,’76).  He was the winner of the Schenley Award for Most Outstanding Player Award in 1973. In 1985, McGowan’s name was added to the prestigious Wall of Honour at Commonwealth Stadium. He joined the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Slotback – Stu Lang

Lang was a long-time member of the club, playing eight season in Green and Gold. Over that time he compiled 3,203 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 231 receptions.

Tight end – Tyrone Walls

Walls spent five season in Edmonton as a reliable pass catcher and blocker. His outstanding rookie season in 1972 saw the tight end catch 50 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns.

Offensive tackle – Larry Watkins

The 6-foot-4 offensive lineman was an anchor for the Green and Gold’s line for five seasons from 1972 to 1976.

Offensive Guard – Roger Scales

A 1975 Grey Cup Champion, Scales played six seasons for the Green and Gold.

Centre – Bob Howes

Howes was a mainstay for the Esks in the 1970s, suiting up for the team from 1972 to 1981. He was a five-time Grey Cup Champion and a 1973 West All-Star.

Offensive Guard – Joe Worobec

Worobec played four of his six Canadian Football League season in Edmonton, winning a Grey Cup with the team in 1975.

Offensive Tackle – Charlie Turner

Turner is one of the best offensive linemen to ever play in Edmonton. He was a five-time CFL West All-Star, three-time CFL All-Star, and the 1975 CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman.

DEFENCE

Defensive End – David Boone

Boone was a three-time West Division All-star and five-time Grey Cup Champion as a member of the Double E. The David Boone Awards for community service was created in his memory.

Defensive Tackle – Dave Fennell

The man with arguably the best nickname in football history, “Doctor Death” Dave Fennell was a stalwart on the Edmonton  Defensive Line from 1974 to 1983. He was a CFL and Western All-Star at defensive tackle from 1977 to 1981 and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1978. He won the Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1979 and was Runner-up in 1980. Dave Fennell entered the CFL Hall of Fame in 1990 and his name was added to the Wall of Honour in 1984.

Defensive Tackle – York Henstchel

The un-heralded member of Edmonton’s dominant defensive line, Hentschel played five of his six CFL seasons in the Green and Gold and was a three-time Grey Cup Champion.

Defensive End – Ron Estay

A six-time Grey Cup champion and one of the club’s greatest defensive players, Ron Estay was inducted to the Wall of Honour in 2010. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and in 1974, Estay tied a CFL record with five sacks in a game.

Linebacker – Dale Potter

A six-time Grey Cup Champion, Potter was the winner of the 1980 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian and Defensive MVP.

Linebacker – Dan Kepley

 Kepley is a famed member of the EE’s ‘Alberta Crude’ defence and was named to both the Western and CFL All-Star teams for five consecutive years (1977-81). He was also a three-time winner of the Schenley Award as the CFL’s top defensive player in 1977, 1980 and 1981. Kepley was inducted to the Wall of Honour in 1987 and joined the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Linebacker – Tom Towns

A 10-year member of the Green and Gold, Towns was a one-time West All-Star (1980) and a six-time Grey Cup Champion.

Cornerback – Joe Hollimon

A three-time Western All-Star and 1978 CFL All-Star, Hollimon played 136 career games with the Green and Gold, finishing his career with 36 career interceptions. Hollimon holds three franchise records, most notably the most interception returns for a touchdown (7).

Cornerback – Larry Highbaugh

A four-time Western All-Star and a three-time CFL All-Star, Larry played in nine Grey Cups, winning six. Larry’s name was added to the Wall of Honour in 1996 and he was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also an outstanding special teamer with his 4,189 yards on kick-off returns including the club’s all-time longest return of 118 yards and the second longest of 109.

Defensive Halfback – Ed Jones

A key part of Edmonton’s run to five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982, Ed Jones was a three-time CFL All-Star during his eight seasons in Green and Gold between 1976 and 1983.

Defensive Halfback – Gregg Butler

Butler played four seasons for the Esks from 1977 to 1980, winning three Grey Cup Championships while being named a CFL West All-Star three times.

Safety – Pete Lavorato

Lavorato spent seven seasons in Edmonton as the team’s deep lying defensive back. He was a CFL All-Star in 1977 and also served as the team’s defensive line coach in 1995.



SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker – Dave Cutler

Cutler  played on six Edmonton Grey Cup winning teams (1975, 1978-‘82) and was a Western All-Star in 1977, 1978 and 1980 and an All-Canadian in 1977 and 1978. He was the West Division’s Top Scorer eight times. Cutler joined the Wall of Honour in 1986 and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Punter – Hank Ilesic

A CFL Hall of Famer, Ilesic is a seven-time Grey Cup Champion and played 19 season in the Canadian Football League. He was a member of the EE’s five-in-a row team and is third all-time in CFL history in punting yardage.

Kick Returner – Larry Highbaugh

Long Snapper – Bob Howes