This was the first of the Eskimos' record five consecutive Grey Cup victories. It was also the first Grey Cup win for a western team in Eastern Canada since theBC Lions won at Toronto in 1964.
The Als failed to move the ball with any consistency against the Eskimos' fearsome defensive line, the "Alberta Crude":York Hentschel,Ron Estay,David Boone andDave Fennell, known as Dr. Death.Sonny Wade came off the bench for Montreal and almost led the Als to a comeback victory, but their final drive stalled at the Eskimo 27-yard line.
Following the game, the Grey Cup was damaged when Edmonton quarterbackTom Wilkinson accidentally dropped the trophy after being bumped by some rowdy fans. Eskimo linebackerDanny Kepley caught it, but he too was knocked around and the mug dropped to the turf and broke. "I shouldn't have dropped the Grey Cup. The Alouettes hit me a lot harder than that," said Wilkinson. (Quote taken fromCFL website.)
Edmonton and Montreal have met in 11Grey Cup clashes. The Eskimos won in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2003 and 2005's overtime thriller. The Alouettes prevailed in 1974, the Ice Bowl of 1977, and 2002.
