Baltimore Stallions
- "Baltimore Football Club" redirects here. For the former and current NFL franchises, see Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, respectively.
| Baltimore Stallions | |
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| Founded | 1994 |
| Folded | 1995 |
| Based in | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Home field | Memorial Stadium |
| League | Canadian Football League |
| Division | East Division South Division |
| Colours | Royal blue, silver, black and white |
| Head coach | Don Matthews |
| General manager | Jim Popp |
| Owner(s) | Jim Speros |
| Grey Cup wins | 1995 |
| Uniform |  |
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the CFL's generally ill-fated expansion effort into the USA: They had winning records in each season; won a division championship; and, became the only American franchise ever to win the (1995) Grey Cup.
After the "original" Cleveland Browns (of America's National Football League) announced plans to move to Baltimore (which had previously hosted an NFL team for decades) and re-brand as the Baltimore Ravens, The Stallions relocated to Montreal (becoming the current version of the Montreal Alouettes), rather than try to compete with an overwhelmingly more popular brand in its home country.
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History [edit]
Baltimore had long been home of the Baltimore Colts, a popular NFL franchise that suddenly moved -- literally, overnight -- to Indianapolis in 1983. In 1993, shortly after an ownership group failed to win an NFL expansion franchise as a replacement, Washington Redskins assistant and entrepreneur Jim Speros was granted a CFL expansion franchise for Baltimore that would play in Memorial Stadium, the Colts' old home.
Attempting to capitalize on the city's love for its long-lost Colts, Speros made the new team's color scheme very similar to, and evocative of, the Colts'; invited the Colts' former marching band to perform at his games; and, initially called the team the "Baltimore CFL Colts." However, the NFL went to court and successfully obtained an injunction against the Stallions' use of any version of "Colts" in their name. Right before their very first game, Speros had to quickly change the team's official name to the Baltimore Football Club (which some just called the Baltimore CFLs).
Local fans tended to continue referring to the team as "the Colts," anyway, and team officials did not discourage this. For example, for most of the first/1994 season, Memorial Stadium's public address announcer (Jack Taylor) would announce the team as "your Baltimore CFL..." -- followed by a pause, during which time the assembled fans would shout "COLTS!" -- after which he would conclude, "...football team."[1]
1994 season [edit]
Speros, in contrast to other CFL expansion franchisees, made a point of hiring personnel and players with CFL experience -- not locally-known, NFL or college football players. Speros made Jim Popp general manager of the new team, and named Don Matthews as head coach. Popp and Matthews, in turn, brought in experienced CFL players like QB Tracy Ham, RB Mike Pringle, LB O. J. Brigance, DT Jerald Bayliss, DE Elfrid Payton (but also, former NFL K Donald Igwebuike.
Even though they lacked an official name, the franchise finished second in the CFL East Division, with a 12–6 regular season record -- a record for the most wins by a CFL expansion team. In addition, the team was ranked third in the entire CFL in team scoring, and second in team defense.
Mike Pringle was the team's offensive standout, earning the league's leading rushing title with a record 1,972 yards and thirteen touchdowns. Pringle also returned 38 kicks for 814 yards, which made him a CFL All-Star, Eastern All-Star, and a Terry Evanshen Trophy winner.
In the playoffs, Baltimore hosted the Toronto Argonauts in the East semifinals at Memorial Stadium and won the game, 34–15. After the semifinal game, Baltimore ended up defeating the favored Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Winnipeg Stadium 14–12 to become the first (and only) American and expansion team to make it to the Grey Cup.
In the Grey Cup game, Baltimore was up against the B.C. Lions at BC Place Stadium. Baltimore had the upper hand against the Lions, leading 17–10 at halftime and silencing the Lions' faithful; however, the Lions came back in the second half, winning by a score of 26–23 on a last-second Lui Passaglia field goal.
1995 season [edit]
After the 1994 season, a name-the-team fan poll was held to decide a new team name. After the team finished the first week of its second season still going by, "the Baltimore Football Club," the fan poll ended; Speros publicly announced that Baltimore's team would be known as the Baltimore Stallions. The CFL decided that with the addition of the Memphis Mad Dogs, San Antonio Texans, and Birmingham Barracudas, the five U.S. teams would be placed in a new, South Division (while the Canadian teams would reside in the North Division).
Despite the changes to their name and team re-alignment, the Baltimore Stallions returned with virtually the same roster. The exception was the signing of former Posse kicker Carlos Huerta to replace Donald Igwebuike, who moved on to play with Memphis. By keeping the same players from the '94 season, optimism and Grey Cup expectations were high for the Stallions. Optimism became reality as Baltimore continued their on-field dominance from the previous season by finishing with a 15–3 regular season record -- first place in the South Division, and tying the Calgary Stampeders for the best record in the CFL.
Quarterback Tracy Ham with Mike Pringle and Robert Drummond were the most potent backfield in the CFL. Chris Armstrong became the team's top receiver and the defense continued dominating opponents by allowing only 369 points-against, ranking the squad third in team defense. Mike Pringle had a slight drop-off from his '94 numbers by rushing for 1,791 yards, being named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player.
After defeating Winnipeg 36–21 in the divisional semifinals, Don Matthews and his team easily handled the San Antonio Texans in the Southern finals, winning the game 21–11 to advance to the Grey Cup for the second straight season. The Stallions headed to Regina's Taylor Field to face the 15–3 North Division champion Calgary Stampeders, who were led by coach Wally Buono, QB Doug Flutie, and his two top receivers, Allen Pitts and Dave Sapunjis. During the game, the winds at Taylor Field were particularly strong and gusted up to 85 km/h (52.8 mph). That didn't slow down the Stallions, as the Stallions defeated the Stampeders for a 37–20 victory to become the first American team to win the Grey Cup, with Tracy Ham becoming the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player.
In the end [edit]
Baltimore was the most successful of the CFL's American teams: It had significant fan support and strong live attendance (averaging 37,347 in 1994 [best in the CFL], and 30,112 in 1995 [2nd-best]). After the 1995 season, however, the CFL decided to disband 3 of its 5 U.S. franchises -- leaving only Baltimore and San Antonio.
This strategy changed after Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced he would be moving his team to Baltimore. While the Stallions had been successful by CFL standards, the outpouring of support for another NFL team in Baltimore (which the public felt they were owed) quickly drew attention away from the Stallions. In the USA, the U.S.-based NFL is a much longer-established football brand (founded in 1920) than the CFL (1938), and, its teams tend to be "household names" engendering great civic/regional pride; meanwhile, the CFL is generally-ignored by mainstream media outlets, and unknown to the average American. Faced with the ominous spectre of competing with the much larger NFL (whose teams perform in stadiums seating 60,000 and higher) -- on its own "home field" -- Speros announced plans to move the team. After scouting out Norfolk, Virginia, and Houston, Texas, he decided to relocate the franchise to Montreal to become the (third incarnation of the) Montreal Alouettes; he ultimately sold the franchise to Robert C. Wetenhall in 1997.
Coincidentally, sixteen Baltimore Stallions players earned tryouts for NFL teams in 1996.[1]
Historical Note [edit]
The Canadian Football League does not officially consider the Baltimore Stallions to be part of the Alouettes' history. The league views the Stallions as having been dissolved in 1995, and the Alouettes as having suspended its operations in 1987 and resuming them in 1996.
Roster and Accomplishments [edit]
Canadian Football Hall of Fame [edit]
- 8 Tracy Ham, inducted in 2010, Quarterback from 1994-1995, won 83rd Grey Cup
- 27 Mike Pringle, inducted in 2008, Running Back from 1994-1995, won 83rd Grey Cup
- 56 Elfrid Payton, inducted in 2010, Defensive End from 1994-1995, won 83rd Grey Cup
- Don Matthews, inducted in 2011, Head Coach from 1994-1995, won 83rd Grey Cup
Awards and Accomplishments [edit]
1994 [edit]
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Divisional Awards |
CFL Awards
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1994 Eastern All-Stars Offense
Defense
Special Teams
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1994 CFL All-Stars Offense
Defense
Special Teams
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1995 [edit]
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Divisional Awards |
CFL Awards |
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1995 Southern All-Stars Offense
Defense
Special Teams
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1995 CFL All-Stars Offense
Defense
Special Teams
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See also [edit]
- CFL USA all-time records and statistics
- Comparison of Canadian and American football
- CFL USA
- 1994 CFL season
- 1995 CFL season
- 82nd Grey Cup
- 83rd Grey Cup
- Montreal Alouettes
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- The 1995 Baltimore Stallions Yearbook
- Baltimore Stallions two year record and merchandise
- Baltimore Stallions CFL Historical page
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