1974 GLFL League Meetings

Falling behind the NAAF and newly renamed GAFL is the Great Lakes Football League. In recent seasons, more and more players are considering or have left the league in search of better opportunities and higher salaries in other leagues. Unfortunately, the bulk of teams in the league are unable to keep up higher costs. Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland have been the few that have managed to keep relatively competitive salaries. The power imbalance has seen the league tip in favour of the richer teams, with most championships being split between the top 3.

Despite the shift from its core players, the league has been able to remain stable at 8 teams for a while now; however, its Minneapolis team is continuing to struggle with the Minnesota Serpents’ success in the NAAF. While there is still a solid following from the local area around the team’s current home of the Baseball Park, it is not enough to keep the team afloat. Original owner, Harold Smith, who owns the Baseball club, gave up on the team a couple of years ago after the Serpents took off. Current owner, Jerry Beck, picked up the team from Smith and continued to pay him to use the stadium, but after a couple of years, it just isn’t viable.

The league is looking for a new option for the team. There is a potential plan to move the team across the river to St. Paul and market it towards Minneapolis’ twin. However, there is a potential play at Kansas City, with Jacob Cross stepping away from the NAAF’s project. Larry Winfield, owner of the Chicago All-Pros and Commissioner of the GLFL, believes that there is a possibility that the league, if they work together, can find the funds to try and complete the stadium project and get a team down to KC. Other options will also be explored. In the meantime, the Black Bears will temporarily move to St. Paul for the upcoming season to serve as an experiment for the initial St. Paul option. The team will share a stadium with the University of St. Paul, a smaller venue compared to the baseball stadium. They will also be renamed to the St. Paul Black Bears. The move is certainly not ideal, but Winfield remains optimistic for the future and is looking at options that can change the trajectory of the GLFL.

1974 ACFL League Meetings

INTRODUCING THE GAFL: THE SORIANO PLAN

At this year’s league meetings for the Atlantic Coast Football League, commissioner Don Soriano presented a massive new plan to set the struggling league back on the path to success. Soriano acknowledged that in recent years the former top league in the nation has slipped behind their top rivals in the NAAF. Poor decision-making and complacency has led to the ACFL’s decline (A point that seemed directed at former Commissioner Stephen Van Fossen). Missteps in challenging the Independents in Boston, as well as neglect in Pittsburgh, allowed the NAAF to maintain and win over both markets. Soriano believes it is time that the ACFL changes their ways and steps forward with intention. A new bold, but logical plan to catapult the ACFL back to the top of the Football world. 

The first phase of his plan would be an initial step back for the league. Soriano announced that the struggling franchises of the Pittsburgh Hammers and Richmond Lions would be folding, reducing the ACFL down to 12 teams for the upcoming season. The players on those teams would be dispersed via a contraction draft that would allow the weakest teams first picks at the top players.

The second phase of the plan will mark a massive step forward for the league. Soriano announced that there would be a massive Westward expansion to California and Texas. Over the upcoming seasons, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Houston would all be awarded franchises in the ACFL. The details on when teams join is still up in the air, but at least two teams will join in time for the 1975 season. Most cities have a viable stadium in place due to local leagues, but some are expected to expand seating to meet the ACFL’s ambitious standards. 

From there,  the goal will be to expand the league further to get up to 20 teams by the early 1980s. No cities were announced to the additional 4 teams that would be needed to meet the 20-team goal. The league is focused on getting the first four teams in place while they do a careful search for viable options.

With the expansion westward, Soriano noted that the “Atlantic Coast” Football League would no longer be a fitting name. He moved for the notion of a new name and has proposed the Great American Football League. A name that fits with the goal of this league to become the first coast-to-coast American Football league in the country. Many fellow owners were on board with the idea. Van Fossen was a little less excited, but acknowledged that he was intrigued by Soriano’s plan and is generally in favour of the more aggressive move. Ultimately, so long as the league moves back to the top and he still can turn a profit, he will support the plan.

Additionally, Soriano is working on strategies to increase competition in the league and give some of the weaker teams a better chance to succeed. However, owners are likely to have more reservations about those changes, especially the more powerful and richer owners. More is expected to come as the Soriano Plan takes shape.

1974 Staff Changes

BOSTON INDEPENDENTS
The Independents elected to part ways with HC Kenneth Chaney after 5 seasons with the team. Chaney has overall brought Boston back into being a consistent playoff contender with a 37-28-1 record. However, in those five years, they only made the playoffs twice and did not produce a win. While Boston’s performance has improved since their rocky stretch of seasons with several different coaches, the improvement hasn’t been enough for the team to be a true championship contender. Ben McMillan was the last coach to truly have success with the team. Notably, the defence has been the team’s weakness despite Chaney’s expertise in the defensive side of the ball, which was certainly frustrating QB Nathaniel Braddock, who was leading a top 4 offence last season.

In true Boston fashion, what is old is new again as the team elected to bring back Ben McMillan as Head Coach. McMillan’s time with Boston was quite successful, making the playoffs in all 6 seasons and winning a championship. McMillan stepped into a front office role with the Mariners last season after serving as their Head Coach for 5 seasons. When Boston approached him about hoping back into the driver’s seat, McMillan was interested due to still having the itch to coach. QB Nathaniel Braddock also met with McMillan personally and helped pull his old coach back to Boston. With McMillan in as Head Coach, the next step was to re-evaluate the coordinators. Due to the offence’s performance last season and Braddock’s familiarity with OC Theodore Ortiz, McMillan would not make a change at Offensive Coordinator. At Defensive Coordinator, however, McMillan would replace DC George Mitchell with Rickey Pickett. Pickett previously was the head coach at Louisville State, but had parted ways with the university earlier in 1973. He should provide a new angle for the defence and hopefully bring their play up to a point where Boston can get back to a McCallister Cup.

WINNIPEG FALCONS
As expected, after the team’s 3rd straight 4 or less win season, the Falcons are parting ways with HC Jay Nielson. Nielson took over the job 5 years ago and has been unable to show much progress. Ultimately, it was time for Winnipeg to hit the reset button; however, they are still happy with GM David Eaton’s performance in drafting players and building the team, so they are willing to maintain him.

The Falcons settled on Vancouver Wolves’ Offensive Coordinator, Tim Jennings, for the Head Coaching job. Jennings has been a great mind on the offence for the Wolves, conducting an offence that led to QB Kevin Westwood to win the MOP. Owner Ed Morrissette always respected and admired the culture that has been built in Vancouver and believes bringing in a coach from that organization can push the team in that direction. Jennings would bring in new coordinators as well, hiring Blacksmiths’ OC Frederick Quincy and then bringing in Calgary DC Daniel Lemon. Pittsburgh elected not to keep Quincy, so he moves to Winnipeg for a fresh start. Jennings hopes that his work with 2x MOP QB Louis Vaughn can help the Falcons’ young QB Mitchell Nash in his development. Lemon, on the other hand, decided to start fresh and declined an extension with Calgary. He previously worked as a DL Coach with the Wolves and had a good relationship with Jennings. When Jennings was hired, he was immediately in contact with the former colleague in hopes of a new opportunity. Jennings was happy to bring him on. Lemon does have a strength on the D-line, which is a place the Falcons have struggled with since joining the NAAF.

VANCOUVER WOLVES
With Tim Jennings heading to Winnipeg, the Wolves would need a new OC. The team would elect to promote from within, making QB Coach Jack Mann the new OC. Mann has worked well with QB Kevin Westwood and has a solid understanding of what Jennings did well with the team over the past several seasons. He should be able to keep the Wolves moving in a similar direction moving forward, which has been good, while also providing some new ideas.

PITTSBURGH BLACKSMITHS
The Blacksmiths re-evaluated their current staff this offseason, considering whether there needs to be a change after an okay 8-6 season. Ultimately, they decided to keep HC Ted McMahon, who has been the only coach in the team’s history. However, a change was still necessary, and the team would let go of OC Frederick Quincy, who headed to Winnipeg. To replace Quincy, the team would hire Gregory Curtis. Curtis has been an OC on two other occasions, spending 3 years in Providence under Garrett Boone and then a season in Toronto under Philip Little. Curtis is seen as an innovative mind, looking to create new plays and ways to win, but that can lead to him making risky plays. In both previous places, Curtis was the main offensive mind; however, in Pittsburgh, McMahon is the head of the offence, which may work best for Curtis, who can now support McMahon with ideas, while McMahon can rein in the risk-taking. It could be a very good fit for Pittsburgh and for Curtis.

BUFFALO BLUE WINGS
Last offseason, Buffalo made the switch to DC Matthew Carson in hopes of rejuvenating the defense. The experiment did not last long as Carson was fired midseason after a disastrous 0-7 start. DL Coach Lonnie Vincent took over and did better in the 2nd half, but the team believes he has still got some room to grow before being a full-time DC. So, the team set out to try again to find a DC to get the defence back up to speed. Ultimately, they chose Kenneth Chaney. Chaney, who was just the HC for Boston, is a very experienced and strong DC, having put together some of the best defences in the league’s history with the Raiders in the 1960s. The move makes sense for Chaney as Buffalo has previously taken in former Head Coaches as coordinators (Soni Dionne and Levi Bray), who have gone on to be more successful in their next job. As for Lonnie Vincent, he will return to his DL Coach position with a modest raise.

LONDON TIGERS
After a couple of seasons, the Tigers would decide to move on from DC Jordan Sauveterre. Sauveterre was fine in his time with the Tigers, but HC Aengus Lynch felt that in order to take the team to the next level, he needed a bit more help and experience to get the most out of the defence. So, George Mitchell enters as the new DC for the team. Mitchell is an experienced coach and has worked as a supportive coach under Kenneth Chaney in Boston. Lynch hopes Mitchell can help rally the troops as the Tigers hope to become a playoff regular moving forward.

CALGARY PREDATORS
With DC Daniel Lemon jumping ship to Winnipeg, the Predators needed to grab a new coordinator. The team felt that bringing in an experienced former NAAF coach would make the most sense. They would hire Carroll Moss as the new DC. Moss has coached for various teams as a DC and has a solid reputation as a fine coach. Some might be skeptical of Moss as he was fired by Montreal last offseason due to underperforming, and then watched as the Rouge went on to win the title. Regardless, the experience is there, and Moss should still be able to put together a solid defence this season.

Changes Overview

Boston Independents
OUT
HC Kenneth Chaney - Fired, hired by BUF
DC George Mitchell - Fired, hired by LDN
IN
HC Ben McMillian - Halifax Mariners Front Office
DC Rickey Picket - Louisville State HC (Parted Ways earlier this year)

Buffalo Blue Wings
OUT
DC Matthew Carson - Fired midseason
IN
DC Kenneth Chaney - From Boston HC
DL Coach Lonnie Vincent - Interim DC last season will return to his previous role

Calgary Predators
OUT
DC Daniel Lemon - Mutual Agreement to part ways
IN
DC Carroll Moss - From FA (previously MTL DC)

London Tigers
OUT
DC Jordan Sauveterre - Fired
IN
DC George Mitchell - From BOS DC

Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
OUT
OC Frederick Quincy - Fired
IN
OC Gregory Curtis - From FA (previously TOR OC)

Vancouver Wolves
OUT
OC Tim Jennings - Hired by WPG as HC
IN
OC Jack Mann - Promoted from QB Coach

Winnipeg Falcons
OUT
HC Jay Nielson - Fired
OC Jimmy Moison - Fired
DC Matthew Lowry - Fired
IN
HC Tim Jennings - From VAN OC
OC Frederick Quincy - From PIT OC
DC Daniel Lemon - From CGY DC

1974 Retirements

S Garet deVale - Springfield, MA - Creator: QCS
College: West Mass State
Drafted: 1959 - MTL - Round 1, Pick 3
Teams: Montreal Rouge (1959-1970), Long Island Raiders (1971), Pittsburgh Blacksmiths (1972), Montreal Rouge (1973)
Captaincy: MTL - A (1967-1970)
McCallister Cups: 1 (1973)
Awards: 1x Most Outstanding Player (1967), 1x Defensive Player of the Year (1966)
All-Stars: 7x (1961-1967)
Player of the Week: 14x
deVale’s career started in 1959 after going 3rd overall to the Montreal Rouge in the draft. For the next decade, deVale would be the face of the Montreal defence. His unequivocal speed and nose for the football made him a lethal force on the back end, creating many turnovers. deVale made his first real mark on the team’s history in the 1962 playoffs, where he was able to get into the backfield on a botched snap to QB Connor O’Rourke. O’Rourke controlled the ball and still tried to give it to RB Marcus Devonshire, but deVale was already there, knocking the ball loose. The play would lead to Montreal’s first McCallister Cup appearance since 1953, however, they would fall short in the big game. A few years later, deVale would capture his first big award, winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 1966. The Rouge would also go on a run in the playoffs, getting past Halifax and Long Island en route to the 48th McCallister Cup. Once again, Montreal came up short. deVale would follow up his DPOY season with an even better 1967 season, becoming the 2nd defensive player to take home the Most Outstanding Player award, with 10 interceptions, 3 of which were taken back for touchdowns. The Rouge struggled to get back to the big game in the following seasons. After a disappointing 4-8 season in 1970, deVale, still desiring the McCallister Cup, would head out in search of the elusive trophy. His first stop was with the defending champs in Long Island, which ended with the team missing the playoffs. The next year, he joined the Blacksmiths, who did get to the Semi-Finals, but fell short against Vancouver. At 36, deVale had lost a step in his game, but still wanted to take one more crack at the title. He would rejoin the Rouge as a depth player, who had rebuilt themselves into a contender. In his final season, the Rouge would reclaim the Cup, ending deVale’s career on a high note, which included a blocked field goal to seal the victory for Montreal.

LB William Washington II - Albany, NY - Creator: Kingsfan11
College: Western New York
Drafted: 1963 - LI - Round 1, Pick 2
Teams: Long Island Raiders (1963-1973)
Captaincy: LI - A (67-69), LI - C (70-73)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1965, 1970)
Awards: 2x Defensive Player of the Year (1965, 1967), 1x Playoff MOP (1965), 1x McCallister Cup MOP (1965)
All-Stars: 6x (1965-1970)
Player of the Week: 11x
William Washington II arrived in the NAAF in 1963, being selected 2nd overall by the Long Island Raiders in 1963. Washington learned the ropes under LB Gene Benson and LB Deon Wiggins in his first couple of seasons before becoming the top LB by his 3rd season in 1965. The 1965 season would be a big one for Washington, as he established himself as one of the best players in the league, taking home Defensive Player of the Year. Washington led the league’s best defence, which only allowed 11.8 points a game during the season, which was good enough for the 2nd-best points against per game of all time. To cap off the historic season, the Raiders would take home the trophy in a win over the Louisville Thunder, earning Washington’s first McCallister Cup win. Washington was later named Playoff and McCallister Cup MOP, netting him 3 awards in one season. Washington earned a big payday in the offseason and continued to be the central force in the Raiders’ dominant defence. In 1967, Washington was named an alternate captain and would win his 2nd Defensive Player of the Year award. He also led the Raiders back to the McCallister Cup, but they fell short against the Blue Wings. In 1970, Washington would be named the team’s Captain under new head coach Levi Bray. Washington’s leadership shone as the Raiders returned to the top with a shocking McCallister Cup win in 1970. 1970 would be Washington’s last strong season as he battled injuries over his final few years. In 1973, Washington suffered a significant ligament tear that was hard to recover from. He was able to play a little down the stretch, but he was not the same player. At this point, Washington has done everything he had set out to do and is happy to retire. He is expected to step into a coaching role with the Raiders moving forward.

DL Bjorn Sigmarsson - Jemtland, ME - Creator: Dan O’Mac
College: Maine State
Drafted: 1961 - LOU - Round 1, Pick 4
Teams: Louisville Thunder (1961-1969), Boston Independents (1970-1972), Montreal Rouge (1973)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1962, 1973)
All-Stars: 6x (1962, 1964-1968)
Player of the Week: 3x
Sigmarsson comes from Icelandic parents, growing up in Jemtland, Maine. After dominating at Maine State in college, he was drafted 4th overall by the Louisville Thunder in 1961. Sigmarsson had a solid rookie season, being nominated for Rookie of the Year, but lost out to DB Neville Falkner. By his 2nd season, Sigmarsson was a key player on the Thunder D-line. The Thunder defence was dominant in 1962, taking the Thunder all the way to the top with a McCallister Cup win over Montreal on their own field. Sigmarsson continued to grow into the top D-lineman for the Thunder during the prime of his career, having 6 All-Star seasons. He would get back to the McCallister Cup in 1965, but failed to capture a 2nd title then. After the disappointing 0-12 season in 1969, Sigmarsson decided to leave the now rebuilding team. He would sign with the Boston Independents in the offseason, playing the next 3 seasons with the historic club. Sigmarsson’s play started to decline in the 3 seasons and eventually found himself on the way out after the ‘72 season. In his final year, he would join the Montreal Rouge, playing a supportive role in the D-line. He would help Montreal capture the McCallister Cup to cap off his career with a 2nd championship.

DL Lucas Kipling - Dale, IN - Creator: DireBear
College: Louisville State
Drafted: 1961 - MTL - Round 2, Pick 16
Teams: Montreal Rouge (1961-1970), Louisville Thunder (1971-1973)
McCallister Cups: 1 (1971)
All-Stars: 4x (1964, 1966-1968)
Kipling was overlooked a bit heading into the 1961 draft, coming in behind DL Bjorn Sigmarsson and DL Fred Webster as the top DL in the draft rankings. However, Kipling proved that he was in contention to be the best. Montreal would take a chance on Kipling at 16th overall. It did take Kipling a couple of seasons to develop his skills, but by 1964 he was an All-Star-calibre player. From there, he continued to get better with each season, continuing to prove that he was worthy of a higher draft pick. He would earn 3 more All-Stars in his career. He would also help Montreal reach the McCallister Cup in 1962 and 1966. After the 1970 season, Kipling elected to leave Montreal, heading homeward to Louisville, where he attended college. In his first season with the Thunder, Kipling helped the team return to the top, winning the McCallister Cup. The championship win was the final piece of the puzzle for Kipling, but he still played two more seasons, still holding a significant role with the team up until his retirement.

K Ira Foster - Ottawa, ON - Creator: GoRedSox96
College: Rideau
Drafted: 1957 - PRO - Round 3, Pick 28
Teams: Providence Gold Stars (1958-1963), Ottawa Royals (1964-1973)
McCallister Cups: 0
Awards: 1x Special Teams Player of the Year (1972)
All-Stars: 3x (1965, 1969, 1972)
Player of the Week: 1x
Ira Foster entered the NAAF out of Rideau in 1957. He was selected by the Gold Stars in the 3rd Round, 28th overall. After being on the reserve for a season, Foster became the starting kicker for the Gold Stars in 1958. He would hold down the position for 6 seasons and be a part of the Gold Stars’ run to the McCallister Cup in 1963. However, he would leave the team following the season, electing to return home to Ottawa. He was already a strong kicker with Providence, but he stepped it up in his new home. In 1965, he would be an All-Star for the first time, as well as becoming the first kicker to take home a Player of the Week nod. He would earn a 2nd All-Star season in 1969, while helping the Royals to a McCallister Cup appearance. Finally, in 1972, Foster would finally win the Special Teams Player of the Year award, becoming the oldest player to win it at 37 years old.

WR Julius Drake - Grand Rapids, MI - Creator: DireBear
College: Michigan
Drafted: 1962 - BUF - Round 1, Pick 7
Teams: Buffalo Blue Wings (1962-1972), London Tigers (1973)
McCallister Cups: 4 (1964, 1966, 1967, 1969)
All-Stars: 2x (1966, 1967)
Winning is important to Julius Drake. So much so that he gets frustrated when he doesn’t. Drake would find himself in the midst of a rebuild when being selected by Buffalo in 1962. His first two seasons saw the team put together 2 straight 4-7-1 seasons. However, in his 3rd season, the Blue Wings broke through into a dynasty. They would win 4 Cups in 6 years with Drake in the receiving corps. During the first Cup win, Drake played 2nd fiddle to WR Zachariah Pembroke, but by the 2nd and 3rd, Drake was the #1 WR. Both of those seasons in ‘66 and ‘67, Drake would be an All-Star. By the time the Blue Wings won a 4th title during Drake’s career, he had slipped behind younger talent in Jimmy Jack and Tracy Driscoll. He loved playing a supporting role as long as the team remained winning, which they did, earning a playoff berth in each season until 1972. After the ‘72 season, the Blue Wings hoped to get younger, so Drake was let go. He would finish his career as a member of the Blue Wings’ rivals, the London Tigers, where he played a supporting role to Lloyd Lane and Cole Fletcher. The Tigers did reach the Semi-Finals in his lone season there.

RB Gary Hubbard - Red Deer, AB - Creator: Wallflower
College: UEdmonton
Drafted: 1963 - WFU
Teams: WFU (1963-1969), Edmonton Rangers (1970-1973)
Captaincy: EDM - A (1970-1973)
McCallister Cups: 0
All-Stars: 1x (1970)
Hubbard was a workhorse throughout his career with the Rangers. Especially during the 60s, competing in the WFU. Hubbard helped Edmonton pick up 3 McKenzie Cups in the WFU in 1963, 1965, and 1966. He also led the team to 3 other appearances in the McKenzie Cup game in 1964, 1967, and 1969. Once the Rangers stepped into the NAAF, Hubbard remained a solid force in the backfield. He would power his way into being an All-Star in 1970 and was an Offensive Player of the Year finalist. Over the next few seasons, Hubbard remained the primary back in Edmonton, but his effectiveness was dwindling. Hubbard felt that it was time for Edmonton to move on to younger players at the position and elected to retire from the game. He is expected to remain with the club as a RB coach going into next season.

OL Millard Streety - New London, CT - Creator: idm
College: Rhode Island State
Drafted: 1963 - HFX - Round 3, Pick 29
Teams: Halifax Mariners (1964-1971), Providence Gold Stars (1972), Toronto Steelheads (1973)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1968, 1972)
All-Stars: 2x (1968, 1969)
Millard Streety was a part of one of the strongest draft classes for a team, with Halifax selecting DL Wayne Baxton, WR Jav Kerrigan, OL Clifford Pratt, LB Bear Donnelly, and WR Shane Steadman, along with nabbing Streety in the 3rd Round. Streety certainly wasn’t a star compared to his draftmates, but he still made a mark in the league. Streety would spend the first 8 seasons over 9 years in Halifax, being a staple on their O-line. He would help the team win their first championships in Halifax in 1968, which was also his first All-Star season. He would be an All-Star again in 1969, a couple of years before he decided to leave in free agency. Streety would sign a 2-year deal with Providence, helping them win their first title in the NAAF in 1972, earning a 2nd Cup. Unfortunately, due to the cap, Providence would have to move Streety, and they traded him to Toronto, where he would finish his career.

WR Larry Mossholder - Hastings-on-Hudson, NY - Creator: Dan O’Mac
College: Hudson River (DIV 2)
Drafted: 1962 - LI - Round 4, Pick 33
Teams: Long Island Raiders (1962-1973)
Captaincy: LI - A (1971-1973)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1965, 1970)
All-Stars: 1x (1972)
Mossholder was raised by parents who own a small flower shop in his hometown, North of NYC. They didn’t have much of an interest in Mossholder’s football obsession, and didn’t think that would be a career. He would attend Hudson River University, a local school, and he walked on to the football team and dominated. He was so good that teams were giving him a look late in the 1962 draft. The Raiders would take a chance on the local Division 2 athlete. Mossholder would make the pick worth it. His size and reliable hands would lead him to have a great career. He would spend all 12 seasons with the Raiders. He would capture two titles in 1965 and 1970, but it wasn’t until a 9-touchdown season in 1972 that saw Mossholder earn his lone All-Star nod. Mossholder also served as an Alternate captain in his final 3 seasons. Finally, he is calling it a career and is currently planning on returning to his old school to coach more local talent.

LB Shawn Anderson - Victoria, BC - Creator: Wallflower
College: Royal Gardens
Drafted: 1964 - WFU
Teams: WFU (1964-1969), Vancouver Wolves (1970-1973)
McCallister Cups: 0
All-Stars: 1x (1972)
During his career in the WFU, Shawn Anderson was one of the best in the game at his position. A consistent tackle machine for the Wolves, who led the way on defence towards 4 McKenzie Cups (5 if you count the win over Minnesota in the 1970 NAAF Playoffs), which included 3 in a row from 1967-1969. Unfortunately for Anderson, his career stumbled once he reached the NAAF. He would be injured for a significant time in 3 of the 4 seasons he played in the NAAF. To his credit, in the lone season that he was able to stay on the field, he was an All-Star. Anderson still played a role in helping the Wolves reach the McCallister Cup in 3 of his 4 seasons in the league. He ultimately decided to retire due to a badly torn muscle during his final season.

WR Nathan Murray-Lawrence - Halifax, NS - Creator: Kingsfan11
College: Nova Scotia
Drafted: 1964 - HFX - Round 1, Pick 11
Teams: Pittsburgh Blacksmiths (1965-1968), Halifax Mariners (1969-1972), Montreal Rouge (1973)
McCallister Cups: 1 (1973)
All-Stars: 1x (1966)
In 1964, the Halifax Mariners made the trade to move up to 11th to select the local kid in Nathan Murray-Lawrence. It was a dream come true for the Halifax native who would love to represent his team. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so as in his 2nd year, before making the Mariners’ active roster, Murray-Lawrence was left unprotected in the 1965 expansion draft and was selected by Pittsburgh. Murray-Lawrence still made the most of the situation, playing quite well in the early days in Pittsburgh, earning an All-Star nod in 1966, catching 6 touchdowns. He would catch 7 the next season, but didn’t make the All-Star team. After spending 4 seasons with Pittsburgh, Murray-Lawrence would head back to Halifax as a free agent, finally stepping on the field for his hometown. However, he was not as productive with the Mariners being slotted behind Shane Steadman and Jav Kerrigan. Injuries also limited him in his time with Halifax. After an unsuccessful tenure in Halifax, he would move on to Montreal for his final season, but it was cut quite short by another significant injury. He did return in time for the playoffs, but was limited. Still, the Rouge did win the Cup in his final season, earning him at least a Cup before retiring.

RB Raymond Green - Dayton, OH - Creator: Rugrat
College: North Indiana
Drafted: 1963 - IND - Round 3, Pick 26
Teams: Indiana Victors (1964-1969), Pittsburgh Blacksmiths (1970), Montreal Rouge (1971), London Tigers (1972), Pittsburgh Blacksmiths (1973)
McCallister Cups: 0
Player of the Week: 2x
The Indiana Victors took a chance on North Indiana product, RB Raymond Green, in the 3rd Round of the 1963 draft. Green would turn out to be a solid player, eventually taking over the starting job for RB Cody Barnes in 1966, where he would score 16 times. That same season, the Victors had selected RB Reggie Whitehead in the 1st round, but Green was making the case to be the franchise back instead. The Victors would trade Whitehead in 1968, and Green would lead the way as the Victors made it to the McCallister Cup that season. However, Green’s production began to drop as well, and by 1970, the Victors were ready to change it up. Green, not getting the starting spot with Indiana, would go on to sign with Pittsburgh. After a solid season in Pittsburgh, the Blacksmiths would bring in Max Tracy, once again leaving Green as a backup. Still with a year left on his contract, he would ask for and be traded to Montreal. He ultimately ended up being more of a mentor to RB Bo Frazier. He did the same for RB Jeremy Royal in his stop in London, before finally returning to Pittsburgh to finish his career behind Tracy.

RB Théodore Lemieux - Quebec City, QC - Creator: Kingsfan11
College: St-Laurent
Drafted: 1962 - BUF - Round 3, Pick 27
Teams: Buffalo Blue Wings (1963-1967), Louisville Thunder (1968-1969), Halifax Mariners (1969), Montreal Rouge (1970), Toronto Steelheads (1971), Buffalo Blue Wings (1972-1973)
McCallister Cups: 3 (1964, 1966, 1967)
Player of the Week: 1x
Théo Lemieux was excited to play with his older brother Charles when he was drafted by the Buffalo Blue Wings, 2 years after his brother was. Lemieux played the first 5 seasons of his career with Buffalo in a support role to MOP winner RB Jimmy Golden. He pulled his weight for 3 McCallister Cup-winning teams. In 1967, with Golden hurt, Lemieux was given the opportunity to shine in the playoffs. He put up 3 touchdowns and 120 rushing yards in a win over the Thunder in the West Division Final to earn his lone Player of the Week nod. He would turn the playoff performance into a big contract with the Louisville Thunder in 1968. He would be given the chance to start, but the magic wasn’t there, and he fizzled out by his 2nd season with the team. From there, Lemieux became a journeyman, getting traded to Halifax in 1969, then making stops in Montreal and Toronto before finally returning to Buffalo for his final two seasons.

QB Michael Benedict - Dowagiac, MI - Creator: Stickman
College: Michigan
Drafted: 1962 - ATH - Round 1, Pick 8
Teams: The Athletics/Halifax Mariners (1962-1966), Ottawa Royals (1966-1968), Toronto Steelheads (1969-1971), Regina Wheat Kings (1971), Edmonton Rangers (1972), Winnipeg Falcons (1973)
McCallister Cups: 0
Benedict was the top QB on the draft board in 1962 as a pocket passing QB who had a solid arm. The Athletics would be the team to take a chance on the Michigan product, selecting him 8th overall. In his first season, he would play backup to QB Caldwell Higgins III on the travelling Athletics squad. Benedict would make his first 3 starts during the season, going 0-3. He would only get one start in year 2, still backing up Higgins during the team’s first season in Halifax. Finally, Benedict would get his first real shot at starting, going toe-to-toe with QB Buck Murphy during the 1964 season. Both QBs started 6 games, with Benedict coming away with the better 2-4 record. The Mariners would have to choose one of the QBs ahead of the Expansion Draft in 1965, and they elected to ride the younger Benedict into the next season. Benedict started all 12 games, going 5-7, in a pretty average season, throwing 13 touchdowns. While Benedict’s performance was maybe slightly below the league average, he was still young and probably deserved a shot, considering 5-7 was still the best season the team had since 1960. However, the Mariners couldn’t pass up the opportunity to add reigning MOP QB Lyle Painter in the offseason, relegating Benedict to the backup role. He was later traded during the 1966 season to the Ottawa Royals. The Royals were still looking for a long-term answer, so they were willing to take a chance on the young QB. Benedict would go 2-1 in 3 starts to finish 1966 and would earn the starting job in 1967. He would once again start all 12 games of the ‘67 season, going 5-7 again and throwing 14 touchdowns, but also 17 interceptions. Again, Benedict was fine, but not good enough. Next season, Ottawa drafted QB Drake Young, and then QB Tyrion Gainsborough beat out Benedict for the starting job, eventually leading the team to a 10-2 record. From here, Benedict became a backup, joining the Steelheads in 1969. In his 3 seasons with Toronto, he would make 4 starts, going 1-3. In the last year with the Steelheads, he was dealt to the Wheat Kings midseason, where he didn’t see the field. He joined the Edmonton Rangers in 1972, making 2 starts (0-2), before he finished his career in Winnipeg this past season. Benedict showed flashes of being an okay quarterback when teams gave him the reins, but he ended up being easily replaced, with plenty of other options available for teams.

Notable Retirements:
K Frank Hughes - Dover, DE - College: The Colonial College - Creator: Rugrat - Drafted: 1959 - Undrafted
Teams: LOU (63-69), MTL (70-71), TOR (72-73)
Hughes waited a few years to get a chance in the NAAF, but once he arrived, he was able to put together a solid career as a kicker, playing for 11 seasons.

WR Otto Washington - Albany, NY - College: Western New York - Creator: Kingsfan11 - Drafted: 1961 - BOS - R2 | P17
Teams: BOS (62), IND (63-65, 73), LOU (66), LI (67-72*) - McCallister Cups: 1
Washington had a journey of a career with 4 different teams over 12 seasons, but he was able to win a championship alongside his younger brother William Washington II in 1970.

S Calvin Hobbes - Cincinnati, OH - College: Major Cincinnati - Creator: Rugrat - Drafted: 1962 - IND - R3 | P21
Teams: IND (62-64), PIT (65-68), MIN (69-71), LI (72-73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Hobbes is one of two players to be selected by both Pittsburgh and Minnesota in their respective expansion drafts (Red Clarkson was the other). He had a solid career as a consistent starter, but he did move a decent amount.

DL Quinton Hextal - Niverville, MB - College: Western Manitoba - Creator: Wallflower - Drafted: 1962 - WFU
Teams: WFU (62-69), WPG (70, 72-73), EDM (71), LDN (73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Hextal’s short time in the NAAF was spent all over the map. He would play mostly with Winnipeg, but also had a season in Edmonton in between. He landed in London during his final season, getting a chance to compete with them.

WR Jav Kerrigan - Williamsport, PA - College: Western New York - Creator: Dan O’Mac - Drafted: 1963 - HFX - R1 | P10
Teams: HFX (63-73*) - McCallister Cups: 1
Kerrigan is a player who had lots of potential, but could not stay on the field. He suffered significant injuries in most seasons that he played in his career, which diminished his ability to make an impact on the field. However, despite that, Jav was still a fan favourite in Halifax, managing to come up with big plays, sending the crowd into “JAV! JAV! JAV” chants.

S Peter Sellers - Toronto, ON - College: Toronto - Creator: Wallflower - Drafted: 1963 - BOS - R4 | P35
Teams: BOS (63-64), PIT (65-66, 69-71), PRO (67), HFX (68*), MIN (72), TOR (73) - McCallister Cups: 1
Sellers is another safety who had a winding road of a career, not staying with any team for more than 3 seasons at most. He did manage to land in Halifax during their championship season in 1968. Sellers was almost always a starter wherever he went, carving out a solid career.

DL Zane Tannith - Hamilton, ON - College: UHamilton - Creator: Darknes - Drafted: 1963 - OTT - R1 | P6
Teams: OTT (63-71), BUF (72), LI (73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Tannith was a staple on the Royals’ D-line for much of the 1960s during the team’s rebuild. He did help them get back to the McCallister Cup in 1969, but a couple of years later, he would end up landing with Buffalo and Long Island to close out his career.

WR Colby Bancana - Portland, ME - College: Maine State - Creator: Stickman - Drafted: 1964 - OTT - R2 | P19
Teams: OTT (64-71), MIN (72), PRO (73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Bancana loved to be a star and make big plays. He did that a bit during his time with Ottawa in the 60s, but never was quite able to reach #1 WR status. He tried finding a new path late in his career with a year in Minnesota and Providence, but was unsuccessful.

WR Yahui Sun - Hong Kong - College: St. George - Creator: QCS - Drafted: 1964 - MTL - R1 | P6
Teams: MTL (64-71), PIT (72-73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Sun is the first Hong Kong-born player to play in the NAAF, taken 6th overall by Montreal. For much of the 1960s, Sun and Taylor Karis formed the dynamic duo in Montreal’s offence. Sun would play a couple of seasons in Pittsburgh before finally calling it a career.

DL Winfield Winchester - Ottawa, ON - College: Rideau - Creator: Noe38 - Drafted: 1964 - LOU - R1 | P2
Teams: LOU (64-68), OTT (69-71), MIN (72), REG (73) - McCallister Cups: 0
Louisville made the bold move up to 2nd overall in the 1964 draft to take Winfield Winchester. Unfortunately, Winchester didn’t live up to the high potential and struggled during his time with the Thunder. He would eventually head home to play with Ottawa in 1969, but still couldn’t recover his career. He had a couple more seasons in Minnesota and Regina, but was limited in impact.

WR Bennie Braverman - Danville, OH - College: Central Ohio - Creator: Dan O’Mac - Drafted: 1966 - IND - R3 | P32
Teams: IND (67-70), PRO (71-72*), REG (73) - McCallister Cups: 1
Braverman was never a big name in the NAAF, but was always a solid option for a team’s WR depth. He was able to capture a title in 1972 with Providence before getting a larger role with the Wheat Kings in his final season. However, it wasn’t enough to keep Braverman in the sport and he is retiring to pursue a doctorate and move on to the next chapter of his life.

1974 NAAF League Meetings

Hi everyone, I am back after a bit of a break following the last season. It was a much-needed break to take care of my mental health as well as take some time to plan out the next decade or so in the NAAF. I am excited about what is to come, so buckle up and get ready for the next era of NAAF football!

*Starting with this season, I am looking to change up the way the League Meetings are presented. They will be broken up into 3 posts: Opening Statements, Proposals, Voting Results and Final Announcements

Opening Statements: Gives each organization an opportunity to mention new developments for the teams, typically regarding ownership, stadium, and brand. 

Proposals: The league operates in a system similar to parliament in Canada, with representatives from the League, Players, Coaches/GMs, and Owners. All parties are able to propose potential changes to the league that will be debated and voted on during the 2-week session of meetings. 

Final Announcements: There will be a final vote, and all things that pass through the vote will be announced, and the new league season will officially begin.

1974 NAAF League Meetings: Opening Statements

Ryan Jameson, NAAF Commissioner
The commissioner opened the meetings. He congratulated the Montreal Rouge on their 3rd McCallister Cup. He also went on to note that the NAAF had one of its more profitable seasons this past year, continuing to solidify itself as the top football league in North America, despite lacking some of the biggest markets in the continent. Jameson thanked everyone for being here and passed the mic to Boston to start the team statements.

*Note: every team has a statement. Generally, they just do a short introduction. I will only cover teams that have something additional to say.

Boston Independents
Owner Benjamin Harris stepped forward for his final address to the league. Over the past couple of seasons, Harris has been in search of a new owner for the Independents. The process has gone a bit longer than expected. After a couple of family members, namely his Daughter, Stefanie Anderson, and nephew, Gordon Crawford, either turned down the opportunity or were unsure, he had extended the search to external options. There was certainly no shortage of those interested in potentially taking over the historical franchise. Many offered significant sums to take over the team, but Harris took his time, desiring to make sure the team is handed to someone he trusts to take care of the organization that has been in his family for decades. 

As the 1973 season was in progress, the list of potential buyers had been narrowed down to a couple of serious contenders; however, that would be shaken up when Harris’ nephew, Gordon, would come around and express a serious interest in taking over his Uncle’s business. Benjamin and Gordon would take some time to discuss the details, and after some final convincing, Crawford committed to taking over control of the team. Benjamin was overjoyed to keep the team in the family and knew he could trust his nephew. The two would come to an agreement where Crawford would get a significant discount on the official sale of the team. 

Harris’ statement began with a thank you to Commissioner Ryan Jameson and the rest of the representatives attending the meeting for everything that they did together. He officially introduced his nephew as the new owner of the Boston Independents. Gordon Crawford now stepped forward and delivered his own statement about being welcomed into the position and being ready to get started. 

Edmonton Rangers
Norman McKenzie stepped forward and noted that his team would be acknowledging the 50-year anniversary of the formation of the Western Football Union. The team’s former league was founded in 1924 in large part due to his father, Greg McKenzie. The league competed for nearly 50 years before officially being merged into the NAAF in 1971. The team is likely to add a patch to the uniform for the 1974 season. McKenzie also encouraged the other 4 former WFU teams to join him in the celebration.

Montreal Rouge
Rouge owner, Alvon Martineau, stepped up and congratulated his own team on their first title in 20 years. After that, he noted that earlier this year, the City of Montreal had begun construction on their new Olympic Stadium ahead of the 1976 Summer Games. Mount Royal Stadium will be a part of the event, hosting Football (Soccer) matches and potentially other events. Down the road, the new Olympic Stadium could potentially be a future home of the Rouge; however, the plan is to remain at Mount Royal for the foreseeable future. 

Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
Owner William Braddock updated the league with the progress on the Blacksmiths’ new stadium. The building broke ground in the spring of 1973 after being officially announced last year. Thus far, the project has had no issues and should be ready to go ahead of the 1975 season as originally planned.

Regina Wheat Kings
Owner Bill Kingsley did show up to start the league meetings, but it was the President of Football Operations, Scott Hoffman, who took the lead as the team’s representative. Hoffman noted first that Regina managed to make a slim profit this season for the first time since joining the NAAF, showing progress with the team. Attendance was slightly up, and other promotions added revenues elsewhere. However, there are growing concerns about the team’s stadium. Broad Street Stadium is a very small and patchwork stadium. There have been growing safety concerns as well as complaints from visiting teams about the small locker rooms. The raised concerns are pushing the Wheat Kings to either get a new stadium or provide proper renovations and safety fixes to the current stadium. A new stadium seems far-fetched at this point since the team has struggled to sell out the 19,000-seat stadium, mostly due to fan apathy towards ownership. However, with Hoffman in charge, it has started to turn for the better. The most likely resolution is going to be a renovation, which likely would see the stadium expand a bit as well to get up to 25,000 seats or more. Potential hiccups in the plan is the cost as well as the Wheat Kings probably needing a temporary home for the season in which the renovations would be occurring. They could potentially play games at a smaller field at Royal Regina University or even Saskatchewan Provincial University in Saskatoon. The plan is currently in development as Hoffman stated his dedication to keep football in the prairie province.

Vancouver Wolves
Mark Livingston brought some exciting news from Vancouver. The team was working with the city to begin the process on a new Stadium for the Wolves. There are several sites that the team is looking at for the new building, which will far exceed the 35,200-seat Vancouver Exhibition Stadium. They are talking to the City of Vancouver about two potential spots. One option would keep the building near the current stadium location in Hastings Park. The 2nd, bolder option would move the team to downtown Vancouver along the waterfront. The team is also in discussions with the City of Burnaby, as well, being a potential backup option that would move the team slightly further from downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver city council will discuss the projects in the next month, and the team should have a plan in place to begin the process within the next year. 

Kansas City Expansion Team
Finally, Jacob Cross, the prospective owner for the Kansas City expansion bid, had bad news to deliver. However, he started with some good news that the Stadium did make some progress in the past year with some additional investment, which did include a bit of a rework of the original plan. Cutting some of the cost of making a slightly smaller stadium to start. That being said, the stadium could be ready to go by the 1975 season. As for the bad news, Cross announced that he was going to stop his pursuit of an expansion team, stepping down from the KC bid. Cross announced that the last year was very tough on him, losing his mother and having some personal family issues. He was tired and realized that his family was not worth losing over a football team. He said he hopes the NAAF can find a new man to take the lead, and thanked everyone for their hospitality during his time involved in the league.  

1974 NAAF League Meetings: Proposals

Proposal 74.A: Expansion Partner for Kansas City
Proposing Party: Commissioner Ryan Jameson

The NAAF will vote on which expansion bid will be paired with the Kansas City expansion team as the league’s 20th franchise. The candidates for selection are Denver, Colorado and Seattle, Washington. One city will be selected and will move forward as the expansion partner to Kansas City. The other is to be tabled for further expansion or a potential backup plan if the Kansas City bid is unable to find new ownership.

Proposal 74.A1: Year of Expansion
Proposing Party: Commissioner Ryan Jameson

The year in which the franchise will join will also be voted upon. The current target is between 1975-1978. Several plans will be brought forward for the various potential timelines, and one will be chosen.

Background:

Read the full post from the 1973 League Meetings for a full refresh on the bids from the two cities. Here is a summary of the bids:

Denver, Colorado - Population (Metro): 1,116,226

Ownership: The group is headed by Don Farley and is hoping to attract sports back into Denver. They are targeting both Football and Baseball, hoping stadium renovations and a refocused ownership group can lead to success in the city. Farley and his group are focused and ready to make the business boom.

Market and Stadium: One of the largest untapped markets in the Western part of the continent. There was an attempted baseball team in 1963, which relocated after 6 years. The baseball park was left without a major tenant, though it has been used by Mile High University. Minor adaptations need to be made to the stadium for a football team to play there full-time. The stadium could be ready to go as early as 1975 if renovations begin as soon as possible.

Seattle, Washington - Population (Metro): 1,832,896

Ownership: Last offseason, the Seattle bid was much earlier in the process of solidifying its leader. John Orson has risen as the lead on the expansion bid. Orson is quite excited about the prospect of the team and is passionate about the city. As a bonus, Orson has connections to Seattle State, which could make working with the University much smoother.

Market and Stadium: The City has Baseball and Hockey teams. There is a strong college following behind Seattle State University. However, the University might be skeptical about the potential competition. Overall, potential ownership is more prepared now under Orson, but still a bit more organization is needed. The current plan would see the team share Seattle State’s Stadium in the early seasons; however, there is a potential to look at the Baseball Park as a second option. 

Proposal 74.B: 56th McCallister Cup Host - Eastern Canada Region
Proposing Party: Commissioner Ryan Jameson

The 56th McCallister Cup host will be in the Eastern Canada Region. The candidates for hosting are Mount Royal Stadium (Montreal, Quebec), Royals Stadium at Brewer Park (Ottawa, Ontario), and Anderson Stadium (Toronto, Ontario).

Proposal 74.C: Single Team Affiliations to Semi-Professional Teams
Proposing Party: Toronto Steelheads

Single team affiliations would allow teams to hold a partnership with semi-professional teams in the Eastern Canadian Semi-Professional Football League and the New England Semi-Professional Football Championship. The partnership would grant teams the ability to send reserve players to the affiliated team to grow.

Current Status: Players on NAAF Reserve Lists are eligible to sign with any Semi-Professional team to play games while on Reserve. 

The benefits of this proposal would be that teams could more easily get players to their Active Roster during the season if a close partnership is established. They will also have more control over player development. The primary negative is that the teams further west have no local options for sending players, with the most Western team in either league being the Kitchener Blue Tigers.

Proposal 74.C1: Formation of Partnered Semi-Professional League in Western Canada
Proposing Parties: Vancouver Wolves, Winnipeg Falcons

If 74.C is passed, to address the disadvantage to Western teams, a new Semi-Professional league will be formed in Western Canada. Partnerships with these teams will be exclusive to teams from the NAAF West Division. Several potential markets could be Victoria and Kelowna in BC, Lethbridge, Alberta,  and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Proposal 74.D: Increase to Player Minimum Wage
Proposing Party: NAAF Players Committee

The players are proposing an increase to the NAAF’s minimum wage for Active Roster players. A $2,500 increase from the current $10,000 minimum wage. The increase would bring the minimum wage up to $12,500.

Proposal 74.E: Slowed Increase of League Salary Cap
Proposing Parties: Halifax Mariners, London Tigers

The NAAF is expecting a major increase to the salary cap under the current system, which estimates the cap should be around $945,000. The 1973 salary cap was $785,000. This would mark a $160,000 increase or a 20.38% increase. The Tigers and Mariners are proposing a more gradual increase of the salary cap to ensure that the smaller organizations will still be able to spend up to the league’s salary cap and compete with richer teams in the league. The likely resolution is to instill a cap on the salary increase that prevents the cap from extending beyond a certain percentage of the previous season. The current range of percentage increase is 5-10%.

Proposal 74.E1: Pre-announced Salary Cap Values
Proposing Party: Long Island Raiders

The Raiders are proposing that the NAAF determine the Salary Cap for the upcoming season before this season, so teams have a better opportunity to plan for future salary caps. For example, the league would determine the Salary Cap for this season, 1974, and then the 1975 season as well.

1974 League Meetings: Voting Results and Final Announcements

Proposal 74.A: Expansion Partner for Kansas City
Result: Denver, Colorado - Passed

Denver was selected as the Expansion Partner for Kansas City. Don Farley will head the expansion bid, as Denver will join the NAAF as the league’s 20th franchise, while Kansas City, as of now, will be the league’s 19th franchise. 

The common opinion on the decision was that Denver, despite being the smaller market, had a better organized ownership group and plan. The city also gets the NAAF into a new region of the mountains, while Seattle is much an extension of Vancouver. However, most also agree that Seattle is a market where the league should place a team in the near future, so it is expected that Seattle will be a part of the next set of expansion teams. 

Proposal 74.A1: Year of Expansion
Result: 1976

Once Denver was decided as the Expansion Partner, proper expansion plans were drawn up and debated. The passed plan sets the Kansas City-Denver Expansion to take place for the 1976 season. Both cities would be able to have their stadiums ready to go for the 1975 season. However, with Jacob Cross stepping down from the KC bid, the league felt it was best to allow for more time to secure a new owner for the team. 

In more detail, here is what each bid has planned:

Denver, Colorado - Denver Stadium (Previously named Mountaineers Park), is set for renovations to properly house a Football configuration. The new renovations will bring in new seating options, expanding on the current capacity as well. The renovations should be completed by 1975. 

Kansas City, Missouri - The current stadium project is about a year out from being fully ready to go. Should be ready by 1975, assuming everything goes smoothly from here. However, there is a temporary pause as the NAAF looks for a replacement for Jacob Cross, who had stepped down as the prospective owner earlier. 

Seattle, Washington - With the uncertainty surrounding Kansas City, Seattle’s bid under John Orson is being maintained. If there is a case where Kansas City is delayed any further or the search for a new ownership fails, the league will replace Kansas City with Seattle for 1976. Orson will continue to organize his bid further and secure a facility to play at and plan for the 1976 season. If the plan for Kansas City follows through and KC joins Denver in 1976, Seattle will be awarded a team in a subsequent expansion before 1980.

Proposal 74.B: 56th McCallister Cup Host - Eastern Canada Region
Result: Anderson Stadium - Toronto, Ontario

Toronto was selected to be the host for the 56th McCallister Cup. The league agreed that Canada’s largest market deserved to have the spotlight this season as they continue to grow the game in the city. Toronto has hosted the championship game once previously in 1966. The 48th McCallister Cup featured Buffalo defeating Montreal 30-12 in the most lopsided McCallister Cup in NAAF history.

Proposal 74.C: Single Team Affiliations to Semi-Professional Teams
Result: Passed

The league passed the proposal to allow teams to agree to affiliation partnerships with Semi-Professional teams for the 1974 season. The agreements will allow teams to partner with a team and send their reserve players to play for them during the season. Teams are not required to have an affiliated team. If a team chooses to remain unaffiliated, players on the reserve are free to sign with any Semi-Professional team they choose during the season, which is the current rule. Once partnerships have been agreed to, a full list of team affiliations will be compiled and released for transparency. 

The debate did extend the idea of growing the Semi-Pro leagues, or forming a new league, into a proper Professional Minor league(s) which would more properly serve player growth in the NAAF. The NAAF values the partnership that they have had with the Semi-Pro leagues, as several undrafted players have gone on to have successful NAAF careers after starting in the Semi-Pro leagues, notably, DB Santino Arriola, LB Byron Seabrooke, and DL Ernest Schenn. 

Proposal 74.C1: Formation of Partnered Semi-Professional League in Western Canada
Result: Passed

As a result of the passing of Proposal 74.C, the NAAF will organize a smaller Semi-Professional league in Western Canada for the West Division team exclusively. As stated before, the league will only be available for West Division teams to create partnerships with. As for likely team locations, Victoria and Kelowna are pretty much locks to get teams, with Lethbridge and Saskatoon as strong potential markets. The goal right now is to have at least 4 teams in place for this season. However, there is still potential for the league to push for 6 teams in total so that all West Division teams have an option.

Proposal 74.D: Increase to Player Minimum Wage
Result: Failed

This narrowly failed to pass this time around. With the proposed increase, there would be at least a $105,000 increase to the teams’ baseline (the amount needed in order to fill a roster of 42 players at the minimum wage). Regina heavily argued against the increase, stating that they believe the increase would potentially force the team back into a loss next season, which is not going to help with improving their current stadium situation. Ultimately, the league measured the arguments and believed the best course of action was to hold off on the increase and come back to it in the upcoming seasons. 

Proposal 74.E: Slowed Increase of League Salary Cap
Result: Passed - 10% Increase Upper Limit for next 3 Seasons

With similar arguments to the previous Proposal, the league voted to pass an upper limit to the salary cap that will be in place for the next 3 seasons (1974, 1975, and 1976). With this rule, the maximum amount the salary cap can increase is by 10% of the previous season’s salary cap. The 1974 season will have this rule come into effect as the cap will only increase to $863,500 for this upcoming season. The max it could increase for 1975 is to $949,850, then to $1,044,835 in 1976 if the limit is reached for the 1975 season; otherwise, the increase can only increase by 10% of what the 1975 salary cap ends up being.

Proposal 74.E2: Pre-announced Salary Cap Values
Result: Failed

The league ultimately decided that the 10% increase was enough information that this rule was not necessary. There is an upper threshold that the cap can increase, which should give teams enough information to manage their future finances. 

1973 NAAF Awards

Most Outstanding Player

QB Kevin Westwood - Vancouver Wolves

In just 4 seasons, Westwood has quickly established himself as one of the elite passers in the NAAF. This season, Westwood led the league’s #1 offence, throwing 31 touchdowns (tying Buck Murphy) and only 7 interceptions. He was consistent, dominant, and poised all year long, leading the Wolves to their first West Division title and best finish in the regular season since joining the NAAF in 1970. An outstanding performance, rightfully earning the league’s MOP for 1973.

Playoff Most Outstanding Player

WR Antonio Villanueva - Montreal Rouge

The Rouge had an excellent run in the postseason, but one of the standout stars was WR Antonio Villanueva. The 24-year-old has made a massive impact in his first few years, and during this playoff run, he scored 3 times during the first two games. While he didn’t get into the endzone in the McCallister Cup, he had a few key plays that set up scores in the big game.

Offensive Player of the Year

WR Casey Coleman - Louisville Thunder

Since his move to Louisville, Casey Coleman has continued to show again and again that he is the best WR in the league. He had 16 touchdowns this season, which was 5 more than the next receiver in the league. It was another dominant season for Coleman, which earned him his 2nd Offensive Player of the Year. 

Defensive Player of the Year

LB Reuben James - London Tigers

It was a close race between LB Reuben James, DL Johnathan Ellison, and DB Lamar Brown. In the end, it was the 26-year-old who earned the DPOY. James led the league in tackles this season, helping the Tigers to their best defensive performance in the past half-decade. James becomes the 2nd Tiger to win the Award, following his current head coach Aengus Lynch, who won the award in 1956. 

Special Teams Player of the Year

K Vic Greatwood - Long Island Raiders

One year ago, Greatwood was at home watching the league from his couch. One year later, and now Greatwood is a Special Teams Player of the Year winner, finishing with 147 points this season. Greatwood becomes the 3rd different Raiders’ kicker to win the Award, following K Thomas McFadden (4x) and K Henderson Schumacher (5x), joining a list of great kickers out of Long Island.

Offensive Lineman of the Year

OL Carlton Vanderbilt - Boston Independents

Vanderbilt became the 3rd unique winner of the OLOY award, leading the Boston O-line that was a part of one of the strongest run-games in the league. The former 5th Overall Pick has been the best part of a strong Boston front that has been great for the run game and protecting QB Nathaniel Braddock. 

Coach of the Year

Johnnie Dawson - Vancouver Wolves

It is tough to make an argument for anyone else to be Coach of the Year this season when Dawson coached the Wolves to a 1st place finish this season. He was able to help facilitate the league’s #1 offence and #1 defence, which is rare to do in one season. A feat that truly shows how well-rounded of a coach Dawson is.  

Rookie of the Year

DB Oliver Benson - London Tigers

There were several strong rookies this season, but it was Benson who stood above the rest, proving to be not only the strongest rookie but one of the best at the position in the league. He finished his rookie season with 8 interceptions, which is up there amongst the NAAF’s elite. Benson did this while also starting the season coming off the bench, just showing how dominant he was down the stretch. Along with DPOY LB Reuben James, the Tigers have a bright future on defence. 

Breakout of the Year

LB Lochlan Bourne - Vancouver Wolves

Bourne was a unique star this season, becoming a valuable part of Vancouver’s top defence. He had 4 interceptions which was the most among linebackers this season. His unique ability in coverage makes him a unique piece in the defence and at only 24 years of age, the Wolves have a young key player that should hopefully be a strong piece for the foreseeable future.

1973 All-Stars

West Division All-Stars

QB Kevin Westwood - VAN (4)

RB Tyler Kuhn - MIN (3)

OL Charles Hyland - REG (1)

OL Kenny Rudolph - VAN (1)

OL Claude Balderson - WPG (3)

OL David Biarski - MIN (1)

OL Charles Schwartz - CGY (3)

WR Akira Sakamoto - VAN (1)

WR Keshawn Johnston - VAN (4)

WR Sebastian Dassler - MIN (4)

TE Johnny Temple - VAN (4)

DL Butcher Callahan - REG (2)

DL Damian Battles - CGY (4)

DL Rashawn Sutherland - VAN (1)

DL Caleb Cologne - EDM (2)

LB Marcus McGhee - CGY (1)

LB Garrett Roberts - MIN (2)

LB Claude Clarke - WPG (4)

DB Austin Sherebernikoff - MIN (3)

DB Scott Summerhayes - CGY (1)

S Takuya Sasaki - VAN (1)

S Vernon Redgate - WPG (3)

K Ray Bough - MIN (2)

Central Division All-Stars

QB Buck Murphy - LOU (1)

RB Jeremy Royal - LDN (1)

OL Artem Sobakov - BUF (4)

OL Robert Pelletier - LOU (1)

OL Gordie Hammarstein - LOU (3)

OL Jean Baptiste Francois - PIT (4)

OL Jacob Szczepanski - LDN (1)

WR Casey Coleman - LOU (6)

WR Taylor Austin - PIT (3)

WR Jake Abbredezzi - IND (3)

TE Rex Williamson - LOU (3)

DL Aaron Henderson - LOU (5)

DL Arthur Bradshaw - PIT (5)

DL Ned Hedman - BUF (2)

DL Matthias Hartmann - PIT (2)

LB Reuben James - LDN (3)

LB Judge Barrett - TOR (3)

LB Ricky Wildgoose - LOU (1)

DB Zed McLaughlin - PIT (5)

DB Dwayne James - TOR (2)

S Charles Clerk - TOR (5)

S Marcus Harris - LDN (1)

K Nimrod Handsworth - LDN (7)

East Division All-Stars

QB Ivan Sanchez - LI (1)

RB Reggie Whitehead - BOS (4)

OL Carlton Vanderbilt - BOS (3)

OL Kane Warwick - HFX (5)

OL Elliot Barrett - MTL (5)

OL Dane Hodgeson - OTT (1)

OL Doyle MacInnis - LI (1)

WR Sterling Underhill - OTT (1)

WR Antonio Villanueva - MTL (2)

WR Justin Palmer - PRO (2)

TE Eric Peterson - LI (2)

DL Johnathan Ellison - LI (3)

DL Alan Franjkovic - MTL (1)

DL Bernhard Hartmann - OTT (4)

DL Bartolo Cruz - PRO (5)

LB Jean-Christophe Bain - MTL (2)

LB Kurt Warlock - PRO (5)

LB Byron Turner - BOS (6)

DB Lamar Brown - MTL (4)

DB Sergio Alvarez - OTT (6)

S Ernie Osborne - BOS (3)

S Mathieu Cazenave - MTL (3)

K Vic Greatwood - LI (1) 

55th McCallister Cup

Roster Moves
MTL: DB Jean Paul du Pont | Active Roster -> Injured Reserve
MTL: DB Real Monet | Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
VAN: LB Jaylen Murray | Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
VAN: LB Shawn Anderson | Active Roster -> Injured Reserve

(3) Montreal Rouge VS. (1) Vancouver Wolves - Midgard Stadium - October 21, 1973 - 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CST - Weather: Partly Cloudy - 20°C | 68°F - Attendance: 50,226

* The field this season features the 25th Season logo instead of the usual NAAF logo. In addition, the 25-yard line on both sides of the field is outlined in red to also signify the 25th season. 

It was a beautiful evening in Minneapolis, with the sun slowly setting on Midgard Stadium. A mix of fans from across the league settled in to watch the big game. The local Minnesota subset of fans seemed to side more with the Rouge, considering their current rivalry with the Wolves. St. Paul native OL Bobby Finley got a big cheer when his name was announced as a member of Montreal’s starting lineup.

1st Quarter
The game itself started slow. Both teams were feeling each other out, playing it relatively safe to start the game. The conservative play would lead to minimal offence in the early stages. The game seesawed like this for a few drives before Vancouver was able to break into Montreal’s end. RB Jeremiah Morrow slipped by the Rouge front for an 18-yard run that would set up the Wolves at the Montreal 38. QB Kevin Westwood completed a couple more passes before K Sterling Brooks would score the opening points of the game with a field goal. It took a bit longer for Montreal to get the ball moving, but they would in the final minutes of the quarter. On the last play of the quarter, QB Tom Applewhite would connect with WR Antonio Villaneuva, which would put the Rouge at the Wolves’ 23.
MTL 0-3 VAN 

2nd Quarter
A few plays into the 2nd, Montreal would tie the game on a K Buster McDooley field goal. Vancouver’s ensuing drive would not last long. QB Kevin Westwood would be pressured by a Montreal blitz. He had to make a quick throw. The throw was a wobbly toss out towards WR Keshawn Johnston. The ball didn’t have enough juice to get to him, and DB Lamar Brown would cut underneath and intercept the pass, setting up Montreal in Vancouver territory. The Rouge would not get far, but still added 3 more points to take their first lead of the game. The Wolves did not dwell on the turnover. QB Kevin Westwood returned to the field and delivered a methodical drive. He found ways to connect with his receivers despite going up against arguably the league’s best secondary. With some help from the backfield, Westwood had the Wolves down to the 10. The next play, he would hit WR Keshawn Johnston to the outside, with a much better throw, for a touchdown to regain the lead. Montreal’s next drive was short. After RB Bo Frazier was stopped for only 2 yards, QB Tom Applewhite would fail to connect with WR Taylor Karis, leading to a quick punt. Vancouver got the ball back and quickly found themselves back in field goal range. Unfortunately, K Sterling Brook’s 2nd kick of the day would flutter wide right. RB Mark St-Pierre would field the missed kick and then elect to take a knee for a single, extending Vancouver’s lead to 6-11. As halftime loomed, Montreal hoped to get some more points before the break. They got a drive going towards midfield. At their own 48, QB Tom Applewhite would miss on a 1st down pass. On 2nd down, Applewhite fired a pass to WR Antonio Villanueva. The young WR would make the grab and spin off of an incoming hit from LB Jaylen Murray. WR Taylor Karis and TE John Schall would land some blocks, allowing Villanueva to slip past the Wolves’ secondary. He would scramble all the way down to the 14 before S Gunpei Koizumi tripped him up. From the 14, Applewhite would hit a quick pass to Karis before then finding TE Sylvain Leblanc at the front of the endzone for a touchdown to regain the lead. The team would go for 2 to make a 3-point game, but DB Christian Allen was able to knock the pass attempt away.
MTL 12-11 VAN

3rd Quarter
Vancouver came out of the break aggressive. QB Kevin Westwood’s first pass of the half would be a 46-yard bomb to WR Akira Sakamoto. The speedy receiver was able to pick up 10 more yards after the catch before being brought down by S Mathieu Cazenave. The Wolves continued to push down to the 3, where RB Richard Morin would punch in the touchdown to go back up by 6. The quick score left Montreal reeling a little, but they were able to answer back on the next drive, as K Buster McDooley knocked down his 3rd field goal of the game. Montreal’s defence would step it up on the next drive with the help of a DL Alan Franjkovic sack to force a 2 and out. The offence returned to the field looking to take back the lead. However, the drive was short-lived as QB Tom Applewhite’s toss to WR Antonio Villanueva was underthrown, allowing DB Christian Allen to get under it and take the ball back for Vancouver. The ensuing drive would result in a field goal for the Wolves, reinstating the 6-point lead. Montreal would have a more balanced drive coming off of the turnover. RB Bo Frazier was able to move the ball on the ground, while Applewhite was making some safer, quick throws. As much as the Wolves tried to stop them, Montreal kept finding ways to get first downs. They inched their way down to the 4, where Frazier powered through the Wolves’ front, carrying several defenders into the endzone. With the extra point, Montreal was back out in front. In the dying minutes of the 3rd, the Wolves were back on offence and already making strides down the field. A couple of chunk plays from WR Tristian Lewis and RB Chavez Arrington allowed Vancouver to get over midfield just before the quarter ended.
MTL 22-21 VAN

4th Quarter
After flipping sides, the Wolves continued to roll with another first down before they were finally held up. The Wolves would put up another field goal to take a 2-point lead. Once again, the lead didn’t last long as Montreal was able to go back the other way and match the field goal, making it 25-24. The game’s intensity picked up heading into the home stretch as both teams were fighting for every last inch. Montreal would get a break when RB Richard Morin coughed up the football on Vancouver’s next drive. The Rouge recovered the fumble, only to give it back to the Wolves when QB Tom Applewhite sent the ball into the arms of LB Lochlan Bourne. The Wolves now had the ball just a bit behind where they initially gave it up. The only thing the two turnovers did was waste valuable time for the Wolves. Thus, they would come out just as aggressively as the start of the half, with Westwood attacking the Montreal secondary. He would not connect on 1st down, but did find TE Johnny Temple on second to keep the drive going. They continued to push the ball, even adding some variation with runs from the many men in the backfield. Vancouver found themselves knocking on the door again. On this drive, the Wolves would get into the endzone with Westwood finding WR Tristian Lewis for the score to make it 25-30. The Wolves would go for two to make it a 7-point game. Westwood attempted to throw it back into the endzone, going back to Lewis over the middle, but the pass was broken up by LB Grover Smith, keeping the game a 25-30. The ball was back in Montreal’s court. The next drive was a long one. The Rouge were facing every 2nd down possible and even a couple of 3rd downs as they made their way down the field. However, they kept the drive alive. RB Bo Frazier twice would get past the sticks on 3rd and short. Montreal was now down to the 30-yard line. QB Tom Applewhite would drop back and hit WR Taylor Karis to pick up 8. After Frazier got the last couple of yards on 2nd, they would now have 19 yards to go and a new set of downs. Applewhite would then find WR Antonio Villanueva for 7. He would appear to go down, but somehow shook off the DB Christian Allen tackle and picked up another 5 to get down to the 7. On 1st down, RB Bo Frazier would be stuffed for no yards, setting up 2nd and Goal. On the next play, Applewhite would attempt to throw it for the touchdown. He would make a quick throw towards Villanueva, but the ball was a bit high. There would be a lot of contact on the play from DB Christian Allen, and Villanueva was very adamant that there should have been a penalty, but the refs kept the flags in their pockets. It was now 3rd and Goal, and the Rouge elected to be aggressive and go for it, even if there was still time to potentially get 2 field goals. Applewhite would once again drop back to throw. He would hesitate on the throw, and the Rouge line was not able to hold up for the full time. The Wolves were starting to break through. Applewhite scrambled out to the right and then saw an open man. WR Taylor Karis had improvised and slipped toward the sideline, wide open. Applewhite lobbed it to him. The ball floated. Karis caught the pass, but DB Apollo Duckworth had time to catch up. The two collided. Karis appeared to bobble the ball a little but managed to still clutch it against his body to hold on for the go-ahead touchdown. The Rouge would follow up with a 2-point attempt, and RB Bo Frazier would break through the Wolves’ defence to make it a 3-point game. The Wolves would still have some time following the score. They would make some quick gains to get up to the 42. However, they then faced a 3rd and 4 after an incompletion on 2nd down. Westwood would drop back and connect with WR Keshawn Johnston to keep the drive alive. They kept on pressing, picking up another first down to get into Montreal’s end. The drive continued as the Wolves got into range for K Sterling Brooks. After being forced to 3rd down again with less than a minute to go. Brooks would take the field for a 44-yard attempt. Brooks stepped up to kick, and as he followed through, S Garet deVale came flying off the edge. deVale, who had a limited role this season, still had a little more gas in the tank and would get just enough to deflect the kick. The ball still got past the line, but was not going to go through the uprights. Montreal would get the loose ball. Applewhite would kneel out the final plays as Montreal would secure their first McCallister Cup in 20 years.

Scoring Summary
1st Q
0-3: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
3-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
2nd Q
6-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
6-10: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Keshawn Johnston
6-11: VAN - Single K Sterling Brooks
12-11: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> TE Sylvain Leblanc
3rd Q
12-18: VAN - RTD RB Richard Morin
15-18: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
15-21: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
22-21: MTL - RTD RB Bo Frazier
22-24: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
4th Q
25-24: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
25-30: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Tristian Lewis
31-30: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Taylor Karis
33-30: MTL - 2PT RB Bo Frazier

Injury Report
VAN: LB Kyrell Warner - Hand Injury - 2 Weeks

McCallister Cup MOP

WR Taylor Karis MTL - 1 Receiving Touchdown, 71 Receiving Yards

1973 McCallister Cup Champions

1973 Season Recap