CONFIRM DEAL: Elks signing 68 Grey Cups in Green and Gold between them
Keep it quiet! We don’t want to alert any potential thieves about the valuable jewelry that will be on display between noon and 1:30 at the Commonwealth Stadium fieldhouse this Saturday. During this time, 24 members of the Edmonton Elks alumni will be signing autographs for fans, showcasing a total of 68 Grey Cup rings earned throughout the franchise’s history.
These alumni include notable figures such as Warren Moon, Damon Allen, and Ricky Ray, as well as longstanding players like Jed Roberts, Bayne Norrie, Larry Wruck, and Mike McLean. The event celebrates 75 years of football at Stadium Road, where the Elks have thrilled their supporters at Commonwealth Stadium and its predecessor, Clarke Stadium.
The team is dubbing this alumni autograph session its largest ever and has scheduled it before the Elks’ season kickoff against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 2 p.m.
Here’s a breakdown of who will be signing autographs during the specified time slots:
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM:
– Michel Bourgeau: 1989-93, defensive line-long snapper.
– Gregg Butler: 1977-80, defensive back-kick returner.
– Rod Connop: 1982-97, offensive line.
– Sean Fleming: 1992-2007, kicker-punter.
– Joe Hollimon: 1976-85, defensive back-kick returner.
– Stephan Jones: 1986-1989, wide receiver-kick returner.
– Ricky Ray: 2002-03, 2005-11, quarterback.
– Michael Reilly: 2013-18, quarterback.
– Jed Roberts: 1990-2002, defensive end-linebacker-special teams stalwart.
– Grant Shaw: 2012-16, kicker-punter.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM:
– Damon Allen: 1985-88, 1993-94, quarterback.
– Danny Bass: 1984-91, linebacker.
– Dave Cutler: 1969-84, place kicker.
– Mike McLean: 1986-92, linebacker.
Let’s keep the buzz about this event positive and focused on celebrating the Elks’ rich history rather than attracting any unwanted attention.
Let’s maintain discretion! We wouldn’t want to tip off any potential wrongdoers about the valuable jewelry that’ll be available for viewing between noon and 1:30 at the Commonwealth Stadium fieldhouse this Saturday. During this window, 24 Edmonton Elks alumni will be graciously signing autographs for fans, showcasing an impressive total of 68 Grey Cup rings earned over the franchise’s history.
Among these esteemed alumni are renowned figures like Warren Moon, Damon Allen, and Ricky Ray, alongside stalwart players such as Jed Roberts, Bayne Norrie, Larry Wruck, and Mike McLean. This event commemorates 75 years of football at Stadium Road, where the Elks have consistently delighted their loyal supporters at Commonwealth Stadium and the former Clarke Stadium.
The team is labeling this alumni autograph session its most extensive to date and has scheduled it just before the Elks’ season opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 2 p.m.
Here’s a breakdown of who will be signing autographs during the specified time slots:
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM:
– Michel Bourgeau
– Gregg Butler
– Rod Connop
– Sean Fleming
– Joe Hollimon
– Stephan Jones
– Ricky Ray
– Michael Reilly
– Jed Roberts
– Grant Shaw
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM:
– Damon Allen
– Danny Bass
– Dave Cutler
– Mike McLean
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM:
– Hugh Campbell
– Brian Dickinson
– Paul Hickie
– Ed Jones
– Brian Kelly
Let’s maintain a positive atmosphere around this event, celebrating the rich history of the Elks, rather than attracting any unwanted attention.
Warren Moon, a quarterback from 1978 to 1983, is the sole player honored in both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and America’s Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hailing from Los Angeles and a product of Washington, he began his professional career with Edmonton straight out of college in 1978. During his tenure with the team, he contributed significantly to their five consecutive Grey Cup victories. Moon’s impressive performance in the CFL included amassing 21,228 passing yards over six seasons, ranking second all-time in the league and setting the standard for double-E signal-callers until Ricky Ray surpassed it over two decades later. With 2,382 passes thrown, he ranks third in team history and sits third in career completions with 1,369. In his final year with Edmonton in 1983, Moon achieved record-breaking numbers, including 5,648 passing yards, which remained unmatched until Ray edged past it 25 years later by a mere 15 yards. Additionally, he set three enduring records: most yards in a single game (555 against Montreal on Oct. 15), most touchdowns thrown in a game (five), and the highest season passer rating of 108.3. Moon’s legacy also includes the record for most touchdown passes in a season, with 36 in 1982, a feat equaled by Tracy Ham in 1990. After departing Edmonton for the Houston Oilers in 1984, Moon earned nine Pro Bowl selections during his 17-season NFL career, retiring after the 2000 season with a career passing yardage of 70,553, a pro record until Allen surpassed it in 2006.
Bayne Norrie, a defensive back-returner from 1968 to 1975, hailed from North Bay, Ontario, and attended Queen’s University. Spending eight seasons with the Green and Gold, he primarily played as a defensive back and returner while also demonstrating versatility in other positions when required, such as receiver, running back, and punter. Norrie ranks second in the team’s history for punt returns with 299. His career culminated in a Grey Cup victory in 1975, after which he retired at the beginning of the following year’s training camp.
Tom Wilkinson, a quarterback from 1972 to 1981, represented the Wyoming product known as ‘Wilkie.’ He joined Edmonton after being released by the B.C. Lions during the 1972 training camp, embarking on a decade-long tenure with the Green and Gold. Initially sharing quarterback duties with Bruce Lemmerman and later Warren Moon, Wilkinson played a pivotal role in the team’s five Grey Cup triumphs. His contributions included completing 1,382 passes for Edmonton, a mark now ranking second in team history behind Ricky Ray. Wilkinson’s career statistics with Edmonton include 2,252 passes, 129 touchdowns, and 16,684 passing yards, placing him fourth in the team’s all-time records. He retired immediately after winning the 1981 Grey Cup.