2013 CFL season

The 2013 Canadian Football League season was the 60th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 56th season of the league.

2013 CFL season
Regular season
DurationJune 27 – November 2, 2013
Playoffs
Start dateNovember 10, 2013
East ChampionsHamilton Tiger Cats
West ChampionsSaskatchewan Roughriders
101st Grey Cup
DateNovember 24, 2013
SiteMosaic Stadium at Taylor Field,
Regina
ChampionsSaskatchewan Roughriders
CFL seasons

The pre-season began on June 12, 2013 and the regular season began on June 27, 2013.[1] Regina, Saskatchewan hosted the 101st Grey Cup on November 24, with the Cup won by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

CFL news in 2013

Salary cap

According to a new collective bargaining agreement, the 2013 salary cap was set at $4,400,000. As per the agreement, the cap is fixed and does not vary with league revenue performance. The minimum team salary was set at $4,000,000, with individual minimum salaries set at $45,000.[2]

Season schedule

The 2013 season schedule was released on March 5, 2013, with the regular season opening on June 27 at the new Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[3] This was the first time Winnipeg had opened the regular season since 1998 and the first brand new Canadian stadium in the CFL since Toronto's SkyDome opened in 1989 (the Alamodome opened in 1993 with the now defunct San Antonio Texans playing there in 1995). For the second time in three years, the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats did not play in their Labour Day Classic matchup, due to scheduling conflicts for both teams. Following the previous year's experiment, the league held all division matchups not only in the last week, but for the final four weeks in total, hoping for a tight playoff race. There were 15 double headers, with one on a Thursday, three on Fridays, nine on Saturdays, one on a Sunday, and the traditional Thanksgiving contests on a Monday.[4]

Bye weeks

For the second consecutive year, the teams' bye weeks occurred in the sixth and seventh weeks of the season, earlier than the usual eighth and ninth week setup that had been in place since 2007. These began over the August Civic Holiday, suggesting that this was done to accommodate for fans' vacation plans.

Stadium changes

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats played 2013 home games at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, with the exception of Touchdown Atlantic (see below). The team's previous venue, Ivor Wynne Stadium, was demolished during the offseason, and its replacement, Tim Hortons Field, would not be ready until at least 2014. For the first time in decades, the Tiger-Cats did not host the Labour Day Classic and instead traveled to Vancouver to face the BC Lions that weekend. Because Ontario University Athletics (of which Alumni Stadium's primary tenants, the Guelph Gryphons, are a member) also has a tradition of playing football games on Labour Day, finding a suitable venue within Southern Ontario would have been impossible. The Toronto at Hamilton matchup was instead played as the nightcap in the 2013 Thanksgiving Day Classic.[5]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finally took residence at the new Investors Group Field. The stadium was supposed to have been readied in 2012, but construction delays pushed back the opening to the 2013 season. The Toronto Argonauts hosted the Montreal Alouettes at the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium for their preseason game, the first Argonauts game at Varsity Stadium in 55 years.[6]

Return of Touchdown Atlantic

After a one-year hiatus in 2012, Touchdown Atlantic returned for the 2013 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the Montreal Alouettes on September 21, 2013. This was the third regular season instalment of the game and the second to feature the Tiger-Cats. This was the first appearance for the Alouettes and it was also the first matchup to feature division opponents.[7]

Media

On March 21, 2013, the CFL announced it had renewed its exclusive contract with TSN to televise all CFL games through 2018; the contract included the national radio rights to the Grey Cup, which would air on TSN Radio and The Team. The contract had originally been set to expire at the end of the 2013 season.

As with the previous contract, the league had no games broadcast on terrestrial television, prolonging an absence dating to 2007 and making it the largest league in North America without over-the-air television broadcasts.

On June 21, 2013, the CFL announced it had renewed its distribution deal with NBC Sports Network for United States broadcasts and that ESPN2 would also pick up five additional games for live broadcast. ESPN3 continued to serve as the league's online broadcaster.

Rule changes

On April 10, 2013 the CFL Board of Governors approved 2 new rules. The first stated that coaches would be allowed to challenge the result of a field goal attempt or extra point attempt. The second rule gave coaches more flexibility on when they can use their timeouts. Coaches could now use both of their time outs at any point during regulation time of a game, as long as they didn't use more than one after the three-minute warning was sounded in the second half of the game. In the past coaches were only allowed to use one time out per half.[8]

Coaching changes

Immediately following the close of the 2012 CFL season it seemed probable that there would be no head coaching changes in the off-season.

However, after a disappointing 6–12 regular season the Hamilton Tiger-Cats fired George Cortez. The expectations on the Ticats were very high after the off-season acquisitions of Henry Burris and Andy Fantuz which Cortez failed to live up to. The Tiger-Cats replaced Cortez with Kent Austin. Austin, who won the 95th Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, had been the offensive coordinator at the University of Mississippi and the head coach of Cornell University for 3 years each.

In mid-January, 2013, the Montreal Alouettes lost their head coach Marc Trestman to the Chicago Bears of the NFL. Trestman won two Grey Cups in five seasons as the head coach of the Alouettes from 2008 to 2012. On February 19 the Alouettes announced that Dan Hawkins would be the new head coach. Hawkins had been the head coach of Willamette University, Boise State and University of Colorado from 1993 to 2010.

Dan Hawkins was fired on August 1, 2013, after a 2–3 start to the season. Longtime general manager Jim Popp was interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Tim Burke was fired on November 12, 2013 after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished last in the league with a dismal 3–15 record.

Trade deadline

The deadline for teams to complete trades was Wednesday October 9 at 3:59pm EDT.

Regular season

Structure

Teams played eighteen regular season games, playing two of the three divisional opponents three times, the other four times, and teams from the opposing division twice. Teams were awarded two points for a win and one point for a tie. The top three teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, with the first place team gaining a bye to the divisional finals. A fourth place team in one division could qualify ahead of the third place team in the other division (the "Crossover"), if they earned more points in the season.

If two or more teams in the same division were equal in points, the following tiebreakers applied:

  • a) Most wins in all games
  • b) Head to head winning percentage (matches won divided by all matches played)
  • c) Head to head points difference
  • d) Head to head points ratio
  • e–g) Tiebreakers b–d applied sequentially to all divisional games
  • h–i) Tiebreakers c–d applied sequentially to all league games
  • j) Coin toss

Notes:

  • 1. If two clubs remained tied after other club(s) are eliminated during any step, tie breakers reverted to step a).
  • 2. Tiebreakers did not apply to the Crossover. To cross over a team must have more points than the third place team.

Standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

Teams in bold are in playoff positions.

West Division
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Calgary Stampeders18144054941328Details
Saskatchewan Roughriders18117051939822Details
BC Lions18117050446122Details
Edmonton Eskimos1841404215198Details
East Division
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Toronto Argonauts18117050745822Details
Hamilton Tiger-Cats18108045346820Details
Montreal Alouettes18810045947116Details
Winnipeg Blue Bombers1831503615856Details

Weekly results

Abbreviation and Color Key:
BC Lions - BC • Calgary Stampeders - CAL • Edmonton Eskimos - EDM • Hamilton Tiger-Cats - HAM
Montreal Alouettes - MON • Toronto Argonauts - TOR • Saskatchewan Roughriders - SAS • Winnipeg Blue Bombers - WBB
Preseason Win   Preseason Loss   Regular Season Win   Regular Season Loss   BYE   Home
Team Game
A B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
BC Lions CALEDMCALTOREDMEDMTORWBBBYECALMONHAMHAMMONSASWBBSASCALSASEDMCAL
29–2727–2244–3224–1617–331–2138–1227–2026–2239–3829–2637–2936–1424–2253–1731–1740–2635–1443–2926-7
Calgary Stampeders BCSASBCSASMONMONWBBBYESASBCTOREDMEDMHAMTORHAMWBBBCEDMSASBC
29–2724–2344–3236–2122–1438–2737–2442–2726–2235–1437–3422–1226–2233–2735–1138–1140–2627-1329-2526-7
Edmonton Eskimos SASBCSASHAMBCBCMONHAMBYETORSASCALCALWBBWBBTORMONSASCALBCSAS
31–2427–2239–1830–2017–321–3127–3230–2933–3630–2734–3722–127–2535–27 (OT)34–2247–249–1427–1329–4330-26
Hamilton Tiger-Cats MONWBBTOREDMWBBSASSASEDMBYEWBBWBBBCBCCALMONCALTORTORMONMONWBB
33–2633–2639–3430–2025–2037–032–2030–2937–1837–1429–2637–2926–2228–2635–1133–1924–1836–527–2437-7
Montreal Alouettes HAMTORWBBWBBCALCALEDMBYETORSASBCTORTORBCHAMSASEDMWBBHAMHAMTOR
33–2624–2038–3319–1122–1438–2732–2738–1324–2139–3820–937–3036–1428–2617–1247–2434–2736-527-2423-20
Toronto Argonauts WBBMONHAMBCSASWBBBCBYEMONEDMCALMONMONSASCALEDMHAMHAMWBBWBBMON
24–624–2039–3424–1639–2835–1938–1238–1336–3335–1420–937–3031–2933–2734–2233–1924–1826–2036–2123-20
Saskatchewan Roughriders EDMCALEDMCALTORHAMHAMBYECALMONEDMWBBWBBTORBCMONBCEDMBCCALEDM
31–2424–2339–1836–2139–2837–032–2042–2724–2130–2748–2525–1331–2924–2217–1231–1714–935-1429-2530-26
Winnipeg Blue Bombers TORHAMMONMONHAMTORCALBCBYEHAMHAMSASSASEDMEDMBCCALMONTORTORHAM
24-652-038-3319-1125–2035–1937–2427–2037–1837–1448–2525–1325–735–27 (OT)53–1738–1134-2726–2036–2137-7

2013 average attendance

  • Saskatchewan 37,503
  • Edmonton 32,095
  • Winnipeg 30,637
  • Calgary 29,262
  • BC 28,310
  • Montreal 23,004
  • Toronto 21,926
  • Hamilton 13,298

[9]

CFL playoffs

The Calgary Stampeders were first to clinch a playoff berth, in Week 12 of the schedule. Toronto and BC followed in Week 14, followed by Saskatchewan and Hamilton in Week 15, and the final playoff spot was clinched by Montreal in Week 17.[10] Three of the four home playoff hosts were determined in Week 17.[10]

The Saskatchewan Roughriders won their fourth Grey Cup championship on home turf at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 45–23. Roughriders' running back Kory Sheets was named the MVP, while Roughriders' slotback, Chris Getzlaf was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

  November 10:
Division Semi-Finals
    November 17:
Division Finals
    November 24:
101st Grey Cup
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor FieldRegina
                           
  East     E2 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 36  
  E3 Montreal Alouettes 16     E1 Toronto Argonauts 24    
  E2 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19*         E2 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 23
      W2 Saskatchewan Roughriders 45
  West     W2 Saskatchewan Roughriders 35    
  W3 BC Lions 25     W1 Calgary Stampeders 13  
  W2 Saskatchewan Roughriders 29  

*-Team won in Overtime.

Award winners

CFL Player of the Week

Week Offensive Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week Special Teams Player of the Week Outstanding Canadian
OneRicky RayCharleston HughesLindsey LamarJon Cornish
TwoHugh CharlesBryant TurnerJock SandersAndrew Harris
ThreeKory SheetsRenauld WilliamsRene ParedesAndre Durie
FourDarian DurantRenauld WilliamsRene ParedesRob Bagg
FiveBo Levi MitchellKyries HebertSean WhyteShea Emry
SixTravis LulaySolomon ElimimianLuca CongiSamuel Giguere
SevenJon CornishAlonzo LawrenceChad OwensJon Cornish
EightRicky RayTyron BrackenridgeTim BrownMarc-Olivier Brouillette
NineKory SheetsDee WebbTyron CarrierEric Deslauriers
TenMaurice PriceCharleston HughesJoe BurnettMarc-Olivier Brouillette
ElevenHenry BurrisDemond WashingtonWill FordJon Cornish
TwelveMike ReillyAdam BighillRob MaverChris Getzlaf
ThirteenZach CollarosChip CoxBrett LautherAndre Durie
FourteenChad KackertAdam BighillTrent GuyJabari Arthur
FifteenJon CornishJerald BrownWill FordJon Cornish
SixteenC.J. GableRennie CurranRob MaverJon Cornish
SeventeenKory SheetsChip CoxBo BowlingJon Cornish
EighteenRicky RayCharleston HughesBrandon BanksJon Cornish
NineteenChris GarrettRennie CurranJamal MilesAndrew Harris
TwentyDarian DurantSimoni LawrenceChristopher MiloAndrew Harris
Twenty-oneKory SheetsJermaine McElveenDiamond FerriAndy Fantuz

Source[11]

CFL Player of the Month

Month Offensive Player of the Month Defensive Player of the Month Special Teams Player of the Month Outstanding Canadian
JulyKory SheetsKyries HebertRene ParedesJon Cornish
AugustDarian DurantChip CoxChristopher MiloMarc-Olivier Brouillette
SeptemberZach CollarosAdam BighillRene ParedesJohn Cornish
OctoberJon Cornish Chip Cox Rene Paredes Jon Cornish

Source[12]

2013 CFL All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

2013 CFL Western All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

2013 CFL Eastern All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

2013 Gibson's Finest CFL Awards

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-11-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CFL.ca schedule
  2. "New CFL-CFLPA CBA at a glance". Cfl.ca. 2010-06-29. Archived from the original on 2010-07-03. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  3. "Mark Your Calendars: 2013 CFL Schedule announced". Cfl.ca. 2013-03-05. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  4. "CFL schedule features just one Labour Day game for the first time since 1949". Yahoo Sports. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  5. It's official: No Ticats-Argos Labour Day Classic in 2013. CBC"'. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  6. "Argos return to Varsity Stadium for pre-season match against Alouettes". Toronto Sun. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  7. "Touchdown Atlantic Returns For Third Time". Moncton Sports. 2013-03-05. Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  8. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=420390 2013 Rule Changes
  9. http://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/attendance/2013/
  10. "CFL Playoff Scenarios article accessed 21 Oct 2013". Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  11. "Gibson's Finest CFL Players of the Week". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  12. "Gibson's Finest CFL Players of the Month". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
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