The 2003 CFL season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football, or simply football, is a Sports in Canada, sport in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete on a field long and wide, attempting to advance a Ball (gridiron football), pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposi ...

, although it is officially the 46th

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

season. The pre-season began on May 30 and the regular season started on June 17. Taylor Field in

Regina, Saskatchewan Regina ( ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province, and is a commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. As of the 2021 Canadian census, ...

hosted the 91st Grey Cup on November 16, 2003, with the

Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...

defeating the

Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...

34–22.

CFL News in 2003

The Canadian Football League signed a new five-year television deal with TSN and the

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

on February 27. Through the new agreement, TSN and CBC will be broadcasting 77 games, which is the most in CFL history. The CFL also introduced new specialty weekends that includes the Canada Day Bash, the

Labour Day Classic The Labour Day Classic (, branded as OK Tire Labour Day Weekend for sponsorship reasons) is a week of the Canadian Football League (CFL) schedule played over the Labour Day weekend (which includes the first Monday in September). Labour Day weeke ...

and the Gridiron Thanksgiving. CFL.ca launched its new website in July. The CFL also assumes control of the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

on July 29 and the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

on August 15. The league appointed Paul Robson as the interim Operations Manager of the Argonauts and appointed Alan Ford to become interim Operations Manager of the Tiger-Cats. The CFL then announced the sale of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Bob Young on October 7 and then announced the sale of the Toronto Argonauts on November 15 to Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon. TSN achieved the second-highest viewership in CFL history. The CFL also had an (+2%) increase in attendance for the second straight season with more than 2 million fans filling the seats at Canadian football games. About 4.4 million Canadian homes viewed the 91st Grey Cup game between the

and the

played in Regina. Plus, the CFL signed long-term partnership deals with

Reebok Reebok International Limited ( ) is an American footwear and clothing brand that is a part of Authentic Brands Group. It was established in England in 1958 as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company which had bee ...

, Rogers and

Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc., often known as Sun for short, was an American technology company that existed from 1982 to 2010 which developed and sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services. Sun contributed sig ...

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Edmonton and Montreal both have first round byes.'' *''Due to the cross-over rule – the BC Lions will play the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern Semi-Final Game.''

Grey Cup playoffs

The

are the 2003

Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...

Champions, defeating the

34–22, at Regina's Taylor Field. The Eskimos got their revenge on the Alouettes, who defeated Edmonton in front of their hometown crowd at the

90th Grey Cup The 90th Grey Cup was the 2002 CFL season, 2002 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes on November 24 at Commonwealth Stadium, in Edmonton, Alberta. The Alouettes defeated the Eski ...

. The Eskimos' Jason Tucker (WR) was named the

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is awarded annually since 1959 to the player of the winning team who deemed to have had the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game. This award is prese ...

and the Alouettes' Ben Cahoon (SB) was the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

CFL Leaders

CFL Passing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas Western Interprovincial Football Union, WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. Passing ya ...

* CFL Rushing Leaders *

CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also * List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders * List of Canadia ...

2003 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Anthony Calvillo Anthony Calvillo (born August 23, 1972) is an American professional Canadian football, football coach and former quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football Lea ...

, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Mike Pringle, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Jeremaine Copeland, Montreal Alouettes *SB – Geroy Simon, BC Lions *WR –

Tony Miles Anthony John Miles (23 April 1955 – 12 November 2001) was an English chess player and the first Englishman to earn the International Grandmaster, Grandmaster title. Early and personal life Miles was born on 23 April 1955 in Edgbaston, a sub ...

, Toronto Argonauts *WR – Ed Hervey, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Andrew Greene, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Uzooma Okeke, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

*DT – Eric England, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Daved Benefield, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DE – Ray Jacobs, BC Lions *LB – Reggie Hunt, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Barrin Simpson, BC Lions *LB – Jackie Mitchell, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Adrion Smith, Toronto Argonauts *DB –

Donny Brady Donald Maynard Brady (born November 24, 1973) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Clifford Ivory, Toronto Argonauts *DS – Orlondo Steinauer, Toronto Argonauts

Special teams

*P – Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts *K – Lawrence Tynes, Ottawa Renegades *ST – Bashir Levingston, Toronto Argonauts

2003 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Dave Dickenson David Dickenson (born January 11, 1973) is a Canadian-American professional football head coach and general manager for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played as a quarterback with the Stampeders and the BC Lio ...

, BC Lions *RB – Mike Pringle, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Terry Vaughn, Edmonton Eskimos *SB – Geroy Simon, BC Lions *WR – Darnell McDonald, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Ed Hervey, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Andrew Greene, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Dan Comiskey, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Cory Mantyka, BC Lions

Defence

*DT – Nathan Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Daved Benefield, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DE – Ray Jacobs, BC Lions *LB – Reggie Hunt, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Barrin Simpson, BC Lions *LB – Jackie Mitchell, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Eric Carter, BC Lions *DB –

, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Shannon Garrett, Edmonton Eskimos *DS – Mark Washington, BC Lions

Special teams

*P – Sean Fleming, Edmonton Eskimos *K – Paul McCallum, Saskatchewan Roughriders *ST – Wane McGarity, Calgary Stampeders

2003 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Josh Ranek, Ottawa Renegades *RB – Troy Davis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *SB – Jeremaine Copeland, Montreal Alouettes *SB – Ben Cahoon, Montreal Alouettes *WR –

, Toronto Argonauts *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Val St. Germain, Ottawa Renegades *OG – Scott Flory, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Neal Fort, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Uzooma Okeke, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

*DT – Eric England, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Ed Philion, Montreal Alouettes *DE – Tim Cheatwood, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Anwar Stewart, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Kevin Johnson, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Kelly Wiltshire, Ottawa Renegades *LB – Tim Strickland, Montreal Alouettes *CB – Brandon Hamilton, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *CB – Adrion Smith, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Barron Miles, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Clifford Ivory, Toronto Argonauts *DS – Orlondo Steinauer, Toronto Argonauts

Special teams

*P – Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts *K – Lawrence Tynes, Ottawa Renegades *ST – Bashir Levingston, Toronto Argonauts

2003 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Uzooma Okeke, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Andrew Greene, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Dan Comiskey, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *FB – Michael Sellers, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Geroy Simon, BC Lions *SB – Terry Vaughn, Edmonton Eskimos *WR – Jeremaine Copeland, Montreal Alouettes *WR – Ed Hervey, Edmonton Eskimos

Defence

*DE – Timothy Cheatwood, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Eric England, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DT – Demetrious Maxie, Calgary Stampeders *LB – Barrin Simpson, BC Lions *LB – Reggie Hunt, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Brian Clark, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Davis Sanchez, Calgary Stampeders *HB – Clifford Ivory, Toronto Argonauts *HB – Barron Miles, Montreal Alouettes *S – Donnavan Carter, Ottawa Renegades

Special teams

*K – Lawrence Tynes, Ottawa Renegades *P – Noel Prefontaine, Toronto Argonauts *ST – Bashir Levingston, Toronto Argonauts

Head coach

* Joe Paopao, Ottawa Renegades

2003 Rogers AT&T CFL Awards

* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award –

(QB), Montreal Alouettes *

CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually awarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Lew Hayman Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy winne ...

– Ben Cahoon (SB), Montreal Alouettes *

CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian football League. The winner of the award is selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada along with the head coaches in the CFL. ...

– Joe Fleming (DT), Calgary Stampeders * CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Andrew Greene (OG), Saskatchewan Roughriders * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Frank Cutolo (WR), BC Lions * CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award – Bashir Levingston (WR), Toronto Argonauts * CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award – Steve Hardin (OT), BC Lions * Rogers AT&T Fans' Choice Award –

Ricky Ray Ricky Ray (born October 22, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) ...

(QB), Edmonton Eskimos * CFL's Coach of the Year – Tom Higgins, Edmonton Eskimos *

Commissioner's Award The Commissioner's Award is presented annually by the Commissioner of the Canadian Football League to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated dedication and made a significant contribution to Canadian Football. The award was first introd ...

- TSN, Toronto

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cfl 2003 in Canadian football

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...