1959 BC Lions season explained

Team:BC Lions
Year:1959
Record:9–7
Division Place:3rd, West
General Manager:Herb Capozzi
Coach:Wayne Robinson
Stadium:Empire Stadium
Playoffs:Lost Western Semi-Final

The 1959 BC Lions finished the season in third place in the W.I.F.U. with a 9–7 record and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. After hiring new coach Wayne Robinson and signing University of Iowa stars Randy Duncan (#1 overall pick in the NFL Draft) and Willie Fleming, the Lions were a much different team compared to the one a year before.

The battle for a playoff spot came down to the last game of the season against the Calgary Stampeders, with both clubs holding 8–7 records, the loser would be out of the playoffs. The Lions won the game 10–8 and secured the first playoff spot in franchise history as well as the first home playoff game (the first in a two-game series). The Lions season would come to an end in the combined 61–15 West semi-finals loss to Edmonton, but the foundation had been laid for future success.

The Lions changed their uniforms to a primarily Black scheme for the first time and introduced a "1930s-style" winged football helmet design.

Regular season

Season standings

Western Interprovincial Football Union! Team !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! PF !! PA !! Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 12 4 0 418 272 24
Edmonton Eskimos 16 10 6 0 370 221 20
BC Lions 16 9 7 0 306 301 18
16 8 8 0 356 301 16
16 1 15 0 212 567 2

[1]

Season schedule

GameDateOpponentResults
ScoreRecord
1Aug 13vs. Winnipeg Blue BombersL 20–420–1
2Aug 17at Edmonton EskimosW 12–01–1
3Aug 20vs. Saskatchewan RoughridersW 36–212–1
4Aug 24at Calgary StampedersL 17–292–2
5Aug 31vs. Edmonton EskimosW 8–73–2
6Sept 3at Winnipeg Blue BombersL 23–343–3
7Sept 7at Saskatchewan RoughridersW 35–174–3
8Sept 14vs. Calgary StampedersW 14–85–3
9Sept 19vs. Winnipeg Blue BombersW 17–66–3
10Sept 21at Edmonton EskimosL 7–296–4
11Sept 26at Calgary StampedersW 28–107–4
12Oct 5vs. Saskatchewan RoughridersL 14–157–5
13Oct 10vs. Edmonton EskimosL 14–387–6
14Oct 17at Winnipeg Blue BombersL 6–317–7
15Oct 19at Saskatchewan RoughridersW 45–68–7
16Oct 24vs. Calgary StampedersW 10–89–7

[2]

Playoffs

Semi-finals

Offensive leaders

Player Passing ydsRushing ydsReceiving ydsTD
2746 12300
7745177
6485444
802836
0 9366
0 5194

1959 CFL Awards

None

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CFL.ca . https://web.archive.org/web/20110610165406/http://www.cfl.ca/standings/1959/reg . 2011-06-10 . dead . 2009-07-01 .
  2. Web site: BC Lions All-Time Canadian Football League (CFL) Records . https://web.archive.org/web/20090311040646/http://michigan-football.com/cfl/f/brcolumb.htm . 2009-03-11 . live . 2009-03-08 .