Peter Muller's distinguished nine-year career with the Argonauts showed him to be both a dinosaur and an innovator.
Along with his size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), he could also have been considered a dinosaur because he was one of the last of a dying breed: the tight end. In fact, he was the last Argo to play that position on a full-time basis, because the year after he retired, the "run 'n shoot" offence was brought in, which made the tight end obsolete.
"The game has evolved since I left, and I think the more passing, the better," said Muller, who doesn't lament the fate of his former position. "It's always been a wide-open game, and I would support any type of move to make it more wide open."
During his days as an Argo, in which he led the team in receiving in 1974, '77 and '78, Muller was also an innovator in that he was one of the first openly Christian athletes, and played a big part in getting pre-game chapel services going in the CFL.
"Those things have made their way into the game's culture now," said Muller, who was involved in the organization Athletes in Action. "When I was playing, I thought I might do some missionary work overseas as well."
In 1978 and again in 1980, Muller spent a good portion of the off-season travelling around the world, visiting various Third World nations with an organization known as World Vision.
"You go there trying to help, and you end up changing your perspectives on life," said Muller, who went to Africa, India, Indonesia and finally Thailand, where he helped Cambodian refugees recover from wounds occurred in fighting that was only miles away across the border.
Nowadays, he organizes a program called Students Overseas (SOS) at Queensway Christian College in Mississauga, where students are also given the opportunity to experience missionary work in the Third World. Muller has been vice-president and guidance counsellor at the school for the past 15 years, and is currently in the processs of moving the school to the Queensway Cathedral building in Etobicoke.
"Because of my personal beliefs as a Christian, I feel I have to make a contribution in life," said Muller, who lives in Oakville with his wife Janet and four kids (Jason, David, Mark and Ashley).
As for football, Muller is still involved with the CFL, as he helps choose the players-of-the-week awards for the league. He also hopes the Argos could regain some of the status they have lost in this city since he played.
"I still run into people that look back on those days, when they were really proud to be an Argonaut fan," said Muller, who feels Toronto's new trendy image has hurt the team. "In this city, the media could help legitimize the league a bit more. It's been on the scene for a long time, and its' tradition has a lot to offer."
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