GAME #15 WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (5-10) AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS (2-12) MON., OCT. 9, 1995 -- 7:00 P.M. -- SKYDOME TELEVISION: CBC, RADIO: AM 640 GAME PREVIEW The Argonauts look to shake off their third-longest losing streak in team history having dropped their last nine straight contests. The Argos haven't lost nine games in a row since 1981. Of those nine straight losses, five have come at home. The longest home losing streak stands at seven games (twice - Sept. 22/56-Sept. 21/57 and Oct. 17/71-Sept. 30/72). The Argos have also lost five consecutive home games on two other occasions -- Oct. 31/64-Sept. 19/65 and July 2/81-Sept. 13/81). The last Argonaut home victory was July 6, 1995 vs. Ottawa in the Dome opener. For the record, the longest Argonaut losing streak was 12 games set between Nov. 2, 1980 and Sept. 19, 1981. Quarterback KENT AUSTIN returns to action to face the 5-10 Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a crucial home and home series with Winnipeg. Austin had missed last week's Calgary contest after suffering badly bruised ribs the week before. The Bombers are coming aff a 24-20 victory over rival Hamilton last week led by ex-Argo quarterback Reggie Slack. For the Bombers this is their second consecutive road contest before they jet home to Manitoba to prepare for the encore match with Toronto, enjoy a bye week and finish the season vs. Ottawa. LAST WEEK: The Argonauts dropped their ninth consecutive contest at Calgary, losing 26-19 to upstart quarterback JEFF GARCIA. The Argos could only manage 43 net yards of offence at the half but the twenty point underdog Argos led the Stamps 19-17 at the conclusion of the third quarter on the strength of a 108-yard punt return touchdown by JIMMY CUNNINGHAM, his second PRTD in four games. The Argos opened the second half with a six minute drive culminating in fullback DUANE FORDE'S third career major for the Argos' first touchdown on the day. In the end however it was Garcia who recorded his first pro game with 100+ rushing yards that proved the difference. He led his team to a six minute drive in the fourth quarter eventually running the ball in himself for his second rushing TD on the day to give the Stampeders a lead they would never relinquish. Argo pivot MARVIN GRAVES, making just his second start on the season, injured his groin on a fourth quarter sack and was forced to pull himself from the game. Rookie quarterback SHAWN KNIGHT, making his regular season debut, couldn't sustain any drives going just 2 of 4 for 18 yards. The final time of possession told the tale in this game as the Stamps out handled the Argonauts 36:53 minutes to 23:07 minutes. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Argonauts, who are still mathematically in the playoff picture, cannot lose any of their remaining four games including the home and home series with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to at least have a shot at post season action. In addition, the Argos would need help from opponents since any Saskatchewan victory would eliminate the Argos' playoff picture even if the Argos manage four straight victories (since the Riders have a better head-to-head record against the Argos). Below is a look at the three teams and their remaining schedules. Team Record Games Remaining Remaining Opponents Toronto 2-12 4 Winnipeg (twice), Memphis and Calgary Winnipeg 5-10 3 Toronto (twice) and Ottawa Saskatchewan 5-9 4 B.C., Calgary (twice) and Baltimore PRE GAME NEWS CONFERENCE DETAILS: The Argos will hold their pregame workout on Sunday, Oct. 8 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. to be followed by a joint news conference at 3:00 p.m. in the SkyDome Wives' Lounge with Bob O'Billovich and Winnipeg skipper Cal Murphy. The Blue Bombers are scheduled to arrive in Toronto at 2:15 p.m. Sunday and will head directly to the stadium. While in Toronto the Bombers will be staying at the SkyDome Hotel (416-360-7100). The Bombers' media contact while on the road is J.D. Boyd. DON'T LOOK NOW BUT JIMMY (THE JET) CUNNINGHAM is the CFL's best punt returner -- by far. He averages a league-leading 23.1 yards per return on 17 returns including two punt return TD's in his last four games. The next best return artist (among the CFL's top 15 punt returners) is Ottawa's Mark Ricks with a 15.4-yard average. The Howard University product recorded the team's third longest PRTD at Calgary last week with a 108-yarder. Cunningham, in four games has amassed 816 all-purpose yards -- including 251 last week alone -- and averages an incredible 204 yards per game. Should he return a third punt return for a major this season he would be the first Argonaut player to do so. He joins Billy Hardee (1980), Pernell Moore (1988) and Mike Clemons (1990 and 1993) as the only other Argos to record two PRTDs in the the same year. PINBALL CLEMONS NEEDS just 100 yards to surpass the 2,000-yard all- purpose mark. He is averaging 135 combined yards per game and is on pace to surpass last year's combined yardage mark of 2,399 yards. Clemons is still the holder of pro football single-season all-purpose yards mark set in 1990 with 3,300 yards. MASOTTI TO JOIN MILLENNIUM CLUB: Wideout PAUL MASOTTI needs just 30 yards to record his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Masotti was on pace for a career-high 1,500-yard season before missing last week's contest with a hamstring injury. His best year was 1994 when he recorded 1,280 yards. The Acadia University product went over 5,000 career yards at San Antonio and now stands at 5,102 yards over eight years with Toronto. The total is fifth best in club history. Masotti also has a consecutive game pass catching streak of 38 contests tying ex-Argo Mike Eben's streak (third-ranked). Argo great D.K. Smith leads the pack with catches in 96 consecutive games. The last time Masotti played a game without making a reception was Oct. 31, 1993. AUSTIN UPDATE: KENT AUSTIN's career numbers now stand at 2,465 completions on 4,285 attempts (57.5%) for 33,099 yards and 186 TDs. The only other active passer with better numbers is Birmingham's Matt Dunigan. VOLKSWAGEN SKILLS DRILLS UPDATE: The sixth and final Volkswagen Skill Drill Event took place Wed., Oct. 4, 1995 at North York's Esther Shriner Stadium from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The Skill Drills are part of an extremely ambitious community outreach program by corporate partner Volkswagen Canada where its 15 Metro area Volkswagen dealers have joined forces with the Argonauts Football Club in launching the events. The events will feature running, passing and kicking segments. Points gained in each segment will determine the winner based on the total accumulation. There were five age groups ranging from age 7-16 with the winner in each category going on to the finals at SkyDome on Fri., Oct. 27, 1995. The finals will be staged prior to the Argonaut/Calgary contest. Winners will visit the Argonauts dressing room while all participants and a guest will watch the game from a luxurious SkyBox, enjoying refreshments and souvenirs from our sponsors. Event sponsors include: Wilson Sports, Coffee Time Donuts, Gatorade, Master Choice Beverages, Maple Lodge Farms and Talk 640 Radio. THE RIVALRY: The Bombers and Argos have met 54 times since 1961. The Argos have managed 22 victories against 31 losses including one tie. The two teams meet again in Week #16 at Winnipeg to conclude the season series. In 1994 action, the Argos dropped both games to the Bombers losing 54-34 Aug. 4 in Toronto then again in the season finale -- 35-28 at Winnipeg Stadium. SWITCHING SIDES: Former Argos now dressed for Winnipeg include DE Leonard Johnson and QB Reggie Slack. Former Bombers now playing for the Argos include SB Rob Crifo, FS Jayson Dzikowicz, FB Duane Forde and DT Leon Hatziioannou. THE INJURY REPORT: The Argos injury list includes: quarterback Marvin Graves (groin), receivers Paul Masotti (hamstring) and Jeff Fairholm (hamstring), linebackers Calvin Tiggle (knee - day to day), Brett Collins (heel) Sheldon Benoit (ankle) and Tony O'Billovich (knee - out for season), defensive tackles Carlos Fowler (hamstring strain) and Leon Hatziioannou (knee), running back George Nimako (knee) and defensive backs Jayson Dzikowicz (leg - out for season), Kevin Whitley (knee) and Patrick Burke (separated shoulder). HOME VS. ROAD / NORTHVS. SOUTH Argos current home record (1994 record in parenthesis): 1-5 (3-6) Argos current away record (1994 record in parenthesis): 1-7 (4-5) Argos current record vs. the North:1-8; Argos current record vs. the South: 1-4 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS-OF-THE-GAME Game 1: Norm Casola Game 6: Eric Hoskins Game 11: Jimmy Cunningham Game 16: Game 2: Mike Clemons Game 7: Ainsworth Morgan Game 12: Jason Dzikowicz Game 17: Game 3: Darrick Branch Game 8: Pierre Vercheval Game 13: P.J. Martin Game 18: Game 4: P.J. Martin Game 9: Pat Coleman Game 14: Duane Dmytryshyn Game 5: Wayne Lammle Game 10: Noah Cantor Game 15: ARGONAUTS 1995 VITAL STATS Record at Home: 1-5 Record When Leading After 1st Quarter: 1-4 Record on Road: 1-7 Record Leading After 2nd Quarter: 1-4 Record on Natural Grass: 1-3 Record Leading After 3rd Quarter: 1-5 Record on Artificial Turf: 1-9 Afternoon Record: 0-2 Record vs. North: 1-8 Evening Record: 2-10 Record vs. South: 1-4 Record on National TV: 2-10 SkyDome Record (Since 1989): 33W, 27L Record When Argos Score the Game's First Point: 0-7 Home Record with roof open: 1-3 Record Below the 49th Parallel: 1-3 SkyDome record when attendance is 30,000+ (since 1989): 21-8 TOP PERFORMANCES IN 1995 Longest Run From Scrimmage Argonauts 29 yards Mike Clemons at Shrev.,, July 22 Opposition 32 yards Derrick McAdoo, Tor. at Ham., Sept. 9 Longest Completed Pass Argonauts 66 yards Kent Austin to Paul Masotti, at Balt., Aug. 26 Opposition 81 yards Danny McManus to Matt Clark, Tor. at Van., July 13 Longest Field Goal Argonauts 49 yards Wayne Lammle at Mem., July 29 Opposition 50 yards Paul Osbaldiston, Ham. at Tor., Aug. 3 Longest Punt Argonauts 65 yards Terry Baker at Calgary, Sept. 30 Opposition 60 yards Robbie Keen, Tor. at Shrev., July 22 Longest Punt Return Argonauts 108 yards (TD) Jimmy Cunningham at Cal., Sept. 30 Opposition 68 yards Henry Williams, Edm. at Tor., Aug. 9 Longest Kickoff Argonauts 85 yards Wayne Lammle at Van., July 13 Opposition 87 yards Tony Martino, Cal. at Cal. Sept. 30 Longest Kickoff Return Argonauts 95 yards (TD) Darrick Branch at Van., July 13 Opposition 49 yards Horace Brooks, Ott. at Tor., July 6 Longest Unsuccessful Field Goal Return Argonauts 52 yards Mike Clemons, Ott. at Tor., July 6 Opposition 70 yards David Lucas, San Antonio at Tor., Sept. 4 Longest Interception Return Argonauts 23 yards (TD) Don WIlson vs. Edm., Aug. 9 Opposition 67 yards (TD) Malcolm Frank, Tor. at San Antonio, Sept. 23 Longest Fumble Return Argonauts 39 yards Maurice Kelly vs. B.C., Aug. 14 Opposition 17 yards Willie Pless, Edm. at Tor., Aug. 9 THE LAST TIME... it happened in the regular season Kickoff Returned for a TD Argonauts July 13, 1995 Darrick Branch at Van., 95 yards Opposition Aug. 4, 1994 Norris Thomas, Wpg. at Tor., 97 yards, Punt Returned for a TD Argonauts Sept. 9, 1995 Jimmy Cunningham at Cal., 108 yards Opposition Oct. 28, 1994 David Lucas, Shrev. at Tor., 74 yards Interception Returned for a TD Argonauts Aug. 9, 1995 Don Wilson vs. Edm., 23 yards Opposition Sept. 23, 1995 Malcolm Frank, Tor. at San Antonio, 67 yards Fumble Returned for a TD Argonauts Sept. 9, 1995 Jeff Cummins at Ham., 37 yards Opposition Nov. 6, 1994 Reg Clark, Tor. at Wpg., 9 yards Punt Blocked Argonauts Oct. 16, 1994 Eric Blount at Ott. Opposition July 1, 1995 Martin., Tor. at Edm., July 1 Field Goal Blocked Argonauts Oct. 4, 1992 Rodney Harding at Reg. Opposition July 7, 1994 Matt Goodwin Balt. at Tor. 400+ Yards Passing Game Argonauts Aug. 3, 1995 Kent Austin vs. Ham., 459 yards Opposition Sept. 9, 1995 Anthony Calvillo, Tor. at Ham., 439 yards 100+ Rushing Game Argonauts Oct. 2, 1994 Muhammad Shamsid-Deen vs. Ham., 165 yards Opposition Sept. 9, 1995 Jeff Garcia, Cal. at Cal., Sept. 30 200+ Yards Receiving Game Argonauts Aug. 26, 1993 Manny Hazard vs. Ott., 227 yards Opposition Sept. 20, 1987 Tony Champion, Ham. at Tor., 202 yards The Argonauts Were Shutout Sept. 13, 1992 Cal. 31 at Tor. 0 The Opposition Was Shutout Aug. 8, 1979 Ham. 0 at Tor. 25 THE COACH: The winningest coach in the team's 122-year history, Bob O'Billovich, 55, returned for a third stint as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts Aug. 28, 1995 and is gunning for his 106th career victory. "Obie", as he has come to be known, reached exclusive milestones when he notched his 100th coaching victory Fri., July 29, 1994 vs. Las Vegas and then coached in his 200th career CFL contest on Oct. 2, 1994 vs. Hamilton. He joins only Frank Clair (260 games in 19 seasons), Eagle Keys (246 games in 16 seasons) and Ray Jauch (206 games in 13 seasons) in the elusive and exclusive 200-or-more-club. His coaching legacy in Toronto includes two CFL coach-of-the-year awards, three trips to the Grey Cup and one championship in 1983. In 11 full seasons in the CFL, O'Billovich- coached teams made the playoffs nine times. The Butte, Mont. native, originally signed on with the Argos on Dec. 30, 1981 to inherit a team that had won only two of 16 games the previous season. He promptly led the club to its first winning season since 1973 and a Grey Cup berth for the first time in 11 years. He would go on to win the CFL's coach-of-the-year award twice. He re-joined the Argos as GM/Head Coach on Sept. 10/93. O'Billovich joined the B.C. Lions as VP, Football Operations/Head Coach in September, 1990. The Lions finished at 11-7 in 1991, and made the Western Division playoffs for the first time since 1988. O'Billovich was born on June 30, 1940 and played football at the University of Montana. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1962 Draft and played for the Denver Broncos before embarking on a CFL career with Ottawa in 1963 as a DB/QB. He retired in 1967. After a stint in the Canadian university ranks, he joined the Rough Riders in 1976 as an assistant until joining the Argos in 1982. No stranger to Halls-of-Fame, O'Billovich was amongst the first group ever to be inducted into the Butte (Montana)Hall in 1988. He was then added to Montana's Grizzly Hall of Fame after lettering nine times in football, basketball and baseball, captaining all three teams. He also resides in the University's football and basketball halls-of-fame. Bob and wife Judy have three children _ Tracy, 24, Jody, 22, and Coy, 20. His CFL coaching record stands at 105 wins, 102 losses and three ties in 13 seasons, fourth-ranked (by wins) in CFLhistory.