The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.

History[link]

Pre-1936[link]

The first organized football club in Western Canada was the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club, later the Winnipeg Football Club, a forerunner of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which was founded in 1879. At the time the sport was generally called rugby or rugby football because its rules were similar to rugby union's, although this would change drastically in the coming decades. The first organized competition in the West was formed in 1888 Winnipeg Football Club, St. John's College and the Royal School of Infantry formed the Manitoba Rugby League, later re-organized as the Manitoba Rugby Football Union. Football was being played in what was to become Alberta and Saskatchewan by 1890, and by 1907 the new provinces had organized their own respective competitions and agreed to adopt the rules of the national governing body, the Canadian Rugby Union. A provincial union was not formed in British Columbia until the 1920s. The four rugby unions in the West were named the Manitoba Rugby Football Union, Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union, Alberta Rugby Football Union and the British Columbia Rugby Football Union

The three provincial unions then in existence soon set out to create a unified Western Canadian competition, with the view that the Western champion should be able to challenge for the Canadian Rugby Union's new championship trophy, the Grey Cup. To this end, the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta unions formed the Western Canada Rugby Football Union in 1911, with the Calgary Tigers winning the first Western championship later that year. Initially, the Western champions were not allowed to compete for the Grey Cup, because the CRU believed the calibre of the new competition to be inferior to those in the East. It was not until 1921 that a Western team was finally allowed to compete in the Grey Cup game, when the Edmonton Eskimos lost 23–0 to the Toronto Argonauts. Initial challenges for the trophy met with futility, largely because the Western champion invariably had to travel to the East to compete in the championship game. Finally in 1935 a Western team, the Winnipeg Pegs (soon to be known as the Blue Bombers) captured the Grey Cup, after they defeated the Hamilton Tigers 18–12.

WCRFU champions

• 1911 Calgary Tigers
• 1912 Regina Rugby Club
• 1913 Regina Rugby Club
• 1914 Regina Rugby Club
• 1915 Regina Rugby Club
• 1916 Regina Rugby Club
• 1917 World War I
• 1918 World War I
• 1919 Regina Rugby Club
• 1920 Regina Rugby Club
• 1921 Edmonton Eskimos
• 1922 Edmonton Elks
• 1923 Regina Rugby Club
• 1924 Winnipeg Victorias
• 1925 Winnipeg Tammany Tigers
• 1926 Regina Roughriders
• 1927 Regina Roughriders
• 1928 Regina Roughriders
• 1929 Regina Roughriders
• 1930 Regina Roughriders
• 1931 Regina Roughriders
• 1932 Regina Roughriders
• 1933 Winnipeg Winnipegs
• 1934 Regina Roughriders
• 1935 Winnipeg Winnipegs

Western Interprovincial Football Union (1936–1961)[link]

In 1936, the Western Interprovincial Football Union was formed, succeeding the WCRFU as the West's premier football competition. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Regina Roughriders and Calgary Bronks were the original teams. Teams from Edmonton and Vancouver also competed in some seasons prior to suspension of the competition in 1942 for the duration of the Second World War. The league resumed play on a limited basis in 1945 with Winnipeg, Regina and the newly renamed Calgary Stampeders. The competition was fully resumed by 1946. The Regina Roughriders became the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1948, Edmonton rejoined the league in 1949 and in 1950 the third place team was granted a playoff berth. In 1954, the BC Lions joined the league, thus giving the West the same five teams that compete in the modern CFL as of 2005. The regular season schedule was also expanded, from eight games per team in 1946 to 12 in 1948, 14 in 1949, and finally 16 games in 1952. The West continued to play a 16-game schedule for the next three decades.

The WIFU champion was not always guaranteed a berth in the Grey Cup game at first. In 1940 the Western champions, the Blue Bombers, were disqualified from the Grey Cup in a rules dispute. Also, until the 1950s, the Western champion was often obliged to play the champion of the Ontario Rugby Football Union in a Grey Cup semi-final. However, the ORFU was eventually proven to be a much weaker league, and stopped challenging for the Grey Cup after the 1954 season. The Western champion has always been guaranteed a berth in the Grey Cup since that time, so 1954 is usually viewed as the start of the modern era of Canadian football.

Since the 1955 season, the champion of what was then known as the WIFU has competed for the Grey Cup against the champion of what was then called the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union or Big Four. In 1956, these two leagues agreed to form the Canadian Football Council. In 1958, the CFC withdrew from the CRU and renamed itself the Canadian Football League.

Western Football Conference (1961–1980)[link]

The WIFU was renamed the Western Football Conference in 1961 and agreed to a partial interlocking schedule with what was by then known as the Eastern Football Conference the same year. Although the WFC was part of the CFL, its merger with the EFC was only a partial merger for the next two decades. During this time, the conferences maintained considerable autonomy—for example, the West had a different playoff format until 1973 and a longer schedule until 1974. During this time, attendances increased substantially for most clubs and television revenue gained prominence and importance. By the 1980s, CFL clubs were ready to proceed with a complete merger of the two regional conferences.

West Division (1980–1994, 1996–present)[link]

In 1980, the CFL's two conferences agreed to a full merger and a full interlocking schedule. Although the WFC has carried on since that time as the CFL's West Division, full authority is now vested within the CFL. The decision to create a full interlocking schedule meant that the teams were playing fewer divisional games, consequently the league decided add two extra divisional games per team, thus extending the schedule to 18 games per team starting in 1986.

The West Division has undergone major changes since the dissolution of the WFC. In 1987 an East Division team, the Montreal Alouettes, folded. Consequently, Winnipeg was transferred to the East Division to keep the divisions equal in size. This led to the first "all-Western" Grey Cup in 1988 when the Blue Bombers won the East Division championship for the first time.

In 1993, the CFL decided to expand to the United States, leading to the addition of the league's first American-based team, the Sacramento Gold Miners. In 1994, the division added a sixth team, the Las Vegas Posse. Following the 1994 season, the Posse folded while the Gold Miners moved to San Antonio and became the Texans. For the 1995 season, all eight Canadian teams competed in the North Division.

Prior to the 1996 season however, all of the American clubs disbanded, with one (the Baltimore Stallions) returning to Montreal. The pre-1987 divisional alignment was restored, only to see Winnipeg return to the East after one season when the Ottawa Rough Riders folded. The Blue Bombers returned to the West in 2002 after an expansion franchise was granted in the nation's capital. With the suspension of the Ottawa Renegades for the 2006 season, the Blue Bombers moved back to the East.

Grey Cup record[link]

Prior to 1954, Western clubs found limited success in the Grey Cup. Since 1954 however, the West has generally been on an equal footing and in recent decades has often dominated the East in the regular season. Since 1954 the West has won 31 Grey Cups and lost 24. If the 1995 season is counted, the West has lost 26. It should also be noted that two of the West's Grey Cup losses were to the Blue Bombers, who have played in the West for most of their history.

Playoff format[link]

For most seasons since 1950, the top three teams in the West have made the playoffs. For many years, the semi-final and final was a two-game or even a best-of-three game series, but this was abandoned in the 1970s in favour of one-game play-offs. Quite often a fourth-place team in the West had a better record than the third-place team in the East, with the western team out of the playoffs.

This was rectified beginning in 1986 when the CFL instituted a rule that permitted a fourth-place team in one division to make the playoffs provided it had more points in the standings than the third-place team in the other division. That year in the West the first-place Eskimos (13–4–1) defeated the fourth-place Stampeders (11–7–0) by a score of 27–18. The second-place Lions (12–6–0) defeated the third-place Blue Bombers (11–7–0) by a score of 21–14. The Eskimos then demolished the Lions in the West Final 41–5 and advanced to the Grey Cup. In the East the first-place Argonauts (10–8–0) played a two-game total point series against the second-place Tiger-Cats (9–8–1). The Argonauts won the first game 31–17, but the Tiger-Cats won the second game by a score of 42–25 and so the series with of course a berth in the Grey Cup final. The Tiger-Cats, in their third consecutive Grey Cup game, were victorious over the Eskimos 39–15.

With the demise of the Montreal Alouettes on the eve of the 1987 season the playoff format reverted to the top three teams in the respective divisions making the playoffs. In 1997, the present cross-over rule was implemented, allowing the fourth-place team from one division to take the play-off place of the third-place team in the other division, should the fourth-place team earn a better record. Since 1997, the fourth place team in the West has taken advantage of the cross-over rule five times, but not be until 2008 did a Western team (Edmonton) advance to the Eastern final. As of 2010, no team from the East has crossed over into the Western playoffs.

List of champions (since 1936)[link]

• Clubs in italics finished in first place during the regular season.
• Clubs in bold won the Grey Cup.

Champions of the Western Interprovincial Football Union[link]

Champions of the Western Football Conference[link]

Champions of the Canadian Football League West Division[link]

¹: Regina did not take part in the 1936 Grey Cup game.

²: Winnipeg was disqualified from the 1940 Grey Cup due to a rules dispute.

³: No regular season was played in 1945.

⁴: Winnipeg won two Grey Cups (in 1988 and 1990) while in the East Division.

⁵: All Canadian teams competed in the North Division in 1995.

External links[link]

• Canadian Football League Official Site

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Tajiddin M. Smith-Wilson (born September 30, 1983) is a professional gridiron football wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Syracuse and Bakersfield College.

He has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Professional career[link]

Green Bay Packers[link]

In his first 2008 preseason game with the Green Bay Packers, Smith caught two passes for 23 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was waived by the team during final cuts on August 30.

Indianapolis Colts[link]

Smith was signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts on September 25, 2008. He was released on December 3, but re-signed on December 8. After finishing the season on the practice squad, Smith was re-signed to a future contract on January 5, 2009. He spent the 2009 season on the practice squad, and was re-signed to a future contract on February 11, 2010. Taj Smith was cut on the Indianapolis Colts roster cut down day and was a free agent. He was later re-signed to add depth to Indianapolis's depleted receiver corps. On 5 December, in a game against the Dallas Cowboys Smith blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone, tying the game for the Colts. However, in the Colts' playoff game against the New York Jets that season, Smith was flagged for roughing the punter. The call gave the Jets a first down an the opportunity to run more time off the clock. The Colts held the Jets to a three-and-out, tied the game on a long field, but the Jets drove down on their next series and won the game on a field goal of their own. Played in all 4 preseason games in 2011. He finished with 12 catches, 210 yards and 2TD and in the last preseason game he ended well with 8 catches, 140 yards, and the game winning Touchdown.

On September 3, 2011, Smith was waived by the Colts.

Saskatchewan Roughriders[link]

Smith signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on January 30, 2012.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Indianapolis Colts bio
• Syracuse Orange bio
• Special teams play
• [1]
• Smith give Colts the win
• Taj Smith fumble recovery
• Taj ma hauls in TD
• Smith catch and run for a TD
• Painter brushes off Week 1 woes

• http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=0&statisticCategory=RECEIVING&conference=null&season=2011&seasonType=PRE&d-447263-s=RECEIVING_YARDS&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

Nik Lewis

No. 82     Calgary Stampeders
Date of birth:	(1982-06-03) June 3, 1982 (age 30)
Place of birth:	Mineral Wells, Texas
Career information
Status:	Active
CFL status:	Import
Position(s):	WR
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
College:	Southern Arkansas
Organizations
As player:
2004-present	Calgary Stampeders
Career highlights and awards
Grey Cup champion: 2008
CFL All-Star:	2010, 2011
CFL West All-Star:	2006, 2007, 2010, 2011
Honors:	CFL Rookie of the Year, 2004
Playing stats at CFL.ca

Nikolas "Nik" Lewis (born June 3, 1982 in Mineral Wells, Texas) is a professional Canadian football wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

Lewis attended Southern Arkansas University and was named an NCAA Division II All-American in 2003. He attended high school in Jacksboro, Texas where he participated in track, specializing in the triple jump.

Professional career[link]

In 2004, Lewis led the Stampeders in receptions (72), receiving yards (1045), touchdowns (8) and punt return yards (385) and was recognized as the Rookie of the Year by the Canadian Football League.^[1][2] Lewis finished the 2005 CFL season with 1,379 receiving yards, nine touchdowns and 80 receptions, second in the league.^[2] 2006 was another strong year for Lewis with the Stampeders as he posting 77 receptions, 1,114 receiving yards and five touchdowns and was named to the 2006 CFL Western Division All-Star team.^[2]

The 2007 CFL season saw Lewis achieve 67 receptions, 1,101 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. Lewis also had a career long 85 yard reception and was again a CFL Western Division All-Star.^[2]

Lewis helped lead Calgary to the 96th Grey Cup championship with 87 receptions for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns in the 2008 regular season.^[2]

In 2009, Lewis had another 1000-yard season by reaching the plateau in the last 15 minutes in the last game of the regular season.^[3] Lewis scored his first and only touchdown of the season in the 17th game of the regular season, earning the unusual distinction of having the lowest touchdowns scored for a 1000-yard receiver in the history of the CFL. As of the end of this season, Lewis has caught a pass in all 105 games that he has played in.^[4]

In 2011 Nik Lewis partnered with Joffrey Reynolds to create www.calmb4storm.com an organization that gives fans an opportunity to experience things otherwise unattainable.

Statistics[link]

References[link]

1. ^ "Lions' Printers named CFL MVP". CBC Sports. 2004-11-22. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/11/18/cfl041118.html. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Nikolas Lewis". Rosters. CFL.ca. http://cfl.ca/roster/show/id/391. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
3. ^ http://www.cfl.ca/article/lewis-has-another-season-to-remember Lewis has another season to remember
4. ^ http://www.stampeders.com/team/player_roster/career/?id=16

Further reading[link]

• Toth, Dan (2004-08-25). "Lewis lovin' every minute". Calgary Sun. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2004/08/25/601641.html. 
• Busby, Ian (2005-11-06). "One on one with Nik Lewis". Calgary Sun. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2005/11/06/1295259-sun.html. 

External links[link]

• Personal & Foundation Official Website
• CFL bio and statistics
• Nik Lewis on Twitter

Greg Peach (born November 19, 1986 in Vancouver, Washington) is a professional Canadian football defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as a street free agent in 2009. He played college football at Eastern Washington and was the 2008 recipient of the Buck Buchanan Award.

High school career[link]

Greg graduated from Evergreen High School where he was named a First Team All-State selection by the Tacoma News Tribune as a defensive lineman. He also played basketball while at Evergreen.

College career[link]

Peach had a career-best senior season in 2008, ending the year with 72 defensive tackles (35 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, one pass broken up and one fumble recovery in 11 games (11 starts). His outstanding efforts that season earned him the Buck Buchanan Award, honoring the Division I Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player. He ended his collegiate career with 35.5 sacks, which established a new record for career sacks in school history. Peach also set school records for most tackles for a loss in a season (28) and career (63).

Professional career[link]

Peach signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League as a free agent in 2009. In two seasons with the Eskimos, Peach has recorded a total of 7 tackles and 10 sacks.

He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a free agent on February 18, 2012.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Hamilton Tiger-Cats biography