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Quarterback Joe Barnes with the Toronto Argonauts. Source: https://www.cflapedia.com/Players/b/barnes_joe_a.htm (May be subject to copyright) |
I recall a lot of memorable moments about Joe Barnes that span the entire decade of the 1980s.
It is fitting on Grey Cup Sunday, with Montreal making their first appearance in more than a decade, that I reflect on the first Grey Cup I ever saw because it involved Montreal.
Joe Barnes was the starting quarterback for the Alouettes that day.
That began a long association with a player who became one of my favourite CFL quarterbacks ever.
The years before
Joe Barnes played college football at Texas Tech and had the drawl to match. He was taken in the 13th round of the 1974 NFL Draft by Chicago and played two games for the Bears that year.
Joe Barnes played college football at Texas Tech and had the drawl to match. He was taken in the 13th round of the 1974 NFL Draft by Chicago and played two games for the Bears that year.
In 1976 he signed with the Montreal Alouettes and would play the better part of four seasons with them, closing out the decade.
He began by splitting playing time with fellow quarterback Sonny Wade. Barnes was a scrambler who could use his legs either to extend a play or gain a first down.
In 1976, Barnes appeared in 13 games, when the CFL still played a 16-game schedule. He completed 29 of 56 passes for 392 yards, one touchdown and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The Alouettes finished third in the East Division with a 7-8-1 record, and were shut out in the East Division Semi-Final by a score of 23-0.
In 1977, he played in eight games, completing 77 of 141 passes for 991 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for a career-high 485 yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries. The Alouettes finished first in the East with a record of 11-5, then beat Ottawa 21-18 in the East Final, and won the Grey Cup in the infamous “Ice Bowl” game, by a score of 41-6.
The 1978 season saw Joe Barnes largely become the starting quarterback, starting 12 games while Sonny Wade started four. Barnes completed 72 of 137 passes for 1,177 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries. Montreal finished second in the East Division with an 8-7-1 record. They defeated Hamilton 35-20 in the East Semi Final and Ottawa by a score of 21-16 in the East Final, before losing in the Grey Cup to Edmonton by a score of 20-13.
Barnes was the unchallenged starting quarterback in 1979, starting all 16 regular season games for the Alouettes, where he completed 163 of 305 passes for 2,456 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 269 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries. Montreal finished first in the East Division with an 11-4-1 record. They defeated Ottawa by a 17-6 score in the East Final, before losing to Edmonton for the second straight year in the Grey Cup, this year by a score of 17-9.
As the 1980s dawned, Joe Barnes and his Montreal Alouettes had a great run, making three Grey Cups in his first four years in the league, winning one and coming within a touchdown the other two times.
The 1979 Grey Cup would be the last one Montreal played in until the year 2000, but Joe Barnes would go on to have a lot of success in the 1980s.
Restoring Rider pride
Joe Barnes began the 1980 season as Montreal’s starter, playing the first six games of the season. He completed 37 of 75 passes for 403 yards, no touchdowns and seven interceptions, and rushed for 74 yards on 20 carries. Montreal soured on Barnes, replaced him with quarterback Gerry Dattilio. Later, they shipped Barnes to the lowly Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for defensive back Al Chorney.
Joe Barnes began the 1980 season as Montreal’s starter, playing the first six games of the season. He completed 37 of 75 passes for 403 yards, no touchdowns and seven interceptions, and rushed for 74 yards on 20 carries. Montreal soured on Barnes, replaced him with quarterback Gerry Dattilio. Later, they shipped Barnes to the lowly Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for defensive back Al Chorney.
Barnes played in 10 games for the Riders, completing 106 of 205 yards for 1,322 yards, eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown. The Riders had signed quarterback John Hufnagel from the Calgary Stampeders before the start of the season, so when Barnes arrived in Regina he shared playing time with Hufnagel. Saskatchewan was 1-5 when Barnes arrived, and finished the season with a record of 2-14, and last in the West Division.
However, things turned around for the Riders the next year. Saskatchewan hired Joe Faragalli, the offensive line coach for the Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos, as their coach for the 1981 season, and he brought a new attitude to Regina.
Barnes and Hufnagel platooned at quarterback in 1981, and were affectionately dubbed “Barnagel”. They helped turn around the fortunes of the Riders, along with a defence that was much improved.
The Riders went from that 2-14 record in 1980, to a much-improved and respectable 9-7 record. Unfortunately, in the tough and highly competitive West Division, the Riders finished fourth, one game out of the playoffs. Had the cross-over that exists now, existed then, Sasaktachewan would have easily made the playoffs. In the East Division, Ottawa finished second with a 5-11 record and Montreal was third with a 3-13 record. They both made the playoffs and the Riders didn’t. Yet, Ottawa went on to shock everyone by coming within a field goal of winning the Grey Cup.
Barnes played in all 16 games for the Riders, completing 151 out of 290 passes for 2,130 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.
However, the best was yet to come for Joe Barnes as he was on the move again before the start of the next season.
Argo blue
In 1981, the Toronto Argonauts had finished with the worst record in the Canadian Football League, winning just two out of 16 games. By contrast, the last place team in the CFL West, the Calgary Stampeders, had finished 6-10.
In 1981, the Toronto Argonauts had finished with the worst record in the Canadian Football League, winning just two out of 16 games. By contrast, the last place team in the CFL West, the Calgary Stampeders, had finished 6-10.
The Argonauts re-tooled very quickly for the 1982 season, hiring Bob O’Billovich as their head coach, and Mouse Davis as their offensive coordinator. Davis had pioneered his “run and shoot” offence at Portland State, and was implementing it in Toronto. It emphasized the pass, relied on unlimited motion, and a quicker tempo.
Toronto had a solid quarterback in Condredge Holloway, but then made a trade with Saskatchewan, acquiring Joe Barnes in exchange for defensive back Marcellus Greene. Once more, Barnes would be platooning with another quality quarterback.
The Argonauts had one of the greatest turn arounds in CFL history, finishing the 1982 with a record of 9-6-1, good enough for first place in the East Division. They defeated Ottawa in the East Final by a score of 44-7, but the clock struck midnight for Cinderella. The Argonauts ran into the juggernaut Edmonton Eskimos, who had won the previous four Grey Cups and were appearing in their ninth Grey Cup in 10 years. They defeated Toronto by a score of 32-16, but the game was not lost on the Argos. They would be back in 1983.
Condredge Holloway had an exceptional season, winning the league’s most valuable player award, but Barnes served as Holloway’s back up for that year. Appearing in 10 games, he completed 26 of 61 passes for 322 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 36 yards on seven carries.
Things would be very different the next season.
Coming off the bench
The Toronto Argonauts attacked the 1983 season with a vengeance, finishing with the best record in the CFL at 12-4. Finishing first in the East Division gave them a first round bye and a date with Hamilton in the East Division Final, which they won by a score of 41-36.
The Toronto Argonauts attacked the 1983 season with a vengeance, finishing with the best record in the CFL at 12-4. Finishing first in the East Division gave them a first round bye and a date with Hamilton in the East Division Final, which they won by a score of 41-36.
Barnes and Holloway became a true platoon that season, passing for more than 5,000 combined yards. Barnes completed 149 of 271 passes for 2,274 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries. Meanwhile, Holloway passed for 3,184 yards.
Holloway started the Grey Cup. However, trailing 17-7 at halftime, O’Billovich called on Barnes to come off the bench in the second half. He responded, moving the ball into field-goal range three times only to have kicker Hank Ilesic miss three field goals. Two went for singles to cut the Lion lead to 17-9. He later made a field goal, making the score 17-12.
With four minutes left, Barnes again had the Argos on the move. They scored with 2:44 to play as Barnes found Cedric Minter in the end zone for a touchdown and an 18-17 lead. Toronto went for a two-point conversion to extend their lead to three points, but their attempt failed.
B.C. had one more chance but the Argonaut defence held firm, forced the Lions to punt, and Barnes pretty much ran out the clock, leaving B.C. with one last hail mary that fell incomplete.
For his efforts, Joe Barnes was named the Grey Cup most valuable player on offence, as he helped Toronto end a championship drought that dated back to 1952.
The next year, the 1984 season, Barnes had an even better regular season, completing 231 of 378 passes for a career-high 3,128 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while rushing for 278 yards and three touchdowns on 52 carries. He was also named an East Division All-star. Toronto again finished first in the East Division with a 9-6-1 record, but were upended by Hamilton in the East Final by a score of 14-13, as the Tiger-Cats advanced to the Grey Cup, only to get thrashed 47-17 by Winnipeg.
Before the start of the 1985 season, Joe Barnes was on the move again, as the Argonauts traded him to Calgary for defensive end Walter Ballard, offensive lineman Jeff Inglis, and a draft pick.
Cowtown quarterback
The Stampeders had a disastrous 1985 season that ended with the real possibility they may fold before the start of the 1986 season. Very little seemed to go right for Calgary that season.
The Stampeders had a disastrous 1985 season that ended with the real possibility they may fold before the start of the 1986 season. Very little seemed to go right for Calgary that season.
Statistically, Barnes had a good season with the Stampeders. He appeared in 11 games, completing 212 of 362 passes for 2,864 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions, while rushing for 198 yards on 42 carries.
One bright spot was a Saturday night game at B.C. Place, where Barnes engineered an upset of the eventual Grey Cup champion Lions.
However, the Stampeders decided to go in another direction and, after 11 games, traded Barnes back to where it all started – Montreal.
Same place, different name
The Alouettes had folded and been replaced by the Montreal Concordes by the time Joe Barnes arrived to finish the 1985 season. He appeared in four games, completing 53 of 91 passes for 568 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries.
The Alouettes had folded and been replaced by the Montreal Concordes by the time Joe Barnes arrived to finish the 1985 season. He appeared in four games, completing 53 of 91 passes for 568 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries.
The Alouettes made the playoffs in 1985, finishing second in the East Division with a record of 8-8, and defeated Ottawa in the East Semi-final before losing to Hamilton in the East Final.
Barnes was back in Montreal for the 1986 season when they were once again the Alouettes, appearing in seven games where he completed 44 of 82 passes for 454 yards, one touchdown and seven interceptions, while rushing for 14 yards on six carries.
He retired shortly after that.
Parting thoughts
Initially, I didn’t really like anything about the Montreal Alouettes, including Joe Barnes, but that quickly changed. I really came to enjoy the way he played when he helped return the Saskatchewan Roughriders to respectability, then came off the bench to lead the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship.
Initially, I didn’t really like anything about the Montreal Alouettes, including Joe Barnes, but that quickly changed. I really came to enjoy the way he played when he helped return the Saskatchewan Roughriders to respectability, then came off the bench to lead the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship.
When he played for my beloved Stampeders, I rested my hopes on the possibility he could do the same thing in Calgary he had done in Regina.
That didn’t quite work out, but he gave me one of my best football memories with that shocking upset of the B.C, Lions in Vancouver.
Put it all together, and I think Joe Barnes was a great clutch quarterback.
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