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Remembrances of John Barrow, from his time with both the Tiger-Cats and the Argonauts

Former Ticats' player and Argos' GM John Barrow passed away Tuesday. (Ticats.ca.)
Former Ticats' player and Argos' GM John Barrow passed away Tuesday. (Ticats.ca.)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts have always had a fierce rivalry, but there have been some players and executives who have made notable contributions to both clubs. One was John Barrow, who passed away Tuesday at 79, leaving a remarkable legacy with both teams. Barrow became a true CFL legend, and one who should be appreciated by CFL fans throughout Southern Ontario and beyond.

Following a successful career at the University of Florida, Barrow's CFL playing career was spent entirely in the Ticats' black and gold, and it was a memorable one. He played 14 seasons for Hamilton from 1957 to 1970, playing as both an offensive and defensive tackle, and earned 11 league all-star nods, picked up six East Division nominations for the league's outstanding lineman award,  and won that award once (in 1962). He was named the CFL Lineman of the Century in 1967 as well, and he led the Ticats to incredible success; they appeared in nine Grey Cup games during his career, winning four. He was named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1976, and was selected to the all-time Tiger-Cats team in 2012. As CFL chairman and interim commissioner Jim Lawson wrote in a statement Wednesday, Barrow provided some of the defining images of the early days of the CFL:

"It’s an image etched on the memories of fans of a golden age of Canadian football: the legendary John Barrow in his Tiger-Cat jersey. High top shoes. Brush cut. Square jawed, fiercely determined, and tough as steel. This is how we’ll remember the man who was once voted the CFL’s ‘lineman of the century’. A standout lineman from 1957 to 1970, and an All-Star 16 times, including selections on both sides of the ball, Barrow played in nine Grey Cup games, and was a Grey Cup champion four times. The general manager of the Toronto Argonauts from 1971 to 1975, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1976. One of the top players in the storied history of our league, John Barrow’s accomplishments are something today’s players can aspire to, his record is something fans from any era can marvel at, and his image is something those of us lucky enough to see him play will never forget. All of us at the Canadian Football League join his family, friends and former teammates in mourning his passing."

Many of those former teammates have chimed in with their own remembrances, including one of Barrow's neighbours on the line, famed Ticat Angelo Mosca:

“John was quite a leader and teammate. His voice in the locker room was well respected while his play on the field was very tough”, said Ticats great Angelo Mosca. “I had the pleasure to play alongside John for ten years, in which we worked hard, played physical and accomplished great things. I’ll cherish our memories together forever”.

Barrow's post-playing career was also notable, as he became the Argonauts' general manager the year after he retired. He didn't take long to learn his new role, immediately working with head coach Leo Cahill to bring in talent like Joe Theismann and Leon McQuay, and putting together the incredible 1971 team that spawned a documentary. The Argos made it all the way to the Grey Cup game that very year. Unfortunately for Toronto fans, that game ended poorly for them thanks to Leon McQuay's fumble (which helped popularize the "Argo Bounce"), and they wouldn't recover for a while, with their next Grey Cup victory coming in 1983. Barrow made some other good finds for them throughout his 1971-1975 tenure, though, also grabbing talents like Peter Mueller and Larry Uteck. His Argos' career wasn't as spectacular as his time in Hamilton, but with a different bounce in 1971, it might be remembered better. Still, he was a key contributor to both of the CFL's Southern Ontario teams. He'll be missed.