CFL's Gizmo, Dunigan honoured

Former CFL stars Henry (Gizmo) Williams, Matt Dunigan, Bobby Jurasin and Allen Pitts, and builder Victor Spencer were inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on Friday in Hamilton, Ont.

Williams electrified the league en route to setting records for punt returns (1,003), punt-return yardage (11,177), kickoff returns (335) and kickoff-return yardage (7,354).

He had 26 touchdown returns in his career, including five in one season, both of which are unsurpassed.He often accentuated his touchdowns with a forward flip in the end zone.

Williams played his entire CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos, winning the Grey Cup in 1987 and 1993.

"This is just another chapter in my life," Williams said. "It's not about how you start, it's how you finish and that's the message I try to give people about life.

"There's been a lot of sadness in my life and I feel sorry for my family, but I've got to continue moving on with life. I think that's where many people have problems, they worry about things they can't control. I learned that as a kid growing up and that's what's made me the person I am."

Prolific pivot

Dunigan played for the Edmonton Eskimos, B.C. Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Birmingham Barracudas and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 14 CFL seasons.

He was named a league all-star three times, and is the only quarterback in CFL history to lead five different teams to winning records.

With Birmingham in 1995, Dunigan established career highs with 362 completions, 4,911 yards, and 34 touchdown passes. After the team folded, the pivot moved to Hamilton, but a concussion suffered in 1996 cut his career short.

He finished with 43,857 passing yards and 306 touchdown passes, placing Dunigan third all-time in TDs and fifth in yardage.

The Louisiana Tech product was also a threat on the ground, gaining 5,031 yards and 77 touchdowns on 850 carries.

After his playing career ended, Dunigan spent just over a year as general manager and coach of the Calgary Stampeders in between stints as a CFL broadcaster.

"I was passionate about the way I played the game," he said. "I wasn't good enough to just go out there and beat teams with my physical capabilities.

"I had to muster up all my faculties and passion and grit and determination in order to be successful and I think that's how I attack life. So to come out here and show a little emotion is par for the course."

Roughriders' defensive anchor

Jurasin, the Saskatchewan Roughriders' career sacks leader, spent 12 years with the club, anchoring its defensive line. He recorded 142 quarterback sacks in his career, placing him third on the overall list when he retired.

Jurasin was a CFL all-star four times, and was named to the Western Division's all-star team six times, winning a Grey Cup in 1989 with the Roughriders.

Pitts set a record with 126 receptions in 1994, which was broken four years later by then Argonaut Derrell (Mookie) Mitchell. He also had 21 touchdowns, another record that has since been bested twice.

Pitts was a five-time CFL all-star and a member of two Grey Cup champion squads with Calgary.

Spencer was considered a football pioneer in British Columbia, helping to bring a team to Vancouver in 1954 and serving as an executive with the Lions for nine years.