1983 BC Lions Roster
Team Record: 11-5 22
Finishing 1st in the CFL's West Division
Postseason: 1-1 Lost Grey Cup
Coach: Don Matthews (11-5)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1983 BC Lions Results
The BC Lions of the Canadian Football League ended the 1983 season with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses for 22 points, finishing first in the CFL's West Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 1-1.
On offense, BC accumulated 477 points, tops in the circuit. The defense proved to be a force, as the Lions yielded 326 points, fewest in the circuit. Roy Dewalt triggered the aerial attack, slinging for 3,637 yards. Mervyn Fernandez grabbed 78 passes for 1,284 yards. Sammy Greene and John Pankratz provided receiving help, too.
John White carried the ball for a team-leading 441 yards, while Roy Dewalt also contributed to the rushing attack.
The ball-hawking defense pounced on 70 turnovers, best in the league. Larry Crawford intercepted 12 opponent throws. Mack Moore topped pass rushers with 15 quarterback sacks, topping a defense credited with 57 sacks.
Don Matthews coached the team. The 1983 BC Lions lost in the Grey Cup.
Click on column headings to sort.
| # | Player | Pos. | Birth Date | Height | Weight | College | Hometown | GP | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ned Armour | WR | March 9, 1958 | 6'1" | 185 | San Diego State | Indianapolis, IN | 3 | ||
| 68 | John Blain | T | February 1, 1955 | 6'6" | 265 | San Jose State | North Vancouver, BC | 16 | |
| Gerald Bradley | WR | January 16, 1961 | 6'1" | 180 | Weber State | 1 | |||
| Jamie Buis | G/T | April 19, 1962 | 6'4" | 265 | Simon Fraser | New Westminster, BC | 1 | ||
| 10 | Melvin Byrd | DB | December 17, 1958 | 5'9" | 160 | California - Davis | Hampton, VA | 15 | |
| 71 | Jacques Chapdelaine | SB | August 24, 1961 | 6'1" | 185 | Simon Fraser | Sherbrooke, QC | 16 | |
| Ron Cherkas | DT | December 30, 1953 | 6'4" | 240 | Utah State | Kamsack, SK | 5 | ||
| 14 | Tim Cowan | QB | August 17, 1960 | 6'0" | 195 | Washington | Lynwood, CA | 3 | 0 |
| 64 | Jon Craver | DE | March 24, 1961 | 6'3" | 240 | James Madison | York, PA | 2 | |
| 28 | Larry Crawford | DB | December 18, 1959 | 5'11" | 175 | Iowa State | Miami, FL | 16 | |
| 50 | Tyrone Crews | LB | June 17, 1956 | 6'2" | 235 | Kansas State | New York, NY | 16 | |
| 55 | James Curry | DE | October 26, 1957 | 6'2" | 245 | Nevada - Reno | Chowchilla, CA | 9 | |
| 3 | Mark DeBrueys | TE | August 8, 1958 | 6'2" | 210 | Western Ontario | London, ON | 12 | |
| 9 | Roy Dewalt | QB | September 4, 1956 | 6'1" | 210 | Texas - Arlington | Houston, TX | 15 | 14 |
| 24 | Mervyn Fernandez | WR | December 29, 1959 | 6'3" | 205 | San Jose St. | Merced, CA USA | 16 | |
| 6 | Bernie Glier | LB | June 9, 1960 | 6'2" | 210 | UBC | Vancouver, BC | 16 | |
| 35 | Sammy Greene | WR | January 28, 1959 | 6'1" | 190 | UNLV | 14 | ||
| 67 | Dennis Guevin | DL | December 10, 1959 | 6'5" | 285 | Simon Fraser | Wainwright, AB | 16 | |
| 36 | Jo Jo Heath | DB | March 9, 1957 | 5'10" | 182 | Pittsburgh | Monessen, PA USA | 14 | |
| Nick Hebeler | DE | July 18, 1957 | 6'3" | 255 | Simon Fraser | Vancouver, BC | 5 | ||
| Donnie Hickman | T | June 11, 1955 | 6'2" | 261 | USC | Flagstaff, AZ USA | 10 | ||
| Ken Hinton | DB | July 2, 1955 | 5'9" | 170 | San Diego State | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | ||
| 37 | Glen Jackson | LB | April 5, 1954 | 6'3" | 205 | Simon Fraser | Vancouver, BC | 15 | |
| 32 | Andre Jones | DB | July 22, 1956 | 6'1" | 205 | UNLV | Los Angeles, CA | 8 | |
| 23 | Larry Jones | RB | September 16, 1959 | 5'10" | 190 | Colorado State | Orange County, CA | 8 | |
| Tim Kearse | SB | October 24, 1959 | 5'10" | 186 | San Jose St. | York, PA USA | 1 | ||
| Mike Kirkley | RB | October 10, 1959 | 5'10" | 205 | Western Ontario | 1 | |||
| 60 | Rick Klassen | DT | July 25, 1959 | 6'2" | 240 | Simon Fraser | Chilliwack, BC | 16 | |
| 31 | Kevin Konar | LB | July 8, 1958 | 6'1" | 215 | UBC | Vancouver, BC | 16 | |
| Joe Kuklo | DB | June 22, 1959 | 6'2" | 175 | Simon Fraser | 6 | |||
| 27 | Pete Lavorato | LB | August 26, 1952 | 5'11" | 195 | Utah State | Edmonton, AB | 6 | |
| 54 | Glenn Leonhard | G | November 14, 1954 | 6'4" | 265 | Manitoba | Swan River, MB | 16 | |
| 4 | Nelson Martin | S | August 24, 1958 | 6'0" | 185 | Seneca College | Toronto, ON | 16 | |
| 16 | Billy McBride | DB | July 31, 1956 | 6'1" | 185 | Tennessee State | Syracuse, NY | 2 | |
| 45 | Dave McNeel | LB | December 4, 1959 | 6'3" | 220 | Missouri | Greenfield, MO | 2 | |
| 51 | Warner Miles | G | July 16, 1959 | 6'2" | 235 | Ottawa | Ottawa, ON | 12 | |
| 78 | Mack Moore | DT | March 4, 1959 | 6'4" | 258 | Texas A&M | Monroe, LA USA | 16 | |
| 21 | John Pankratz | SB | June 23, 1957 | 5'10" | 180 | Simon Fraser | Vancouver, BC | 16 | |
| 6 | Joe Paopao | QB | June 30, 1955 | 6'1" | 200 | Long Beach State | Honolulu, HI | 14 | 2 |
| 17 | Kerry Parker | DB | October 3, 1955 | 6'1" | 192 | Grambling St. | New Orleans, LA USA | 16 | |
| 5 | Lui Passaglia | P/K | June 7, 1954 | 5'11" | 180 | Simon Fraser | Vancouver, BC | 16 | 0 |
| 33 | Ryan Potter | RB | December 25, 1959 | 5'11" | 200 | Western Ontario | Hamilton, ON | 16 | |
| 74 | Brent Racette | DE | August 12, 1955 | 6'2" | 230 | UBC | Prince Albert, SK | 14 | |
| 65 | Gerald Roper | G | November 7, 1959 | 6'4" | 255 | Arizona | Vancouver, BC | 13 | |
| Ray Strong | RB | May 7, 1956 | 5'9" | 184 | UNLV | Berkeley, CA USA | 4 | ||
| 63 | Don Swafford | OT | May 22, 1957 | 6'7" | 260 | Florida | Dayton, OH | 6 | |
| 19 | Don Taylor | RB | August 29, 1955 | 5'9" | 185 | Central Iowa | Edinburgh, Scotland | 16 | |
| Ruben Vaughan | DL | August 5, 1956 | 6'2" | 261 | Colorado | Los Angeles, CA USA | 4 | ||
| Ray Waddy | DE | August 21, 1956 | 5'11" | 175 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | Freeport, TX USA | 6 | ||
| Rob Waite | DT | March 5, 1957 | 6'1" | 251 | UBC | 3 | |||
| 20 | John White | RB | August 28, 1955 | 5'9" | 195 | Louisiana Tech | Shreveport, LA | 14 | |
| 52 | Al Wilson | C | April 6, 1950 | 6'2" | 240 | Montana State | Duncan, BC | 16 |
