Pete Karpuk (c. 1927 – March 4, 1985) was a Canadian football player who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes.
Born: | c. 1927 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Died: | March 4, 1985 (aged 58) Toronto, Ontario |
Career information | |
CFL status | National |
Position(s) | HB, E |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
Career history | |
As player | |
1948–1953, 1955 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
1954 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
1956–1957 | Montreal Alouettes |
Career highlights and awards | |
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In the last game of the 1951 Big Four regular season, Ulysses Curtis of the Toronto Argonauts had intercepted the ball and had a clear run for a touchdown when Karpuk rushed off the Ottawa Rough Riders bench to tackle him at the Ottawa 24-yard line.[1] After a 15-minute delay, the referee ruled that Toronto could not be awarded a touchdown or a new play at the 1-yard line, but would have to take their next play from the 12-yard line with a man advantage—a rule that Karpuk knew because he had discussed it in the past.[2] The tactic was afterwards called "a Karpuk" by at least one commentator when it was used again in American football.[3]
He won the Grey Cup with the Rough Riders that year.[4]
Ten years later he was broke and was sentenced to three months in jail after pleading guilty to stealing $110 from a store;[3] but the conviction was quashed on appeal.[5]
He died of a heart attack in 1985.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Big Four Finishes in Three-Way Deadlock:Argos Top Riders, 23–18, As Pete Karpuk Rushes From Bench to Tackle". Globe and Mail. Toronto. 1951-11-05. p. 19.
- ^ Hal Walker (1951-11-05). "Blame the Rules, NOT Pete Karpuk". Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 18.
- ^ a b "Ex–Big Four Player Jailed in $110 Theft". Globe and Mail. Toronto. 1961-08-10. p. 4.
- ^ "Pete Karpuk football statistics on StatsCrew.com".
- ^ "Karpuk Wins Appeal Against 3-Month Term". Globe and Mail. Toronto. 1962-05-25. p. 3.
- ^ Ex-Alouette Karpuk dies of heart attack: [FINAL Edition] The Gazette [Montreal, Que] 07 Mar 1985: D2.