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.

Pete Karpuk
Born:c. 1927
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died:March 4, 1985 (aged 58)
Toronto, Ontario
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)HB, E
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career history
As player
19481953, 1955Ottawa Rough Riders
1954Hamilton Tiger-Cats
19561957Montreal Alouettes
Career highlights and awards
  • Grey Cup champion (1951)

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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Hal Walker (1951-11-05). "Blame the Rules, NOT Pete Karpuk". Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 18.
  3. ^ a b "Ex–Big Four Player Jailed in $110 Theft". Globe and Mail. Toronto. 1961-08-10. p. 4.
  4. ^ "Pete Karpuk football statistics on StatsCrew.com".
  5. ^ "Karpuk Wins Appeal Against 3-Month Term". Globe and Mail. Toronto. 1962-05-25. p. 3.
  6. ^ Ex-Alouette Karpuk dies of heart attack: [FINAL Edition] The Gazette [Montreal, Que] 07 Mar 1985: D2.