53rd Grey Cup

1965 Canadian Football championship game

The 53rd Grey Cup, also known as the Wind Bowl, was hosted at CNE Stadium in Toronto on November 27, 1965. The Hamilton Tiger Cats defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22–16.

A strong wind prevailed throughout the game, and all scoring occurred while the team who received the points was going with the wind. To retain possession of the ball, the Blue Bombers conceded one safety touch in the first quarter and two in the third quarter while struggling against the wind. In the fourth quarter with the wind at their backs, the Bombers began a last minute drive, snuffed out when fullback Art Perkins was stopped cold by the Hamilton defence on a third and one gamble. The Bombers lost by 6 points, the margin of the three yielded safeties. They would next return to the Grey Cup game 19 years later, the 72nd Grey Cup in 1984.

As a result of the strategy employed by the Blue Bombers, in which they voluntarily conceded safeties to keep the ball, the rules were changed for the following 1966 CFL season. Teams scored against on a safety touch would no longer be entitled to keep the ball. Instead, they would be forced to kick the ball away to the other team.

The Royal Military College of Canada Pipes and Drums played at halftime.