Closed Doors and Alberta Crude traces the history of the CFL from 1969 to 1982. The League relatively new
in its approach, was shaping itself for future years.
Decisions were being made behind closed doors. On the
field the dominant team during the era was the Edmonton
Eskimos. Sound coaching,quarterbacking and a strong defense, aptly named Alberta Crude, paved the way.
270 pages
ISBN 978-1-365-50338-2
Price $24.95
Shipping $5.00
Order
in its approach, was shaping itself for future years.
Decisions were being made behind closed doors. On the
field the dominant team during the era was the Edmonton
Eskimos. Sound coaching,quarterbacking and a strong defense, aptly named Alberta Crude, paved the way.
270 pages
ISBN 978-1-365-50338-2
Price $24.95
Shipping $5.00
Order
Frank Cosentino, born in Hamilton May 22, 1937, has devoted his life to sport. Growing up in Hamilton, he played baseball with Russ Jackson and Murray Oliver in the Hamilton Police Minor Baseball Association. He attracted offers from the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Braves and Kansas City Athletics. He was also a noted fastball pitcher as well as having played basketball through his years at Cathedral High School and with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. His football career began with the Hamilton Old Boys Football Association and later as a quarterback at Cathedral High School in 1954. The League championship was won in 1954; went to the Red Feather game in 1955 and were league finalists that year.
He had offers from universities in Canada and the United States but decided on the University of Western Ontario where he graduated in Honours Business Administration in 1960. While at Western he played four season with the Mustangs, winning championships in 1957 and 1959. His last game with Western was as Captain and quarterback in the inaugural Canadian Intercollegiate championship contest versus UBC Thunderbirds, a 34-12 win for Western. He also played one season of Basketball with the Mustangs.
He was the first draft choice of Hamilton and began his career with the Tiger-Cats in 1960. He was in 5 consecutive Grey Cup games, 1961-65, including the first overtime Grey Cup game in 1961, the “fog bowl” in 1962 and the “wind bowl” of 1965. The team’s two Grey Cup wins were in 1963 and 1965. He was traded to Edmonton in 1967 and led the team to a 9-6-1. Frank was named Edmonton’s nominee for the Best Canadian Schenley Award. He was traded to Toronto for the 1969 season. The Argos played the Ottawa Rough Riders in a two game total point series to determine the East’s representative in the Grey Cup game. After winning the first game by 8 points, Leo Cahill exclaimed that “only an act of God” could stop the Argos from advancing. Ottawa won the round and the Grey Cup that year.
During that ten year span, Cosentino had returned to University to obtain a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1967, from McMaster, a Master’s degree (1969) and PhD (1973) from University of Alberta. He was also married (Sheila) and had a family of four children. (Tony, Mary, Teresa & Peter.)
In 1970 Frank was named Head Football Coach at the University of Western Ontario and Assistant Professor. In 1976 he moved to York University where he was Professor and Chairman of Physical Education and Athletics for a five year term. He taught courses in Sport History, coached in total 12 years at the University level, winning two Vanier Cups at Western in 1971 and 1974 and was Undergraduate Coordinator of Physical Education and Associate professor when he left Western.
Frank is the author or co-author of 17 books mainly in the area of sport. He resides in Eganville, Ontario, Canada, where he lives with his wife Sheila. The couple has 12 grandchildren.