Once, the Stallions rode high

Football: Five years ago, a motley group playing a strange version of the sport won the CFL's big prize, the Grey Cup, and the hearts of many in Baltimore.

Tracy Gravely: Still in Montreal. Led the Alouettes in special teams stops (no longer a starter at strong-side linebacker).

Matt Goodwin: The '94 Rookie of the Year failed in a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys in '96. Became a lawyer.

Reggie Givens: Brigance's backup at MLB spent two seasons in Toronto with Matthews, then played two seasons on special teams with the San Francisco 49ers. Played first 10 games this season with the Washington Redskins, then was released.

Ken Benson: Spent time with Montreal, Toronto and Saskatchewan. Injuries ended his career before the 2000 season.

Alvin Walton: Big-time special teams player (and former Redskins standout) never played again.

Defensive backs

Irv Smith: Star corner (Maryland and Poolesville High grad) still in Montreal, where he made the CFL All-Star team for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Lester Smith: Spent three seasons with Matthews in Toronto before returning to Montreal for the past two seasons. League's best FS.

Charles Anthony: Spent '96 season in the NFL with San Francisco (IR) and Tampa Bay. Returned to the CFL in '98 (Toronto) and '99 (Edmonton) with Matthews. Retired before this season.

Ken Watson: Played four more seasons in the CFL with Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton. Retired before this season.

Doug Craft: Played four more seasons in Montreal. Retired before this season.

Specialists

Carlos Huerta: Kicked for the Bears and Rams in '96, went to camp with the Bills in '97, but has spent the past three seasons in the Arena League. Sells real estate in Las Vegas.

Josh Miller: In his fifth season as the Steelers' punter. Pro Bowl alternate in 1999.

Rob Davis: In his fourth season as the Green Bay Packers' long snapper after snapping for the Chicago Bears in 1996.

Chris Wright: Returner tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the first practice in Montreal in 1996 and was never the same player, though he played in Montreal through the '99 season.

Coaches

Don Matthews: Spent three seasons in Toronto ('96-98) where he won back-to-back Grey Cups with Doug Flutie. Just finished his second season with Edmonton (where he began his CFL coaching career as an assistant in 1977). Candidate for the Saints coaching job in 1997, but they hired Mike Ditka. The winningest coach in CFL history, with 183 regular-season victories.

Bob Price: Took over in Montreal when Matthews moved to Toronto and led the Alouettes to the first of five straight trips to the Eastern final. Left after a year. In his fourth season at the University of Virginia (coaching DBs).

Steve Buratto: Didn't coach again until this season. Now head coach with B.C. Lions, who upset Matthews' Edmonton team on the way to a berth in today's Grey Cup against Montreal.

Marty Long: In his fifth season as the University of Arizona's DL coach.

Others

Jim Popp: Player personnel guru in Baltimore. Now in his fifth season as the GM in Montreal

Brad Melland: Equipment manager. Now in his fourth season with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks

Jeff Jacobs: Video coordinator. Now in his first season with the NFL's New Orleans Saints