Al Wilson ( Canadian football ) Al " Dirt " Wilson ( born April 6 , 1950 in Duncan , British Columbia ) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions . Wilson spent his entire 15 year career with the Lions as an offensive lineman . Wilson played American college football at Montana State University . He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame , the B . C . Sports Hall of Fame , the B . C . Lions Wall of Fame , and has a street named in his honor , " Al Wilson Grove , " in his hometown of Duncan . Wilson ' s # 52 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B . C . Lions . In 2003 , Wilson was voted a member of the B . C . Lions All - Time Dream Team as part of the club ’ s 50 year anniversary celebration . In 2006 , Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . High school and college career . Wilson attended Cowichan Secondary School in Duncan , British Columbia where he played defensive end , offensive guard , and tight end for the football team . He went on to play college football at Montana State from 1968 to 1972 , where he was the Bobcats ' captain during his senior year . Professional career . Following his graduation from Montana State , Wilson joined the B . C . Lions in 1972 . Playing offensive guard , and later , center , Wilson rarely missed a Lions ' game in his 15 year career with the team , finishing with 233 games ( he is the second longest - playing Lion in team history behind teammate Lui Passaglia ' s 408 game record ) . During his career , Wilson played in 167 consecutive games until a knee injury ended his season in 1982 . In 1983 , Wilson was a part of the Lions ' 11 - 5 season that culminated in a Grey Cup matchup with the Toronto Argonauts . The Lions ultimately lost the game , 18 - 17 . Two seasons later , in 1985 , Wilson and the Lions returned to the Grey Cup championship game , where they defeated the Hamilton Tiger - Cats 37 - 24 for the Lions ' second Grey Cup . Wilson ' s play led to his selection as a Western Division and CFL All - Star for seven consecutive years ( 1975 , 1976 , 1977 , 1978 , 1979 , 1980 , 1981 ) . Wilson won the DeMarco - Becket Memorial Trophy as the CFL Western Division ' s most outstanding lineman three years in a row ( 1976 – 1978 ) and won the Scheneley Award as the CFL ' s " Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen " in 1977 . Following his retirement in 1986 , Wilson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 . In 2003 , Wilson was voted a member of the BC Lions All - Time Dream Team , at the center position , as part of the club ’ s 50 year anniversary celebration . In 2006 , Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . Post - football life . Since his retirement , Wilson has been active in the Duncan , British Columbia community , and has sponsored charity events and golf tournaments . Wilson has also spent the past 10 years coaching the Windsor Dukes Football team out of North Vancouver , British Columbia . His coaching has helped the Dukes claim the title of Provincial Champions seven times in the past 10 years . On Oct . 18 , 2008 , Wilson was part of the inaugural group inducted into the Duncan / North Cowichan Sports Wall of Fame .