CFL: Argonauts Bid Farewell to Willie Pile

After 5 seasons and over 400 tackles in the CFL, Willie Pile is hanging up his cleats. Al Dannity looks at yet another departure from Toronto as the Argos get ready for the 2012 season.

Made for each other
One of the most popular players to wear the double-blue has stepped down after five seasons with the Argonauts. Willie Pile played his entire CFL career in Toronto, having logged four years in the NFL before moving north of the border. The 32 year old brought the curtain on a career littered with individual greatness but almost always just on the wrong side of team success.

Pile’s three years as a starter with Virginia Tech came between the Hokies dominance in the Big East and ACC, although he did win the Big East as a back-up. As a pro he played a year in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals in 2004, and the Admirals went on to win the World Bowl a year later. In the NFL he never played in the post-season but he finally found his calling in Toronto.

In his first year Pile helped the Argos to the top of the East Division, before they eventually fell in the East Final. Two luckless seasons followed for Toronto but Pile kept on making tackles. Then in 2010 Pile got his second taste of the post-season, where they once again fell in the East Final.

A fond farewell
Despite never getting a chance to lift the Grey Cup, Pile leaves Toronto with good memories and will remain dear to the hearts of Argos fans. Despite leaving the decision relatively late, Pile insisted retirement was the right call to make.

“Although I have been preparing extremely hard for the opportunity to compete to hoist the Grey Cup in the great city of Toronto this season, the circumstances and the timing surrounding my decision have been very challenging,” he said in a prepared statement.

“I am fully confident that this is the best decision for my family and I at this time. I want to thank my family, my wife and my son, my close friends, my mentors and all my teammates who supported me as I pursued my goal to play the game,” said Pile. “I also want to thank the entire Toronto Argonauts organization, the Double Blue Argonauts fans, the city of Toronto, and the Canadian Football League for breathing new life into my football career and for embracing me as one of your own.”

He may not have many rings but Wille Pile retires unquestionably a winner.

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