1953 Edmonton Eskimos
Eskimos halfback Billy Vessels is named the first winner of the Schenley Award as the league’s Most Outstanding Player, leading the team to a 12-4 record for first in the CFL’s Western Interprovincial Football Union. Vessels rushed for 926 yards and Rollie Miles had 657 yards receiving. They would go on to lose in the West Final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Darrell Royal coached Edmonton for only one season before returning to Mississippi State.
| 1953 (5th season) |
| Record: 12-4 (1st WIFU) |
| Home: 6-2 | Away: 6-2 |
| Playoffs: 1-2 | Lost West Finals |
| Head coach: Darrell Royal (1st season) |
| All-Stars: Frank Anderson, Claude Arnold, Eagle Keys, Normie Kwong, Leon Manley, Rollie Miles, Jim Quandamatteo, Billy Vessels, Ray Wisley. |
| Major award winners: Billy Vessels is named the first winner of the Schenley Award (Most Outstanding Player) |
| Date | Opponent | Result (record) |
| August 29 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 6-7 (0-1-0) |
| August 31 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 19-17 (1-1-0) |
| September 5 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 18-6 (2-1-0) |
| September 7 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 5-19 (3-1-0) |
| September 12 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 1-13 (4-1-0) |
| September 14 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 7-9 (5-1-0) |
| September 19 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | W 12-6 (6-1-0) |
| September 26 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 6-15 (7-1-0) |
| September 28 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 21-12 (8-1-0) |
| October 3 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | L 13-19 (8-2-0) |
| October 5 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 16-6 (9-2-0 |
| October 10 | at Calgary Stampeders | W 34-13 (10-2-0) |
| October 12 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 6-22 (11-2-0) |
| October 17 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 9-32 (12-2-0) |
| October 19 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | L 20-19 (12-3-0) |
| October 24 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 17-8 (12-4-0) |
| November 7 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | W 25-7 West Final |
| November 11 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 21-17 West Final |
| November 14 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 30-24 West Final |