96TH GREY CUP KICKS OFF TODAY
ON TSN
It's the single biggest day in Canadian sports as the 96th Grey Cup championship kicks off later today in Montreal with the Alouettes facing the Calgary Stampeders on TSN.
The action gets underway with the pre-game show at 3pm et/Noon pt and the opening kickoff at 6pm et/3pm pt. The game is also available on TSN HD.
There is no doubt the Alouettes will hold a significant home field advantage by playing in front of more than 63,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium. The home supporters should make it very uncomfortable for the Stampeders, however something may have been lost in translation at the coaches press conferences on Saturday.
"Pas un mot (not a word) when Henry (Burris) is on the field," Als coach Marc Trestman said before being corrected by a member of his staff.
"Don't do that," Trestman corrected himself while laughing it off. "Pas un mot when A.C (Anthony Calvillo) is on the field. We want to be as quiet as we can when A.C. is on the field."
Although the Als rookie head coach was embarrassed by his inability to express his thoughts in French, he could be excused for having his mind on more important matters, namely the biggest game he has ever coached in his life.
While the game features the top team in the East Division playing at home facing the top team in a stacked West Division, some individual matchups will be under close scrutiny; none moreso than the opposing quarterbacks.
Calvillo and Burris are the cream of the crop in the CFL this season. They finished one and two in the league in terms of touchdown passes and quarterback rating with Calvillo edging Burris in both categories and carrying a slight advantage in terms of yards passing as well.
On Thursday, Calvillo confirmed his superiority in receiving 27 of 46 first place votes to beat Burris for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award. Burris will likely attempt to prove that he, along with the rest of his team, have been overlooked.
Despite the best record in the league, no Stampeder won an individual award this season. In addition, only six Stampeders made the year-end All-Star squad while no fewer than 14 Alouettes were honoured.
"For us, we feel slighted and that's kind of the thing we've dealt with all year. We've had to prove things to ourselves and a lot of people," Burris stated following Thursday's awards ceremony.
If anyone can claim disrespect, it is the Stampeders defensive corps. Although no team gave up fewer points per game, allowed fewer touchdowns nor stopped the run as well as Calgary, Brandon Browner was the solitary Stampeder to be named a defensive All-Star.
The Stampeders point to the far superior level of competition they encountered as they were forced to face three division rivals that sported winning records while the Alouettes were able to beat up on the sad sacks of the East Division.
"I guess if we'd have played Toronto two more times we might have had 80 more points. Hank might have thrown for six or seven more touchdowns, oh well," said Stampeders' receiver Nik Lewis.
Montreal holds a distinct advantage in terms of experience as the team's core has been together a lot longer than the Stampeders. Four players remain from the Alouettes last Grey Cup title in 2002 and even more from the teams that lost back-to-back championship games in 2005 and 2006.
Trestman hopes that experience will help the team not necessarily on the field as much as dealing with the pageantry that surrounds the big game.
"Having been through this before, our players have to realize that before the game, it's going to be a little bit longer once the introductions are over," Trestman said. "That they don't try to go get the game, they let the game come to them. Half-time will be the same."
History is not on the Als' side however as only three host teams have ever captured the Grey Cup, the last being in 1994 when the B.C. Lions held off the Baltimore Stallions at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.
In addition, the Stampeders beat the Als both times the teams faced each other this season; a 23-19 Stamps victory in Week 3 in Montreal followed by a 41-30 win in Week 12 in Calgary.
"We'll face whatever adversity is thrown at us," Stampeders coach John Hufnagel stated. "Knowing that we have been able to face it and conquer it will help us in the fourth quarter."
Neither team is going into the game 100% healthy. Stampeders' cornerback Brandon Browner remains a game-time decision after he injured his ankle on the final play of the West Final by knocking down a Buck Pierce pass attempt. In addition, defensive lineman Mike Labinjo, who was a monster for the Stamps against the Eskimos is fighting off an illness and did not practice Friday. Hufnagel did not seem too worried about potentially being without one of his top defenders.
"A good night's rest, get some food in him," Hufnagel stated. "He should be good to go (Sunday)."
Meanwhile the Alouettes have injury concerns of their own. Receiver Kerry Watkins practiced without pads Friday after reportedly suffering a rib injury on Wednesday in practice.
While any number of factors could determine the outcome, the key will likely come down to which quarterback can control the clock and manage the game and the pressure that comes with it.
Questions remain in terms of both pivot's abilities to win the big game. Burris picked up only his second career CFL playoff victory last week against Edmonton, but struggled mightily in the first half.
Meanwhile, Calvillo has passed for nearly 58,700 yards along with 328 touchdowns in his career while being twice named the league's Outstanding Player, he still must shake the feeling that he still has something to prove as he sports a 1-4 record in Grey Cup games.
"When people bring up my career, especially at this time of the year, they talk about the record. I can't control the past, only the future. And now, it's here again," Calvillo told the Montreal Gazette.
To say my career is so-so because I'm 1-4, I disagree. But that's my opinion," Calvillo said, shrugging. "At least now I have another opportunity to change that opinion."
The possibility also exists that win or lose, this could be Calvillo's final game as the 36-year-old is scheduled to become a free-agent at the end of the season. Thus far, Calvillo has refused to discuss his future with the team amid speculation that he could retire.
"I'm never going to get this chance again in my career," Calvillo said earlier in the week. "And I'm sure there are a lot of older guys who aren't going to get this chance. We know, based on the history, that it isn't easy, it doesn't happen too often. But man, would it be special. That's what we want to do is bring this Cup home."
And all will be revealed today.
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