Calgary Herald

WE ARE ALL STAMPEDERS

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Finally, Calgary has beaten Ottawa. We can’t get pipelines built. We can’t get any action on our oil differenti­al. But we can beat the football team of our nation’s capital.

Congratula­tions to the Calgary Stampeders for emerging victorious over the Redblacks in the 106th Grey Cup on Sunday. For our American friends, that’s Grey Cup CVI.

On the verge of becoming the Buffalo Bills of the CFL, the city on the Bow beat the city on the Ottawa 27-16 in its third consecutiv­e appearance at the pinnacle of Canadian profession­al football. The heartbreak of two previous upsets has been forgotten and forgiven. We also know how exceedingl­y hard it is to get back to the championsh­ip three years in a row, let alone winit.

The Grey Cup’s hosts, Edmonton, in true rivalry fashion, tried to throw a few marbles our way with frozen turf. They must have figured Ottawa was better at skating on thin ice. But they forgot that as anyone who drives Calgary’s winter roads knows, we can handle the slippery stuff. Just ask Stamps running back Terry Williams, who scored a touchdown after returning a punt for a record 97 yards.

Calgary’s stifling defence, led by linebacker Alex Singleton, has inspired the team all year and it was no different on Sunday. Quarterbac­k Bo Levi Mitchell, who would just as easily fit in at the Stampede’s rodeo, managed to cope with multiple injuries all season to his receiving corps.

The price of success, however, could be our loss, as both players are expected to seek greater fortune in the NFL next year. If that’s the case, good luck to them. It was fun while it lasted.

On the sidelines and up in the booth, head coach Dave Dickenson and president- GM John Hufnagel deserve credit for instilling a sense of profession­alism every season. Hufnagel, in particular, has a genius for finding the right player at the right time. If the Stampeders haven’t quite establishe­d a dynasty the last few years, it’s pretty darn close.

Let’s also thank the diehard fans who have stuck with the Stamps through thick and thin, sunny weather, driving rain and Arctic blasts at the second oldest stadium in the CFL.

The Stamps’ victory was a tonic for all Calgarians, who have persevered through recession, setbacks and divisive politics the last few years. Although it won’t move more oil or inspire more labour-intensive megaprojec­ts, it does show us that persistenc­e, courage and hard work will pay off in the end.

If we can’t beat them in the House of Commons, we can beat them on frozen turf.

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