FRIENDS, OFF THE FIELD
Travis Lulay and Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn and Travis Lulay are friends and foes.
The veteran CFL quarterbacks became friends as teammates with the B.C. Lions during the 2014 season.
They will be on opposite sides Sunday when Glenn and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are to play host to Lulay and the B.C. Lions.
“We still have a relationship so we talk all of the time,’’ Glenn said.
“We talk about family and all of that kind of stuff, but there is no special connection.
“We’re good friends that started off as opponents and admiring each other from afar as playing the quarterback position. When we became teammates the bond built from that.’’
Glenn and Lulay have met nine times in head-to-head meetings as starters, with Lulay holding a 7-2 lead. It’s unlikely that the two will meet for 10th time Sunday, however, because Lulay is nursing injured ribs and the Lions are leaning toward to starting Jonathon Jennings at quarterback.
Lulay — who quarterbacked the Lions to a Grey Cup title in 2011 — has filled in admirably for Jennings, who has been sidelined since July 15 with a shoulder injury. The Lions were 3-1 with Lulay at quarterback and are 5-2 overall.
“Jon and I have a great working relationship regardless of how that all works out,’’ said Lulay, who signed a two-year contract extension during the off-season knowing he would be Jennings’ backup.
“I made peace with that well before I signed here. I did what I expected of myself and what my teammates expected me to do.
“I wouldn’t be here if the coaches didn’t think I could step in and play. It has been good to reward some of that on the field.’’
A shoulder injury to Lulay led to the Lions acquiring Glenn from the Ottawa Redblacks for the fifth overall selection in the 2014 CFL draft.
The Lions were looking for an insurance policy after Lulay underwent off-season shoulder surgery.
The Lions cashed in when Lulay was limited to two starts by the injury.
Glenn dressed for 17 games as the Lions posted a 9-9 regular-season record and earned a crossover berth in the East Division semifinal, in which B.C. was beaten 50-17 by the host Montreal Alouettes.
Even though Lulay was battling an injury in the 2014 season, he appreciated what Glenn brought to the Lions.
“He has seen every defensive look and understands spacing and windows and all of that stuff so none of that was new to him,’’ Lulay said. “His ability to deliver the football accurately was the skill that separates him, because he shouldn’t be able to do that for a long time. If you let him get set in the pocket, he’ll eat you up because he throws it that well.’’
Glenn is in his 17th CFL season and over that span has played for six teams and has had his rights owned by two others. He moved into sixth among the CFL’s alltime passing yardage leaders, surpassing Riders legend Ron Lancaster, during Saturday’s 30-15 loss in Vancouver. Glenn heads into Sunday’s game with 50,613 total yards.
“I know it’s something that is important to him and recognition of the things he has done over the course of his career,’’ said Lulay, who has 18,602 passing yards in nine seasons with the Lions.
“As I get later on in my career, I recognize and appreciate those milestone achievements more than a younger player.’’
Lulay isn’t the only current member of Lions with ties to Glenn from the 2014 team.
Slotback Emmanuel Arceneaux dressed for 15 games in 2014, recording 62 receptions for 905 yards and eight touchdowns.
“As an athlete it’s a blessing to play that long,’’ said Arceneaux, who is in his seventh season with the Lions. “The stats don’t lie and (Glenn) has been putting in the work. Clearly, it comes from consistency and teams trusting him because they see that he’s a winner. If I was a young guy at the quarterback position, I would want to pick his brain to see how you stay around that long. He just can’t catch a break when it comes to winning a Grey Cup.’’
NOTE: Riders middle linebacker Henoc Muamba was fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL on Wednesday for a high hit on Lulay during Saturday’s game.
If you let him get set in the pocket, he’ll eat you up because he throws it that well.