No hard feelings between coaches
EDMONTON — Chris Jones might have blindsided the Calgary Stampeders three years by taking a lateral move to join the Toronto Argonauts as defensive co-ordinator.
And the history book shows CFL commissioner Mark Cohon slapped the Argos with fine for tampering in the case that saw Jones leave Calgary on a sour note.
On Wednesday, however, Stamps head coach and general manager John Hufnagel had nothing but glowing things to say about his former compatriot in arms.
“The Battle of Alberta is back, and it’s great to see,” Hufnagel said with the 3-0 Stamps set to take on the 4-0 Eskimos Thursday at Commonwealth Stadium.
“Jonesy has done a great job with this football team. He’s an excellent football coach.
“Everywhere he’s been, he’s had success, so this doesn’t surprise that Edmonton has this type of record.”
For his part, Jones was equally complimentary.
“I learned a ton from when I was down there,” said the first-year bench boss. “I mean, Huff is a great football coach. You look at his win-loss record. He and his staff put a good product on the field week in and week out.
“I learned a lot from those guys. I’ve got a lot of friends on their staff.”
St. Pierre to the rescue
In football, no one really appreciates the long snapper until he gets hurt.
Lucky for the Calgary Stampeders, Tim St. Pierre is a more-than-capable replacement for the ageless Randy Chevrier, who will sit this one out with a groin injury.
St. Pierre is no rookie in the long-snapping department, having handled the duties in some 40 CFL appearances.
“Randy is one of the best in the game,” St. Pierre said Wednesday. “I’ve had the chance to prepare with him and alongside him every week for the last couple of years.
“When I am called on, I am ready.”
Having two quality long snappers is a luxury, and Hufnagel knows how important St. Pierre is to the success of his football club.
For life without a qualified individual throwing the ball upside down through his legs can prove precarious indeed.
“Randy is obviously very, very good at his trade,” Hufnagel said.
“But fortunately, we have a second in line guy who is very good also. He’s done a lot of snapping in the Canadian Football League, Timmy St. Pierre. So we’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
Stamps winners of eight straight
A sense of joy permeated Commonwealth Stadium Wednesday in anticipation of the first Battle of Alberta game in what seems like forever between combatants of equal fortitude.
The Stampeders have won the last eight regular-season games between the two teams dating back to Sept. 9, 2011.
“I mean, it feels good,” said Edmonton defensive end Odell Willis. “It’s something for football. Something for the fans to look forward to
“When you’ve got the next team two hours down the road and they’re undefeated, too, you feel like, hey, we’ve got to prove who is the better team in this province and we believe that’s us right now.”
Two hours down the road? Inquiring minds want to know exactly how fast Willis drives between the two Alberta cities.
“No comment,” he said with a giggle.
Is seven lucky for Bo?
Bo Levi Mitchell is on the verge of having his name etched in the CFL record book with seven wins to start his career at quarterback
With a victory over Edmonton, Mitchell would tie the record set by former Stampeder Jeff Garcia in 1995.
Mitchell, 24, attended Garcia’s quarterback school over the winter in sunny San Diego.
“I don’t think it’s a record people even look at,” Mitchell said. “I’m not even too worried about it. I’m more worried about getting us to 4-0.
“It’s not a record people are going to talk about in two, three, four or five weeks or throughout my career. It won’t be something people even think about.”
Hughes hopes to sack his buddy
A reporter asked Calgary defensive end Charleston Hughes to reminisce Wednesday over the joys of sacking the CFL’s resident pinata in the 2013 season, Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly.
“I have great memories of playing against every team,” Hughes said. “I mean, I’ve sacked every quarterback in this league except the new ones.
“That’s the game of football. Mike Reilly, I think he’s a good friend of mine. We have fun playing on the field together. He’s a competitor, and I’m a competitor, too. I know I can expect some laughs out there.”
VHALL@CALGARYHERALD.COM