Blue Bombers weather storm better than Ticats
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers didn’t really have time to organize a game of anything in the locker-room during the 151-minute lightning delay on Wednesday, because they were always being informed they were about to go back on the field.
“We were told a few different times that we were going to be heading back out there,” quarterback Matt Nichols said with a laugh. “We kinda got ready three or four different times, and you just try and stay mentally ready.
“You know that whenever they do say you’re heading out there, it’s going to be a fight, so everyone was just stretching, trying to keep it light, but also making sure everyone was focused and ready to go when they told us it was time to go.”
Whatever the Blue & Gold did while the thunderstorm stalled over southern Winnipeg worked wonderfully, because they exploded out of the gate with three first quarter touchdowns and waltzed to a 37-11 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game that ended at 12:51 a.m. on Thursday at Investors Group Field.
It was the third time in seven games this season the Bombers had to deal with a lightning delay, so apparently they’re just getting good at it.
“It’s something that’s happened to us a couple times this year,” Nichols said. “It happened at practice a couple days ago. We weren’t able to get a full day of practice in. So it’s something that our guys are used to.
“We kept it light in there and made sure we kept stretching and got each other fired up before we actually went out and played. It showed the resilience of this team, that we weren’t going to let anything affect us. We had a mission tonight, and went out and played a great game in all three phases.”
TSN showed the Tiger-Cats playing cards in the visitors’ locker-room and slotback Andy Fantuz did a panel interview with the network during the delay, but there were no such activities at the other end of the stadium where the Bombers reside.
“I warmed up like three times because they said we were going out there a couple times, but other than that, just kind of hanging out and trying to stay hydrated and eat,” linebacker Ian Wild said. “If we had a deck of cards I think we’d be playing them. I think everyone was just playing on their phones. Probably playing Pokemon. I don’t know,” he added with a chuckle.
There were no reports of anyone locating Pikachu, but the Bombers have definitely found their groove after an ugly 1-4 start. Nichols is 2-0 since replacing the struggling Drew Willy, and the Bombers have yet to commit a turnover with him at the controls. The defence forced six turnovers for the second time this season against the Ticats, and it resulted in 23 points.
Despite missing eight starters due to injury, the Bombers are somehow playing better football, and they didn’t even blink on Wednesday night when the two and a half-hour delay could have messed with their minds.
“I know that each time I walked in with an update on the time and (told them) more delay and more delay they seemed more ready to go,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.
“Basically I’d step my toe across the line in the dressing room, and then I’d just turn around and leave because I knew they were ready to go. It didn’t matter what the delay was going to be. They seemed just ready.”
Football players are creatures of habit, so it can’t be overstated how well the Blue and Gold dealt with the delay. The Bombers have been mentally weak on several occasions during their four season playoff drought, folding at the first sign of adversity.
On Wednesday night (and Thursday morning), they turned adversity on its ear. Only time will tell if they’ve turned a corner.