Stamps coach wary of spies in condo highrise

O T TAWA Dave Dickenson wasn’t going to risk prying eyes ahead of the season’s biggest game.

Two days before they take on the Toronto Argonauts in the Grey Cup, the Calgary Stampeders chose to practise indoors at the University of Ottawa on Friday.

Dickenson was leery about the highrise apartment building that overlooks TD Place Stadium.

“The thinking is for me with those condo buildings right behind the stadium, I’m not comfortable knowing who’s going to be in those buildings,” the Stampeders head coach said.

“Nothing against Toronto, actually. I think they’re very respectful,” Dickenson added. “But you just don’t know who’s there and there’s enough information I think you can get from practice.

“It was just one of those things where we’ve been burned in the past, so we’d rather know who’s watching our practice.”

The Argos chose to practise at TD Place on Friday.

A resident of the building, whose Twitter handle is @RedBlacksFan, tweeted “Yes. I’ve been here two years. Never given away a play by any team. This was taken during the media time.”

The media is permitted to shoot video for only a brief period of each team’s practice.

Toronto defensive standout Dylan Wynn said he isn’t fazed by playing in his first Grey Cup.

“It’s like another game, to be honest,” Wynn said. “When you try to minimize all the distractions and all the side noise, the extra media attention, it’s about Xs and Os.

“Football is a simple, simple sport. You either tackle the guy or you don’t. You either score or you don’t. It’s another day in the office for me.”

He does expect a tough game from Calgary, however.

“They have an explosive offence, an amazing defence,” he said.