‘PERFECT ENDING’ TO SEASON FOR HAPPY STAMPS
Those demons? They’re dead now.
For players.
For fans.
For all of Calgary.
The Calgary Stampeders vanquished them, putting to rest the haunting heartache of the last two CFL seasons with a sound 27-16 defeat of the Ottawa Redblacks in the Grey Cup championship game.
The previous two Grey Cups — losses to the Redblacks in 2016 and to the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 — they’re all but a memory, used only as a vehicle to help make their dream possible Sunday in front of sellout of 55,819 festive fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
“All the work we put in — the lessons we learned from our failures — it all paid off,” said Stampeders middle linebacker Alex Singleton moments after the victory. “We’re Grey Cup champions and no one can take that away from us.”
After the final whistle blew, the Stampeders celebrated in style, hugging each other, taking turns riding Quick Six, hoisting the Grey Cup and then dancing and singing in sheer exultation with red-and-white ticker tape raining down on them after being presented the trophy.
Inside the room, it was more of the same with champagne flowing to further liven up the celebration, if that was even possible.
“We’re very happy,” said Stampeders linebacker Jamar Wall. "To come in with the goal of winning the Grey Cup and winning it, this noise (of the celebration) explains it.
“We knew that we had fallen short in the last two years and we were going to do everything in our willpower to not let that happen and we did. If you were in here last year, it was dead quiet. As you can hear now, it’s a huge difference.”
The difference in the game on this day was clear: this was a total team effort with the Stamps, to a man, contributing across the board to beat the Redblacks.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was named the game’s most outstanding player, but he wasn’t alone on the ballot. Truth be told, it was nearly impossible to pick a standout player among the winners.
So many guys stepped up — the entire team, really.
“It seems like we’ve been grinding for this for a few years, so desperate is actually paying off — it’s unbelievable,” said Stamps dynamic defender Micah Johnson. “We’re a tough team, we’re a resilient team. That’s why there was no doubt in anybody’s mind even throughout the adversities of this game.”
They proved to be a team on a mission. Never mind the slippery turf — the field conditions were hard and slick with players slipping and falling all over the place, changing the dynamic of the game — or a constant battle by the Redblacks to try to fight their way back into the contest.
“We were a determined group and that’s the most dangerous,” said Stamps veteran halfback Brandon Smith, who walked away with his third Grey Cup championship. “In the past, we came in expecting to win. This year, we knew we had to fight for it, so we came in to fight for it.
“We came out here and did what we had to do.”
They had to win. They knew they had to, so they could put all the questions about failing to win the big game behind them.
“Everybody was ballin’,” said Stamps receiver Juwan Brescasin. “We could’ve made excuses with all the injuries that we had and with the field conditions the way they were. The defence played well — they had interceptions and fumble recoveries. Special teams made plays — kick returns for touchdowns and fumble recoveries. Offensive players were making tough contested catches, especially on the ground.
“I feel like this is the perfect ending to the season.”
It was. And not just for the players, but for fans and Calgarians alike.
“We’re happy, we’re pretty excited,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson.” It just makes it worthwhile. It’s been tough the last few years.
“We needed it. We needed it as an organization and as a city. I think we know we’re down a little bit in Calgary right now and we were looking to build something and show people we’re proud to be from Calgary.”