Santa Claus is a Stampeder offensive lineman

Smith expects Christmas to come early with Grey Cup victory on Sunday

Generally speaking, offensive linemen prefer to go about their business unnoticed.

But on Thursday, Calgary Stampeders grunt Quinn Smith stood out like, well, a Santa Claus one month before Christmas.

“The day before we were flying out here I went to Walmart to buy a suitcase and my zipper was broken,” the 6-foot-2, 302-pound Concordia product said in explaining his Saint Nick get-up. “I saw this on the rack and said, you know, I’m going to wear this on Media Day and cause a little splash. Christmas is coming up … the naughty list … yeah, sure, why not?”

And what, exactly, do you call the outfit?

“A Santa Claus gut shirt,” Smith said matter-of-factly. “I think the ladies love it. They keep telling me so.”

Smith was asked if he planned to go out on the town looking like that Thursday night.

“No, no. Not me,” he said. “I’ll probably have to wear something inconspicuous.” How come? “We’ve got a big game to play,” he said.

But who would think a player would dress up like Santa Claus three days before playing in the Grey Cup? If anything, Smith would be mistaken for a drunken fan. After all, there are some pretty interesting costumes being worn in the streets and bars of Ottawa this week.

“That’s true,” Smith said. “I’m sure we’ll go for a couple of wobbly pops. Nothing too crazy, though.”

Don’t be mistaken by the attire or the casual attitude. Smith, who was drafted seventh overall by the Stampeders in 2014, is serious about the job at hand, even if he has only played two games this season.

“I think we’re confident in our game plan, the preparation we’re putting into it,” he said. “Last year we were a little lackadaisical for a week, and we got our ass kicked. This year we’re way more focused. We’ve worked too hard to let it slip away again. We’re going to go get that thing.”

That would be an early Christmas present for Stamps fans.