Lulay feels healthy, confident
Since 2011 Grey Cup win, Lions quarterback has suffered years of frustration and injuries
“I don’t want to forget how sweet it felt to win, knowing all the effort it took to win.”
— Travis Lulay
Travis Lulay remembers so much about that day and that season, but, mostly, he remembers the feeling that this was just the beginning and the B.C. Lions were about to embark on a great adventure that would lead to a lot more of these moments.
That was also four years ago. Sometimes it feels like yesterday. More often it feels like it happened in a different life.
Since winning the 2011 Grey Cup at B.C. Place, Lulay has experienced more shoulder surgeries (one) than playoff victories (none), and that bright future has dissolved into losses, frustrations and a near-permanent stay on the injury list.
He’s 32 now, the father of two and he doesn’t have to be reminded the play clock is running on his career. This isn’t his focus as he prepares for the Lions’ home opener, but it’s there — he knows it’s there — and more than anything, he wants to experience that feeling again.
“I don’t want to forget how sweet it felt to win, knowing all the effort it took to win and finally feeling like all that effort was worth it,” says the Lions quarterback. “To me, that’s a huge motivating factor. We’ve reached the top and it felt good. You don’t want to forget how good that felt.”
Even if remembering it takes some effort.
Lulay and the Lions open their 2015 home schedule on Friday night, and following their season-opening loss in Ottawa, there remains a sense of uncertainty about the Leos; that this team could go in any one of 14 different directions. The good news? Lulay stayed upright in the loss to the Redblacks and the offence had some moments.
The bad news? The defence couldn’t stop a Redblacks’ attack which finished last in every meaningful statistical category last season and now defensive back Ryan Phillips is out for the foreseeable future.
As for the sobering news, the Lions have opted to close the upper deck at B.C. Place, meaning they won’t be able to draw more than 27,500 for their home opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. That’s the Roughriders, the CFL travelling party.
Since 2011, the Lions’ average attendance has also decreased every year which only magnifies the importance of Lulay’s, and the team’s, return to championship form.
Still, as there usually is this time of the year, there is some optimism about the 2015 Lions and the loss to the Redblacks did little to dull the positive vibes.
Lulay’s numbers — 18-32 for 254 yards, one touchdown, one pick — were substandard compared to his salad days, but considering he was making his first start in 11 months after battling an ongoing shoulder injury, it answered a lot of questions.
The shoulder held up under game duress. The ball came out on time and to the right place. You could quibble about execution in the red zone and the Lions’ inability to sustain momentum in the fourth quarter, but Lulay, and most everyone in the organization, was judging this outing by a different standard.
“I think I came out of the game with an increased confidence in my ability to play at the level we need,” he says. “I felt good about my decision making. There weren’t any moments where I felt flustered. I felt pretty level-headed, clear and confident on the field. “There was a lot more good than bad.”
It was also his first game under new coach Jeff Tedford, and in the former Cal boss, Lulay has found a kindred spirit. Both are Type-A, detail wonks. Both are PhD-level students of the game. Tedford also brought a reputation as a quarterback whisperer with him to the Lions, as well as a fresh energy to a team which desperately needed a B12 shot.
“We’re both analytical guys,” says Lulay. “I want that depth to be 12 yards, not 11 to 13. He’s that way in his whole approach, whether it’s meetings or practice times. Everything is bam, bam, bam.
“We’re going to talk about every detail and go over every scenario. Knowledge is confidence when it comes to executing the offence.”
Tedford, for his part, has been around Lulay for a couple of months now and, like just about everyone who comes into contact with the Leos’ quarterback, he comes away as impressed with his character as his ability.
“In my time knowing Travis, I can see exactly why he won the most valuable player,” says Tedford. “His leadership, his work ethic, his knowledge of the game, his competitiveness; he’s got all the things in a quarterback who can lead a team to a championship.”
Four years ago we saw the same things. Four years later, we wait to see if that player is still there.