STAMPS OUT TO FINISH THE JOB
CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders have had one goal in mind since losing at home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2013 West Division final.
From the outset of training camp, the Stamps set their sights on winning the Grey Cup. They’ll now get that chance when they take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL title game Sunday at B.C. Place in Vancouver (5:30 pm, TSN, 620 CKRM).
“When that game ended, it was a very serious mindset with our guys,” said Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell in regards to the 35-13 loss to the Riders on Nov. 17, 2013. “It’s tough when you know you have the talent, you know you have the best team in the league and you don’t finish it.”
Following that disappointing setback, the Stamps vowed to do everything they could to put themselves in a position to win their seventh CFL title and first since 2008.
“Honestly, we’ve had the recipe,” said linebacker Keon Raymond. “It’s just mixing the ingredients together to be able to get us to the point to where we want to be right now. Our goal from Day 1 in training camp was to make sure that we bring the Cup back to Calgary.”
The Stamps are now just one win away from accomplishing their mission thanks to a 43-18 win over the Edmonton Eskimos at McMahon Stadium on Sunday in the West Division final.
“Obviously we want to be happy about it, but it’s hard to be that happy when you know you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you to win the big one,” said Mitchell, who threw four touchdown passes and scored on a two-yard plunge across the goal-line in his first-ever playoff start against the Eskimos.
Veteran Calgary linebacker Juwan Simpson said the Stampeders are focused on finishing the job that they started.
“We just cleared another hurdle that we wanted to clear,” Simpson said. “Ultimately all of this means nothing if we don’t win the Cup.”
The Stamps finished the season with a league-best 15-3 record and earned a bye straight to the West final, while the Ticats finished atop the East Division with a 9-9 record before downing the Montreal Alouettes 40-24 at home on Sunday to earn a berth in their second straight Grey Cup game.
Despite playing in only half of Calgary’s regular-season games, Jon Cornish ran for 1,082 yards to win his third straight rushing title. While the Eskimos held him to 54 yards rushing on 14 carries, Cornish had 120 receiving yards on four catches including a highlight-reel play where he caught a shovel pass from Mitchell and ran the rest of the way for a 78-yard score.
“Absolutely, if we lose this Grey Cup, that wouldn’t be very fun,” said Cornish, who didn’t play in either of Calgary’s two wins against Hamilton in the regular season. “I don’t think that anybody has that ambition. Everybody that’s going to be on this plane (on Tuesday) is going to be going there for one reason.”
(Canadian Press)
There is just so much I dislike about the Stampeders it would be impossible to cheer for them even though they are from the West. They have this arrogance about them and have always displayed a me first attitude rather than team first (NikLewisNation – really??) Hamilton on the other hand feel like they are the Eastern version of the Riders. Kent brought us 2 Grey Cups – that is legendary and how could you ever cheer against him. Lots of former Riders on that Hamilton roster as well and once a Rider – always a Rider…..except if you go… Read more »
Totally agree with you Anonymous 1Especially when Bo Levi Mitchell commented how when they lost to the Riders last year…it was hard because they knew they were the best team in the league!! What a cocky statement!! Well Bo…you weren't that day! You would have to pay me a shit load of money to cheer for the Stamps.
It's time the stumps get their -ss kicked. GO CATS. I am from the west but am tired of Calgary's arrogance. Best team in the west last year. HA HA. In their own mind only
Right on! The Stampeders seem to recruit the brash and at least the ones who are always in front of the camera, making the quotes, and celebrating their 5 yard reception like it was the play of the year. "Best teams in the CFL" do not beat themselves with a bloated attitude. They shut up get down to business and find ways to win. Good to see Bo Levi providing some additional motivation for Hamilton. The Stampeders will likely win on Sunday but I will be cheering for the Ticats as I did the Argos in 2011. (Argos 35 Stamps… Read more »
and what if Burris was still with the ticats? then what kind of holier than thou attitude would rider angel fans have? you have a dude who curb stomps guys on your team, but oh yeah that's different cause he plays for you. it is pathetic how every time you lose, and you lose a lot, that you come up with some reason as to why everyone else is just not as prim and proper as the mighty riders. in a hundred years you have maybe had 10 good ones. pound sand rider nut, and stop throwing rocks from your… Read more »
who curb stomped who? dont think so bub.
At least we have fans that pay attention to the league. The league wouldnt last without the riders just because of the lack of interest from the rest of the league. Why are stamps fans even on this site when the riders arent even playing anymore. Because they have no where else to talk about this stuff cause no one in calgary cares. Id rather be bad fans than have no fans.
hate the Stamps. they weren't the best team last year they got their butts kicked in the WF. Still say if DD was healthy Riders would still be playing.
I'd still be cheering for the Ti-Cats, and Burris as well! I'd take cheering for Henry over anything to do with the Stampwhiners any day of the week. Worst fans in team sports? Are you high? Sure we've had more loses than wins, but we still put more butts in our stadium or any other stadium in the league – including Calgary's. You buncha maroons couldn't muster enough local support to show up for the WD Final! That is sad more than anything else but what else is new about Calgary. Your home jersey should be a graphic of an… Read more »
All fans from all the other teams HATE Rider fans. Why would that be??? Cause we are the best fans in the league. We sell out our home games, and we travel with our team to on the road games (along with all the fans who cheer for the Riders that live in other cities!!) This is why the Riders are known as CANADA'S TEAM. Fans from other teams know this…and they hate it and are jeolous!! I laugh when they come on here and trash us fans….actually gives me pleasure to know how jealous and crazed they are about… Read more »
Nobody hates another team's fans for being good fans. Figure it out.
Keep on hating. It just proves my point. And by the way I am not a Stamps fan and it's not just Stamps fans that feel this way.
I didn't know inmates at the asylum had access to computers and the internet. I guess you are a suck, GB