Columnists
Oh Henry!
Henry Burris and Dave Hurst.
Henry Burris and the rest of the Ottawa Red/Blacks punched their ticket to the Grey Cup game last weekend. They disposed of the Hamilton Tiger Cats 35-28 in the Eastern Conference final played in Ottawa. The Red/Blacks had earned the right to host the final game by virtue of their record during the season. They had defeated the Ticats twice, and had finished in first place. This was truly a remarkable turnaround from last season, when they only won two games. As they say, they have gone from worst to first.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Eskimos knocked off their provincial archrivals, the Calgary Stampeders, to play in the final game of the Canadian Football League. The score was 45-31. That means that there were 80 points scored by the winning teams.
There should be fireworks this Sunday in Winnipeg, the Grey Cup host city. One factor that may keep the scoring down would be the weather. Everyone knows that it can be cool in the winter in Winterpeg. Hold your toque tightly if you venture near the corner of Portage and Main. Many Grey Cup games have been played in dreadful conditions. Cold weather is inevitable.
I am now advising you to get your tickets for next season’s games in Ottawa as soon as they become available. They will sell out for every game. More than 25,000 fans enjoyed the game against Hamilton, right up to the final seconds. Hamilton scored to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, and most of us suspected that we would see overtime. Not so fast, Myrtle.
Burris tossed a bomb downfield to one of his trusty receivers. Greg Ellingson made an improbable catch, watched one defender collapse beside him, and outran the rest of the weary Ticats to score the final touchdown. Announcers indicated that it was one of the most dramatic catches in CFL history. Burris had three other receivers who had put up big yardage over the season, more than a thousand yards each.
After all, the Canadian game favours the forward pass. We get three downs to make the 10 yards necessary to get another first down, as opposed to the American game. Our field is longer and wider, and our end zones are enormous in comparison to those south of the border.
In 1981, the Ottawa Rough Riders lost in the Grey Cup to these same Eskimos. Warren Moon was at the helm for the Edmonton team at that time. He went on to have a storied career in the NFL, leading to his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Edmonton was coached by Hugh Campbell at that time. Hugh’s son Rick was then ten years old. He is now the head coach of the Red/Blacks.
It had been 32 years since the last playoff game in Ottawa, and the fans were ready for the experience. The entire area around Lansdowne Park has been spruced up to accommodate sports fans. There are fine restaurants, and wide open spaces where fans congregate before the games. There is a wonderful pre-game experience that I know you will enjoy next season. If you wear your red and black lumberjack shirt, you will fit right in.
After the game, you are welcome to go down onto the field for a meet and greet with other fans, and the players. It is a real treat to share moments with the players, particularly after a victory. This would never happen in the National Football League.
Fasten up those chin straps. Put on an extra pair of long johns, if you are heading to Winnipeg. Game time is 6 p.m. A great Canadian tradition!
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