Sunday, December 03, 2017
Grey Cup Weekend-2017
With Mark Seale
It is true
that the Grey Cup game on Sunday was another wonderful sporting
event, and well worth the writing.
I would like
to begin this column with a note about the Vanier Cup, the
championship game held annually to decide the best team in Canadian
University football. The Western Mustangs from London, Ontario
defeated the Laval Rouge et Or to win the Cup this past Saturday.
Both of these teams have always been perennially strong. Laval won
the title in 2016, but also won in 2013 and 2012, looking back over
the past few years.
I have
attended several Vanier Cups, going back to the days in the late
Sixties when my alma mater, Queen's
University was a force. I
had attended Western after I had completed Teachers' College in
Peterborough in 1963. Queen's had great football teams in those days,
led by quarterback Cal Connor. They also had magnificent festivities
after the games, enough to induce me to transfer to the Kingston
campus. I went to the Vanier Cup to see Mike Schad in his final
college game as a Golden Gael, only to discover that he would be
watching the game in a wheelchair.
My
brother David and I sat with our wives in the end zone at Varsity
Stadium on Bloor Street in Toronto. It was a nasty day, so bad that
those in charge were letting field goals and converts remain in the
stands. The Gaels lined up a field goal aiming directly at our
section. The batter fluttered up towards us. I took out a would-be
receiver so that my brother could catch the ball. I would have been
penalized were I on the field.
David
caught the ball, and darted out the exit to put it in his car. As he
left the stadium, two mounted Metro policeman cornered him, asking
for the ball. After a short pursuit, which ended at a locked
residence door, David had to give up the ball. Adding insult to
injury, he had to pay to get back into the stadium top join us.
The
Mustangs defeated Laval 39-17 for the 2917 championship, the first
title for veteran coach Greg Marshall. He has been in the coaching
ranks in colleges and the Canadian Football League for many
years-finally a title.
We
flew into Ottawa a couple of days before the game. We ran into Mark
Seale, who was on our flight. He was roughly 6' 6”, and a shade
over 250 pounds. Leave it up to me to ask the obvious: “Did you
play football?” Indeed he did, for several years in the CFL,
winning a Cup with Winnipeg in 1988. He also told me that he played
Pee Wee hockey in Belleville, a few years ago.
On
Sunday afternoon, the rest of the nation prepared for the 105th
Grey Cup. The Toronto Argonauts had risen from the depths earlier in
the season to challenge for the title, although they were clearly the
underdogs in this game. Their manager Jim Popp, and their coach Marc
Trestman signed on this year, after years with the Alouettes. The
Calgary Stampeders came east to Ottawa to avenge a difficult loss in
the Grey Cup game last year. They were favoured to win the game.
There
is an expression related to Hogtown called “The Argo Bounce”. The
ball does not always fall in favour of the Double Blue. But on
Sunday, in the heavy snow falling in Ottawa, the Argonauts clearly
got the breaks.
Playing
conditions were dreadful. Most of the lines, and the advertising
markings on the field were covered in snow. Commentators suggested
that ball control would be a key factor to the game. No kidding. And
yet, there were no turnovers until late in the fourth quarter.
Calgary fumbled near the Toronto goal line, Cassius Vaughn scooped up
the ball and ran 109 yards to the Calgary end zone. The two point
convert tied the game.
With
49 seconds left in the game, Lirim Hajirullahu punched a 32 yard
field goal through the uprights to seal the deal for the Argos,
27-24. A last ditch effort by the Stamps resulted in an interception
in the End Zone. Heartbreaking for the Westerners.
Half
time entertainer Shania Twain was brilliant. A step or two above
Gordon Lightfoot!
The
parties have just begun in Toronto. Meet the team on Tuesday at the
City Hall Square. The same location where the Leafs will celebrate,
some day!
James
Hurst
November
27, 2017.
# posted by James Hurst @ 6:12 PM 
