Sunday's impressive win over the Calgary Stampeders from the Saskatchewan Roughriders followed what was a dream scenario for the CFL brass as two CFL teams with passionate diehard fanbases and a healthy connection in former players will be matched up against each other at Taylor Field on Sunday night in Regina. The East champs Hamilton, led by former Riders quarterback Henry Burris, slotback Andy Fantuz, and head coach of the 2007 Grey Cup Champion Riders Kent Austin will be making the trip back to where it all started for them when they attempt to upset the entire province of Saskatchewan in the 101st installment of Canadaian football's biggest stage, the Grey Cup.
It wasn't an expected Grey Cup in July. The Riders spayed the Tiger-Cats 37-0 at Taylor Field before backup Drew Willy beat the Tabbies in Guelph just on week later in a slightly closer 32-20 contest. Hamilton bounced back, won a wild game in Guelph where they have been playing while their new stadium is being constructed in Hamilton amidst crazy weather against the Als before going out and shocking the defending Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Center on Sunday to become the first team to punch their ticket into the Grey Cup.
Hours afterwards the Roughriders did their part, dominating their rivals in the Stamps 35-13 taking advantage of seven turnovers and imposing their will on Calgary with a brilliant passing performance from Darian Durant. Durant, who completed 24 of 30 attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 35-13 win over the Stampeders, said there is no way any Riders players will be happy just to play in the Grey Cup at home.
"We don't want to just get there. We want to win it," Durant said to the media postgame. "There's no need to sit here and go through all of this and lose the Grey Cup at home. That would be disappointing. It's great to get there, but we still have one more game left." Durant continued by mentioning the two heartbreaking losses the Riders endured to the Als before missing the playoffs in 2011 and then losing to Calgary in the first round in 2012. Durant says that those frustrations and setbacks will have the Riders motivated to seal the deal in what is essentially the biggest home game in the history of the CFL's now most popular franchise.
"We have veterans in here who have lost Grey Cups. I've been through heartbreaking Grey Cups. So we have to make sure we enjoy this now, but focus on what we have to do next week to win that game."
The Riders made sure not to touch the West Final trophy, employing a tradition that is rich in hockey history by sending a message that the West Trophy isn't what you want, it is the fourth Grey Cup in the history of the Riders franchise that Saskatchewan is after.
That fourth Grey Cup will be put on the line against a handful of former Freen and White fixtures who were apart of some memorable Rider moments in their own rights. Former Riders who now play for the Tiger-Cats include quarterback Henry Burris, slotback Andy Fantuz and kicker Luca Congi. Former Riders GM Eric Tillman is also a Tiger-Cats consultant.
The most infamous of that group is obviously Burris, who promised that he would bring Saskatchewan a Grey Cup before bolting for a better deal in Calgary. That sparked the Stampeders-Riders rivalry to new heights in the mid-late 00's, where Saskatchewan made it their mission to own Burris and the Stampeders.
Expect tons of chants of "Hennnrrryyyyyy" from the over 40,000 at Taylor Field on Sunday. Burris will be looking to connect with Fantuz, who left Saskatchewan after leaving for the NFL dream and coming back for a short stint before the Riders decided to part ways. It has been a move that has paid off more for the Riders than it has Fantuz as of late. Chris Getzlaf has replaced his production along with Taj Smith and Weston Dressler has developed into arguable the best downfield weapon in the CFL. Still expect to see some big plays out of the former Riders who will be surely motivated to remind the Rider Nation what they are missing with the Championship on the line.
Saskatchewan's biggest weapon in this game is Kory Sheets, who along with an improved and confident offensive line is playing some of the best football of his life since returning from injury. Sheets said post game after Calgary that he credits the line for a game where he out produced rival Jon Cornish by a ton. "It was a mindset in this offence and in this locker-room that no matter who they put out there we were going to take care of business," Sheets said. "That O-line, they had it in their mind that they could've put the best D-line in the NFL in front of them and they were going to move them. "That was their mindset, and that's what they went out there and did."
The Grey Cup is also likely going to be the most watched Grey Cup of all time. With the East Final seeing record ratings and the move of the needle the Riders always bring when playing coming together we could be seeing an eye popping number of viewers that will please TSN and league brass.
Saskatchewan is already preparing for a week of Grey Cup festivities that are bound to make Regina one of the most happening cities in the country for one week. What better way to celebrate the likely final Grey Cup at Taylor Field than in a rematch of the '89 Grey Cup that involves former Riders legends on both sides of the field. Prepare for a classic on Sunday.
