Penton: Alouettes show 2023 Grey Cup win was no fluke
By Bruce Penton
The Canadian Football League started June 6 with a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup Game — the Blue Bombers were whipped 27-12 by Montreal — and will end with a halftime performance by the Jonas Brothers at the Grey Cup Game Nov. 17 in Vancouver, but what might hit the headlines in the meantime?
Here’s what to watch for, team by team:
Montreal Alouettes — The defending Grey Cup champs had a memorable season in 2023, bumping along with a 6-7 record in mid-September and then going undefeated the rest of the way, beating Winnipeg 28-24 to win the Grey Cup. Nice start to 2024, too.
Toronto Argonauts — Can the Argos find another rookie like their star from last year, Qwan’tez Stiggers? He was rookie of the year in the CFL last year and now finds himself on the roster of the New York Jets. Meanwhile, last year’s most outstanding player in the CFL, QB Chad Kelly, will miss the first nine games due to a suspension for violating the team’s gender-based violence policy.
Ottawa Redblacks — He may not be the most outstanding player, but kick returner DeVonte Dedmon might be the most exciting. After missing most of 2023, the 2021 winner of the most outstanding special teams player is healthy and he showed his stuff in a pre-season game against Hamilton, returning a punt 91 yards for a TD.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats — First-year coach Scott Milanovich is hoping for a full, injury-free season from quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. The former Calgary QB broke his leg in Week 8 and finished his first year with the Ti-Cats with only six starts. Milanovich, meanwhile, says the CFL “is a very unique family-type atmosphere, close-knit and for me it's just a lot of fun.”
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — If running back Brady Oliveira and quarterback Zach Collaros can repeat their 2023 performances, the Bombers just may get back to the Grey Cup game for the fifth straight year. Collaros passed for a career-high 4,252 yards last season.
Saskatchewan Roughriders — New coach Cory Mace, who takes over from Craig Dickenson, needs veteran quarterback Trevor Harris to provide stability on offence. Saskatchewan missed the playoffs last year, scoring only 387 points, second-last in the league.
Edmonton Elks — After 22 consecutive home-field losses, the Elks won twice at Commonwealth Stadium last year, and coach Chris Jones is looking for more this year. Last place in 2023, and no playoff appearances since 2019, the Elks are looking to McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who guided the Argos to a Grey Cup in 2022, to lead the way.
Calgary Stampeders — Quarterback Jake Maier will try to lift the Stampeders, 6-12 last year and barely in the playoffs, back into post-season play. Maier’s Stamps were last in the league in touchdowns last year with 36.
B.C. Lions — Can the Grey Cup hosts be playing in front of their home crowd on Nov 17? Quite possibly. The Lions are strong at quarterback, with Vernon Adams calling the shots, and ere expected to battle it out with Winnipeg for top spot in the west.
Bob Molinaro of pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.): “According to a recent survey, most fans in D.C. and Northern Virginia ‘dislike or hate’ the Commanders’ name. Not what you’d call an eye-popping revelation. Fans will like it better when they start winning.”
Former Toronto Argonaut and now a New York Jet, cornerback Quan’tez Stiggers, on his grooming: “I made a promise to myself: I’m not getting a haircut till I win the Super Bowl. If I got to be a caveman, I’ll be a caveman.”
Veteran U.S. college football coach Lou Holtz: “Coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.”
Headline at Canada’s satirical website, The Beaverton.com: “Oilers plan to damage Florida Panthers’ morale by forcing them to visit Edmonton”
Another one from the Beaverton.com: “Teams in states with no income tax have an unfair advantage,” says adorable rube who thinks NHL players pay tax like normal people.”
Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “After Game one of NBA finals, there’s a break for 48 hours until game two. Game seven, if necessary, is June 23. If Major League Baseball spread out its playoffs like the NBA did, World Series Game 7 could be Christmas Eve.”
RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said he is not overly concerned about his team’s offence, defence or special teams. Possibly because he hasn’t seen any of them yet.”
RJ Currie again, still picking on the poor Leafs: “On July 20th, 1969, the first humans walked on the moon. How long ago was that? It was so long ago, the Leafs current Stanley Cup drought was only two years old.”
Headline at fark.com: “Jake Paul’s suicide via Iron Mike Tyson has been pushed back to Nov. 15.”
Another fark.com headline: “U.S. beat Pakistan in surprise upset, exciting the fan of U.S. cricket.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca