Corey Grant
CFL.ca
There are very few times, if any, in a TEAM sport where it’s not about the team. But now and then you find a game that seems bigger than all the rest (excluding Grey Cup of course) and takes on a personal meaning for some players. These games occasionally take on a persona of their own and nobody can do anything to stop it; not coaches, GMs or players. These games are circled and highlighted on the schedule months in advance and the days until their arrival are counted down as soon as the season begins.
I’ve been there twice before in my career, as well as, other teammates of mine. Omarr Morgan, Glenn January (I like to call him February), and Steven Jyles can probably confirm the emotions you get before this game. This is the greatly anticipated game against your old team, and better yet, former teammates. When a player is traded, released, or leaves as a free agent, the first time they play against their former team becomes a special and sometimes personal game.
Now many people might tell you it’s just another game and that winning that particular game is just as important as winning any other game and I hear what they’re saying, but I find their words hard to believe. How can this game be the same? You’re playing old friends whom you’ve competed against and with for weeks, months and sometimes years. You’ve trash talked them and told them, “You’re lucky this is practice because if it was a game, man I would have knocked you out!” (I’m sure there are more words spoken but that’s my favourite line). They know all of your moves and tendencies but the only difference is that now it’s game time, and believe me, game speed and practice speed are two totally different speeds. Instead of running past the receiver it’s your job to put your helmet in their back and separate them from the ball (I’ve seen Omarr Morgan do this countless times in games…in practice he just says, “That would have been a kill shot!”)
As a receiver or running back you tell the defensive player, “There is no way you would have caught me on that play!” Well, it’s your opportunity to put all the talking (I like to call it false chatter) to rest and show your ex-teammates exactly what you were talking about all of those times at practice.
The week of practice before the game you spend just a little more time focusing on the little things. You try and remember individual weaknesses that you can recall from practices, along with strengths, doing your best to exploit one and stay away from the other. But, as you do this you remember they’re doing the same exact thing. You also do your best to help your teammates on the other side of the ball with play calls and different combinations that you can remember. You want to win this game more than anything and you do your best not to leave any stone unturned.
As the game grows closer you make sure the rest of your teammates are focused and prepared. Now this is an every week thing… but this week has just a little more meaning. It’s personal! You’re not sure if you’re going to talk to your old teammates before the game; you talk to some but not all of them, because you want to be certain that when it comes down to it, you’re able to make the big hit or play. You do everything possible to eliminate any hesitation, because if there is, that could be the difference between winning and losing, and losing this game isn’t an option.
Now, don’t get me wrong, you can only control what you do and how hard you play and trying to go above and beyond could result in hurting the team (I know it’s personal but there is still a bigger picture). But if you were to have the biggest game of your season: 4 touchdowns and 250 yards receiving, or 4 interceptions and 2 touchdowns, or whatever numbers you need for it to be your best, then that would be a great way to show your former teammates the difference between practice and game time.
“I have seen that in any great undertaking, it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself ” (Lone Man) … But there is also a belief … “If it is to be, it’s up to me!” Whichever way you look at it, those who have been there and done that can only explain the emotions involved in the first game against your former team, but it’s their job and responsibility to control those emotions and remember IT’S A TEAM GAME and there’s no room for personal agendas. I believe though if you get a chance to make a statement during the game, MAKE IT COUNT.
Corey Grant is a 10 year CFL veteran who has played with the Ti-Cats, Alouettes and, for the last 7 seasons, the Roughriders. A Stoney Creek, Ont. native, Corey has won Grey Cups in 1999 and 2007. He was named the East Division Outstanding Rookie in 1999.
