Ed Philion
CFL.ca
With two games remaining and this being Montreal’s best opportunity to play host at their own Grey Cup party come November, it’s important that the boys don’t lose site of the big prize.
As we all remember, the last time the city of Montreal was awarded the Grey Cup in their backyard in 2001, the boys and I went on a tail spin that we never seemed to be able to recover from. That year our Head Coach Rod Rust was fired and replaced by GM Jim Popp and we went on to lose the last nine games of the season and bow out to Hamilton in the first round.
It was such a disappointing season that many of us who played that year entertained the idea of retirement. Such was the case last year when in 07′ many of these same players had what many would refer to as a season to forget.
Like in 02’ following disappointing seasons, ownership pulled the trigger and hired what they felt were the best candidates available to lead a wounded ship. This year’s captain happened to be a guy from the states that nobody above the 49th parallel had ever heard about. Unlike in 02′ when Don Matthews and his coaching record where public knowledge, this organization took a gamble on a relative unknown and it has paid huge dividends.
The guys seem rejuvenated after a season to forget and their goal of hosting the Grey Cup down St. Catherine again is foreseeable. That being said and coming from a guy that has been to five Championship games in my CFL career, what you do during the regular season guarantees you nothing except a home playoff date.
To win a championship your best players have to be your best players come playoff time when it’s win or go home. For the Alouettes and their fans who have gotten use to Grey Cup disappointment let’s hope that this year’s team and the many players who have played in the big games before realize that there may not be a next time.
Yes, although the route to the championship is never easy, this year the leaders seem poised to make this season one in which they may possibly remember forever.
Ed Philion played eight seasons along the defensive line for the Montreal Alouettes. He was a three-time East Division All-Star and helped the Alouettes win the Grey Cup in 2002. Currently, he is a member of the Alouettes’ broadcast team on CJAD Radio in Montreal.
