Somewhere deep in a filing cabinet at his McMahon Stadium office, Calgary Stampeders General Manager and Head Coach John Hufnagel has the answer to the questions Stampeder fans are asking with increasing frequency.
The question is how much Drew Tate will play in the team’s final home game of 2012. Despite the major outcry from fans, Hufnagel refuses to tip his hand.
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“I will tell you that both will play but beyond that, we shall see,” Hufnagel told assembled media at his pre-game availability.
While he wouldn’t commit to the division of play involving the quarterbacks, he did take time to express his amazement that Tate is back in uniform.
“He did a remarkable job and worked hard each and every day in his rehab,” smiled Hufnagel.
“When he had the surgery, he told me ‘I’ll be back before the end of the season’ and here he is.”
Tate had been sidelined following a July 7 fall in a game in Toronto. He eventually had surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder to stabilize the joint.
Hufnagel wasn’t shielding only the media from his plans; he hasn’t actually divulged his plans to his two quarterbacks, Kevin Glenn and Tate either.
“I’m a team guy, I understand we have two good quarterbacks,” noted Glenn.
“If you have two quarterbacks that have shown they can win, you have to have them both ready for the playoffs.”
For his part, Tate is just eager to take some snaps in real competition.
“So excited, really excited about it,” smiled Tate.
“So excited to get back in there and contribute and do it between the white lines. It’s a good feeling.”
While the two pivots will be playing in some combination, the same can’t be said for well-travelled defensive lineman Stevie Baggs.
He was placed on the nine-game injured list after leaving last week’s Hamilton contest early. Baggs becomes the 14th Stampeder to be placed on the nine-game injured list and sixth defensive lineman.
A couple of important milestones could be reached during the game. Star running back Jon Cornish needs only 136 rushing yards to break Norm Kwong’s long-standing record for yards by a Canadian running back in a single season.
However, he will be up against the stout Lions run defence that has given up more than 100 yards just twice this season.
Calgary receiver Nik Lewis is on the verge of entering the 100 catch club. With 95 receptions, he is poised to become just the fourth Calgary receiver in team history to crack triple digits. Former teammate Ken-Yon Rambo reached the figure in 2008. Previously Dave Sapunjis and Allen Pitts achieved that receiving total.
The game will have no bearing in the standings as both teams are locked into their current positions, entering post-season. However, the Stampeders want to show they can handle the Lions. Calgary has dropped both previous meetings in 2012. The Stamps hope they can start to even the score on Friday night, then maybe even the score on November 18.
