Stampeders ‘aren’t satisfied with just getting here’

One of the things Juwan Simpson remembers from the celebration in the dressing room after the Calgary Stampeders won the 2008 Grey Cup was the tears in the eyes of veterans like Rob Lazero and Jeff Pilon.

The linebacker from Decatur, Ala., was a rookie that year. It seemed strange to him that grown men would cry over winning a championship. In a league as small as the CFL, Simpson expected to be back in the title game plenty of times.

“It should be easy. It’s not,” an older, wiser Simpson said as the Stampeders prepared to play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Sunday’s Grey Cup game at BC Place Stadium.

There’s been some very good Stampeders teams since 2008 but only once since then did Calgary reach the Grey Cup. That was in 2012 when the Stampeders lost 35-22 to the hometown Toronto Argonauts.

That loss has irritated the Stampeders like a pebble in a shoe. It has resulted in Calgary bringing a different attitude into the 102nd Grey Cup.

“From what I see, it’s a different feel this year,” said receiver Marquay McDaniel. “Guys have more understanding of the offence, what we are trying to do.”

“It’s more of a focus this year. Guys aren’t satisfied with just getting here. Getting here means nothing. You have to get that W or this season is just like 2012.”

The Stampeders had a 12-6 record in 2012 and finished second in the West. Injuries at quarterback resulted in veteran Kevin Glenn leading the team.

The Stampeders scored a thrilling 36-30 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West semifinal. The B.C. Lions had a league-leading 13-5 record but the Stampeders rode into Vancouver and produced a 34-29 upset to earn a spot in the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.

Slotback Nik Lewis said after beating BC the Stampeders believed they already had the Grey Cup in their hands.

“We felt like they (the Lions) were potentially the best team in the league, other than us,” said Lewis. “We came in here and beat them.”

“We were (thinking) we are going to play Toronto and we’re going to beat them the same way we beat everyone else. It didn’t happen.”

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was a rookie on the 2012 team and saw playing time in the Grey Cup. He senses a difference in the way this year’s team is preparing for Sunday.

“I know looking at the team, looking at the guys, they are very focused,” said Mitchell.

“I can’t sit here and say we are focusing more because of what happened in 2012. That’s in the past, it’s already happened. We are focused and prepared for this game like we have every single game.”

Running back Jon Cornish said this year’s team is better equipped to handle the distractions that surround a Grey Cup. Cornish was named the CFL’s top Canadian in 2012 but lost the most valuable player award to Toronto’s Chad Owens.

“The Grey Cup week is awesome,” said Cornish. “Everyone wants your attention. Everyone wants a piece of you.”

“Ignore all that. We’re here for one reason. Win this game and you get six months of celebration.”

John Hufnagel, Calgary’s coach and general manager, sees more similarities than differences between this year’s team and the 2012 club.

“To earn the right to get to the Grey Cup we had to beat a very good team in both years,” said Hufnagel.

“A lot of players from that team are still on this team. If anything, they learned from the experience.”

Since winning the 2008 Grey Cup, Calgary has accumulated a 60-29-1 record but has nothing to show for it except playoff heartbreak. A win against Hamilton would help erase the image of an underachieving team that couldn’t win the big game.

“There have been lots of things said about this group of players over the years,” said Hufnagel. “Until they do something about it, it’s going to keep on being said.”

Lewis laughed when asked about a team learning from its mistakes.

“We have learned a lot,” he said. “Now it’s time to go win it.”

“We just learned to be patient. Just enjoy ourselves and not press in the playoffs. Nothing changes. It’s still the same game. We just have to go out and execute.”

McDaniel said this year’s team has one goal.

“There is a lot going on this week,” he said. “You can’t get caught up in it.”

“Another thing is you have to focus on the game. It’s good to be confident. You can’t be too cocky.”

The Stampeders finished with a league-best 15-3 record this year then demolished the Edmonton Eskimos 43-18 in the Western Final.

When pressed, Simpson said this is probably the best Stampeder team he’s ever played for. There’s no doubt the team has talent, but it’s something more than that.

“It goes beyond these white lines,” he said. “It’s probably the first time ever I don’t mind coming to work every day. We probably don’t have that one guy in the locker room who is a pain. Guys hang around each other.”

“Everybody interacts with each other, everybody understands the main goal. Everybody pushes everybody. It’s just an atmosphere I love to be in. Week in and week out, we have proven we will fight for each other. It’s just not about the one number on your jersey. It’s about the whole Calgary Stampeders team.”