Calgary Stampeders running back Don Jackson (25) shares a high five with teammate defensive back Emanuel Davis (8) in Edmonton, Friday, November 23, 2018. The Ottawa Redblacks will play the Calgary Stampeders in the 106th Grey Cup on Sunday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON — Friday kicked off with the annual Commissioner’s State of the League address. The day also marked yet another day of practice for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Calgary Stampeders.
While the REDBLACKS elected to remain at the warm-confines of the domed field at Foote Field on the campus of the University of Alberta, the Stampeders jumped on the opportunity to roll into The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium — turning it into their unlikely home ahead of Sunday’s 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.
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Standout remarks from the Commissioner’s State of the League address…
“We should be looking forward and looking out into the future, and planning for that bigger, stronger Canadian Football League that we’ve been talking about for the past 16 months, and that we’ve all been hoping of and dreaming of for many, many years.”
– Randy Ambrosie on further developing Canadian talent.
“I think we can sit down with the players shortly after the season ends, lay out a path to put in place a deal that’s fair for both sides: for the players and for the league, and for our teams. And I’m absolutely confident that we’re going to get to a solution and get back to playing football at the start of the 2019 season.”
– Randy Ambrosie on the state of the pending CBA negotiations.
“There was some great coverage, and we saw these young – you know, these four-, five-, six-year-olds holding up a sign, my first CFL game. And you don’t know if that is the beginning of that lifetime journey.”
– Randy Ambrosie on the CFL’s fandom from the younger demographic growing.
I think they are ready to host a Grey Cup. And – and we will want them to have a Grey Cup. And one of the things that I love about Bob Young and Scott Mitchell is they have embraced this CFL 2.0 philosophy – and this Grey Cup model philosophy bidding on the games and making sure that, when we do bring a game to Hamilton, it’s because Hamilton is going to put on the greatest next show in the history of the Grey Cup. And – and so I’m very encouraged.”
– Randy Ambrosie on thoughts towards Hamilton hosting a Grey Cup for the first time since 1996.
Standout remarks from Ottawa’s post-practice press conference…
“They have a lot of the same coaches and some of the same players, but I just don’t think it has any relevance to it. It’s too far removed I think. Every year, a team takes on a new personality. This is a different version of the REDBLACKS, and I think it’s a different version of the Stampeders, so doesn’t factor in too much other than we just kind of know each other from over the years.”
– Rick Campbell on a rematch with the Stampeders from the 2016 Grey Cup.
“He’s a champion. He’s a guy who’s going to do a lot of what it takes to allow his team to win.”
– Rico Murray on the competitiveness of Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell.
“Cold — Hot — We’re here to play football, so whether it’s outdoors or indoors — we prepare for it the same way.”
– Diontae Spencer on whether he thinks practicing indoors will impact the REDBLACKS come Sunday.
Standout remarks from Calgary’s pre-practice press conference…
“Name a team who’s great at second and ten, ’cause we’re not either. It’s like a broken record as far as winning football games, if you win at the line of scrimmage on first down, get yourself into a manageable situation, it’s much easier to convert and you hold onto the ball, that’s kind of the formula that’s always been there.”
– Dave Dickenson on the formula of winning football games.
“I wanted to do some different things and this was one of them — get into the locker room a day early, kind of make it feel like it’s your home. It’s an impressive locker room. You look around and it’s a nice place — great facility and get on the field a day early, maybe get your cleats — learn what the field is like. I think the more you can simulate the game the better, and I think for us it was the right thing to do.”
– Dave Dickenson on electing to practice at Commonwealth Stadium today.
“When we run out, we’re going to probably go to the wrong sideline because we’re so used to going to the other sideline. That’s part of the reason I wanted to do it this way.”
– Dave Dickenson on getting used to being the home team in their rival’s building.
