From the Lions' Den—Season Wrap Up

It goes by so very quickly. First, there is a trip to Training Camp, puzzlement at who starts and who doesn’t, (and later vindication after being proven right, or chagrin at being proven wrong) excitement at what is to come, and seemingly a short time later, the satisfaction of holding the championship trophy, after studiously avoiding it all through Grey Cup Week.

We here in BC have been blessed with great football teams for 4 straight years now, and it has not been lost on us, as we saw the Lions fall short in 2003, 2004 and 2005. This season was the one that we were promised when Bob Ackles and GM and Head Coach Wally Buono joined the club, and it is every bit as sweet as we expected.

I thought it best to give a month by month synopsis of how a pair of fans here in BC saw 2006.

March:

During an extended lunch with Lions quarterback Buck Pierce in California, he lets his feelings be known about wanting to stay in BC for a long time, and to become the #1 quarterback after learning as much as he can from Dave Dickenson (“I want to be the guy.”) He speaks about the quality of athleticism required to play in the CFL, and his excitement at the prospect of a Grey Cup run during the 2006 season, after a disappointing finish in 2005.

April:

The loss of the Ottawa Renegades is a huge blow to CFL fans like us. I was born and raised in Ottawa, and a part of me dies on April 9^th, as the CFL “suspends” (kills) the Ottawa Renegades. Fans around the League mourn the loss. I am sickened.

During the Ottawa dispersal draft, BC chooses Defensive Back Korey Banks, Guard Matt Kirk, and P/K Sandro Sciortino.

Lions announce that Training Camp will be held in Abbotsford, instead of Chilliwack, or the favoured location in Kamloops.

May:

Training Camp opens, with rookies reporting first, then veterans later in the week. The weather is wet, followed by periods of rain, interspersed with showers. The field conditions are somewhat damp to downright swampy. During the second week of Camp, a monsoon rain hits the Training Facility, and Coach Buono is kind enough to announce on team1040 radio, “For those tailgating at the Field, I am canceling the afternoon practice.” That was mighty nice of him, and we put away the personal flotation devices and head home for the day. Coach Buono approaches a group of us later in the weekend, and chats about road trips and scheduling, after the loss of the Renegades. The Controlled Scrimmage during Camp attracts a few thousand, as Fanfest is incorporated into it. Pierce later expresses surprise to Kim and me after being inundated by young fans wanting his autograph. We explain that most Lions fans will not attend Camp or Practice, but will descend on a media event like Fanfest. Lions move back to their Surrey Facility for the third week of Camp.

Sandro Sciortino leaves camp (homesick?). Many pundits and fans (including your faithful scribe) come to the conclusion that the West will be a dogfight, with Edmonton, Calgary and BC fighting it out for the playoff spots. I personally pick Calgary first, Edmonton, then the Lions, with Saskatchewan rebuilding after getting Jason Armstead and Kerry Joseph (via Hamilton for Corey Holmes) in the dispersal draft. 10-8 should win a playoff spot, and 11-7 likely takes first place, or so we think.

June:

Calgary Stampeders visit BC Place in the Lions’ only home exhibition game on June 2nd, and lose 26-23 to a Stampeder squad that plays first stringers much of the way. Lions play primarily players who they wish to see under game conditions, so I am not overly concerned about this, a preseason loss.

Lions then travel to Calgary on June 8^th, and face the Stampeders in front of 7,000 fans in a monsoon. My suspicions about Calgary’s secondary are given a boost, as Lions win handily 57-13. Surrey Ram Josh Boden cements his future as a BC Lion, with a huge day, especially for a Rookie.

Time for the real thing: the regular season opens with the Roughriders visiting BC Place on June 16^th. Lions play a stellar first half, then allow the Roughriders back into the game in the second half. This troubling tendency will continue for weeks to come.

BC travels to Regina for the June 24^th rematch, and once again in the first half, BC is masterful. In the 2^nd, they take their foots off the throats of the opponents, and lose 32-24. Is this the way now? Play well in the first half, and then coast the rest of the game? That won’t win very many.

June 30^th sees the Argonauts in our den, without Damon Allen. We host some guests from Toronto, and treat them to tailgating, West Coast Style. Former Lion Spergeon Wynn is at the Toronto helm, and Lions leap out to a decent halftime lead, then again sputter in the second half. Only an Argo fumble late in the game salvages a win for BC, and now the concerns have become full blown fears.

July:

Lions travel to Commonwealth July 7th nursing a fragile 2-1 record to face their Goliath, the Edmonton Eskimos. As per the script, BC looks good in the abbreviated First Half, shortened by a severe thunderstorm that sweeps through the Edmonton area with some six minutes left in the half. The extra time is tacked onto the second half, and also as scripted, Lions come out flat, losing to the Esks 27-20. The season is now officially in doubt, after 2 blown leads, two that almost were.

Saskatchewan is back at BC Place in July 14^th, newly determined after a big win 3 weeks earlier in Regina. Kerry Joseph is cool and composed, and edges the Lions 29-28 in a squeaker. Grave doubts ensue about this team’s commitment to winning.

Coach Dave Ritchie addresses the Defence after practice the following week. Finishing, tackling, and basic football are key in his rant, as he exhorts the team to understand thet a CFL game is played for 60 minutes, not just 30. He is later joined by Coach Buono, who reiterates that everyone is replacable, and that he will not be patient with mistakes as he was in 2005. First casualty is Halfback Antonio Warren, who is cut after missing a block on Rider LB Jackie Mitchell (and a low yards per carry average). Joe Smith, who shone at Camp, is now the #1 running back. Soon after, Cornerback Sam Young follows, replaced by Levar Glover, then Aaron Lockett, replaced by late Alouette cut Ian Smart.

July 21^st means a trip to Calgary, and Lions look like a different team, handling the Stampeders 43-20 in front of the Stampeder faithful. They play a full 60 minutes, and while the swagger is still there, Lions do not let up in the second half as they have every other outing this season.  The outlook brightens.

On July 29^th, Lions travel to Toronto, and so do we. At the game in Hamilton the preceding day, we see Haji Sherko-Rassouli and Bobby Singh outside Ivor Wynne, and have a spirited discussion prior to the Bombers/TiCats game. At the Rogers Centre, Dave Dickenson says that he didn’t have a very good game, but Lions win 28-8 in Damon Allen’s first game since breaking a finger in Week 1. Later that evening, we meet with  Lions Dave Dickenson. Buck Pierce and Paul McCallum at Joe Badelli’s in Toronto, to cap off a great road trip to the Centre of The Universe.

August:

Edmonton Eskimos visit on August 4^th. Lions play a well balanced game, and win 34-17. We wonder what has happened to the mighty Eskimos, who are having nothing but grief so far this season. We have guests in Section 17 from Louisiana, and dine with them pregame. The CFL has quite a reach, it seems. Quarterback Dave Dickenson suffers a high ankle sprain, and will be out for a number of weeks. Buck Pierce is once again “the guy”, at least for now.

A rare Thursday game sees the Lions in Winnipeg on August 10^th, up against an injury ravaged Bomber squad missing both starting quarterback Kevin Glenn, and all star Slotback Milt Stegall. The game is tight at first, then a swarming Lion defence is all over Blue Bomber quarterback Mike Quinn, who throws 2 interceptions to Lions Defensive End Brent Johnson, before surrendering a fumble that Nautyn McKay-Loescher rumbles into the end zone with. We feel for the Bomber fans as the Lions win 32-5.

Edmonton Eskimos are in town again on August 18^th, along with some very special friends who traveled from Edmonton with the Eskimos as our guests. The game is hard fought, with the Esks having the edge in the game, only to lose on a botched snap for a field goal on the last play of the game. We see Edmonton kicker Sean Fleming outside the Stadium, and I tell him that Esks actually won that game. He asks, “Can we have the two points, then?” We have a postgame meal with some great Edmonton CFL fans, then head back to the Island, all the time wondering if it’s possible to just BEAT the Eskimos, since tonight at least, they beat themselves.

Lions now enter a bizarre schedule period, as two of the next three weeks are bye weeks, a result of the death of the Ottawa Renegades.

September:

On September 1^st, BC are in Montreal, to face the Alouettes. Lions play a well rounded game, good defence and good offence, and win handily. We fans are confident as a group, but Lions have beaten Montreal consistently over the past few seasons, so this is no surprise. It is nice to avenge 2005’s loss at Percival Molson, where Calvillo beat us on the last play of the game with a TD strike.

September 16^th at home after the bye, and the Montreal Alouettes are out for blood. Dave Dickenson’s return is marred when he is tackled and hits his head on the turf, exacting his second concussion in as many seasons. Als’ Ed Philion goes after his ankle before the head injury, and the fans are livid. Alouettes jump out to a lead that holds until the half, when Geroy Simon takes one up the middle to the House. Lions D sacks Anthony Calvillo 11 times, and Nealon Greene once, as we enjoy a small bit of revenge for the loss of Dave Dickenson. Final tally is 36-20, Lions.

Lions head east to meet the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic on September 24^th. Regina has had the Lions number for some years now, and today is no different. Dave Dickenson plays the game in a concussion addled fog, but still manages to keep the Lions close, and regulation time ends in a 20-20 tie. In overtime, rookie ‘Rider kicker Luca Congi misses a field goal, which is run out of the end zone by Ian Smart. Lions can win with a single, but inexplicably, Wally opts to punt the ball out of the side of the end zone rather than try a conventional field goal. The ball goes off the side of Paul McCallum’s foot, and rather than a corner single, the ball is shanked right, into the middle of the field. Riders run the ball out, and score on their next possession, as rookie Andy Fantuz has his best game so far as a Rider. Lions slink home after a 23-20 loss, as the second guessing in the BC media continues all week long.

On September 30^th, Lions are in Hamilton to face the struggling TigerCats. Dave Dickenson is sidelined with his concussion, and Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson lead the Lions to a 28- 8 victory against a discouraged Hamilton crew. Earlier in the week, Jermaine Copeland and Nik Lewis are guests on TSN’s “Off the Record with Michael Landsberg” and Geroy Simon bristles on National TV after the two Stampeder receivers term Geroy’s touchdown pose as “gay”. Says Geroy, “Copeland…next week..comin’ fo yo’ a$$.” Lions fans are both furious, and eager for revenge against the Stampeders the following week.

October:

It is October 6^th, the day of atonement. Nik Lewis, Germaine Copeland together do not have the receiving yardage that Geroy Simon does, and we wait to see whose trash talking will triumph. As it turns out, Copeland and Lewis talk the talk, but can’t even manage a crawl, let alone a walk. Simon scores a Touchdown, calmly walks back to the Stampeder bench, and gently places the ball at Copeland’s feet, without ever saying a word. The fans are elated. Game, set and match, as Lions crush the Bobsled Twins 39-13, as the Lion Faithful salute with a tip of the collective cap to the rest of the Calgary Stampeders, and their excellent fans. (Copeland and Lewis need not apply.)

On October 15^th, BC travels back to Calgary, and so do we, to visit with close friends and Stampeder fans. We know that Stamps are wounded and angry after the setback on the 6^th, and are expecting a loss, since Lions long ago clinched first place in the West, and have little to play for. We are not disappointed. After an opening drive for a TD, Lions quarterback Buck Pierce has no answer for a vengeful Calgary team, and Lions lose 32-25. Best tackle of the game is leveled by Lions DT Ricky Foley, who flattens a streaker in the second half with a great forearm move. Stamps’ Defensive Coordinator Denny Creehan accuses Lion Slotback Jason Clermont of a leg whip on Jermaine Chatman. Clermont is fined $500, while Creehan is dinged for $1000. Lions fans howl with indignation, and I silently pray for the Stampeders to be at BC Place for the Western Final.

October 21^st, and Hamilton is in town. We are concerned that with yet another meaningless game in the standings Lions will lay a egg because it won’t matter to them. We aren’t far off, as Hamiton scares BC 23-17. There are concerns for the playoffs in many minds.

The last regular season game of 2006 is slated for BC Place Stadium on October 28^th, 2006. While the game is meaningless for BC, it carries with it the possibility of Winnipeg Blue Bombers hosting the East Semifinal against the Toronto Argonauts. Fear of a Lion collapse is dimmed, as Bomber Quarterback Kevin Glenn leaves the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Lions romp to a 26-16 victory, which should have been more decisive in many minds.

November:

October 5^th sees the two Semifinal games played, in Toronto and Calgary. Argos handle the Bombers 31-27, while Calgary looks past the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a date on November 12^th at BC Place. Roughriders get it done 30-21 as the Stamps collapse in the second half, and hope of a game with Calgary is dashed.  Alouettes and Lions await.

Conference Final Sunday is November 12^th.  The eastern game is soon taken over by the Alouettes, who easily send the Argos home 33-24 before a smallish crowd at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Here in Lionland, a crowd of 50,000 causes time count violation after time count violation as Roughrider Centre Jeremy O’Day cannot hear the snap count. While this is a huge obstacle to a Regina win, Roughrider fans later say that the Lions were the better team that day on the way to a 45-18 thrashing of the Green Giants.

The Lions leave for the Grey Cup City of Winnipeg on Tuesday, November 14^th, as we leave for same.  First stop is Walby’s Warriors, and Brent Johnson wins the Warrior of the Year award. Lions present include OT Rob Murphy, SB Geroy Simon, and Bomber RB Charles Roberts. The City of Winnipeg puts on a great Grey Cup as thousands of CFL fans circulate among the various venues.

The big day arrives on November 19^th. For the last time this season, the Lions suit up as the visitors, wearing their black and orange third jerseys, while the home Montreal Alouettes sport their away whites. Montreal wins the coin toss, and elects to defer until the second half their choice of field. Lions come off the bench fairly well, but the Als struggle, as Calvillo skips balls, overthrows receivers, and has the odd one dropped. Lions kick returner Ian Smart scores a TD on an option run by Buck Pierce, and says to the camera “They (Alouettes) said I wasn’t good enough..” I see this later on the game DVD, and tears come very close to the surface. Paul McCallum ties a Grey Cup record kicking six field goals, as the Lions win 25-14. It isn’t exactly an Instant Classic, but winning sure beats the alternative.

After the game, the Lions celebrate at the Elephant and Castle, with both pieces of the Grey Cup in attendance. Buck Pierce is jubilant, and tells us that he just signed a two year contract with the Lions, as did a few others. It is a great day to wear Orange and Black.

Tuesday arrives, and we are home, wondering how it all went by so very quickly. The problem is that the offseason will be much longer, and I do not look forward to that. On the good side, maybe Lions will get two more preseason games with Calgary again, and hopefully Jeremaine and Nick won’t yet have packed up for another city.