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September 21, 2016

Feeding The Hype

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols (15) throws against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during first half CFL Banjo Bowl action, in Winnipeg on Saturday, September 10, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

The Canadian Football League has been doing business for decades now. The Grey Cup is 100-plus years old and the ol’ loop’s record books date back to the days of leather helmets and squads like Toronto Balmy Beach, the Hamilton Alerts and, of course, the Winnipeg ‘Pegs.

So, imagine the surprise to even the oldest of diehards when the CFL’s media department spit out this nugget on Wednesday:

  • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Calgary Stampeders match-up in southern Alberta this weekend represents the longest combined winning streak between two teams – nine for the Stamps, seven for the Bombers – in CFL history.

 

That’s surely enough to get everyone excited, including Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

Right Coach?

“Still not tingling,” said O’Shea with a grin after practice on Wednesday.

Now, in case you missed it, O’Shea’s first media session of the week on Tuesday came with a similar line of questioning, including one where he was asked if he felt an extra ‘tingle’ heading into such a marquee event.

Mike O'Shea

And so, as was the case on Tuesday, the Bombers head coach – publicly, at least – is not about to feed into the hype building up around this game, whether it is being created by the media or the league itself. An example: asked if he thought his team had a different approach heading into Calgary in the wake of a seven-game win streak, O’Shea shrugged and added:

“We don’t really look back at that stuff. So, to comment on that and how it looks comparatively… I don’t know. We’re preparing this week to win a game against a tough opponent that happens to be No. 1 in the league right now.

“I don’t think our guys are looking past it, I don’t think they’re looking behind us as to how we got where we are.”

Coach O’Shea

This has long been O’Shea’s approach since he first got the big gig here in Winnipeg. It’s tough enough to win in this league, even harder if you provide the opponent with any kind of bulletin board material.

“The only reason I talk about it is I get asked about it all the time,” said O’Shea with a chuckle. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t talk about it at all. I can promise you that.

“I really don’t know any other way. I really don’t. It’s what’s important right now.”

Even if O’Shea won’t bite, more numbers from the CFL to feed the hype machine:

  • The previous record for a longest combined streak in the same year was 10, when these same two teams met on Oct. 7, 1965 with the Stamps on a six-game run and the Bombers unbeaten in four.
  • The previous record, including streaks overlapping seasons was 13, set on three different occasions: on September 11, 1961 when Edmonton (8W) faced Hamilton (5W); September 6, 1993 when Calgary (10W) met Edmonton (3W) and on August 6, 1995 when Calgary (8W) went head-to-head with Baltimore (5W).

 

Seizing the opportunity to help promote the contest, the CFL set up a national conference call featuring the two quarterbacks; the Bombers’ Matt Nichols and Bo Levi Mitchell of the Stamps – a rarity in this league for a regular season contest.

But, not surprisingly, the two pivots also weren’t about to light any flames with controversial comments – especially on a Wednesday before a Saturday contest.

“I saw that Coach O’Shea had said that it doesn’t add any ‘extra tingle’ to it,” said Mitchell. “I actually agree with him. It’s going to be great for fans and everybody else out there, and it’s obviously great for both teams to be on the winning streaks that we’re on. But at the end of the day, somebody’s winning streak is going to be up.

Bo Levi Mitchell (19) of the Calgary Stampeders during the game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon stadium in Calgary, AB. Friday, July 1, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

“It’s our job to make sure we go out there and don’t over-think it. Don’t see them – no offence Matt – as guys that have won seven in a row. See them as who they are: a football team trying to come in and take a win in the division, on the road, against you. And make sure you don’t let that happen.”

The Bombers, FYI, have been preaching all week about how they’ve changed so dramatically since their last meeting against the Stamps here in Winnipeg back on July 21st. That game, interestingly, was also the last time they lost.

“For me it’s just another challenge for us,” said Nichols. “It’s the type of stuff that you guys (the media) like to talk about. It’s just like us ending streaks of Labour Day games and those types of things. To me, this is a different team than what’s been here in the past, so none of those things really matter to me.

“It’s two very good football teams playing against each other and both teams have a lot of respect for each other. We know it’s going to be a battle and one of those games that’s probably going to come down to the wire. I can speak for our team, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols (15) celebrates his touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the second half of CFL Banjo Bowl action in Winnipeg Saturday, September 10, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

There is an intriguing sidebar story to this one that both pivots did explore during their conference call on Tuesday. Both men played QB at Eastern Washington University; Nichols earning Big Sky Conference Honours in 2007 and 2009 with Mitchell following and winning in 2011.

“We’re friends off the field and I hope the best for him. Sometimes when we’re watching Calgary play my wife will cheer when Bo throws a touchdown and I’m kinda looking at her like, ‘Hey, we actually need them to lose,’” said Nichols. “It’s just kind of funny, you’ve got friends around this league and Bo’s one of those guys I always root for unless we’re playing against them. We’re friends before and after the game and we’ll compete. We had a good battle last year (a 25-23 Calgary win on September 25) and I remember texting him after the game and told him I looked forward to many more battles against each other and this is another one for us.”

“Matt was a huge reason I went to Eastern Washington,” added Mitchell. “He was my host (during his campus visit). He and J.C. (Sherritt, linebacker with the Edmonton Eskimos) and (former Bomber) Greg Peach showed me all around. Me and Matt had a helluva night that night. It was a big reason I went there. I went there and kinda picked up where Matt left off and ever since then we’ve always kept in touch, always been friends.

“I met his family, he’s met mine and we all know each other. My wife cheers for him and cheers that Vernon (Adams, another Eastern Washington product now with Montreal) will get on the field as well. Anybody from Eastern, we have that family mentality.

“I want him to do well on the field when I’m not playing against him, but when I’m playing against him I want him to ball out, but lose the game.”

BOMBER REPORT

OUCH REPORT:

The Bombers welcomed back Quincy McDuffie and Ryan Smith to the practice field on Wednesday, while linebackers Ian Wild and Khalil Bass both skipped another day. Andrew Harris, who missed last week’s win over Toronto, did not participate.

As is the team’s custom, the roster won’t be declared until the day before the game, on Friday.

“I have hope for all of them. The bottom line is I really don’t want to rule a player out,” said O’Shea “They always manage to show great resiliency and toughness and I don’t want to stifle that.”

Also returning to work were DEs Justin Cole and Trent Corney and DT Euclid Cummings.

OL Manase Foketi was excused to deal with a family matter while CB C.J. Roberts is on the six game injured list.

THUMBS UP TO THE BIG MEN:

The Bombers O-line is drawing a lot of praise for their work in this seven-game run – especially from Nichols, who said on Tuesday he believes the group is playing as well as any in the CFL right now.

“I don’t know if we’re the best in the league or if we’re the worst in the league,” said O-line coach Bob Wylie. “The only thing they know is how to give good effort when they come to practice and if you watch them, they don’t really stop in practice. If we keep doing that, the little details get tighter and they come together closer.

“Everybody wants (progression) to happen too fast in this sport. Where I come from, you’ve got to have five guys playing with one heartbeat, which is tough. We need them to make little steps, we don’t need them to make gigantic strides because it’s too much to learn.”

Continuity has also been paramount. The Bombers have had the same group, tackle to tackle, for six of the last seven games. From left to right Stanley Bryant, Travis Bond, Matthias Goossen, Sukh Chungh and Jermarcus Hardrick.

Asked about what Travis Bond has brought to the line since his insertion at left guard, O’Shea quipped: “Width?”

“He’s a monster of a man. He’s got great feet. He loves to play the game. He works well with others. He’s a pro.”