It’s been awhile, although given what’s happened in the interim, it’s doubtful any introductions will really be necessary.
Yes, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be home for Saturday’s Banjo Bowl for the first time since the lightning-delayed/almost-all-nighter game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back on August 3rd.
Just for the record, that’s a stretch of 38 days, which included three road victories that extended the win streak to five games, plus a bye week tossed in just to make the heart grow a little fonder.
And so, when the Bombers step onto their home turf against the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday afternoon, it will be like, well…
“It feels like Christmas morning. It’s been a long time.”
Maurice Leggett
“And what a better day to come back than for the Banjo Bowl? It’s a long time coming for us, we’re all excited. You can just tell in the locker room that we all just can’t wait. We’re ready to play tomorrow. Any time, anywhere. That’s just how we feel,” said Bombers linebacker Maurice Leggett with a size-large grin.
The football club announced Friday morning the game has officially sold out; marking the first time since last year’s Banjo Bowl that Investors Group Field will be jammed to capacity.
That’s mammoth for any number of reasons, but given that the average attendance through the first home games of 2016 has been 24,789, stuffing 33,000-plus into the ball yard – coupled with a five-game win streak – means there could be a real home field advantage at play here.
“It’s big, man. When a home team has their crowd into it and being able to feed off the crowd and the momentum,” said defensive end Jamaal Westerman. “When you see a really good quarterback off his game, maybe a receiver dropping a ball or an offensive lineman going offside a lot… sometimes that’s the crowd.
“Those fans that are behind your bench can be on a team for the whole game. I know our fans behind their bench are going to be on them the whole game. It’s the ‘Oh, you stink’ or whatever four-letter words they like to use.
“But for us, just to be able to feed off that energy is huge.”
There’s also this: it’s another glorious opportunity for the Bombers to convert some of the masses still not sold on this bunch. The Bombers still have four home games left after the Banjo Bowl against Toronto (Sept. 17), Edmonton (Sept. 30), B.C. (Oct 8) and Ottawa (Oct. 29).
“They should be sold by now,” said defensive tackle Euclid Cummings with a chuckle. “I mean, we’ve won five straight and are trying to make this one six. It’s going to be good. I can’t wait to be around our fan base.”
“When you’re coming out of the tunnel and they’re introducing everybody and they say your name… that definitely gives you the juice you need. When you’re making plays and the crowd is with you, that’s so much fun.”
Euclid Cummings
“It gets something inside you going. Let’s say I make a big play or get a sack and the whole crowd, it’s all eyes on me and that’s such a great feeling to have. If we’re scoring touchdowns and the fans are going crazy, that’s why we play.”
The Bombers’ current five-game win streak matches a total set between July 23-August 26, 2011. And the team hasn’t won six in a row since cranking out nine wins over a stretch at the end of 2002 and through the start of 2003.
No one is more affected by a loud, capacity crowd than the opposition offence. Matt Nichols said last week’s sold-out crew in Regina at the Labour Day Classic was so loud it did affect what the Bombers were trying to do with the ball.
“It’s huge,” said Nichols. “There were a couple of times where I couldn’t hear my headset because it was so loud and those things are difficult. You have to have play calls ready and it puts you in a little bit of a different situation than you’re used to.
“The crowd here is going to be extremely loud this week. I was here for the Banjo Bowl last year and when Khalil (Bass) picked off (then Riders’ QB) Brett Smith and ran it back for a touchdown that was probably the loudest I’ve heard this stadium. I expect it to be even louder this week.”
To that end, Westerman is again pushing for a scoreboard graphic of time count and illegal-procedure penalties caused by Bomber fans. And that the home faithful should wear it as a badge of honour.
“We definitely should have a scoreboard count,” said Westerman. “This is something where every time their offence jumps offside or when they had to call a time out because it was clear they couldn’t hear the play or the quarterback doesn’t snap the ball on time, we have a little count. We should do it for this game and for the whole season.
“It helps the defence so much. We feed off that loud, crazy atmosphere. I’m not going to lie, that atmosphere in Regina was awesome. It was difficult for us to get our plays in for our offence, so picture us doing the same thing here. We could start it now. The Banjo Bowl would be perfect.”
BLUE ON THE FYI…
The Bombers (6-4) welcome the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-9) Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. for the 13th annual Banjo Bowl.
Three things you should know as the club completed its final full practice on Thursday in advance of the Prairie showdown:
GOOD TO GO:
Both Maurice Leggett and Ian Wild have skipped practice this week to nurse some hurts, but will be in the starting lineup on Saturday.
Terrence Frederick will replace C.J. Roberts (upper body) at cornerback while Ryan Smith will return to the receiving corps at the expense of Clarence Denmark.
The Bombers like the size of Gerrard Sheppard (6-2, 211) and what he brings to special teams, especially with adding Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith over the past couple of weeks.
FOR THE RECORD:
The last time the Bombers swept the Labour Day Classic/Banjo Bowl doubleheader was in 2004 and the inaugural Banjo Bowl game. The Riders have swept the home-and-home series six times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014).
TIGHTEN UP:
Winnipeg surrendered 419 yards net offence against the Riders last Sunday, including 399 yards passing to Darian Durant. And the Bombers are vowing to plug some holes in their air defence.
“We were below average, well below expectations,” said Leggett. “We know what we have to do to actually dominate the game. I won’t expect anything less than guys flying around to the ball no matter what happens and doing their jobs.”
JUST MOE BEING MOE:
Leggett was spitting out some juicy sound bites on Thursday, including this comment on the team likely wishing they could get back on the field ASAP while it is in the middle of a win streak:
“That’s just us in general. It doesn’t matter if we have a game today, we’re ready to come back and play later that night. We’re back to being kids. We’re out all day and then as soon as you get home your mother tells you to have a shower and get ready for bed, but we still want to play. We have that mentality we can play all day.”
QUOTABLE:
Mike O’Shea when asked if all the Bomber players were aware of the game being announced as a sell out: “Oh, I think they’re aware. Every time they try to get an extra ticket the answer is ‘no.’
“Bring it on. Let’s go. This is good for the organization, it should be great for the fans and the players should enjoy it. They plan on honouring the fans with their play.”
