Close shaves not in Alouettes' playoff future
Last Updated: Thursday, November 19, 2009 | 2:05 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Playoff beards will be the norm for Anthony Calvillo and Co. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)The Montreal Alouettes are growing playoff beards and have new T-shirts designed by defensive tackle Keron Williams with the team slogan for 2009 — Win The Day.
Whether that will help them get past their nemesis, the B.C. Lions, in the East Division final on Sunday (1 p.m. ET) at Olympic Stadium remains to be seen.
"We had time on our hands and were dreaming up things and decided to not shave — that's all it is," guard Scott Flory said Wednesday of the bushy growth he and most of his teammates sprouted during the bye they enjoyed last week for finishing atop the East Division with a 15-3 record.
It also allowed Williams, who studied graphic design at the University of Massachusetts, to bring out shirts with a logo-like depiction of the slogan coach Marc Trestman has preached since the start of training camp, one they may especially need to follow against the dangerous Lions.
"We're going to need it going against a team like the B.C. Lions, who have a great quarterback [Casey Printers] who is coming off a great win," said Williams. "However we can get the motivation to get through practice and get something out of it, that'll be key.
"I consider myself a leader on this team, so however I can get my guys going, that's what I'll take on."
The Lions (8-10), who crossed over from the West because they had a better record than third-place finisher Winnipeg (7-11) in the East, recorded a thrilling 34-27 overtime win over Hamilton in the conference semifinal. Now they will face Montreal before more than 45,000 at Olympic Stadium.
Montreal spent its time off piling up accolades, which continued Wednesday when nine players were named to the league's all-star team, including Damon Duval who was named both kicker and punter. It had already been announced that Alouettes were finalists for five of the league's six major awards.
But while they won seven more games than B.C. during the season, respect for their opponents was evident in the Montreal locker room. Records go out the window once they take the field, particularly against the Lions.
Since 2000, Montreal is 9-11 against B.C. in the regular season — 1-9 in Vancouver, including losses in the last nine in a row, and 7-3 in Montreal. They also lost Grey Cup games to the Lions in 2000 and 2006, although they won an East semi-final over B.C. in a crossover game in 1997.
They split two games this season — a 19-12 Lions win in Vancouver and a 28-24 victory by the Alouettes in Montreal, which needed a last-minute touchdown from tailback Avon Cobourne after the Lions took the lead in the fourth quarter.
"For some reason when we head over there it's like a dark cloud hangs over us and follows us out there, but when we play at home, for some reason the sun comes out," said rush end Anwar Stewart. "One of the good things is that we're very similar in terms of athleticism.
"We match up very well. That's why most of our matches go down to the end. It's exciting. I'm sure a lot of people are going to tune into this game because it's going to be great."
'Our work is cut out for us'
The loss of some key veterans in the off-season hurt B.C. this season, but more than anything, it was a run of injuries at quarterback. That appeared to be solved when Printers rejoined the Lions last month after being released by the Ticats in February.
He was a flop as a Ticat, but Printers looks to have regained his old form since rejoining coach Wally Buono in Vancouver.
Not only was Printers finding star receivers like Geroy Simon with passes, he also used his feet to dodge and dance out of trouble in the backfield and picked up timely gains on the ground.
"Our work is cut out for us," said Stewart. "We have to keep him in the pocket."
Chip Cox, named an all-star in his first season at linebacker after switching from defensive back, said a key for the Lions is their veteran players.
"They'll be better than in the regular season because vets know how to play in the playoffs," he said. "You saw last week in Hamilton, when it was time to get down to it, the vets took over and they won the game.
"We can't worry about the past. We can only worry about this game."
The bye week helped the Alouettes get healthier. Defensive tackle Eric Wilson, a key to stopping the running game, should return from a dislocated knee, although there is still some doubt about linebacker Diamond Ferri's sore ankle.
Ferri practised with the first team and said he felt fine.
"We'll see how sore they are [Thursday] because this was the first real practice they've had," said Trestman. "I think they'll both play, but it's too early to make that decision."
