The real season begins on Labour Day.
It’s one of the most oft-repeated phrases in the Canadian Football League.
Never mind that nine weeks and 32 games are already in the books, that a head coach has been fired in Winnipeg and a star running back traded in Toronto. In some folks’ minds, things don’t get really serious until September long weekend.
For the Calgary Stampeders in 2012, the statement carries extra significance. Of the Stamps’ 10 remaining games, six will be against the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions.
Those would be the same Eskimos and Lions who, thanks to tie-breaking procedure, finished ahead of Calgary in the 2011 final standings. And the same Esks and Leos who again occupy the two spots above the third-place Stamps.
No, the Stamps are not in the position they’d like to be after an up-and-down start that leaves them with a 4-4 record. But they’re sure in a position to do something about it.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” said running back and CFL rushing leader Jon Cornish, “and I’m really thinking that, at this point, we’re ready for that challenge because, as a team, we’re further along than we’ve been this season. I’m looking forward to it.”
As usual, the Stamps’ fall run begins with a home-and-home series with the Eskimos, starting with Monday’s Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium.
Edmonton (5-3) is two points up on the Stamps heading into the contest and owns one of the league’s stingiest defences. The Eskimos have surrendered an average of less than 20 points per game so far this season.
“They’re big playmakers,” said Cornish. “They get picks, they get turnovers, they get sacks.
“Those are some things you have some control over. You can execute your offence properly and make the blocks you’re supposed to make that prevent the sacks and make the passes that you’re supposed to make and hold on to the ball to prevent turnovers. I think if we execute those two things like we’re supposed to, it’s going to work out pretty well for us.”
The Stamps and Eskimos will get to know each other pretty well in the next few months — after avoiding each other for the first two months of the regular season, they’ll play four times the rest of the way.
Next week’s meetings provide a challenging physical and mental test for the clubs as the games will be played with only three days separating them.
“Yeah, it is an important couple of games,” said defensive end Charleston Hughes. “Especially because it’s against Edmonton, our rival. We’ve got to battle for a good record. It should be a real exciting game and we’ll put on a good show for the fans.”