By Jonathan Anderson
Stampeders.com
As summer comes to an end, the unofficial start of the “real” CFL season begins. Labour Day is almost here.
This year’s Battle of Alberta, Labour Day edition, has major significance with the Stampeders coming in with a record of 4-4 and the Eskimos also clinging to a record of 5-3. Both teams look to take advantage of this late summer classic in hopes of keeping pace with first place in the CFL West Division.
The Stampeders have been taking part in the Labour Day classic since 1946 — in the initial meeting, the Stampeders hosted and beat the Regina Roughriders 9-0 at Mewata Stadium. The Battle of Alberta edition became the norm for the Labour Day classic in 1969 with all future Labour Day classics involving Calgary being played against Edmonton except on two instances. All time, the Stamps are 30-25-1 in Labour Day games and 20-25-1 against Edmonton in Labour Day games.
The Labour Day game has provided some fantastic memories for many Stamps fans, one of which involves Jeff Garcia. An injury to Doug Flutie during the 1995 season allowed Garcia to get his first home-field start during the Labour Day Classic.
Garcia had a game for the ages, finishing with 546 passing yards and a franchise-record six touchdowns, three of which were thrown to Allen Pitts. The Stamps would go on to win the game 51-26. Garcia remembers the game well.
“It was a very special day because my father and brother were in the stands and I know how much that rivalry with the Eskimos means to the people of Calgary,” he said.
Labour Day is special to many Albertans. Stamps fullback and Cochrane product Rob Cote has many memories of how meaningful Labour Day games were as a fan.
“My favourite part was the atmosphere,” he said. “You would get all the BBQ smoke up in the air, it smells great and you can just hear the excitement. I remember them playing ‘Start Me Up’ before kickoff and, as a kid, I knew that meant it was game time.”
As a player, Cote has many memorable moments as well.
“2010 when we absolutely hammered them, that was so fun to play in,” he said. “2007 was special, too, with (Ryan) Thelwell catching for 199 yards.”
From the other side of the province, Stamps offensive lineman Dimitri Tsoumpas also has many fond memories of the Labour Day Classic as a youngster.
“I have one vivid memory of Labour Day as a kid from Edmonton,” says Tsoumpas. “I remember sitting in the front row and talking crap to Jeff Pilon, then I came to Calgary and ended up learning a lot from him.”
Tsoumpas recalls the day he broke the news to Pilon that they had met before.
“I had to work up the courage to tell him, ‘Hey, I was one of those guys who was talking crap to you.’ It was Labour Day though, so he didn’t think it was very funny.”
As an Edmontonian, Tsoumpas as special memories of the Labour Day Classic, but also places great importance on the rematch in Edmonton.
“2010 was special because we smoked them, then went back up there and did it again,” he said.
Tsmoumpas sees all games against Edmonton as contests the Stamps cant afford to lose.
“It’s always a good matchup,” he said. “They bring a lot of grit, neither of us want to give an inch and we know how much games like this mean to our fans.”
Kevin Glenn is no stranger to the Labour Day tradition, having played with Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and Hamilton in Labour Day matchups.
“The Labour Day games in Saskatchewan and Ontario are both pretty intense, very exciting,” he said. “One thing I’ve noticed is that the fans were as involved with the atmosphere and everything as the players.”
For Glenn, his first Labour Day memory is his most cherished.
“My rookie year (2001 with Saskatchewan against Winnipeg) I remember throwing a touchdown and the fans just being so excited,” he said.
Monday, Glenn will get to see what the Labour Day Classic, Alberta edition, is all about.
“I’m just looking forward to the excitement, the atmosphere,” he said. “Our fans are great every week — I can’t wait to see what they have in store. Hopefully, we can reward them by going out and getting a big win.”