Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com

This Friday at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, Stamps linebacker Justin Phillips will play his 100th game in the CFL, all of them with the Calgary Stampeders.

It’s a milestone Phillips looks forward to and appreciates, not just for the number, but because of the significance behind the milestone.

Playing 100 games in a physical game such as football takes durability, perseverance and endurance.

Over his career, Phillips has had to overcome positional reassignments, a difficult rookie season on a losing team and last year’s devastating knee injury that caused him to miss the latter half of the season including the 2013 Grey Cup game.

With a healthy knee and having a bounce-back year where he has helped the Red and White to a league best 12-3 record, Phillips leads the team with 15 special-teams tackles. We sat down with Phillips to get his take on joining head coach/general manager John Hufnagel and teammate Rob Cote, who each hit the century mark with the club this season.

>> Video: Rob Cote interviews Justin Phillips about his 100 games

Justin, this weekend you will play you’re 100th CFL game. What does the milestone mean to you?

It’s definitely a career milestone that I am very proud of. It’s the test of time and I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to spend the entire 100 games with the Calgary Stampeders.

I think it’s kind of a cool honour to be with (Jon) Cornish and (Rob) Cote as the three rookies that came in in 2007 and we’re the three remaining one’s still here. We all came in together and we all played the 100 games together all three of us with the same team, so it’s definitely cool to be part of that group with those guys.

It certainly hasn’t been an easy road for you has it?

Along the way there’s definitely peaks and valleys and it tests you physically, emotionally and everything. To still be going at it after playing 100 games — and feeling like I’m playing the best that I ever have — is definitely cool.

When you joined the Stampeders in 2007, did you have a preconceived notion of how many games you wanted to play and what role you wanted to take on the team?

At that time, you’re just trying not to get yelled at and trying not to be noticed for the wrong reasons. It definitely comes a long way, the journey of going from kind of a nervous rookie to a guy who is helping the young guys out and being a leader on the team.

It’s been quite the journey. I started out as a 21-year-old kid and now I feel like an old man, but it’s definitely a cool feeling and it’s been a fun journey.

You started on the Stampeders as a linebacker, but things have changed for you considerably since then. Are you happy with the way it has all worked out?

I started out playing as a linebacker and then my first year was the only year where we didn’t have much success. Then I played D-line when our D-coordinator got released and then the next year John Hufnagel came in and kind of solidified me as one role on the team and I kind of went with that.

I think it’s been very beneficial to my career that I’ve moved from linebacker to D-end because I’ve been able to be a mainstay on defence, get my reps on defence and be a mainstay of special teams. So I’ve had a defined roll and I just grew with it every year.

You have been around long enough to see DeVone Claybrooks as an opponent, teammate and now coach.

That’s kind of an interesting dynamic. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go and it’s nice to know that I’ve been one of the mainstays with this team for a while.

You are originally from Ontario and you’ve had opportunities to test the market and join teams closer to home. Why have you chosen to stay with the Stampeders?

I had those opportunities and the thought had crossed my mind – especially as a guy fresh out of college and now I’m married, so there are the changes in you’re off-field life – but the main thing I’ve always said is that I’ve always wanted to be on a team where they put me in a position to be successful and we have a chance to win a Grey Cup every year.

It’s a short span of your life and I’ve been lucky to play seven years and 100 games, but every year you’re playing and sacrificing so much physically and emotionally, you want to be on a team that has a chance to win, and with Huff here, we always have a chance to win.

Who have been the people that have been most instrumental in getting you to where you are now?

Of course my wife has been there for me and been very supportive over the years. Not many wives are happy with their husbands leaving for six months of the year, but she’s been OK with it.

My parents sacrificed a lot throughout my earlier football career and they moved to Waterloo when I played university at Laurier.

I’ve always had the support of my grandparents and brothers. Every time I go to play in Toronto and Hamilton, I have about 30 people there to watch. I have my Uncle Garry who calls me every night before every game, and he’s done that since my rookie year. Just to know you have those guys cheering for you and pulling for you even though they are on the other side of the country. It’s important to know they are there for you.

I also have to give credit to my teammate Charleston Hughes and my former teammate and now coach DeVone Claybrooks. I’ve been able to benefit from their influence for the majority of my career.

I’ve always had a terrific support system around me and its made being away from them a lot easier knowing they are always there.