For the first time in their careers, a long list of Roughriders will soon be seeing red when sizing up their opposition.
With the Riders squaring off against Calgary on Thursday evening, ex-Stampeders Tevaughn Campbell, Tyler Crapigna, Johnnie Dixon, Aaron Picton and Matt Walter will all be aiming to knock off the Stamps after each entering the league with the Red and White.
Buddy Jackson and Derrius Brooks, currently placed on Saskatchewan’s six-game injured list, also started out with the Stampeders.
The recent Riders-Stamps pipeline continues into the front office, with Assistant VP of Football Operations and Player Personnel John Murphy having joined the Roughriders brass this past off-season after spending eight seasons in a similar role with Calgary.
Current Stampeders veterans in fullback Rob Cote and defensive back Jamar Wall are looking forward to the battle against a lengthy list of former teammates.
“Yeah, it will be fun to play against some of the guys on the defence, even though I won’t really be going against them one-on-one so much,” explained Cote, the longest-serving member of the Stamps who is in the midst of his 10th campaign. “But the guy I’m really looking forward to seeing is Matt Walter. (He) was my lockermate for a few years there and he’s a good friend of mine. It will be fun going up against him on special teams.”
Wall shared similar sentiments and knows full-well that the contingent of Stamps-turned-Riders will be motivated to the fullest extent.
“It will be interesting because a lot of those guys are going to want to come out and play hard and prove a point that ‘Why did this happen to me?’ ” the 2012 free-agent signee remarked in regards to their respective departures from Calgary. “Regardless of who it is (on the field), they’re going to come out ready to play.”
Perhaps the most recognizable Roughrider to Stamps fans is Walter, a native Calgarian who played for the University of Calgary Dinos before appearing in 59 games for his hometown Stamps.
“Matt is a really good running back,” stated Wall. “I’ve always thought he was a great running back – he’s shifty, he has great speed. So with guys like that, you’ve always got to be on your toes and be ready because they can have an explosive play at any time.”
Asked whether or not playing against so many familiar faces may serve as an advantage between the white lines, Cote was quick to identify both sides of the equation.
“Yes and no,” Cote commented. “You kind of know how guys play, but also they’re going to play within the scheme that they’re coached to play in. We kind of coach more against scheme than individual players, but I’m sure the receivers and Bo (Levi Mitchell) will know how to deal with some of those guys.”