Let’s go for gold, Redblacks
Re: Rough Riders’ near-miss in 1981 remains rallying point, Nov. 18.
Let us not be satisfied with second best, and anything less than a Grey Cup triumph. The Ottawa Senators, for years, have teased and delighted the city, but as of yet have failed to deliver the big prize. And unfailingly we pat them on the back for a job well done, and thank them for representing the city so admirably. But, there’s been no parade, no bragging rights, no championship. Let that not be the case this season with the Ottawa Redblacks football team.
In 1981, the most bitter pill to swallow after the loss to the Edmonton Eskimos was how close we came to winning. It is within reach this year again, and we are as close as we want to get. The opposition this Sunday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will play without several key starters, and are on the limp. This is not the time to lay an egg, to underestimate them. Last week versus the Toronto Argonauts, the Cats won with intelligent coaching and brilliant special teams play. When a team wins despite its disadvantages, there are intangibles at work that need to be respected. For most of this season, Hamilton was the best team in the CFL’s East, and only in the final two weeks did Ottawa oust them from the top of the standings. The Redblacks whipped the Ticats twice while the Tabbies were reeling from the critical injuries, but of course this weekend it will be a different squad mentally than the one we faced the last two weeks of the season.
What we need to do is avoid the mistakes that have plagued us the first two seasons: missed passes, bad penalties, and special team miscues.
The Cats will disguise coverages to confuse quarterback Henry Burris, and make it necessary for our receivers to read defences and to adjust intelligently. Of offensive threats, the Ticats match us well, and surpass us mightily in both the kicking and kick return games. The black and gold will be looking to pay us back for those final two defeats, and we had better be ready for it.
Take the brass ring, fellows, and no prizes for second best.
Go, Redblacks, Go! Peter Boyle, Ottawa