http://www.stampeders.com Calgary Stampeders RSS en-us Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:44 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:44 zu webmaster@zu.com <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel today announced that import linebacker Tim Johnson has been released.<br /><br />&ldquo;We thank Tim for his efforts last season and wish him the best for the future,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;Tim&rsquo;s family situation is such that he believed he could not make the commitment needed to return to the Canadian Football League for the 2010 season.&rdquo;</p> March 9, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3529 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel today announced that import linebacker Tim Johnson has been released.<br /><br />&ldquo;We thank Tim for his efforts last season and wish him the best for the future,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;Tim&rsquo;s family situation is such that he believed he could not make the commitment needed to return to the Canadian Football League for the 2010 season.&rdquo;</p> March 9, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3529 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel today announced that import linebacker Tim Johnson has been released.<br /><br />&ldquo;We thank Tim for his efforts last season and wish him the best for the future,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;Tim&rsquo;s family situation is such that he believed he could not make the commitment needed to return to the Canadian Football League for the 2010 season.&rdquo;</p> March 9, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3529 <p>Ezzrett (Sugarfoot) Anderson, a longtime member of the Calgary Stampeders organization, is the 2010 recipient of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame&rsquo;s Pioneer Award.<img alt="sugarfoot100309.jpg" height="332" src="/common/uploads/images/sugarfoot100309.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="sugarfoot100309.jpg" width="240" /><br /><br />Anderson, who joined the Stampeders as a player in 1949 and continues to work for the club as an account executive, will be honoured along with the other 2010 inductees at the Alberta sports hall&rsquo;s induction banquet on May 28 at Red Deer&rsquo;s Capri Centre Hotel.<br /><br />A native of Arkansas, Anderson spent five seasons with the Stampeders and twice led the club in receiving. He made 142 catches for 2,020 yards as a member of the Red and White and scored 10 touchdowns. He was an all-star player for Calgary&rsquo;s 1949 WIFU-championship squad.<br /><br />Other members of the Alberta sports hall&rsquo;s class of 2010 include skier Thomas Grandi, former Flames netminder Mike Vernon, wrestler Christine Nordhagen, golfer Gwen Davies, rodeo performer Jerri Duce Phillips, builder Donald Moore, builders Vance and Shelley Curtis, TV personality Grant Pollock and the 1983-85 University of Calgary football team.</p> March 9, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3526 <p>Calgary Stampeders season tickets are currently on sale and as of today have been completely opened to the public. Available tickets include remaining premier seat locations and also those that became available as a result of current season-ticket holders moving to other seat locations. Fans are encouraged to contact the Stampeders&rsquo; Ticket Office at 403-289-0258 to get their seats for the 2010 campaign.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re very excited about the upcoming season and given the interest in our season tickets to date, it&rsquo;s obvious Stamps fans and all fans of the Canadian Football League are just as excited,&rdquo; said Stamps president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;Now that we have passed all of our deadlines for current season-ticket holders, fans can now access any seat that remains unsold. We anticipate it being very busy in our ticket office for the reminder of the off-season as support for the team continues. 2010 will be a great year for the Red and White as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Stampeders and the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />The Stamps surpassed 20,000 season tickets sold last week. With the exception of the 2009 season, in which Calgary hosted the Grey Cup game, season-ticket numbers are higher than in any past year at this point in the off-season.<br />&nbsp;<br />Purchasing Stamps season tickets will ensure priority on buying the best available seats for the 2010 Grey Cup game in Edmonton prior to public sale. <br />&nbsp;<br />In addition, season-ticket holders are guaranteed seats for all 2010 home games at a savings of up to 50 per cent compared to individual game-ticket prices and also providethe option to purchase the same seats for home playoff games.</p> March 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3523 <p><strong>A NEW TWIST ON THE CFL'S OVERTIME RULES<br />Rules committee recommends two-point converts after fans call for "tweaks" to overtime</strong></p> <p>ENOCH, Alberta (March 4, 2010) -- The Canadian Football League may be about to inject even more suspense into its popular "shootout" overtime format.</p> <p>The league's rules committee is recommending that teams that score a touchdown in overtime be required to go for a two-point convert by running or passing the ball into the end zone instead of kicking for a single point.</p> <p>The proposal goes to the league's Board of Governors, which has the final say, later this Spring.</p> <p>"The rules committee decided that the two point convert will make an exciting approach to overtime even more exciting, with a pass or run with the game potentially on the line replacing a kick that has become relatively routine," said Tom Higgins, the CFL's Director of Officiating.</p> <p>"What's also exciting is the committee has again listened to our fans, and heeded their advice."</p> <p>One year ago, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon took the unprecedented step of asking fans for their proposed rules changes, something that led to a change in field position following a safety.</p> <p>This year, Cohon issued the call to fans on behalf of the league again, but he asked them to pay particular attention to whether the league's overtime format could be improved.</p> <p>Fans sent in more than 2,000 rules suggestions with three-quarters of them focused on overtime.</p> <p>The vast majority said they preferred keeping the league's overtime format, which has teams take turns scrimmaging from their opponent's 35-yard-line, instead of changing to a different format, such as two five-minute halves or some other sort of "mini-game". But many suggested various tweaks to the format.</p> <p>In the end, the rules committee agreed the format should not be changed and decided that the best "tweak" is requiring two-point converts in overtime.</p> <p>Under the current rules, if the score is tied at the end of a game, each team gets an opportunity to scrimmage from its opponent's 35-yard-line, until it makes a score or loses possession.</p> <p>If the score remains tied, the procedure is repeated at the opposite end of the stadium.</p> <p>If the score is still tied after each team has had two attempts, the game is declared a tie, if it's a regular season game. If the game is a playoff or championship game, the same procedure continues until a winner is finally decided.</p> <p>The rules committee met here, just outside Edmonton, as part of CFL Congress, an annual meeting of league and team personnel that wraps up tomorrow with the Coach of the Year luncheon.</p> <p>It is recommending another change which would allow a team that gives up a field goal (during regulation time) the option of scrimmaging from its 35-yard line instead of receiving a kick-off.</p> <p>The committee decided to suggest changing the current rule, which requires a kick-off after a made field goal.</p> <p>The rules committee is also recommending no penalty for pass interference be applied if a forward pass is deemed uncatchable.</p> <p>It is also proposing that, when a ball is punted, hits the ground and hits a player from the covering team, the resulting penalty be reduced from fifteen to five yards.</p> <p>"I want to thank our fans for their passion and ideas, and our rules committee for taking their input into consideration,'' Cohon said.</p> <p>"While our Board has the final say, it speaks to the bond between our league and our supporters that our fans have an important say."</p> March 5, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3521 <p><strong>A NEW TWIST ON THE CFL'S OVERTIME RULES<br />Rules committee recommends two-point converts after fans call for "tweaks" to overtime</strong></p> <p>ENOCH, Alberta (March 4, 2010) -- The Canadian Football League may be about to inject even more suspense into its popular "shootout" overtime format.</p> <p>The league's rules committee is recommending that teams that score a touchdown in overtime be required to go for a two-point convert by running or passing the ball into the end zone instead of kicking for a single point.</p> <p>The proposal goes to the league's Board of Governors, which has the final say, later this Spring.</p> <p>"The rules committee decided that the two point convert will make an exciting approach to overtime even more exciting, with a pass or run with the game potentially on the line replacing a kick that has become relatively routine," said Tom Higgins, the CFL's Director of Officiating.</p> <p>"What's also exciting is the committee has again listened to our fans, and heeded their advice."</p> <p>One year ago, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon took the unprecedented step of asking fans for their proposed rules changes, something that led to a change in field position following a safety.</p> <p>This year, Cohon issued the call to fans on behalf of the league again, but he asked them to pay particular attention to whether the league's overtime format could be improved.</p> <p>Fans sent in more than 2,000 rules suggestions with three-quarters of them focused on overtime.</p> <p>The vast majority said they preferred keeping the league's overtime format, which has teams take turns scrimmaging from their opponent's 35-yard-line, instead of changing to a different format, such as two five-minute halves or some other sort of "mini-game". But many suggested various tweaks to the format.</p> <p>In the end, the rules committee agreed the format should not be changed and decided that the best "tweak" is requiring two-point converts in overtime.</p> <p>Under the current rules, if the score is tied at the end of a game, each team gets an opportunity to scrimmage from its opponent's 35-yard-line, until it makes a score or loses possession.</p> <p>If the score remains tied, the procedure is repeated at the opposite end of the stadium.</p> <p>If the score is still tied after each team has had two attempts, the game is declared a tie, if it's a regular season game. If the game is a playoff or championship game, the same procedure continues until a winner is finally decided.</p> <p>The rules committee met here, just outside Edmonton, as part of CFL Congress, an annual meeting of league and team personnel that wraps up tomorrow with the Coach of the Year luncheon.</p> <p>It is recommending another change which would allow a team that gives up a field goal (during regulation time) the option of scrimmaging from its 35-yard line instead of receiving a kick-off.</p> <p>The committee decided to suggest changing the current rule, which requires a kick-off after a made field goal.</p> <p>The rules committee is also recommending no penalty for pass interference be applied if a forward pass is deemed uncatchable.</p> <p>It is also proposing that, when a ball is punted, hits the ground and hits a player from the covering team, the resulting penalty be reduced from fifteen to five yards.</p> <p>"I want to thank our fans for their passion and ideas, and our rules committee for taking their input into consideration,'' Cohon said.</p> <p>"While our Board has the final say, it speaks to the bond between our league and our supporters that our fans have an important say."</p> March 5, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3521 <p>Calgary Stampeders fans might know Michael Petrie from the years he spent covering the team for the Calgary Herald. But he has spent the past two-plus years working for the club and was promoted to director of football operations earlier this month.<img alt="Petrie1_100229.jpg" height="391" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie1_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie1_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a quick question-and-answer about his unique path to his current role.</p> <p><strong>It seems to be a strange path to go from reporter to director of community and media relations to director of football operations. How did this happen?</strong></p> <p>In title, it might appear to be a big jump. But in reality, it has been a smooth, logical transition. It&rsquo;s like Huff said when I was promoted to this post: I&rsquo;ve been handling a growing number of football-operations responsibilities over the past two years and this was a natural progression. Each of those positions required many skills and a lot of knowledge that contributed to the next.</p> <p>An important thing to remember is that I&rsquo;m not being thrown into the deep end and being asked to run the show. I&rsquo;m just part of a machine that includes a lot people with vast experience. Jane Mawby is an amazing, unheralded part of the football club, John Murphy is a really good personnel guy who understands football ops, Pat and Geo are practically Stampeder legends, and guys like Brendan Mahoney, Chris Poffenroth, Ross Folan, Stan Schwartz, Ted Hellard and Lyle Bauer are all great resources. We all just work together and get it done.</p> <p><strong>It&rsquo;s interesting that you covered this team as a reporter for eight years (and the Bombers for two) and now you&rsquo;re in this position. What did you learn during that time that helps you today?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s hard to explain the opportunity I had to learn about the CFL during that decade. I think because I was so keen to learn, Wally took a liking to me and we spent countless hours over the years talking about football; sometimes in a reporter-coach way, but also informally. He was always willing to explain and teach if I had questions about anything. You have incredible access to very knowledgeable people as a reporter if you&rsquo;re interested in learning.</p> <p>I also spent hours picking Jim Barker&rsquo;s brain over the years and I liked watching Tom Higgins work and the way he dealt with people. I always enjoyed talking to guys like Don Matthews, Jim Daley, Brendan Taman and learned a lot from them. Whether it was personnel stuff, communications stuff, motivational, operations, whatever &hellip; I tried to be a sponge. Those candid conversations with people around the league were probably the things I missed most when I stopped being a reporter and joined the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>How did the past two-plus years with the Stamps lead to this current job?</strong></p> <p>If you&rsquo;re motivated and passionate about your job, Huff will challenge you with added responsibility. He likes to test people and reward them if it is deserved. That&rsquo;s evident if you look at the changes we made to the coaching staff this off-season. We lost some very good coaches and Huff replaced them with people who had already earned his respect and earned the opportunity. I think that&rsquo;s why he trusts me with this role. He tested me with a lot of different duties and is confident I can handle it.</p> <p><strong>What does the director of football operations do?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s a role that covers a lot of areas and constantly evolves. Right now, some of the main duties include handling the salary cap, supporting the scouting department in any way possible, getting up to speed on roster-management procedures, getting ready for the season and I continue to oversee the media-relations department. A million logistical and operational things take place behind the scenes and we&rsquo;re all working on those tasks.<img alt="Petrie2_100229.jpg" height="360" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie2_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie2_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>It says in your bio that you grew up in Saskatchewan but were a Stamps fan. How did that happen?</strong></p> <p>I lived in Calgary when I was about four years old to seven years old and cheered for the Stamps. We moved to Kelvington, Saskatchewan, when I was seven or eight and I stuck with them. I tend to be contrarian and go against the grain on some things, so I enjoyed cheering for them while everyone else was crazy about the Roughriders. It was fun because a lot of people in town knew I cheered for Calgary and there was plenty of good smack talk. Back then, Calgary played in Regina almost every fall and my birthday present was often a trip to the big city to watch the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>Who were your favourite players?</strong></p> <p>Tom Forzani was No. 1, for sure. I also really liked Ray Odums and Terry Irvin. Willie Armstead was great; Richie Hall, J.T. Hay. There weren&rsquo;t a lot of wins, but there were a lot of good players. Of course the &rsquo;90s were incredible but it was crushing to go to Taylor Field in 1995 and see them lose to Baltimore in the Grey Cup.</p> <p><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31">&gt;&gt;Petrie bio</a></p> March 3, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1406 <p>He was a four-time all-star.</p> <p>He won three rushing titles.</p> <p>He was named Most Outstanding Canadian on two occasions.</p> <p>He was once named Canada&rsquo;s male athlete of the year.</p> <p>He played 13 professional seasons, went to the Grey Cup seven times and won four championships.</p> <p>He was a member of the 1948 Calgary Stampeders, the Red and White&rsquo;s first Grey Cup winner and still the only Canadian team to go through an entire season undefeated.</p> <p>Some would be content to rest on that remarkable athletic career and coast for the rest of their life, but not Lim Kwong Yew. Better known as Normie Kwong or the China Clipper, the Calgary native quickly moved past the ex-jock phase to become a businessman, a football executive, a hockey magnate, a politician, a statesman and socially conscious mover and shaker.<img alt="norman_kwong_t9110.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/norman_kwong_t9110.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="norman_kwong_t9110.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>For the past five years, Kwong has been Alberta&rsquo;s lieutenant governor and the 80-year-old legend became misty-eyed last month when he delivered his farewell throne speech.</p> <p>&ldquo;It has been my honour to serve Albertans as lieutenant governor over these past five years,&rdquo; said Kwong. &ldquo;This job has been the highlight of a rewarding career that took many unexpected turns. No one could be as surprised as I am that my road brought me to where it did. I&rsquo;m grateful for every day and every experience I&rsquo;ve had as Alberta&rsquo;s lieutenant governor.&rdquo;</p> <p>The lieutenant-governorship is hardly the only prestigious entry on Kwong&rsquo;s resume. He&rsquo;s a member of the Order of Canada, a Chancellor of the Alberta Order of Excellence, a former National Chairman of the Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism and an honoured inductee in numerous halls of fame including the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Alberta Sports Hall Fame.</p> <p>And yet, despite his lofty credentials, he remains a down-to-earth individual and his many admirers to this day have to fight the urge to call him &ldquo;Normie&rdquo; instead of the Norman Kwong that is more appropriate to his position.</p> <p>Kwong was born in Calgary in 1929, one of six children of Chinese immigrants Charles and Lily Kwong. He attended Calgary&rsquo;s Western Canada High School and joined the Stamps in 1948 at the tender age of 18.</p> <p>At age 19, he was the Stamps&rsquo; leading rusher and helped Calgary reach the Grey Cup title game. He was traded to Edmonton in 1951 and would spend a decade with the Eskimos. By the time his career ended in 1960, he held more than 30 league records.</p> <p><img alt="nkwong2.jpg" height="294" src="/common/uploads/images/nkwong2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="nkwong2.jpg" width="250" />His second career was in the private sector, particularly in the area of real estate as he became a vice-president and general manager of Torode Realty.</p> <p>In 1980, he was part of the ownership group that purchased the Atlanta Flames and moved the hockey club to Calgary. Kwong remained a co-owner until 1994 and thanks to the Flames&rsquo; championship in 1989, he became one of the few individuals to win both a Grey Cup and a Stanley Cup.</p> <p>He returned to the Stampeders in 1988 to serve as president and general manager. It was during Kwong&rsquo;s tenure that the Stamps hired Wally Buono, a move which ushered in the most successful period in franchise history.</p> March 4, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3520 <p>Calgary Stampeders fans might know Michael Petrie from the years he spent covering the team for the Calgary Herald. But he has spent the past two-plus years working for the club and was promoted to director of football operations earlier this month.<img alt="Petrie1_100229.jpg" height="391" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie1_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie1_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a quick question-and-answer about his unique path to his current role.</p> <p><strong>It seems to be a strange path to go from reporter to director of community and media relations to director of football operations. How did this happen?</strong></p> <p>In title, it might appear to be a big jump. But in reality, it has been a smooth, logical transition. It&rsquo;s like Huff said when I was promoted to this post: I&rsquo;ve been handling a growing number of football-operations responsibilities over the past two years and this was a natural progression. Each of those positions required many skills and a lot of knowledge that contributed to the next.</p> <p>An important thing to remember is that I&rsquo;m not being thrown into the deep end and being asked to run the show. I&rsquo;m just part of a machine that includes a lot people with vast experience. Jane Mawby is an amazing, unheralded part of the football club, John Murphy is a really good personnel guy who understands football ops, Pat and Geo are practically Stampeder legends, and guys like Brendan Mahoney, Chris Poffenroth, Ross Folan, Stan Schwartz, Ted Hellard and Lyle Bauer are all great resources. We all just work together and get it done.</p> <p><strong>It&rsquo;s interesting that you covered this team as a reporter for eight years (and the Bombers for two) and now you&rsquo;re in this position. What did you learn during that time that helps you today?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s hard to explain the opportunity I had to learn about the CFL during that decade. I think because I was so keen to learn, Wally took a liking to me and we spent countless hours over the years talking about football; sometimes in a reporter-coach way, but also informally. He was always willing to explain and teach if I had questions about anything. You have incredible access to very knowledgeable people as a reporter if you&rsquo;re interested in learning.</p> <p>I also spent hours picking Jim Barker&rsquo;s brain over the years and I liked watching Tom Higgins work and the way he dealt with people. I always enjoyed talking to guys like Don Matthews, Jim Daley, Brendan Taman and learned a lot from them. Whether it was personnel stuff, communications stuff, motivational, operations, whatever &hellip; I tried to be a sponge. Those candid conversations with people around the league were probably the things I missed most when I stopped being a reporter and joined the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>How did the past two-plus years with the Stamps lead to this current job?</strong></p> <p>If you&rsquo;re motivated and passionate about your job, Huff will challenge you with added responsibility. He likes to test people and reward them if it is deserved. That&rsquo;s evident if you look at the changes we made to the coaching staff this off-season. We lost some very good coaches and Huff replaced them with people who had already earned his respect and earned the opportunity. I think that&rsquo;s why he trusts me with this role. He tested me with a lot of different duties and is confident I can handle it.</p> <p><strong>What does the director of football operations do?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s a role that covers a lot of areas and constantly evolves. Right now, some of the main duties include handling the salary cap, supporting the scouting department in any way possible, getting up to speed on roster-management procedures, getting ready for the season and I continue to oversee the media-relations department. A million logistical and operational things take place behind the scenes and we&rsquo;re all working on those tasks.<img alt="Petrie2_100229.jpg" height="360" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie2_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie2_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>It says in your bio that you grew up in Saskatchewan but were a Stamps fan. How did that happen?</strong></p> <p>I lived in Calgary when I was about four years old to seven years old and cheered for the Stamps. We moved to Kelvington, Saskatchewan, when I was seven or eight and I stuck with them. I tend to be contrarian and go against the grain on some things, so I enjoyed cheering for them while everyone else was crazy about the Roughriders. It was fun because a lot of people in town knew I cheered for Calgary and there was plenty of good smack talk. Back then, Calgary played in Regina almost every fall and my birthday present was often a trip to the big city to watch the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>Who were your favourite players?</strong></p> <p>Tom Forzani was No. 1, for sure. I also really liked Ray Odums and Terry Irvin. Willie Armstead was great; Richie Hall, J.T. Hay. There weren&rsquo;t a lot of wins, but there were a lot of good players. Of course the &rsquo;90s were incredible but it was crushing to go to Taylor Field in 1995 and see them lose to Baltimore in the Grey Cup.</p> March 3, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1406 <p>Calgary Stampeders fans might know Michael Petrie from the years he spent covering the team for the Calgary Herald. But he has spent the past two-plus years working for the club and was promoted to director of football operations earlier this month.</p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a quick question-and-answer about his unique path to his current role.</p> <p>It seems to be a strange path to go from reporter to director of community and media relations to director of football operations. How did this happen?</p> <p>In title, it might appear to be a big jump. But in reality, it has been a smooth, logical transition. It&rsquo;s like Huff said when I was promoted to this post: I&rsquo;ve been handling a growing number of football-operations responsibilities over the past two years and this was a natural progression. Each of those positions required many skills and a lot of knowledge that contributed to the next.</p> <p>An important thing to remember is that I&rsquo;m not being thrown into the deep end and being asked to run the show. I&rsquo;m just part of a machine that includes a lot people with vast experience. Jane Mawby is an amazing, unheralded part of the football club, John Murphy is a really good personnel guy who understands football ops, Pat and Geo are practically Stampeder legends, and guys like Brendan Mahoney, Chris Poffenroth, Ross Folan, Stan Schwartz, Ted Hellard and Lyle Bauer are all great resources. We all just work together and get it done.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s interesting that you covered this team as a reporter for eight years (and the Bombers for two) and now you&rsquo;re in this position. What did you learn during that time that helps you today?</p> <p>It&rsquo;s hard to explain the opportunity I had to learn about the CFL during that decade. I think because I was so keen to learn, Wally took a liking to me and we spent countless hours over the years talking about football; sometimes in a reporter-coach way, but also informally. He was always willing to explain and teach if I had questions about anything. You have incredible access to very knowledgeable people as a reporter if you&rsquo;re interested in learning.</p> <p>I also spent hours picking Jim Barker&rsquo;s brain over the years and I liked watching Tom Higgins work and the way he dealt with people. I always enjoyed talking to guys like Don Matthews, Jim Daley, Brendan Taman and learned a lot from them. Whether it was personnel stuff, communications stuff, motivational, operations, whatever &hellip; I tried to be a sponge. Those candid conversations with people around the league were probably the things I missed most when I stopped being a reporter and joined the Stamps.</p> <p>How did the past two-plus years with the Stamps lead to this current job?</p> <p>If you&rsquo;re motivated and passionate about your job, Huff will challenge you with added responsibility. He likes to test people and reward them if it is deserved. That&rsquo;s evident if you look at the changes we made to the coaching staff this off-season. We lost some very good coaches and Huff replaced them with people who had already earned his respect and earned the opportunity. I think that&rsquo;s why he trusts me with this role. He tested me with a lot of different duties and is confident I can handle it.</p> <p>What does the director of football operations do?</p> <p>It&rsquo;s a role that covers a lot of areas and constantly evolves. Right now, some of the main duties include handling the salary cap, supporting the scouting department in any way possible, getting up to speed on roster-management procedures, getting ready for the season and I continue to oversee the media-relations department. A million logistical and operational things take place behind the scenes and we&rsquo;re all working on those tasks.</p> <p>It says in your bio that you grew up in Saskatchewan but were a Stamps fan. How did that happen?</p> <p>I lived in Calgary when I was about four years old to seven years old and cheered for the Stamps. We moved to Kelvington, Saskatchewan, when I was seven or eight and I stuck with them. I tend to be contrarian and go against the grain on some things, so I enjoyed cheering for them while everyone else was crazy about the Roughriders. It was fun because a lot of people in town knew I cheered for Calgary and there was plenty of good smack talk. Back then, Calgary played in Regina almost every fall and my birthday present was often a trip to the big city to watch the Stamps.</p> <p>Who were your favourite players?</p> <p>Tom Forzani was No. 1, for sure. I also really liked Ray Odums and Terry Irvin. Willie Armstead was great; Richie Hall, J.T. Hay. There weren&rsquo;t a lot of wins, but there were a lot of good players. Of course the &rsquo;90s were incredible but it was crushing to go to Taylor Field in 1995 and see them lose to Baltimore in the Grey Cup.</p> March 3, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3518 <p>Calgary Stampeders fans might know Michael Petrie from the years he spent covering the team for the Calgary Herald. But he has spent the past two-plus years working for the club and was promoted to director of football operations earlier this month.<img alt="Petrie1_100229.jpg" height="391" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie1_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie1_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a quick question-and-answer about his unique path to his current role.</p> <p><strong>It seems to be a strange path to go from reporter to director of community and media relations to director of football operations. How did this happen?</strong></p> <p>In title, it might appear to be a big jump. But in reality, it has been a smooth, logical transition. It&rsquo;s like Huff said when I was promoted to this post: I&rsquo;ve been handling a growing number of football-operations responsibilities over the past two years and this was a natural progression. Each of those positions required many skills and a lot of knowledge that contributed to the next.</p> <p>An important thing to remember is that I&rsquo;m not being thrown into the deep end and being asked to run the show. I&rsquo;m just part of a machine that includes a lot people with vast experience. Jane Mawby is an amazing, unheralded part of the football club, John Murphy is a really good personnel guy who understands football ops, Pat and Geo are practically Stampeder legends, and guys like Brendan Mahoney, Chris Poffenroth, Ross Folan, Stan Schwartz, Ted Hellard and Lyle Bauer are all great resources. We all just work together and get it done.</p> <p><strong>It&rsquo;s interesting that you covered this team as a reporter for eight years (and the Bombers for two) and now you&rsquo;re in this position. What did you learn during that time that helps you today?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s hard to explain the opportunity I had to learn about the CFL during that decade. I think because I was so keen to learn, Wally took a liking to me and we spent countless hours over the years talking about football; sometimes in a reporter-coach way, but also informally. He was always willing to explain and teach if I had questions about anything. You have incredible access to very knowledgeable people as a reporter if you&rsquo;re interested in learning.</p> <p>I also spent hours picking Jim Barker&rsquo;s brain over the years and I liked watching Tom Higgins work and the way he dealt with people. I always enjoyed talking to guys like Don Matthews, Jim Daley, Brendan Taman and learned a lot from them. Whether it was personnel stuff, communications stuff, motivational, operations, whatever &hellip; I tried to be a sponge. Those candid conversations with people around the league were probably the things I missed most when I stopped being a reporter and joined the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>How did the past two-plus years with the Stamps lead to this current job?</strong></p> <p>If you&rsquo;re motivated and passionate about your job, Huff will challenge you with added responsibility. He likes to test people and reward them if it is deserved. That&rsquo;s evident if you look at the changes we made to the coaching staff this off-season. We lost some very good coaches and Huff replaced them with people who had already earned his respect and earned the opportunity. I think that&rsquo;s why he trusts me with this role. He tested me with a lot of different duties and is confident I can handle it.</p> <p><strong>What does the director of football operations do?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s a role that covers a lot of areas and constantly evolves. Right now, some of the main duties include handling the salary cap, supporting the scouting department in any way possible, getting up to speed on roster-management procedures, getting ready for the season and I continue to oversee the media-relations department. A million logistical and operational things take place behind the scenes and we&rsquo;re all working on those tasks.<img alt="Petrie2_100229.jpg" height="360" src="/common/uploads/images/Petrie2_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Petrie2_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>It says in your bio that you grew up in Saskatchewan but were a Stamps fan. How did that happen?</strong></p> <p>I lived in Calgary when I was about four years old to seven years old and cheered for the Stamps. We moved to Kelvington, Saskatchewan, when I was seven or eight and I stuck with them. I tend to be contrarian and go against the grain on some things, so I enjoyed cheering for them while everyone else was crazy about the Roughriders. It was fun because a lot of people in town knew I cheered for Calgary and there was plenty of good smack talk. Back then, Calgary played in Regina almost every fall and my birthday present was often a trip to the big city to watch the Stamps.</p> <p><strong>Who were your favourite players?</strong></p> <p>Tom Forzani was No. 1, for sure. I also really liked Ray Odums and Terry Irvin. Willie Armstead was great; Richie Hall, J.T. Hay. There weren&rsquo;t a lot of wins, but there were a lot of good players. Of course the &rsquo;90s were incredible but it was crushing to go to Taylor Field in 1995 and see them lose to Baltimore in the Grey Cup.</p> March 3, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3515 <p>The off-season has been pretty good so far. I&rsquo;m working hard rehabbing my knee in which going to physical therapy five days a week, Monday through Friday. The hardest part about rehabbing is not being able to play football at the time being. But that is getting better now that I'm beginning to run. As I jog my warm-up laps, I'm able to carry my football and toss it around a little, which kinda takes my mind off being injured. I feel I&rsquo;m getting very close to being all the way back. I&rsquo;m doing some drills on the field now, which is a big step.</p> <p>Rehabbing an ACL is a long, hard process. Sometimes I wake up and I feel 100 percent, and then there are mornings, when I feel like &ldquo;Is this thing ever gonna heal?&rdquo; Especially when the weather is bad, its a little stiff and I have a hard time getting it going. But it&rsquo;s all a part of the healing process. I have to remind myself not to push too hard and give it time to heal. But overall, things are going good.<img alt="Smith_100229.jpg" height="350" src="/common/uploads/images/Smith_100229.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Smith_100229.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>I'm just happy that I'm able to do some running and that allows me to stay in shape. Jogging, I can go for a good while, and work up a good sweat, but then I have to listen to my body and gear it down. It&rsquo;s important to not overwork it.</p> <p>In addition to my rehab, during this off-season, I'm working as an accountant in a CPA firm &mdash; that&rsquo;s what I will fallback on once my career is over with football. I studied Business administration with a focus in accounting in college. I know it&rsquo;s an odd mix but it works for me. It gives me a balance of athletics and academics. When I&rsquo;m not working or rehabbing, I tend from time to time look at some old game film, from the past couple year trying to critique my flaws and find areas I can improve at.</p> <p>I&rsquo;ve also had a chance to go to a couple of Golden State Warriors games and I was able to get back to Oakland in time to go to one Raiders game, too. I&rsquo;m an Oakland guy all the way when it comes to sports teams. It&rsquo;s been tough to be a fan because neither of those teams has won very much lately, but suffering through the hard times makes you enjoy the good times even more when they do turn it around.</p> <p>Well that&rsquo;s about it on my end. I look forward to being back healthy for camp. See you then!</p> <p>Brandon Smith, #28<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=73">&gt;&gt; Smith bio</a></p> March 2, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1405 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>It&rsquo;s been a good off-season so far. I had a chance to travel to Europe and to visit with some family, so that was nice.<br /><br />A typical off-season for me is ice fishing, ski-dooing and spending some time at the sugar shack &mdash; for those of you who don&rsquo;t know, the sugar shack is the place to be in Quebec when the maple syrup starts running in the spring.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Naturally, I also work out during the off-season. After the season, I get a break of two or three weeks. I still stay active but I don&rsquo;t do any weightlifting. Then at Christmas, that&rsquo;s where I start to hit it pretty hard and in January, I go full out and sometimes the workouts are twice a day as we go along. I make sure that I don&rsquo;t gain fat during the off-season.<br /><br />Of course, there&rsquo;s still been time to watch the Olympics on TV. I look at all the different sports, but of course hockey is still the thing.<br /><br />Being from Northern Quebec, winter sports was a big thing growing up. We didn&rsquo;t have too many indoor activities during the winter besides school. I did it all &mdash; ski-doo, ice fishing, four-wheeling, snowboarding, dog-sledding, playing hockey on the lake or at the arena.<br /><br />But if I could be an athlete in the Winter Olympics, I&rsquo;d definitely want to be a hockey player for sure.<br /><br />The other thing that I wanted to see on TV was the Super Bowl. The game was interesting to watch because Jeremy Shockey, who plays for the Saints, is a former teammate of mine at the University of Miami.<br /><br />I was happy for my friend that the Saints won but I also happy for myself because I bet on New Orleans. Seriously, it&rsquo;s always fun to watch a friend perform and have success.<br /><br />I know people who don&rsquo;t know him have a certain impression of Jeremy because he&rsquo;s so cocky on the field, but he&rsquo;s really just a good old redneck from Oklahoma and a pretty good guy.<br /><br />I guess the other thing I should mention about the off-season is re-signing with the Stampeders. The team showed interest in me right after the season and they made a good offer. I wanted to be faithful to the team that showed faith in me and I believe in the Stampeders staff, so that&rsquo;s why I re-signed with Calgary.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s a good organization and the players are treated very well. I&rsquo;m glad to be coming back and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the season.<br /><br />Miguel Robede, #96
<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Robede bio</strong></a></p> February 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1402 <p>It&rsquo;s been a good off-season so far. I had a chance to travel to Europe and to visit with some family, so that was nice.<br /><br />A typical off-season for me is ice fishing, ski-dooing and spending some time at the sugar shack &mdash; for those of you who don&rsquo;t know, the sugar shack is the place to be in Quebec when the maple syrup starts running in the spring.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Naturally, I also work out during the off-season. After the season, I get a break of two or three week. I stll stay active but I don&rsquo;t do any weightlifting. Then at Christmas, that&rsquo;s where I start to hit it pretty hard and in January, I go full out and sometimes the workouts are twice a day as we go along. I make sure that I don&rsquo;t gain fat during the off-season.<br /><br />Of course, there&rsquo;s still been time to watch the Olympics on TV. I look at all the different sports, but of course hockey is still the thing.<br /><br />Being from Northern Quebec, winter sports was a big thing growing up. We didn&rsquo;t have too many indoor activities during the winter besides school. I did it all &mdash; ski-doo, ice fishing, four-wheeling, snowboarding, dog-sledding, playing hockey on the lake or at the arena.<br /><br />But if I could be an athlete in the Winter Olympics, I&rsquo;d definitely want to be a hockey player for sure.<br /><br />The other thing that I wanted to see on TV was the Super Bowl. The game was interesting to watch because Jeremy Shockey, who plays for the Saints, is a former teammate of mine at the University of Miami.<br /><br />I was happy for my friend that the Saints won but I also happy for myself because I bet on New Orleans. Seriously, it&rsquo;s always fun to watch a friend perform and have success.<br /><br />I know people who don&rsquo;t know him have a certain impression of Jeremy because he&rsquo;s so cocky on the field, but he&rsquo;s really just a good old redneck from Oklahoma and a pretty good guy.<br /><br />I guess the other thing I should mention about the off-season is re-signing with the Stampeders. The team showed interest in me right after the season and they made a good offer. I wanted to be faithful to the team that showed faith in me and I believe in the Stampeders staff, so that&rsquo;s why I re-signed with Calgary.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s a good organization and the players are treated very well. I&rsquo;m glad to be coming back and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the season.<br /><br />Miguel Robede, #96&#8232;<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Robede bio</strong></a></p> February 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1402 <p>Eddie Davis, who spent five seasons of his distinguished Canadian Football League career with the Stampeders, has announced his retirement.<img alt="DavisI_100225.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/DavisI_100225.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DavisI_100225.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />The defensive back from St. Louis, Mo., joined the CFL in 1995 as a member of the Birmingham Barracudas during the league&rsquo;s foray into American markets.</p> <p>Davis joined the Stamps in 1996 after being picked up in a dispersal draft and remained with the Red and White through the 2000 campaign.<br /><br />He was part of the Stamps&rsquo; Grey Cup-championship squad in 1998 and was a CFL all-star in 2000.<br /><br />Davis played a total of 74 games for the Stamps, recording 243 tackles, 14 interceptions and six sacks. The Northern Illinois alumnus joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2001 and won a second Grey Cup ring in 2007 but he still makes his off-season home in Calgary.</p> <p>He was a five-time division all-star and played 18 playoff games and three Grey Cup contests during his career.</p> February 25, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3514 <p>The Calgary Stampeders president/COO Lyle Bauer is pleased to announce the club has surpassed 20,000 season tickets sold for the Stamps 2010 season at McMahon Stadium.<br /><br />&ldquo;Surpassing the 20,000-season ticket mark is quite an accomplishment this early in the year,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;With the exception of the Grey Cup year, these levels are well over two months ahead of prior years&rsquo; levels at this time.&rdquo;<br /><br />Purchasing Stamps season tickets will ensure priority on buying the best available seats for the 2010 Grey Cup game in Edmonton prior to public sale. <br /><br />In addition, season-ticket holders are guaranteed seats for all 2010 home games at a savings of up to 50 per cent compared to individual game-ticket prices and the option to purchase the same seats for home playoff games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I believe this is a strong sign of support of our fans in the direction of our club, specifically their support for John Hufnagel and the optimism for a great season for the Red and White,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;It may also be a subtle sign that the economy for some is returning to normal levels and we appreciate our fans returning for the 50th Anniversary of McMahon Stadium and the 65th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampeders for the 2010 CFL Season&rdquo;<br /><br />Fans are encouraged to get their seats today and, beginning Mar.1, current season-ticket holders will have an opportunity to call the Stampeders&rsquo; Ticket Office and upgrade to seats that were not renewed from the 2009 season.</p> <p><a href="/tickets/tickets/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More ticket info</strong></a></p> February 25, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3511 <p>The Calgary Stampeders president/COO Lyle Bauer is pleased to announce the club has surpassed 20,000 season tickets sold for the Stamps 2010 season at McMahon Stadium.<br /><br />&ldquo;Surpassing the 20,000-season ticket mark is quite an accomplishment this early in the year,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;With the exception of the Grey Cup year, these levels are well over two months ahead of prior years&rsquo; levels at this time.&rdquo;<br /><br />Purchasing Stamps season tickets will ensure priority on buying the best available seats for the 2010 Grey Cup game in Edmonton prior to public sale. <br /><br />In addition, season-ticket holders are guaranteed seats for all 2010 home games at a savings of up to 50 per cent compared to individual game-ticket prices and the option to purchase the same seats for home playoff games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I believe this is a strong sign of support of our fans in the direction of our club, specifically their support for John Hufnagel and the optimism for a great season for the Red and White,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;It may also be a subtle sign that the economy for some is returning to normal levels and we appreciate our fans returning for the 50th Anniversary of McMahon Stadium and the 65th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampeders for the 2010 CFL Season&rdquo;<br /><br />Fans are encouraged to get their seats today and, beginning Mar.1, current season-ticket holders will have an opportunity to call the Stampeders&rsquo; Ticket Office and upgrade to seats that were not renewed from the 2009 season.</p> February 25, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3511 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Nik Lewis admits he was stunned last week when he learned teammate and roommate Jeremaine Copeland had been traded to the Toronto Argonauts.<br /><br />But after letting the news sink in for a few days, a couple of things became clear to the veteran Stampeders slotback. Firstly, he was grateful for the opportunity to play with the talented Copeland for five seasons in Calgary. Secondly, Lewis sees a golden opportunity to apply the lessons he&rsquo;s learned from Copeland the player and Copeland the friend and teammate.<img alt="LewisI_100224.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/LewisI_100224.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="LewisI_100224.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;I have been wondering why this trade happened,&rdquo; he wrote in a blog on his personal website, NikLewis.com, &ldquo;but now I am realizing that it is my turn to take the reigns. It&rsquo;s time for the student to step up and show that over the last five years, I learned how to take charge. <br /><br />&ldquo;My role changes and I am accepting that role. I want to win and I want to win now. I just wanted to say thank you to Cope for taking the time to guide me and not letting me fall victim to my ego or attitude. It was a great five years and now 699 Catches, 11,013 yards, and 73 touchdowns later, it&rsquo;s time this duo leads separate teams. It&rsquo;s going to feel really weird watching him take the field without me on July 1st, but he will still be Showtime, and I will still be Lew Lew.&rdquo;<br /><br />Lewis gives Copeland much credit for helping him develop as a player and as a person.<br /><br />&ldquo;Cope has made a big difference in the way I play the game. He has had a impact on my life that I wouldn't be able to explain,&rdquo; Lewis wrote. &ldquo;I remember when I heard about us picking up Cope from free agency back in &rsquo;05. The team had cut my friend Sulecio Sanford during training camp and he was a starter at the time. We were roommates my rookie year. I was in the locker room and I was really upset and we had our night meetings still. <br /><br />&ldquo;Cope was in the training room, and I walked in and said that I wasn't going to the meeting because of (what had) just happened. He looked at me and told me that I was apart of the reason he came to Calgary and asked me not to leave him by himself. It changed my whole attitude because I knew I had someone that I could look up to and learn from.&rdquo;<br /><br />After watching Copeland&rsquo;s demeanour on the field and in the locker-room for the past five years, Lewis says: &ldquo;I know what I have to do to keep this ship floating and to get back to the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> February 24, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1399 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>After spending much of his life immersed in Green and Gold, Rick Campbell admits donning the Red and White takes some getting used to.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be different,&rdquo; acknowledged the Stampeders&rsquo; new running backs coach, who spent part of his childhood in Edmonton and was a member of the Eskimos coaching staff for 10 years. &ldquo;And once the season arrives, I&rsquo;m sure I&rsquo;ll realize even more how different it is. But I&rsquo;m actually really excited about it because I know Calgary is a first-class organization. I&rsquo;ve had several conversations with Huff and I think it&rsquo;s going to be a good deal all around.&rdquo;<br /><br />Maybe it will help that Campbell took an indirect route from Edmonton to Calgary as he spent one season as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; special-teams coordinator and defensive backs coach before officially switching Alberta allegiances.<img alt="CampbellI_100219.jpg" height="274" src="/common/uploads/images/CampbellI_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CampbellI_100219.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Just by being away from Edmonton, it was different for me in Winnipeg,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As far as the CFL goes, Edmonton had been the only team I was affiliated with so with the year in Winnipeg, I&rsquo;ve already had a taste on being on the opposite sideline from Edmonton.<br /><br />&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; he added with a grin, &ldquo;it will be taking it one step further when you&rsquo;re with the dreaded Stampeders.&rdquo;<br /><br />One has to wonder how his father Hugh, the long-time Eskimos head coach and executive, is taking the news of his son&rsquo;s new gig.<br /><br />&ldquo;My dad&rsquo;s a football guy,&rdquo; Campbell pointed out. &ldquo;From a fan&rsquo;s point of view, it&rsquo;s the dreaded rivalry, but he has much respect for Calgary and for Coach Huff and the staff and the players here because they&rsquo;ve done a lot more winning than losing here, and there&rsquo;s a reason for that. I&rsquo;m hoping that I can not only be a part of that but also to contribute something to make it even better.&rdquo;<br /><br />Being the son of a CFL legend &mdash; the elder Campbell won 10 Grey Cups as a player, head coach and executive &mdash; creates both advantages and disadvantages.<br /><br />&ldquo;I think that initially, my dad&rsquo;s name got me in the business,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;But after all this time, if I wasn&rsquo;t a productive coach, I wouldn&rsquo;t be around. I mean, head coaches have to hire people that help them win and I&rsquo;m hoping I can be a contributor here. I truly like to let my work speak for itself.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of who my dad is and I&rsquo;m proud of all his accomplishments, but I don&rsquo;t dwell on it with people. And he&rsquo;s been out of coaching long enough now, too, that I have to be my own guy. I&rsquo;m proud of my name and where I come from but I also want to be recognized for what I do on my own.&rdquo;<br /><br />On that front, Rick has certainly built himself an impressive resume. After doing some coaching at the high-school level in Spokane, Wash., he went to the University of Oregon in 1996 as Mike Bellotti and his staff were re-establishing the Ducks as a Pac-10 and national power.<br /><br />He joined his father&rsquo;s old club in 1999 and coached the defensive backs and the special teams before becoming defensive coordinator in 2005. In his first season as coordinator, the Esks led the league in 13 categories and won the Grey Cup. It was the second Grey Cup ring for Campbell, who was a position coach when the Esks were champions in 2003.<br /><br />Campbell would serve a full decade with the Green and Gold before making the move to Winnipeg.<br /><br />&ldquo;I was talking with my wife Jeri the other day about how fortunate we feel to, in this business, have been able to stay in one place for so long,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s kind of unique in football. But it&rsquo;s exciting to move on and grow and meet new people and see new places.&rdquo;<br /><br />The Bombers seemed to be headed for a disastrous season as a three-game September skid dropped the club&rsquo;s record to 3-8, but a three-game winning streak lifted Winnipeg back into contention.</p> <p>Under Campbell's guidance, the Bombers led the CFL with 31 interceptions and Winnipeg defensive backs Lenny Walls and Jovon Johnsons ranked second and third in the league with seven and six picks respectively. Johnson also excelled on special teams for Campbell as he returned a punt for a touchdown as well as a missed-field goal for a score.<br /><br />&ldquo;The coaches and players battled all the way to the end,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;I was proud of that. Sometimes, as players and coaches, the best job you do is under adverse circumstances. I definitely grew as a coach and as a person last year.&rdquo;<br /><br />Expect more growing in 2010 as Campbell, who has made his living as a defensive and special-teams coach, gets a chance to see how the other half lives. <br /><br />It may seem like an unusual switch at first blush, but as head coach and general manager John Hufnagel puts it: &ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings.&rdquo;<br /><br />Campbell is looking forward to working with Calgary&rsquo;s personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have a lot of respect for Joffrey (Reynolds) and Henry (Burris) and Nik Lewis and all those guys who have been around here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great situation to come into.<br /><br />&ldquo;Part of the reason of coming here is that it&rsquo;s such a first-class organization and there&rsquo;s a veteran group of players. With Coach Huff and his staff, it&rsquo;s such a good situation to come into that I didn&rsquo;t want to pass up that opportunity.&rdquo;</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1396 <p>After spending much of his life immersed in Green and Gold, Rick Campbell admits donning the Red and White takes some getting used to.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be different,&rdquo; acknowledged the Stampeders&rsquo; new running backs coach, who spent part of his childhood in Edmonton and was a member of the Eskimos coaching staff for 10 years. &ldquo;And once the season arrives, I&rsquo;m sure I&rsquo;ll realize even more how different it is. But I&rsquo;m actually really excited about it because I know Calgary is a first-class organization. I&rsquo;ve had several conversations with Huff and I think it&rsquo;s going to be a good deal all around.&rdquo;<br /><br />Maybe it will help that Campbell took an indirect route from Edmonton to Calgary as he spent one season as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; special-teams coordinator and defensive backs coach before officially switching Alberta allegiances.<img alt="CampbellI_100219.jpg" height="274" src="/common/uploads/images/CampbellI_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CampbellI_100219.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Just by being away from Edmonton, it was different for me in Winnipeg,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As far as the CFL goes, Edmonton had been the only team I was affiliated with so with the year in Winnipeg, I&rsquo;ve already had a taste on being on the opposite sideline from Edmonton.<br /><br />&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; he added with a grin, &ldquo;it will be taking it one step further when you&rsquo;re with the dreaded Stampeders.&rdquo;<br /><br />One has to wonder how his father Hugh, the long-time Eskimos head coach and executive, is taking the news of his son&rsquo;s new gig.<br /><br />&ldquo;My dad&rsquo;s a football guy,&rdquo; Campbell pointed out. &ldquo;From a fan&rsquo;s point of view, it&rsquo;s the dreaded rivalry, but he has much respect for Calgary and for Coach Huff and the staff and the players here because they&rsquo;ve done a lot more winning than losing here, and there&rsquo;s a reason for that. I&rsquo;m hoping that I can not only be a part of that but also to contribute something to make it even better.&rdquo;<br /><br />Being the son of a CFL legend &mdash; the elder Campbell won 10 Grey Cups as a player, head coach and executive &mdash; creates both advantages and disadvantages.<br /><br />&ldquo;I think that initially, my dad&rsquo;s name got me in the business,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;But after all this time, if I wasn&rsquo;t a productive coach, I wouldn&rsquo;t be around. I mean, head coaches have to hire people that help them win and I&rsquo;m hoping I can be a contributor here. I truly like to let my work speak for itself.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of who my dad is and I&rsquo;m proud of all his accomplishments, but I don&rsquo;t dwell on it with people. And he&rsquo;s been out of coaching long enough now, too, that I have to be my own guy. I&rsquo;m proud of my name and where I come from but I also want to be recognized for what I do on my own.&rdquo;<br /><br />On that front, Rick has certainly built himself an impressive resume. After doing some coaching at the high-school level in Spokane, Wash., he went to the University of Oregon in 1996 as Mike Bellotti and his staff were re-establishing the Ducks as a Pac-10 and national power.<br /><br />He joined his father&rsquo;s old club in 1999 and coached the defensive backs and the special teams before becoming defensive coordinator in 2005. In his first season as coordinator, the Esks led the league in 13 categories and won the Grey Cup. It was the second Grey Cup ring for Campbell, who was a position coach when the Esks were champions in 2003.<br /><br />Campbell would serve a full decade with the Green and Gold before making the move to Winnipeg.<br /><br />&ldquo;I was talking with my wife Jeri the other day about how fortunate we feel to, in this business, have been able to stay in one place for so long,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s kind of unique in football. But it&rsquo;s exciting to move on and grow and meet new people and see new places.&rdquo;<br /><br />The Bombers seemed to be headed for a disastrous season as a three-game September skid dropped the club&rsquo;s record to 3-8, but a three-game winning streak lifted Winnipeg back into contention.<br /><br />&ldquo;The coaches and players battled all the way to the end,&rdquo; said Campbell. &ldquo;I was proud of that. Sometimes, as players and coaches, the best job you do is under adverse circumstances. I definitely grew as a coach and as a person last year.&rdquo;<br /><br />Expect more growing in 2010 as Campbell, who has made his living as a defensive and special-teams coach, gets a chance to see how the other half lives. <br /><br />It may seem like an unusual switch at first blush, but as head coach and general manager John Hufnagel puts it: &ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings.&rdquo;<br /><br />Campbell is looking forward to working with Calgary&rsquo;s personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have a lot of respect for Joffrey (Reynolds) and Henry (Burris) and Nik Lewis and all those guys who have been around here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great situation to come into.<br /><br />&ldquo;Part of the reason of coming here is that it&rsquo;s such a first-class organization and there&rsquo;s a veteran group of players. With Coach Huff and his staff, it&rsquo;s such a good situation to come into that I didn&rsquo;t want to pass up that opportunity.&rdquo;</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1396 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes <strong><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank">Chris Jones</a></strong> (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a> (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94" target="_blank"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong>,</a> which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes Chris Jones (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=11" target="_blank"><strong>Mark Kilam</strong></a> (special teams coordinator), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=9" target="_blank"><strong>Cornell Brown</strong></a> (defensive line), (offensive line), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=10" target="_blank"><a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=7" target="_blank"><strong>Kris Sweet</strong></a><strong>Corey Chamblin</strong></a> (defensive backs), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=6" target="_blank"><strong>Pete Costanza</strong></a> (receivers), <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=77" target="_blank"><strong>Dave Dickenson</strong></a> (quarterbacks) and <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Brent Monson</strong></a> (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=31" target="_blank"><strong>Michael Petrie</strong></a> has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong></a>, which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams <img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="130" />coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes Chris Jones (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), Mark Kilam (special teams coordinator), Cornell Brown (defensive line), Kris Sweet (offensive line), Corey Chamblin (defensive backs), Pete Costanza (receivers), Dave Dickenson (quarterbacks) and Brent Monson (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, Michael Petrie has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong></a>, which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes Chris Jones (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), Mark Kilam (special teams coordinator), Cornell Brown (defensive line), Kris Sweet (offensive line), Corey Chamblin (defensive backs), Pete Costanza (receivers), Dave Dickenson (quarterbacks) and Brent Monson (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, Michael Petrie has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong></a>, which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.<img alt="Staff_100219.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/Staff_100219.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Staff_100219.jpg" width="151" /></p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes Chris Jones (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), Mark Kilam (special teams coordinator), Cornell Brown (defensive line), Kris Sweet (offensive line), Corey Chamblin (defensive backs), Pete Costanza (receivers), Dave Dickenson (quarterbacks) and Brent Monson (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, Michael Petrie has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.</p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the hiring of running backs coach <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=94"><strong>Rick Campbell</strong></a>, which completes the club&rsquo;s coaching staff for the 2010 Canadian Football League season.</p> <p>Campbell has coached in the CFL for 11 seasons, most recently as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rick is a proven defensive coach and his experience on that side of the ball provides a valuable perspective in our offensive meetings,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He also has a lot of experience coaching special teams and is a great addition to the staff. I know he&rsquo;s excited about the opportunity to contribute and continue to expand his knowledge.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>The rest of Calgary&rsquo;s coaching staff includes Chris Jones (defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations), Mark Kilam (special teams coordinator), Cornell Brown (defensive line), Kris Sweet (offensive line), Corey Chamblin (defensive backs), Pete Costanza (receivers), Dave Dickenson (quarterbacks) and Brent Monson (linebackers/strength and conditioning).&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely comfortable and confident with our group of coaches,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;We have a combination of youth and experience with everyone very determined to make the Calgary Stampeders successful.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hufnagel also announced that in addition to John Murphy joining the club last week as director of player personnel, Michael Petrie has been appointed as director of football operations.</p> <p>Petrie was promoted from his role as director of community and media relations. He will be responsible for managing the salary cap, handling the club&rsquo;s football operations duties and continuing to oversee the media relations department.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;&ldquo;Mike has been handling a lot of football operations responsibilities over the past two seasons and this is just a natural progression,&rdquo; said Hufnagel.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>In his third season as head coach, Hufnagel will continue to assist with the club&rsquo;s offence. Following the departure of coordinator George Cortez, he will take a more active role in the day-to-day offensive work and game-planning process.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Dickenson was Calgary&rsquo;s running backs coach in 2009 and will handle the quarterbacks in 2010. He will call the offensive plays on game days and will be heavily involved in game planning. He enters his second season as a coach following a prolific career in the CFL. Sweet is back for his fourth season with the Red and White &mdash; all as offensive line coach &mdash; and Costanza enters his third season as receivers coach.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator from his 2009 role as linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. He is in his sixth season with the Stamps.&#8232;&nbsp;&#8232;Defensively, Brown is back to coach Calgary&rsquo;s front for a third season, while Chamblin enters his third season as the Stamps&rsquo; secondary coach. Monson rounds out the defensive staff as he was elevated from his 2009 role of video assistant.<br /></p> February 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3508 <p>The Calgary Stampeders Off-Season Basketball Program presented by New York Fries returns for another exciting season in 2010.<br /><br />For more than two decades, the Calgary Stampeders have been dropping by school gymnasiums in and around the city to play basketball against student teams.<img alt="NewYorkFries.jpg" height="94" src="/common/uploads/images/NewYorkFries.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="NewYorkFries.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br />In 2009, the program visited nine schools in the local community and the club is proud to visit a number of schools this year. Players are itching to hit the ground running with tilts against local schools&rsquo; boys&rsquo; and girls&rsquo; teams.<br /><br />The Calgary Stampeders Off-Season Basketball Program presented by New York Fries kicks off the 2010 schedule this week at Clarence Sansom Junior High School.</p> <p>Here are the details:<br /><br /><strong>Date:</strong> Friday, Feb. 19<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Clarence Sansom Junior High School<br /><strong>Address:</strong> 5840, 24th Ave. NE</p> <p><a href="/community/partners/off_season_program/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Learn more about the Stampeders' basketball program</strong></a></p> February 18, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3505 <p>The Calgary Stampeders Off-Season Basketball Program presented by New York Fries returns for another exciting season in 2010.<br /><br />For more than two decades, the Calgary Stampeders have been dropping by school gymnasiums in and around the city to play basketball against student teams.<img alt="NewYorkFries.jpg" height="94" src="/common/uploads/images/NewYorkFries.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="NewYorkFries.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br />In 2009, the program visited nine schools in the local community and the club is proud to visit a number of schools this year. Players are itching to hit the ground running with tilts against local schools&rsquo; boys&rsquo; and girls&rsquo; teams.<br /><br />The Calgary Stampeders Off-Season Basketball Program presented by New York Fries kicks off the 2010 schedule this week at Clarence Sansom Junior High School.</p> <p>Here are the details:<br /><br /><strong>Date:</strong> Friday, Feb. 19<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Clarence Sansom Junior High School<br /><strong>Address:</strong> 5840, 24th Ave. NE</p> February 18, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3505 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel announced today that the club has acquired import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=341" target="_blank"><strong>P.K. Sam</strong></a> from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for import receiver Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />&ldquo;First, I&rsquo;d like to thank Jeremaine for his contributions to the Stampeders over the past five years,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a terrific pro and we wish him the best in Toronto. <img alt="SamI_100217.jpg" height="310" src="/common/uploads/images/SamI_100217.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="SamI_100217.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m very excited to welcome P.K. Sam to the team. He has two years of CFL experience under his belt and definitely has shown signs that he could be a breakthrough player in 2010. He has good size and athleticism and I look forward to seeing what he can do when we go to training camp in June.&rdquo;<br /><br />Sam recorded 27 catches for 327 yards and two touchdowns in nine contests for the Argos in 2009. He had at least one catch in each of the nine games he started last season and recorded multiple catches in six contests, including a season-high eight passes for 135 yards on Oct. 16 against Edmonton.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited about the trade,&rdquo; said Sam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to going to camp with a team that has won a lot of games the past few years and has a legitimate shot of getting back to the Grey Cup.&rdquo;<br /><br />The six-foot-three, 210-pound receiver has played in 15 regular-season games and caught 63 passes for 884 yards and five touchdowns. The 26-year old product of Florida State was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2004 and joined Toronto in 2008.<br /><br />Copeland played in Calgary for five years after signing with the team prior to the 2005 season.</p> February 17, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3502 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel announced today that the club has acquired import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=341" target="_blank"><strong>P.K. Sam</strong></a> from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for import receiver Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />&ldquo;First, I&rsquo;d like to thank Jeremaine for his contributions to the Stampeders over the past five years,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a terrific pro and we wish him the best in Toronto. <img alt="SamI_100217.jpg" height="310" src="/common/uploads/images/SamI_100217.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="SamI_100217.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m very excited to welcome P.K. Sam to the team. He has two years of CFL experience under his belt and definitely has shown signs that he could be a breakthrough player in 2010. He has good size and athleticism and I look forward to seeing what he can do when we go to training camp in June.&rdquo;<br /><br />Sam recorded 27 catches for 327 yards and two touchdowns in nine contests for the Argos in 2009. He had at least one catch in each of the nine games he started last season and recorded multiple catches in six contests, including a season-high eight passes for 135 yards on Oct. 16 against Edmonton.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited about the trade,&rdquo; said Sam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to going to camp with a team that has won a lot of games the past few years and has a legitimate shot of getting back to the Grey Cup.&rdquo;<br /><br />The six-foot-three, 210-pound receiver has played in 15 regular-season games and caught 63 passes for 884 yards and five touchdowns. The 26-year old product of Florida State was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2004 and joined Toronto in 2008.<br /><br />Copeland played in Calgary for five years after signing with the team prior to the 2005 season.</p> February 17, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3502 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel announced today that the club has acquired import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=341" target="_blank"><strong>P.K. Sam</strong></a> from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for import receiver Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />&ldquo;First, I&rsquo;d like to thank Jeremaine for his contributions to the Stampeders over the past five years,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a terrific pro and we wish him the best in Toronto. <img alt="SamI_100217.jpg" height="310" src="/common/uploads/images/SamI_100217.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="SamI_100217.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m very excited to welcome P.K. Sam to the team. He has two years of CFL experience under his belt and definitely has shown signs that he could be a breakthrough player in 2010. He has good size and athleticism and I look forward to seeing what he can do when we go to training camp in June.&rdquo;<br /><br />Sam recorded 27 catches for 327 yards and two touchdowns in nine contests for the Argos in 2009. He had at least one catch in each of the nine games he started last season and recorded multiple catches in six contests, including a season-high eight passes for 135 yards on Oct. 16 against Edmonton.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited about the trade,&rdquo; said Sam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to going to camp with a team that has won a lot of games the past few years and has a legitimate shot of getting back to the Grey Cup.&rdquo;<br /><br />The six-foot-three, 210-pound receiver has played in 15 regular-season games and caught 63 passes for 884 yards and five touchdowns. The 26-year old product of Florida State was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2004 and joined Toronto in 2008.<br /><br />Copeland played in Calgary for five years after signing with the team prior to the 2005 season.</p> February 17, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3500 <p>I&rsquo;m pretty excited about the fact that I&rsquo;m so close to getting my university degree. No, check that, let&rsquo;s make it that I&rsquo;m extremely excited about it.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s been a long time coming for me and let&rsquo;s just say I&rsquo;ve taken the long road. During the football season, it was impossible for me to take on a full course load. Even during the off-season, it <img alt="CoteBlog_100217.jpg" height="295" src="/common/uploads/images/CoteBlog_100217.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CoteBlog_100217.jpg" width="250" />was difficult to take on a full load because of the training you still have to do between seasons. But this off-season, because I was so close and I didn&rsquo;t want to leave myself just one class short of a degree, I took a full load.<br /><br />I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now and it&rsquo;s great motivation. I started studying at the University of Calgary in 2004 and I&rsquo;ve been there ever since, so I guess this is going to be a six-year type degree. The way that I look at it is that I had the coolest summer job ever &mdash; playing football &mdash; to help me earn money to pay for my studies.<br /><br />My degree is going to be a bachelor of commerce with a major in operations management. It&rsquo;s a great degree because it&rsquo;s wide open in terms of the opportunities it provides for you. What interests me most is the management side of things and I can see myself getting into hotel management at some point. That&rsquo;s the kind of job I&rsquo;d like to have after my football career is over.<br /><br />Some jobs are the same thing day after day but what I like about the career I have in mind is that you get the chance to deal with people and that makes every day different. You learn how to work with people and how to work with them efficiently.<br /><br />I can&rsquo;t say for sure why I decided to go the way that I did &mdash; playing junior football instead of university football. One thing I was fortunate with was the fact that I was able to go to university in my hometown, which made things a lot easier.<br /><br />Some people say I should have put school off for a while once I signed with the Stampeders but this was the choice I made. I wanted to get myself ready for life after football and getting an education was important for me. Besides, I&rsquo;ve heard guys say that once you&rsquo;ve set your schooling aside for a while, it&rsquo;s sometimes hard to go back later.<br /><br />I have no regrets about my studies and I certainly have no regrets about going to play junior football in Victoria. That was a great move for me. Playing junior allowed my body to mature a little and it also allowed me to mature as a person. I got out of mom and dad&rsquo;s house, I had to get a job and make my own way and I had lots of fun playing football.<br /><br />As for the university studies, my exams are at the end of April and then convocation is in June. Hopefully, it&rsquo;s early enough so that I can get there but if not, well, that means I&rsquo;ll have more important things I have to take care of with the Stamps.<br /><br />Rob Cote, #26<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=69" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Cote bio</strong></a></p> February 17, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1394 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is disappointed to announce that after a final attempt to sign kicker Sandro DeAngelis prior to free agency beginning next week, a deal could not be agreed upon.<br /><br />"I was optimistic that a deal would be reached but that was not the case," said Hufnagel. "The Calgary Stampeders wish Sandro the best of luck in his future endeavours."</p> February 13, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3499 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is disappointed to announce that after a final attempt to sign kicker Sandro DeAngelis prior to free agency beginning next week, a deal could not be agreed upon.<br /><br />"I was optimistic that a deal would be reached but that was not the case," said Hufnagel. "The Calgary Stampeders wish Sandro the best of luck in his future endeavours."</p> February 13, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3499 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel is disappointed to announce that after a final attempt to sign kicker Sandro DeAngelis prior to free agency beginning next week, a deal could not be agreed upon.<br /><br />"I was optimistic that a deal would be reached but that was not the case," said Hufnagel. "The Calgary Stampeders wish Sandro the best of luck in his future endeavours."</p> February 13, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3499 <p><br /><a href="http://www.dailyinterlake.com/sports/local_montana/article_0094d290-13af-11df-99f0-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank"><strong>By Dillon Tabish<br />Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Mont.)</strong></a><br /><br />Among the many reasons that local resident Da&rsquo;Shann Austin will be rooting for the New Orleans Saints today, there&rsquo;s one that&rsquo;s pretty rare to come by.<br /><br />How many people at a Super Bowl party can say they&rsquo;ve intercepted a world champion?<img alt="Austin_100212.jpg" height="345" src="/common/uploads/images/Austin_100212.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Austin_100212.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Austin, 32, played defensive back at Purdue University in 1998 and was a teammate of current Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who will try to lead New Orleans to its first championship today against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.<br /><br />&ldquo;That&rsquo;s another reason that I&rsquo;d love for him to win the Super Bowl is that I can always say I picked off the Super Bowl champion,&rdquo; Austin said smiling recently after finishing a youth session of Parisi Speed School at The Summit Medical Fitness Center in Kalispell. &ldquo;And it&rsquo;s likely if he does win the Super Bowl, quarterbacks get MVP of the game. So that&rsquo;s always something that I can say, that was my quarterback and I gave him fits at practice.&rdquo;<br /><br />Austin, who moved to Whitefish last fall with his fiancee Nicole, is a personal trainer in Kalispell. He spent six years in the Canadian Football League and won a Grey Cup (league championship) with the Calgary Stampeders in 2001. Austin also spent time alongside another well-known quarterback, at least around these parts &mdash; Griz legend Dave Dickenson, who led UM to a national title in 1995. Dickenson and Austin played together for the B.C. Lions and went to the Grey Cup in 2004 but came up short.<br /><br />Both Brees and Dickenson have the same supposed shortcoming &mdash; height &mdash; but Austin remembers them having one particular quality that seemed to make up for it.<br /><br />&ldquo;They&rsquo;re both kind of undersized, but the will to win is unmeasurable between those two guys. They&rsquo;re great competitors and they find a way to win and that&rsquo;s one of the things that I think put Drew on the map,&rdquo; Austin said.<br /><br />&ldquo;(Drew) used to always compete, even guys that didn&rsquo;t play quarterback would get in and compete with Drew,&rdquo; Austin added. &ldquo;He&rsquo;d set up a trash can and they&rsquo;d throw balls in the trash can forever. At that level, everybody is a competitor.&rdquo;<br /><br />Seeing the television clips of the four-time Pro Bowler gathering teammates in a pre-game huddle and erupting in that one-of-a-kind chant, Austin thinks of the team camaraderie that a teammate like Brees builds so well.<br /><br />&ldquo;He&rsquo;s both vocal and he leads by action. It&rsquo;s one thing to be vocal and then you get out there and you don&rsquo;t do what you&rsquo;re supposed to do,&rdquo; Austin said. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;ve got your quarterback getting hyped like that and getting involved and getting excited, that&rsquo;s going to fire everybody up. I used to love it when my defensive linemen would get fired up because those guys were like my big brothers on the team. So when you see those guys like your quarterback or your defensive linemen getting excited and getting hyped up, it doesn&rsquo;t do anything but have a ripple effect on the rest of the team.&rdquo;<br /><br />Having playing in a championship game, Austin has an idea what it&rsquo;s like for players on both sides as the game approaches.<br /><br />&ldquo;If I know every player like I think I do, it&rsquo;s visualization. You want to visualize yourself making the perfect catch, the perfect block, the perfect throw, the perfect interception. You have to visualize yourself doing these things day in and day out,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I would visualize so much that I would dream about my perfect game and to me it works. If you don&rsquo;t see yourself doing good, you won&rsquo;t do good.&rdquo;<br /><br />It&rsquo;s pretty easy to root for someone like Brees. As the story goes, he was only offered one Division 1 scholarship in college but made the best of it and left with nearly every Big Ten passing record. And then there&rsquo;s New Orleans and everything its residents have been through.<br /><br />&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a cool guy and I&rsquo;m so happy for him right now,&rdquo; Austin said about Brees. &ldquo;I hope he has a chance to bring it home, and especially to Louisiana where they&rsquo;ve had those problems with (Hurricane) Katrina and what not. That would be a big boost for that city. Even if he doesn&rsquo;t bring it home it&rsquo;s already been a big boost for the city to get their minds off the bad past and what&rsquo;s happened. I&rsquo;m proud of him for that.&rdquo;<br /><br />Austin doesn&rsquo;t watch much professional football anymore, except on days like today. It reminds him of his playing days, which he still thinks about often. But even if it&rsquo;s hard to see those days fade in the distance, Austin is making the best of it, and trying to lead someone else in that direction.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a blessing, and that&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m using what I&rsquo;ve learned on that road,&rdquo; Austin said of his opportunity to play professional football. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a lot of people who were instrumental in my life telling me the positive things to do, how to work out, how to live my life and be right. That&rsquo;s what I want to give back to the community here where I&rsquo;m going to end up raising a family.&rdquo;</p> February 7, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3497 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=967" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Hughes highlights video</strong></a><br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Read Hughes' Locker-Room blog</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=967" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Hughes highlights video</strong></a><br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Read Hughes' Locker-Room blog</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=967" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Hughes highlights video</strong></a><br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Read Hughes' Locker-Room blog</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Read Hughes' Locker-Room blog</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Read Hughes' Locker-Room blog</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Free agency in the CFL officially begins next week, but there was no doubt I wanted to re-sign with the Stampeders. I like it in Calgary and there&rsquo;s no place else I&rsquo;d rather be right now.<br /><br />I can&rsquo;t wait to see the fans in Section L at McMahon Stadium again and now I&rsquo;ll have even more stuff to throw up there for them.<img alt="Hughes_091104.jpg" height="266" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091104.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091104.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It&rsquo;s been a pretty quiet off-season for me so far. It&rsquo;s basically just been a combination of working out and relaxing. During the first part of the off-season, you let your body recover but you still stay active and you work out once a week. Then you pick up the intensity as it gets closer to the start of training camp and the start of the new season.<br /><br />Between going to camp with the Eagles last year and then coming back to the Stampeders, it was a pretty good year from start to finish. I accomplished a lot of the things I wanted to accomplish and I have no regrets whatsoever.<br /><br />The only real fun thing that I&rsquo;ve done in the off-season is going down to Miami during Super Bowl week. I went down and met up with a couple of friends and former teammates &mdash; LaMarr Woodley and Leonard Weaver &mdash; and it was a good time.<br /><br />We weren&rsquo;t able to go to the actual game but we watched it on TV and it was probably one of the most entertaining and most exciting Super Bowls that has ever been played. It was pretty amazing all the trick plays. It may have been pretty bold on the Saints&rsquo; part to do things like starting the second half with an onside kick, but that&rsquo;s called leaving it all out on the field.<br /><br />Before signing off, I have one message for the fans in Calgary &mdash; I hope you&rsquo;re ready to see me and you&rsquo;re just as excited as I am about seeing you all again.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, #39<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Hughes bio</strong></a></p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1393 <p>The Canadian Football League unveiled its 2010 schedule today and things are looking great for Stamps fans. Game days at McMahon Stadium are sure to be as exciting as ever with many of the most popular promotions returning this season. As well, several new initiatives and the celebration of old traditions will be sure to entertain the CFL&rsquo;s best fans.<br /><br />&ldquo;The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />Got any plans for Fathers Day? Bring dad to McMahon Stadium and create lasting family memories as Calgary plays host to Saskatchewan on June 20 at 1 p.m. Red and White faithful will get their first look at the 2010 edition of the Stamps in preseason action. The game will be the first meeting between the two clubs since the Roughriders defeated the Stamps 27-17 in last year&rsquo;s Western Final. <br /><br /><img alt="fireworkscrop.jpg" height="134" src="/common/uploads/images/fireworkscrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="fireworkscrop.jpg" width="200" />Toronto comes calling for the start of the regular season as part of the Canada Day Kickoff on July 1. The Stamps host the Argos at 8 p.m. at McMahon. Following the game the Stampeders will have a special Canada Day fireworks presentation.<br /><br />The Stamps next home date has Saskatchewan coming to town for the first regular-season meeting between the two clubs. The Stamps last hosted Saskatchewan in a memorable 44-44 overtime tie on Oct. 17, 2009.<img alt="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" height="117" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Saskcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />Do you remember where you were Aug. 15, 1960? Were you watching the Stamps take the field at McMahon Stadium for the first time ever? The Stamps will host the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 15 in what is the official 50th anniversary of football at McMahon. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history," said Bauer. <br /><br /><img alt="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" height="173" src="/common/uploads/images/Labour_Daycrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" width="190" />The Esks will be back in town for the annual Labour Day Classic on Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Come cheer the Stamps to victory in the annual Battle of Alberta and then head to Edmonton for the rematch on Sept. 10 at Commonwealth Stadium.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal.<br /><br />The BC Lions and head coach/general manager Wally Buono come to town twice in the fall, first on Sept. 25 and then again on Oct. 22. The Stamps will face the Lions four times during the regular season in what is sure to be a crucial series in the West Division standings.<br /><br />Calgary closes out the regular season home schedule with a matchup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<img alt="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" height="160" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Hamcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" width="190" /> As always the season finale will be fan appreciation night with the Red and White faithful being honoured throughout the game. The Stamps will also pay homage to the proud 65 years of the football club.<br /><br />With all the excitement and hard-hitting action throughout the season, McMahon Stadium is certainly the place to be in 2010.<br /><br /><a href="/schedule/">&gt;&gt; Full schedule</a><br /><a href="/tickets/">&gt;&gt; Get 2010 Stamps season tickets</a><br /><br />Here is a look at the complete 2010 Stampeders home schedule as well as a look at the playoff dates:<br /><br /><strong>Preseason</strong><br />Sunday, June 20: vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (1 p.m.)<br /><strong>Regular season</strong><br />Thursday, July 1: vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 24: vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 31: vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br />Sunday, Aug. 15: vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br />Monday, Sept. 6: vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br />Saturday, Sept. 25: vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 1: vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 22: vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 29: vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /><br /><strong>Playoffs</strong><br />Sunday, Nov. 14: Division semifinals (TBD)<br />Sunday, Nov. 21: Division finals (TBD)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1390 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=310" target="_blank"><strong>Charleston Hughes</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Hughes was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to get Charleston signed to a contract extension,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been an impact player on our defensive line the past two seasons and was a priority for us this <img alt="HughesI_100211.jpg" height="313" src="/common/uploads/images/HughesI_100211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HughesI_100211.jpg" width="250" />off-season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes rejoined the Stamps midway through the 2009 season after attending Philadelphia Eagles training camp. In eight regular-season games he recorded six sacks, which tied him for the team lead, 24 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 12 special-teams tackles, a forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He played in both of Calgary&rsquo;s post-season games and turned in an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against Saskatchewan in the West final.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to be back,&rdquo; said Hughes. &ldquo;The Stampeders are a great organization, Calgary is a great city and I&rsquo;m ready to get back up there and start next season off strong.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hughes enters his third campaign in the CFL. He signed with Calgary prior to the 2008 season and was an important member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders before signing with Philadelphia in the off-season.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3496 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=91" target="_blank"><strong>John Murphy</strong></a> is joining the club as director of player personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very pleased to add John to our staff,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played an integral role in assembling our 2008 Grey Cup championship squad and he improved Winnipeg&rsquo;s roster greatly in 2009. John has experience working with our staff, our organization and myself. He has extensive knowledge of our existing player roster and I am confident he will embrace this new challenge.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=961" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Audio of John Murphy's comments to media</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=964" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Audio of John Hufnagel's comments to media</a></strong><br /><br />Murphy spent the 2008 campaign as the Stampeders&rsquo; assistant director of scouting before leaving for Winnipeg after the season. He spent last year as the Bombers&rsquo; director of player personnel. Murphy worked as a college and pro area scout with Montreal in 2005 and 2006 and joined Calgary in the same capacity before being promoted to assistant director of scouting prior to the 2007 season.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is a great opportunity for me and I&rsquo;m very excited to be back with the Red and White,&rdquo; said Murphy. &ldquo;I enjoyed my previous time in Calgary and given the opportunity to work with John Hufnagel, this staff and this organization, it was an easy decision for me to make.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy enters his sixth season in the Canadian Football League. He founded Next Level Scouting Inc., which provides detailed scouting reports to every team in the National Football League. He served on the selection committee for the East-West Shrine Game for six seasons and was one of the creative forces behind the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3493 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=91" target="_blank"><strong>John Murphy</strong></a> is joining the club as director of player personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very pleased to add John to our staff,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played an integral role in assembling our 2008 Grey Cup championship squad and he improved Winnipeg&rsquo;s roster greatly in 2009. John has experience working with our staff, our organization and myself. He has extensive knowledge of our existing player roster and I am confident he will embrace this new challenge.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy spent the 2008 campaign as the Stampeders&rsquo; assistant director of scouting before leaving for Winnipeg after the season. He spent last year as the Bombers&rsquo; director of player personnel. Murphy worked as a college and pro area scout with Montreal in 2005 and 2006 and joined Calgary in the same capacity before being promoted to assistant director of scouting prior to the 2007 season.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is a great opportunity for me and I&rsquo;m very excited to be back with the Red and White,&rdquo; said Murphy. &ldquo;I enjoyed my previous time in Calgary and given the opportunity to work with John Hufnagel, this staff and this organization, it was an easy decision for me to make.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy enters his sixth season in the Canadian Football League. He founded Next Level Scouting Inc., which provides detailed scouting reports to every team in the National Football League. He served on the selection committee for the East-West Shrine Game for six seasons and was one of the creative forces behind the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3493 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=91" target="_blank"><strong>John Murphy</strong></a> is joining the club as director of player personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very pleased to add John to our staff,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played an integral role in assembling our 2008 Grey Cup championship squad and he improved Winnipeg&rsquo;s roster greatly in 2009. John has experience working with our staff, our organization and myself. He has extensive knowledge of our existing player roster and I am confident he will embrace this new challenge.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy spent the 2008 campaign as the Stampeders&rsquo; assistant director of scouting before leaving for Winnipeg after the season. He spent last year as the Bombers&rsquo; director of player personnel. Murphy worked as a college and pro area scout with Montreal in 2005 and 2006 and joined Calgary in the same capacity before being promoted to assistant director of scouting prior to the 2007 season.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is a great opportunity for me and I&rsquo;m very excited to be back with the Red and White,&rdquo; said Murphy. &ldquo;I enjoyed my previous time in Calgary and given the opportunity to work with John Hufnagel, this staff and this organization, it was an easy decision for me to make.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy enters his sixth season in the Canadian Football League. He founded Next Level Scouting Inc., which provides detailed scouting reports to every team in the National Football League. He served on the selection committee for the East-West Shrine Game for six seasons and was one of the creative forces behind the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3493 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that John Murphy is joining the club as director of player personnel.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very pleased to add John to our staff,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played an integral role in assembling our 2008 Grey Cup championship squad and he improved Winnipeg&rsquo;s roster greatly in 2009. John has experience working with our staff, our organization and myself. He has extensive knowledge of our existing player roster and I am confident he will embrace this new challenge.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy spent the 2008 campaign as the Stampeders&rsquo; assistant director of scouting before leaving for Winnipeg after the season. He spent last year as the Bombers&rsquo; director of player personnel. Murphy worked as a college and pro area scout with Montreal in 2005 and 2006 and joined Calgary in the same capacity before being promoted to assistant director of scouting prior to the 2007 season.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is a great opportunity for me and I&rsquo;m very excited to be back with the Red and White,&rdquo; said Murphy. &ldquo;I enjoyed my previous time in Calgary and given the opportunity to work with John Hufnagel, this staff and this organization, it was an easy decision for me to make.&rdquo;<br /><br />Murphy enters his sixth season in the Canadian Football League. He founded Next Level Scouting Inc., which provides detailed scouting reports to every team in the National Football League. He served on the selection committee for the East-West Shrine Game for six seasons and was one of the creative forces behind the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge.</p> February 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3493 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce quarterback <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Burris</strong></a> is this year&rsquo;s recipient of the Presidents&rsquo; Ring.<br /><br />&ldquo;To receive this award in three consecutive seasons is very special,&rdquo; said Burris. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built great relationships with the guys in our locker room over the last several seasons and to win an award voted on by my peers means more to me than any other individual accolade I can receive in this game.&rdquo;<img alt="RingI_100209.jpg" height="309" src="/common/uploads/images/RingI_100209.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RingI_100209.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=959" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; See video of press conference with Burris and Stampeders president/COO Lyle Bauer</strong></a><br /><br />The Presidents&rsquo; Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field. Burris&rsquo; teammates selected him based on his in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills. He will formally receive the award at a luncheon in May.<br /><br />The pivot becomes the first Stamps player to win the award in three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Danny Barrett (1989, 1990, 1996) and Stu Laird (1988, 1992, 1995) are the only other players to win the award on three occasions. Twenty-seven players and four quarterbacks have won the award since its inception.<br /><br />Burris led the Stamps to a 10-7-1 regular-season record in 2009 and a fifth consecutive post-season appearance while rewriting the club&rsquo;s record book. The 12-year Canadian Football League veteran completed 339 of 571 passes for 4,831 yards and threw 22 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with 552 rushing yards and 11 rushing majors. He was 41-of-66 for 542 passing yards and added three scores in two post-season contests. Burris is now the Stamps&rsquo; all-time leader in career passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes.<br />&nbsp;<br />A pillar in the Calgary area, Smilin&rsquo; Hank was again among the team&rsquo;s leaders in community appearances. In May, he hosted his fourth annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend, an event which raised more than $150,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and area.</p> <p><a href="/team/tradition/president_award/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More on the Presidents' Ring including a list of all-time recipients</strong></a></p> February 9, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3491 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce quarterback <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Burris</strong></a> is this year&rsquo;s recipient of the Presidents&rsquo; Ring.<br /><br />&ldquo;To receive this award in three consecutive seasons is very special,&rdquo; said Burris. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built great relationships with the guys in our locker room over the last several seasons and to win an award voted on by my peers means more to me than any other individual accolade I can receive in this game.&rdquo;<img alt="RingI_100209.jpg" height="309" src="/common/uploads/images/RingI_100209.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RingI_100209.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=959" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; See video of press conference with Burris and Stampeders president/COO Lyle Bauer</strong></a><br /><br />The Presidents&rsquo; Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field. Burris&rsquo; teammates selected him based on his in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills. He will formally receive the award at a luncheon in May.<br /><br />The pivot becomes the first Stamps player to win the award in three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Danny Barrett (1989, 1990, 1996) and Stu Laird (1988, 1992, 1995) are the only other players to win the award on three occasions. Twenty-seven players and four quarterbacks have won the award since its inception.<br /><br />Burris led the Stamps to a 10-7-1 regular-season record in 2009 and a fifth consecutive post-season appearance while rewriting the club&rsquo;s record book. The 12-year Canadian Football League veteran completed 339 of 571 passes for 4,831 yards and threw 22 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with 552 rushing yards and 11 rushing majors. He was 41-of-66 for 542 passing yards and added three scores in two post-season contests. Burris is now the Stamps&rsquo; all-time leader in career passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes.<br />&nbsp;<br />A pillar in the Calgary area, Smilin&rsquo; Hank was again among the team&rsquo;s leaders in community appearances. In May, he hosted his fourth annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend, an event which raised more than $150,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and area.</p> <p><a href="/team/tradition/president_award/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More on the Presidents' Ring including a list of all-time recipients</strong></a></p> February 9, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3491 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce quarterback <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Burris</strong></a> is this year&rsquo;s recipient of the Presidents&rsquo; Ring.<br /><br />&ldquo;To receive this award in three consecutive seasons is very special,&rdquo; said Burris. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built great relationships with the guys in our locker room over the last several seasons and to win an award voted on by my peers means more to me than any other individual accolade I can receive in this game.&rdquo;<img alt="RingI_100209.jpg" height="309" src="/common/uploads/images/RingI_100209.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RingI_100209.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=956" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Listen to press conference with Burris and Stampeders president Lyle Bauer</strong></a><br /><br />The Presidents&rsquo; Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field. Burris&rsquo; teammates selected him based on his in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills. He will formally receive the award at a luncheon in May.<br /><br />The pivot becomes the first Stamps player to win the award in three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Danny Barrett (1989, 1990, 1996) and Stu Laird (1988, 1992, 1995) are the only other players to win the award on three occasions. Twenty-seven players and four quarterbacks have won the award since its inception.<br /><br />Burris led the Stamps to a 10-7-1 regular-season record in 2009 and a fifth consecutive post-season appearance while rewriting the club&rsquo;s record book. The 12-year Canadian Football League veteran completed 339 of 571 passes for 4,831 yards and threw 22 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with 552 rushing yards and 11 rushing majors. He was 41-of-66 for 542 passing yards and added three scores in two post-season contests. Burris is now the Stamps&rsquo; all-time leader in career passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes.<br />&nbsp;<br />A pillar in the Calgary area, Smilin&rsquo; Hank was again among the team&rsquo;s leaders in community appearances. In May, he hosted his fourth annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend, an event which raised more than $150,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and area.</p> <p><a href="/team/tradition/president_award/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More on the Presidents' Ring including a list of all-time recipients</strong></a></p> February 9, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3491 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce quarterback <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Burris</strong></a> is this year&rsquo;s recipient of the Presidents&rsquo; Ring.<br /><br />&ldquo;To receive this award in three consecutive seasons is very special,&rdquo; said Burris. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built great relationships with the guys in our locker room over the last several seasons and to win an award voted on by my peers means more to me than any other individual accolade I can receive in this game.&rdquo;<img alt="RingI_100209.jpg" height="309" src="/common/uploads/images/RingI_100209.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RingI_100209.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=956" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Listen to press conference with Burris and Stampeders president Lyle Bauer</strong></a><br /><br />The Presidents&rsquo; Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field. Burris&rsquo; teammates selected him based on his in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills. He will formally receive the award at a luncheon in May.<br /><br />The pivot becomes the first Stamps player to win the award in three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Danny Barrett (1989, 1990, 1996) and Stu Laird (1988, 1992, 1995) are the only other players to win the award on three occasions. Twenty-seven players and four quarterbacks have won the award since its inception.<br /><br />Burris led the Stamps to a 10-7-1 regular-season record in 2009 and a fifth consecutive post-season appearance while rewriting the club&rsquo;s record book. The 12-year Canadian Football League veteran completed 339 of 571 passes for 4,831 yards and threw 22 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with 552 rushing yards and 11 rushing majors. He was 41-of-66 for 542 passing yards and added three scores in two post-season contests. Burris is now the Stamps&rsquo; all-time leader in career passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes.<br />&nbsp;<br />A pillar in the Calgary area, Smilin&rsquo; Hank was again among the team&rsquo;s leaders in community appearances. In May, he hosted his fourth annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend, an event which raised more than $150,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and area.</p> February 9, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3491 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce quarterback <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Henry Burris</strong></a> is this year&rsquo;s recipient of the Presidents&rsquo; Ring.<br /><br />&ldquo;To receive this award in three consecutive seasons is very special,&rdquo; said Burris. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve built great relationships with the guys in our locker room over the last several seasons and to win an award voted on by my peers means more to me than any other individual accolade I can receive in this game.&rdquo;<img alt="RingI_100209.jpg" height="309" src="/common/uploads/images/RingI_100209.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RingI_100209.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Presidents&rsquo; Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field. Burris&rsquo; teammates selected him based on his in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills. He will formally receive the award at a luncheon in May.<br /><br />The pivot becomes the first Stamps player to win the award in three consecutive seasons (2007-09). Danny Barrett (1989, 1990, 1996) and Stu Laird (1988, 1992, 1995) are the only other players to win the award on three occasions. Twenty-seven players and four quarterbacks have won the award since its inception.<br /><br />Burris led the Stamps to a 10-7-1 regular-season record in 2009 and a fifth consecutive post-season appearance while rewriting the club&rsquo;s record book. The 12-year Canadian Football League veteran completed 339 of 571 passes for 4,831 yards and threw 22 touchdowns while leading all quarterbacks with 552 rushing yards and 11 rushing majors. He was 41-of-66 for 542 passing yards and added three scores in two post-season contests. Burris is now the Stamps&rsquo; all-time leader in career passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes.<br />&nbsp;<br />A pillar in the Calgary area, Smilin&rsquo; Hank was again among the team&rsquo;s leaders in community appearances. In May, he hosted his fourth annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend, an event which raised more than $150,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and area.</p> February 9, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3491 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p><img alt="nealy_news.jpg" height="134" src="/common/uploads/images/nealy_news.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="nealy_news.jpg" width="125" />Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>Calgary Stampeders quarterback Barrick Nealy and his wife Tiffany welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Sage Simone Nealy on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. She was born weighing nine pounds, four ounces. The couple had their first child, son Sir Isaac in 2008.</p> February 5, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3488 <p>The Canadian Football League unveiled its 2010 schedule today and things are looking great for Stamps fans. Game days at McMahon Stadium are sure to be as exciting as ever with many of the most popular promotions returning this season. As well, several new initiatives and the celebration of old traditions will be sure to entertain the CFL&rsquo;s best fans.<br /><br />&ldquo;The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />Got any plans for Fathers Day? Bring dad to McMahon Stadium and create lasting family memories as Calgary plays host to Saskatchewan on June 20 at 1 p.m. Red and White faithful will get their first look at the 2010 edition of the Stamps in preseason action. The game will be the first meeting between the two clubs since the Roughriders defeated the Stamps 27-17 in last year&rsquo;s Western Final. <br /><br /><img alt="fireworkscrop.jpg" height="134" src="/common/uploads/images/fireworkscrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="fireworkscrop.jpg" width="200" />Toronto comes calling for the start of the regular season as part of the Canada Day Kickoff on July 1. The Stamps host the Argos at 8 p.m. at McMahon. Following the game the Stampeders will have a special Canada Day fireworks presentation.<br /><br />The Stamps next home date has Saskatchewan coming to town for the first regular-season meeting between the two clubs. The Stamps last hosted Saskatchewan in a memorable 44-44 overtime tie on Oct. 17, 2009.<img alt="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" height="117" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Saskcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" width="175" /><br /><br />Do you remember where you were Aug. 15, 1960? Were you watching the Stamps take the field at McMahon Stadium for the first time ever? The Stamps will host the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 15 in what is the official 50th anniversary of football at McMahon. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history," said Bauer. <br /><br /><img alt="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" height="173" src="/common/uploads/images/Labour_Daycrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" width="190" />The Esks will be back in town for the annual Labour Day Classic on Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Come cheer the Stamps to victory in the annual Battle of Alberta and then head to Edmonton for the rematch on Sept. 10 at Commonwealth Stadium.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal.<br /><br />The BC Lions and head coach/general manager Wally Buono come to town twice in the fall, first on Sept. 25 and then again on Oct. 22. The Stamps will face the Lions four times during the regular season in what is sure to be a crucial series in the West Division standings.<br /><br />Calgary closes out the regular season home schedule with a matchup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<img alt="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" height="160" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Hamcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" width="190" /> As always the season finale will be fan appreciation night with the Red and White faithful being honoured throughout the game. The Stamps will also pay homage to the proud 65 years of the football club.<br /><br />With all the excitement and hard-hitting action throughout the season, McMahon Stadium is certainly the place to be in 2010.<br /><br /><a href="/schedule/">&gt;&gt; Full schedule</a><br /><a href="/tickets/">&gt;&gt; Get 2010 Stamps season tickets</a><br /><br />Here is a look at the complete 2010 Stampeders home schedule as well as a look at the playoff dates:<br /><br /><strong>Preseason</strong><br />Sunday, June 20: vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (1 p.m.)<br /><strong>Regular season</strong><br />Thursday, July 1: vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 24: vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 31: vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br />Sunday, Aug. 15: vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br />Monday, Sept. 6: vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br />Saturday, Sept. 25: vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 1: vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 22: vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 29: vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /><br /><strong>Playoffs</strong><br />Sunday, Nov. 14: Division semifinals (TBD)<br />Sunday, Nov. 21: Division finals (TBD)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1390 <p>The Canadian Football League unveiled its 2010 schedule today and things are looking great for Stamps fans. Game days at McMahon Stadium are sure to be as exciting as ever with many of the most popular promotions returning this season. As well, several new initiatives and the celebration of old traditions will be sure to entertain the CFL&rsquo;s best fans.<br /><br />&ldquo;The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />Got any plans for Fathers Day? Bring dad to McMahon Stadium and create lasting family memories as Calgary plays host to Saskatchewan on June 20 at 1 p.m. Red and White faithful will get their first look at the 2010 edition of the Stamps in preseason action. The game will be the first meeting between the two clubs since the Roughriders defeated the Stamps 27-17 in last year&rsquo;s Western Final. <br /><br /><img alt="fireworkscrop.jpg" height="167" src="/common/uploads/images/fireworkscrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="fireworkscrop.jpg" width="250" />Toronto comes calling for the start of the regular season as part of the Canada Day Kickoff on July 1. The Stamps host the Argos at 8 p.m. at McMahon. Following the game the Stampeders will have a special Canada Day fireworks presentation.<br /><br />The Stamps next home date has Saskatchewan coming to town for the first regular-season meeting between the two clubs. The Stamps last hosted Saskatchewan in a memorable 44-44 overtime tie on Oct. 17, 2009.<img alt="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" height="167" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Saskcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Saskcrop.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Do you remember where you were Aug. 15, 1960? Were you watching the Stamps take the field at McMahon Stadium for the first time ever? The Stamps will host the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 15 in what is the official 50th anniversary of football at McMahon. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history," said Bauer. <br /><br /><img alt="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" height="173" src="/common/uploads/images/Labour_Daycrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="Labour_Daycrop.jpg" width="190" />The Esks will be back in town for the annual Labour Day Classic on Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Come cheer the Stamps to victory in the annual Battle of Alberta and then head to Edmonton for the rematch on Sept. 10 at Commonwealth Stadium.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal.<br /><br />The BC Lions and head coach/general manager Wally Buono come to town twice in the fall, first on Sept. 25 and then again on Oct. 22. The Stamps will face the Lions four times during the regular season in what is sure to be a crucial series in the West Division standings.<br /><br />Calgary closes out the regular season home schedule with a matchup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. As always the season finale will be fan appreciation night with the Red and White faithful being honoured throughout the game. The Stamps will also pay homage to the proud 65 years of the football club.<img alt="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" height="210" src="/common/uploads/images/vs_Hamcrop.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="vs_Hamcrop.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />With all the excitement and hard-hitting action throughout the season, McMahon Stadium is certainly the place to be in 2010.<br /><br /><a href="/schedule/">&gt;&gt; Full schedule</a><br /><a href="/tickets/">&gt;&gt; Get 2010 Stamps season tickets</a><br /><br />Here is a look at the complete 2010 Stampeders home schedule as well as a look at the playoff dates:<br /><br /><strong>Preseason</strong><br />Sunday, June 20: vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (1 p.m.)<br /><strong>Regular season</strong><br />Thursday, July 1: vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 24: vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br />Saturday, July 31: vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br />Sunday, Aug. 15: vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br />Monday, Sept. 6: vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br />Saturday, Sept. 25: vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 1: vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 22: vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br />Friday, Oct. 29: vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /><br /><strong>Playoffs</strong><br />Sunday, Nov. 14: Division semifinals (TBD)<br />Sunday, Nov. 21: Division finals (TBD)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1390 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="schedinnews.jpg" height="171" src="/common/uploads/images/schedinnews.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="schedinnews.jpg" width="250" /> <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Division semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> <p><a href="/tickets/tickets/"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get 2010 Stamps season tickets<br /></strong></a></p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="schedinnews.jpg" height="171" src="/common/uploads/images/schedinnews.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="schedinnews.jpg" width="250" /> <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Division semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> <p><a href="/tickets/tickets/"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get 2010 Stamps</strong></a></p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="schedinnews.jpg" height="171" src="/common/uploads/images/schedinnews.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="schedinnews.jpg" width="250" /> <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Division semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Division semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p><img alt="RecapT_100201.jpg" height="316" src="/common/uploads/images/RecapT_100201.jpg" title="RecapT_100201.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>Winter fun was the theme of the Calgary Stampeders' community activities over the past seven days.<img alt="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" height="97" src="/common/uploads/images/devitt_forand_spot.jpg" style="float: right;" title="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" width="205" /></p> <p>First off, there was Wednesday's Calgary Corporate Challenge Human Bonspiel in downtown Calgary at the Olympic Plaza. The event was quite a sight to behold as a number of celebrity and media teams &mdash; including the Red and White &mdash; acted as human curling stones by sliding down the ice on inner tubes.</p> <p>Not only was the event a ton of fun, the Stampeders &mdash; represented by Wes Lysack, Barrick Nealy, Tim O'Neill and Rob Cote &mdash; actually won the competition. But far more importantly, <img alt="RecapI_100201.jpg" height="297" src="/common/uploads/images/RecapI_100201.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RecapI_100201.jpg" width="200" />$1,600 was raised for KidSport, the organization and Stampeders community partner dedicated to removing the financial obstacles that keep some youngsters from participating in sports.</p> <p>In keeping with the winter theme, punter Burke Dales was in Okotoks on Friday for the Canada Gets Active Winter Kickoff.</p> <p>The program is a pilot project by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association and the main objective is to increase physical activity involvement of Canadian children by increasing their access to and participation in community recreation facilities.</p> <p>Earlier in the week, Dales was at the Calgary Learning Centre to help promote the centre's Literacy Day.</p> <p>Not only did Dales read the book Mortimer to students from Dr. Oakley School, he even sang a song with the kids.</p> <p>On Thursday. the Stampeders were honoured to take part in the YYC4Haiti fundraiser at Flames Central. The city's sports teams donated items for silent auction and the Stampeders goodies included a game-worn Henry Burris jersey and a four-person Ultimate Fan Package for a 2010 game at McMahon Stadium.</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3487 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p><img alt="GroupD_100201.jpg" height="231" src="/common/uploads/images/GroupD_100201.jpg" title="GroupD_100201.jpg" width="467" /></p> <p>It's the fourth round of the Play of the Year Showdown and the choice is up to you.<br /><br />Have a look at this week's four candidates by viewing the video and then go the Stampeders.com home page to vote.</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=952"><strong>&gt;&gt; Video of the Group D candidates</strong></a><strong><br /><a href="/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</a></strong><br /><br />In last week's Group C battle, it was a devastating block by receiver Nik Lewis that prevailed.</p> <p>In the Group B showdown, it was running back Joffrey Reynolds' spectacular run and lunge into the end-zone that carried the day.</p> <p>And in the first opening-round showdown, Jeremaine Copeland's spectacular one-handed ctatch against Edmonton during the Labour Day Classic prevailed in the fan voting.</p> <p>Here's another look at the first three batches of big plays:</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=937" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; View the Group A plays</strong></a></p> <p><strong><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=941" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; View the Group B plays<br /></a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=947" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; View the Group C plays</a></strong></p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3484 <p><img alt="GroupD_100201.jpg" height="231" src="/common/uploads/images/GroupD_100201.jpg" title="GroupD_100201.jpg" width="467" /></p> <p>It's the fourth round of the Play of the Year Showdown and the choice is up to you.<br /><br />Have a look at this week's four candidates by viewing the video and then go the Stampeders.com home page to vote.</p> <p><strong>&gt;&gt; Video of the Group D candidates</strong><strong><br /><a href="/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</a></strong><br /><br />In last week's Group C battle, it was a devastating block by receiver Nik Lewis that prevailed.</p> <p>In the Group B showdown, it was running back Joffrey Reynolds' spectacular run and lunge into the end-zone that carried the day.</p> <p>And in the first opening-round showdown, Jeremaine Copeland's spectacular one-handed ctatch against Edmonton during the Labour Day Classic prevailed in the fan voting.</p> <p>Here's another look at the first three batches of big plays:</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=937" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; View the Group A plays</strong></a></p> <p><strong><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=941" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; View the Group B plays<br /></a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=947" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; View the Group C plays</a></strong></p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3484 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />"The 2010 CFL Schedule offers Stamps fans great opportunities to see their team,&rdquo; said Stampeders&rsquo; president/COO Lyle Bauer. &ldquo;With the traditional rivalries in the West to the hosting of revamped East Division teams, 2010 will be a great year to be wearing Red and White."<br /><br />"In addition to an exciting schedule we are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium and many other great moments in Stampeders history." <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />&ldquo;The start of the 2010 schedule will be a great challenge and barometer for our team,&rdquo; said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. &ldquo;Playing three games in 13 days with an eastern road trip included will be a test of this team&rsquo;s maturity and mental toughness. Eight of the next nine games are versus West Division opponents and our performance during this stretch will have a large impact on our eventual standing in the division.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Though training camp is still a few months away, with the release of the 2010 CFL schedule and the work being done at McMahon Stadium, everyone is starting to get excited about getting back on the field.&rdquo;The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will begin their 2010 campaign with the Canada Day Kickoff on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. <br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; 2010 schedule will include four meetings with the BC Lions, three matchups with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and three games against the provincial-rival Edmonton Eskimos, including the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Sept. 6.<br /><br />The Stamps face the defending Grey Cup champions in back-to-back weeks beginning in Calgary on Oct. 1 and wrapping up with a Thanksgiving Day meeting on Oct. 11 in Montreal. <br />&nbsp;<br />Here is the complete Calgary Stampeders schedule for 2010:</p> <p><strong>All times Mountain</strong></p> <h2>Preseason</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, June 13:</strong> at Edmonton (5 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, June 20:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(1 p.m.)</p> <h2>Regular season</h2> <p><strong>Thursday, July 1: </strong>vs. Toronto (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 10:</strong> at Hamilton (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Wednesday, July 14:</strong> at Toronto (5:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 24:</strong> vs. Saskatchewan (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, July 31:</strong> vs. Winnipeg (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Aug. 7:</strong> at BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Aug. 15: </strong>vs. Edmonton (6 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Aug. 27:</strong> at BC (8:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Sept. 6: </strong>vs. Edmonton (4 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 10:</strong> at Edmonton (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Sept. 17:</strong> at Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Saturday, Sept. 25:</strong> vs. BC (7:30 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 1:</strong> vs. Montreal (7 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Monday, Oct. 11: </strong>at Montreal (11 a.m.)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Oct. 17: </strong>at Saskatchewan (2 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 22:</strong> vs. BC (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Oct. 29:</strong> vs. Hamilton (8 p.m.)<br /> <strong>Friday, Nov. 5:</strong> at Winnipeg (6 p.m.)</p> <h2>Playoffs</h2> <p><strong>Sunday, Nov. 14:</strong> Divison semifinals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 21:</strong> Division finals (TBD)<br /> <strong>Sunday, Nov. 28:</strong> 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton (4:30 p.m.)</p> February 1, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3481 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery<br /></strong></a><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=949" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Highlights video</strong></a><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery<br /></strong></a><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=949" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Highlights video</strong></a><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery<br /></strong></a><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=949" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Highlights video</strong></a><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am to happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery<br /></strong></a><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=949" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Highlights video</strong></a><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am to happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery<br /></strong></a><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=949" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Highlights video</strong></a><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong><br /></strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am to happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery</strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=14" target="_blank"><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RamboI_100129.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboI_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboI_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;We were all disappointed for Ken-Yon when he suffered his knee injury early in 2009, but he has worked very hard to get back in shape,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He has been a highly productive receiver and he&rsquo;s determined to be back on top in 2010. We look forward to seeing him back on the football field.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo caught 17 passes for 179 yards in three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at BC on July 24. He surpassed the 4,000 mark in career receiving yards on July 10 at Winnipeg. Rambo led the league with 1,473 receiving yards in 2008 and his 100 receptions represented the highest total for a Stamps receiver since 1995.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am to happy to be back with the Stamps,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;The organization is first-class and this coaching staff and veteran group are like a family to me. Offensively, our core has been together for several years now and I think we play well as a group. We have outstanding chemistry and I hope we can keep that going. I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started; it&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Insider Blog: Ken-Yon's road to recovery</strong></a></p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3478 <p>It&rsquo;s been a long road back for Ken-Yon Rambo, but anyone who knows the veteran receiver out of Ohio State isn&rsquo;t at all surprised about his single-minded determination to get back on the football field.<br /><br />Rambo&rsquo;s 2009 season was cut short by a knee injury so severe that it needed two surgeries. However, from the very first stages of the rehab process, there was never any doubt about Rambo&rsquo;s desire to return to the lineup.<img alt="RamboB_100129.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/RamboB_100129.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RamboB_100129.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wait for the 2010 season to get started,&rdquo; said Rambo. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like a renewal for me and I will be back with a vengeance.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;He&rsquo;s extremely motivated,&rdquo; said Stampeders director of medical services Pat Clayton, who guided Rambo along the comeback trail. &ldquo;In fact, we have to keep a bit of a rein on him or he&rsquo;ll do too much. We do have to watch him and be careful he doesn&rsquo;t go beyond the parametres that we&rsquo;ve set out for his rehabilitation program. But that&rsquo;s just Ken-Yon. He wants to get back and he wants to contribute. At this point, I don&rsquo;t have any concerns about his return.&rdquo;<br /><br />Rambo was injured during a July 24 game at Vancouver&rsquo;s BC Place when he was grabbed by the back of the jersey and awkwardly pulled down to the ground. Once the doctors had examined the damage, it was ascertained that Rambo&rsquo;s season was over.<br /><br />&ldquo;He had a number of things that were wrong,&rdquo; said Clayton. &ldquo;First of all, we had to go in and fix the torn meniscus and clean the joint out. Then, after some rehabilitation, we went back in six weeks later and did an ACL reconstruction. That type of surgery traditionally is about nine months long (for complete rehabilitation).<br /><br />&ldquo;Yeah, he did have a serious knee injury with some complications, but the surgery went extremely well. He&rsquo;s well on target with his rehabilitation &mdash; in fact, just a little bit ahead of where I expected him to be right at the moment. We&rsquo;re reviewing him on a continual basis and at this point don&rsquo;t see any reason why he wouldn&rsquo;t be able to return fully.&rdquo;<br /><br />That&rsquo;s music to the ears of the Stamps and their fans. Rambo had a monster season in 2008 with 100 catches for 1,473 yards and eight touchdowns. He was off to a great start in 2009 with 17 catches in just two-and-a-half games when the injury occurred.<br /><br />&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt that there&rsquo;s two components to this issue,&rdquo; said Clayton. &ldquo;One is most certainly the medical and surgical of things, which has all been taken care of and there was some outstanding work done by Dr. Stewart, who is our orthopedic surgeon. The other side is the psychological part of coming back from the injury and that should never be underplayed. Ken-Yon is a very strong-willed person, so I don&rsquo;t anticipate that to be an issue.&rdquo;</p> January 29, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1387 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Even though I only spent a short time in Calgary, I liked it very much and was anxious to return. The coaches are very professional and I&rsquo;m looking forward to continue working with them. Also, with the players, there are a lot of good guys on the team.<br /><br />Another person I&rsquo;ve come to know very well is (team chaplain) Rodd Sawatzky, so I can&rsquo;t wait to return and meet up with everyone again.<img alt="FranklinB_100128.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinB_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinB_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />So after discussing it with my wife, we decided Calgary is where we wanted to be. The great part about it is she&rsquo;ll be able to spend a good part of the season with me this coming season. In previous seasons, she was working and wasn&rsquo;t able to join me in Winnipeg. But now that she&rsquo;s teaching, she has summers off so at least we&rsquo;ll be able to spend two months together.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s been a good off-season so far. Of course I&rsquo;ve been working out and we&rsquo;ve been visiting with family in Toronto and Windsor. I&rsquo;ve also been working on finishing my basement &mdash; that&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve been doing along with my father and some of my friends. It&rsquo;s the first major project like this I&rsquo;ve taken on, but it&rsquo;s always something I&rsquo;ve wanted to do since I was a little kid and following my father around when he was doing handyman jobs around the house. I&rsquo;m looking forward to the job being done, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later.<br /><br />At some point before the off-season, I might also get out to the West Coast to visit some family I have in the Seattle area.<br /><br />I see that the Stamps recently signed John Comiskey, who like me attended the University of Windsor. We played two years together and we were on the team for the biggest moment in the school&rsquo;s recent history &mdash; the year Windsor beat Western in the playoffs. So we shared that big moment. He&rsquo;s a good guy and it&rsquo;s great to be on the same team with him again.<br /><br />Looking forward to the season.<br /><br />Arjei Franklin, #87<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Franklin bio</strong></a></p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1381 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Even though I only spent a short time in Calgary, I liked it very much and was anxious to return. The coaches are very professional and I&rsquo;m looking forward to continue working with them. Also, with the players, there are a lot of good guys on the team.<br /><br />Another person I&rsquo;ve come to know very well is (team chaplain) Rodd Sawatzky, so I can&rsquo;t wait to return and meet up with everyone again.<img alt="FranklinB_100128.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinB_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinB_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />So after discussing it with my wife, we decided Calgary is where we wanted to be. The great part about it is she&rsquo;ll be able to spend a good part of the season with me this coming season. In previous seasons, she was working and wasn&rsquo;t able to join me in Winnipeg. But now that she&rsquo;s teaching, she has summers off so at least we&rsquo;ll be able to spend two months together.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s been a good off-season so far. Of course I&rsquo;ve been working out and we&rsquo;ve been visiting with family in Toronto and Windsor. I&rsquo;ve also been working on finishing my basement &mdash; that&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve been doing along with my father and some of my friends. It&rsquo;s the first major project like this I&rsquo;ve taken on, but it&rsquo;s always something I&rsquo;ve wanted to do since I was a little kid and following my father around when he was doing handyman jobs around the house. I&rsquo;m looking forward to the job being done, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later.<br /><br />At some point before the off-season, I might also get out to the West Coast to visit some family I have in the Seattle area.<br /><br />I see that the Stamps recently signed John Comiskey, who like me attended the University of Windsor. We played two years together and we were on the team for the biggest moment in the school&rsquo;s recent history &mdash; the year Windsor beat Western in the playoffs. So we shared that big moment. He&rsquo;s a good guy and it&rsquo;s great to be on the same team with him again.<br /><br />Looking forward to the season.<br /><br />Arjei Franklin, #87<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Franklin bio</strong></a></p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1381 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=320" target="_blank"><strong>Arjei Franklin</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="FranklinI_100128.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/FranklinI_100128.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FranklinI_100128.jpg" width="250" /><br />&ldquo;Arjei has proven to be a productive receiver during his Canadian Football League career,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He did a nice job of learning on the fly after arriving from Winnipeg last season and I look forward to getting him into the offensive mix from the first day of training camp.&rdquo;<br /><br />Franklin had five catches for 53 yards in two starts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season before being acquired by Calgary in a mid-season trade. He dressed for the Stamps&rsquo; final seven regular-season contests and had five grabs for 40 yards. He added four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in two post-season games.<br /><br />&ldquo;I enjoyed my time in Calgary last season and in the short time I was there, I learned that the Stampeders are a very professional organization,&rdquo; said Franklin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be in Calgary moving forward and can&rsquo;t wait to get the season started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Franklin enters his fifth season in the CFL after being drafted by Winnipeg in the third round (19th overall) in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 28, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3475 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that defensive coordinator/assistant director, player personnel <a href="/team/football_op/profile/?id=5" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Jones</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have been offered and have accepted an extension to my contract with the Calgary <img alt="JonesI_100127.jpg" height="302" src="/common/uploads/images/JonesI_100127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="JonesI_100127.jpg" width="250" />Stampeder Football Club,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Along with the extension, I have been offered an expanded role within the personnel department. The Calgary Stampeders have very solid individuals in leadership roles and I feel at this time it is in my best interest to learn from them. My family and I love the city of Calgary and we are very excited about being with the Stampeders in the near future.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Jones joined the Stampeders in 2008 after six years with the Montreal Alouettes. Even though the Stamps had only two returning starters, Calgary allowed the fewest points in the CFL in Jones&rsquo; first season as defensive coordinator. The Stamps defence was the stingiest among West Division teams in 2009 and ranked third overall. In eight seasons in the CFL, Jones has been to the playoffs every year and has coached in the Grey Cup on five occasions while winning a pair of titles including the 2008 championship in his first season with Calgary.<br /><br />&ldquo;I have appreciated Chris&rsquo; enthusiasm in his work during the off-season the past two years within our personnel department,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;With this extension, it not only provides this team with a great defensive coordinator, but also an opportunity for Chris to expand his expertise within an organization.&rdquo;</p> January 27, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3466 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that free-agent non-import offensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=340" target="_blank"><strong>John Comiskey</strong></a> has signed a contract with the club. This is the second stint in Calgary for Comiskey, who previously played for the Stamps from 2005 to 2007. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="HS_Comiskey.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/HS_Comiskey.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HS_Comiskey.jpg" width="165" /><br /><br />&ldquo;I am thrilled to have come to terms with John,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;A player of his experience and stature will add depth and veteran leadership to our football team.&rdquo;<br /><br />Comiskey, a 29-year-old product of Prince Albert, Sask., was originally drafted by the Stampeders in the third round (19th overall) of the 2005 CFL draft and spent three seasons with the Stamps. He was traded to Edmonton in 2008 and spent the past two seasons with the Eskimos. <br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m thrilled to be back in Calgary where everything started for me back in 2005,&rdquo; said Comiskey. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to a great 2010 campaign and am excited for the opportunity to reconnect with former teammates as well as the nucleus that has been put together since I&rsquo;ve been gone. There is a great coaching staff here and I can&rsquo;t wait to get started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Comiskey dressed for 30 games over two seasons for the Eskimos and was Edmonton&rsquo;s nominee for the CFL&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in 2008. He was released by Edmonton in December.</p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3463 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that free-agent non-import offensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=340" target="_blank"><strong>John Comiskey</strong></a> has signed a contract with the club. This is the second stint in Calgary for Comiskey, who previously played for the Stamps from 2005 to 2007. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="HS_Comiskey.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/HS_Comiskey.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="HS_Comiskey.jpg" width="165" /><br /><br />&ldquo;I am thrilled to have come to terms with John,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;A player of his experience and stature will add depth and veteran leadership to our football team.&rdquo;<br /><br />Comiskey, a 29-year-old product of Prince Albert, Sask., was originally drafted by the Stampeders in the third round (19th overall) of the 2005 CFL draft and spent three seasons with the Stamps. He was traded to Edmonton in 2008 and spent the past two seasons with the Eskimos. <br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m thrilled to be back in Calgary where everything started for me back in 2005,&rdquo; said Comiskey. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to a great 2010 campaign and am excited for the opportunity to reconnect with former teammates as well as the nucleus that has been put together since I&rsquo;ve been gone. There is a great coaching staff here and I can&rsquo;t wait to get started.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Comiskey dressed for 30 games over two seasons for the Eskimos and was Edmonton&rsquo;s nominee for the CFL&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in 2008. He was released by Edmonton in December.</p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3463 <p>Here's your opportunity to be a member of the greatest cheer team in the Canadian Football League &mdash; the Stampeder Outriders.</p> <h2>Preliminary Auditions</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Sunday, March 21<br /><strong>Time:</strong>&nbsp; 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Cardel Place</p> <h2>Interviews &ndash; for those selected after Preliminary Audition</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Saturday, March 27<br /><strong>Location:</strong> McMahon Stadium<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m. (Each candidate will be given a 15-minute window between these hours)</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/audition.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download application form (PDF)</strong></a></p> <h2>Audition Information</h2> <ul> <li>An application must be filled out in order to participate in the 2010 Auditions.&nbsp; <img alt="OutridersI_100126.jpg" height="253" src="/common/uploads/images/OutridersI_100126.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="OutridersI_100126.jpg" width="250" /></li> <li>The cost to audition is $10, which is due at the time of registration prior to the Preliminary Auditions.</li> <li>Applications will be accepted now through Friday March 19th, 2010</li> <li>To pre-register, please mail the attached registration form along with a full length photo of yourself to the address on form with $10 tryout fee payable to Calgary Stampeder Outriders. (This is a non-refundable fee, please do not send cash through the mail)</li> <li>If you have not pre-registered before the deadline, there will be forms available at the Preliminary Audition.&nbsp; Please make sure to arrive early to fill this out and please have your $10 tryout fee with you as well.<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What to Wear</h2> <ul> <li>Half-top</li> <li>Shorts</li> <li>Proper footwear</li> <li>Hair and make-up &mdash; as you envision yourself on Game Day. Please make sure your hair does NOT cover your face<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What will you be judged on?</h2> <ul> <li>Dance Ability</li> <li>Poise</li> <li>Fitness</li> <li>Personality</li> <li>Energy</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be yourself and have a great time!</strong><br /><br /><a href="mailto:outriders@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Any additional questions, please email Kelli Labonte</strong></a></p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3460 <h1><br />Preliminary Auditions</h1> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Sunday, March 21<br /><strong>Time:</strong>&nbsp; 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Cardel Place</p> <h2>Interviews &ndash; for those selected after Preliminary Audition</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Saturday, March 27<br /><strong>Location:</strong> McMahon Stadium<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m. (Each candidate will be given a 15-minute window between these hours)</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/audition.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download application form (PDF)</strong></a></p> <h2>Audition Information</h2> <ul> <li>An application must be filled out in order to participate in the 2010 Auditions.&nbsp; <img alt="OutridersI_100126.jpg" height="253" src="/common/uploads/images/OutridersI_100126.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="OutridersI_100126.jpg" width="250" /></li> <li>The cost to audition is $10, which is due at the time of registration prior to the Preliminary Auditions.</li> <li>Applications will be accepted now through Friday March 19th, 2010</li> <li>To pre-register, please mail the attached registration form along with a full length photo of yourself to the address on form with $10 tryout fee payable to Calgary Stampeder Outriders. (This is a non-refundable fee, please do not send cash through the mail)</li> <li>If you have not pre-registered before the deadline, there will be forms available at the Preliminary Audition.&nbsp; Please make sure to arrive early to fill this out and please have your $10 tryout fee with you as well.<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What to Wear</h2> <ul> <li>Half-top</li> <li>Shorts</li> <li>Proper footwear</li> <li>Hair and make-up &mdash; as you envision yourself on Game Day. Please make sure your hair does NOT cover your face<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What will you be judged on?</h2> <ul> <li>Dance Ability</li> <li>Poise</li> <li>Fitness</li> <li>Personality</li> <li>Energy</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be yourself and have a great time!</strong><br /><br /><a href="mailto:outriders@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Any additional questions, please email Kelli Labonte</strong></a></p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3460 <h1><br />2010 Calgary Stampeder Outrider Auditions<br /></h1> <h2>Preliminary Auditions</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Sunday, March 21<br /><strong>Time:</strong>&nbsp; 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Cardel Place</p> <h2>Interviews &ndash; for those selected after Preliminary Audition</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Saturday, March 27<br /><strong>Location:</strong> McMahon Stadium<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m. (Each candidate will be given a 15-minute window between these hours)</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/audition.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download application form (PDF)</strong></a></p> <h2>Audition Information</h2> <ul> <li>An application must be filled out in order to participate in the 2010 Auditions.&nbsp; <img alt="OutridersI_100126.jpg" height="253" src="/common/uploads/images/OutridersI_100126.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="OutridersI_100126.jpg" width="250" /></li> <li>The cost to audition is $10, which is due at the time of registration prior to the Preliminary Auditions.</li> <li>Applications will be accepted now through Friday March 19th, 2010</li> <li>To pre-register, please mail the attached registration form along with a full length photo of yourself to the address on form with $10 tryout fee payable to Calgary Stampeder Outriders. (This is a non-refundable fee, please do not send cash through the mail)</li> <li>If you have not pre-registered before the deadline, there will be forms available at the Preliminary Audition.&nbsp; Please make sure to arrive early to fill this out and please have your $10 tryout fee with you as well.<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What to Wear</h2> <ul> <li>Half-top</li> <li>Shorts</li> <li>Proper footwear</li> <li>Hair and make-up &mdash; as you envision yourself on Game Day. Please make sure your hair does NOT cover your face<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What will you be judged on?</h2> <ul> <li>Dance Ability</li> <li>Poise</li> <li>Fitness</li> <li>Personality</li> <li>Energy</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be yourself and have a great time!</strong><br /><br /><a href="mailto:outriders@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Any additional questions, please email Kelli Labonte</strong></a></p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3460 <h1>2010 Calgary Stampeder Outrider Auditions</h1> <h2><br />Preliminary Auditions</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Sunday, March 21<br /><strong>Time:</strong>&nbsp; 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m.<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Cardel Place</p> <h2>Interviews &ndash; for those selected after Preliminary Audition</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong>&nbsp; Saturday, March 27<br /><strong>Location:</strong> McMahon Stadium<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 10 a.m. &ndash; 4 p.m. (Each candidate will be given a 15-minute window between these hours)</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/audition.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download application form (PDF)</strong></a></p> <h2>Audition Information</h2> <ul> <li>An application must be filled out in order to participate in the 2010 Auditions.&nbsp; <img alt="OutridersI_100126.jpg" height="253" src="/common/uploads/images/OutridersI_100126.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="OutridersI_100126.jpg" width="250" /></li> <li>The cost to audition is $10, which is due at the time of registration prior to the Preliminary Auditions.</li> <li>Applications will be accepted now through Friday March 19th, 2010</li> <li>To pre-register, please mail the attached registration form along with a full length photo of yourself to the address on form with $10 tryout fee payable to Calgary Stampeder Outriders. (This is a non-refundable fee, please do not send cash through the mail)</li> <li>If you have not pre-registered before the deadline, there will be forms available at the Preliminary Audition.&nbsp; Please make sure to arrive early to fill this out and please have your $10 tryout fee with you as well.<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What to Wear</h2> <ul> <li>Half-top</li> <li>Shorts</li> <li>Proper footwear</li> <li>Hair and make-up &mdash; as you envision yourself on Game Day. Please make sure your hair does NOT cover your face<br /></li> </ul> <h2>What will you be judged on?</h2> <ul> <li>Dance Ability</li> <li>Poise</li> <li>Fitness</li> <li>Personality</li> <li>Energy</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be yourself and have a great time!</strong><br /><br /><a href="mailto:outriders@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Any additional questions, please email Kelli Labonte</strong></a></p> January 26, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3460 <p>Just a friendly reminder to current Stampeders season-ticket holders &mdash; Monday, Feb. 1 is the deadline for making a deposit on your 2010 season-ticket package.<img alt="McMahonaerial.jpg" height="167" src="/common/uploads/images/McMahonaerial.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="McMahonaerial.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The great news for fans is that starting this year it will be easier and more convenient than ever to manage your ticket account. Through the easy, one-time sign-up into the Archtics ticketing system, fans can print their tickets at home, change their address or transfer their tickets. The new system will be implemented on March 15, so stay tuned for more details.<br /><br />An added benefit of being a season-ticket holder this season is that fans get priority on purchasing the best available seats for the 2010 Grey Cup game at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium prior to public sale.<br /><br />Other perks that go with owning season tickets include:</p> <ul> <li>Guaranteed seat locations for all 2010 Stampeders home games</li> <li>Savings of up to 50 per cent compared to individual game ticket prices</li> <li>Option to purchase the same seats for home playoff games</li> <li>A 15 per cent discount VIP coupon for the Stamps' Store</li> <li>A 2010 fridge magnet schedule and horse decal</li> <li>Pre-sale opportunities for select events at McMahon Stadium</li> <li>Exclusive season-ticket holder notices and emails</li> </ul> <p>The 2010 season promises to be another exciting one for the Red and White as the team looks to get back to the Grey Cup game and build on the success of the first two seasons of the John Hufnagel era.<img alt="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" height="297" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds2_100114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Every CFL club &mdash; including West Division rivals Saskatchewan, Edmonton and BC as well as the Grey Cup-champion Montreal Alouettes &mdash; will visit McMahon Stadium in 2010, with the Labour Day Classic against the Eskimos returning as one of the traditional highlights of the home schedule.<br /><br />Also of note for the upcoming season is Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; pursuit of Kelvin Anderson and the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time rushing record. Reynolds needs 757 yards to overtake Anderson and climb into top spot on the Red and White&rsquo;s career rushing charts.<br /><br />This is also the year of the golden anniversary of the first game ever played at McMahon Stadium, which replaced Mewata Stadium as the Stamps&rsquo; home in 1960.<br /><br />For more information, please contact the Stampeders Ticket office at 403-289-0258 or toll-free at 1-800-667-3267, drop by in person (The Ticket Office is located on the east side of McMahon Stadium, at 1817 Crowchild Tr. N.W.) or visit us on-line.<br /><br /><a href="/tickets/tickets/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More info on 2010 season tickets</strong></a></p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1379 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>Miguel Robede</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Robede was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Miguel did a nice job for us while rotating at defensive tackle last season,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He came up with some big plays and we&rsquo;ll be looking for more of the same in 2010.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede, who enters his fifth season with Calgary, recorded 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and one pass knockdown in 11 regular-season games last season. He dressed for both playoff contests and added seven tackles, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to be back with Calgary,&rdquo; said Robede. &ldquo;The Stamps &mdash; and this coaching staff in particular &mdash; have always showed faith in me, which makes it easy to come back here. This has always been a great city to play in and I&rsquo;m definitely looking forward to the season.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede was originally drafted first overall by Calgary in the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3458 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>Miguel Robede</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Robede was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Miguel did a nice job for us while rotating at defensive tackle last season,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He came up with some big plays and we&rsquo;ll be looking for more of the same in 2010.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede, who enters his fifth season with Calgary, recorded 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and one pass knockdown in 11 regular-season games last season. He dressed for both playoff contests and added seven tackles, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to be back with Calgary,&rdquo; said Robede. &ldquo;The Stamps &mdash; and this coaching staff in particular &mdash; have always showed faith in me, which makes it easy to come back here. This has always been a great city to play in and I&rsquo;m definitely looking forward to the season.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede was originally drafted first overall by Calgary in the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3458 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>Miguel Robede</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Robede was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Miguel did a nice job for us while rotating at defensive tackle last season,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He came up with some big plays and we&rsquo;ll be looking for more of the same in 2010.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede, who enters his fifth season with Calgary, recorded 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and one pass knockdown in 11 regular-season games last season. He dressed for both playoff contests and added seven tackles, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to be back with Calgary,&rdquo; said Robede. &ldquo;The Stamps &mdash; and this coaching staff in particular &mdash; have always showed faith in me, which makes it easy to come back here. This has always been a great city to play in and I&rsquo;m definitely looking forward to the season.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede was originally drafted first overall by Calgary in the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3458 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=45" target="_blank"><strong>Miguel Robede</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Robede was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="RobedeI_100125.jpg" height="292" src="/common/uploads/images/RobedeI_100125.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="RobedeI_100125.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Miguel did a nice job for us while rotating at defensive tackle last season,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He came up with some big plays and we&rsquo;ll be looking for more of the same in 2010.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede, who enters his fifth season with Calgary, recorded 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and one pass knockdown in 11 regular-season games last season. He dressed for both playoff contests and added seven tackles, one quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to be back with Calgary,&rdquo; said Robede. &ldquo;The Stamps &mdash; and this coaching staff in particular &mdash; have always showed faith in me, which makes it easy to come back here. This has always been a great city to play in and I&rsquo;m definitely looking forward to the season.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Robede was originally drafted first overall by Calgary in the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3458 <p><img alt="CUPSdinner_100121.jpg" height="297" src="/common/uploads/images/CUPSdinner_100121.jpg" title="CUPSdinner_100121.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Alberta Children's Hospital received a cheque for $4,200 on Jan. 21 thanks to the Kicks for Kids program.<br /><br />Paragon Pharmacies donated $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 <img alt="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" height="97" src="/common/uploads/images/devitt_forand_spot.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" width="205" />successful kicks in 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.<br /><br />On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.<br /><br />Also on Jan. 21, the CUPS Health &amp; Education Centres and the Stampeders once again teamed up to lend a hand at the Knox United Church dinner.<br /><br />Stampeders CUPS representative Jeff Pilon made the trip to the church. CUPS has traditionally teamed up with Stampeders offensive linemen, therefore Pilon brought linemates Tim O&rsquo;Neill and Jon Gott downtown to mingle with the dinner guests. Former Stampeder Bruce Covernton <img alt="Cope_poker.jpg" height="261" src="/common/uploads/images/Cope_poker.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cope_poker.jpg" width="250" />&mdash; also an offensive lineman during his playing days &mdash; was also in attendance volunteering his time.</p> <p>Here are some of the Stamps' other community activities during the week:</p> <p><strong>Date: Saturday, Jan. 23<br /> Players:</strong> John Hufnagel, Jeremaine Copeland<br /> <strong>Event:</strong> Flames Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament<br /> <strong>Location:</strong> Deerfoot Inn and Casino - 1000 35th St. S.E.<br /> <strong>Details:</strong> Coach and the Cope were playing for terrific stakes &mdash; all proceeds went to The Flames Foundation for Life</p> <p><strong>Date: Thursday, Jan. 21<br /> Players: </strong>Coach Mark Kilam<br /> <strong>Event:</strong> Bowness high school speaking engagement<br /> <strong>Location:</strong> Bowness high school &mdash; 4627 77th Street N.W.<br /> <strong>Deatils:</strong> Coach Kilam made a presentation to the students with a stress on the value of leadership</p> January 25, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3455 <p><img alt="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" height="291" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_KickforKids.jpg" title="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders and Paragon Pharmacies teamed up for the Kicks for Kids program in 2009 and the big winner was the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>Paragon Pharmacies donated $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 successful kicks in 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.</p> January 22, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3454 <p><img alt="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" height="291" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_KickforKids.jpg" title="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders and Paragon Pharmacies teamed up for the Kicks for Kids program in 2009 and the big winner was the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>Paragon Pharmacies donated $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 successful kicks in 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.</p> January 22, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3454 <p><img alt="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" height="291" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_KickforKids.jpg" title="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders and Paragon Pharmacies teamed up for the Kicks for Kids program in 2009 and the big winner was the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>Paragon Pharmacies donated $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 successful kicks in 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.</p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3454 <p><img alt="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" height="291" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_KickforKids.jpg" title="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders and Paragon Pharmacies teamed up for the Kicks for Kids program in 2009 and the big winner was the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>Paragon Pharmacies donated $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 successful kicks in 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.</p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3454 <p><img alt="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" height="291" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_KickforKids.jpg" title="ACH_KickforKids.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders and Paragon Pharmacies teamed up for the Kicks for Kids program in 2009 and the big winner was the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>Paragon Pharmacies donates $100 for every made field goal during the season and 42 successful kicks during the 2009 means a total payout of $4,200 for the Alberta Children's Hospital.</p> <p>On hand for the official cheque presentation at the hospital on Jan. 21, 2010 were Paragon Pharmacies director of marketing Jeremy King and Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.</p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3454 <p>The Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) and the Calgary Stampeders once again teamed up to lend a hand at the Knox United Church dinner.<br /><br />On Thursday, Jan. 21, Stampeders CUPS representative Jeff Pilon made the trip to the church. CUPS has traditionally teamed up with Stampeders offensive linemen, therefore Pilon brought linemates Tim O&rsquo;Neill and Jon Gott downtown to mingle with the dinner guests. Former Stampeder Bruce Covernton &mdash; also an offensive lineman during his playing days &mdash; was also in attendance volunteering his time.<br /><br />Guests were treated to a warm meal and an opportunity to meet Pilon and his teammates, who signed autographs, posed for pictures, and handed out mini-footballs. As well, guests were given their choice of donated toiletries.<br /><br />In all, CUPS and Knox estimates they had enough food for up to 500 guests to enjoy.</p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3451 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=12" target="_blank"><strong>Justin Phillips</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Phillips was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/PhillipsI_100122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Justin continues to grow as a player and he had a very good season in 2009,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He earned a lot of playing time at defensive end and continued to be one of our top players on special teams.&rdquo;<br /><br />Phillips recorded 13 tackles, one quarterback sack and 15 special-teams tackles in 14 regular-season games in 2009. He added three tackles and a special-teams wrap-up in two playoff games. <br /><br />&ldquo;I am very excited and feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my football career in Calgary,&rdquo; said Phillips. &ldquo;The team and entire community have been very supportive over the past three years and have really made the experience of playing in Calgary a blessing. I look forward to continuing my career for the team that made it all possible by drafting me.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />Phillips enters his fourth season with the Red and White and was originally selected by Calgary in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1378" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog by Justin Phillips</strong></a></p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3448 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=12" target="_blank"><strong>Justin Phillips</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Phillips was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/PhillipsI_100122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Justin continues to grow as a player and he had a very good season in 2009,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He earned a lot of playing time at defensive end and continued to be one of our top players on special teams.&rdquo;<br /><br />Phillips recorded 13 tackles, one quarterback sack and 15 special-teams tackles in 14 regular-season games in 2009. He added three tackles and a special-teams wrap-up in two playoff games. <br /><br />&ldquo;I am very excited and feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my football career in Calgary,&rdquo; said Phillips. &ldquo;The team and entire community have been very supportive over the past three years and have really made the experience of playing in Calgary a blessing. I look forward to continuing my career for the team that made it all possible by drafting me.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />Phillips enters his fourth season with the Red and White and was originally selected by Calgary in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1378" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog by Justin Phillips</strong></a></p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3448 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=12" target="_blank"><strong>Justin Phillips</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Phillips was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/PhillipsI_100122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Justin continues to grow as a player and he had a very good season in 2009,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He earned a lot of playing time at defensive end and continued to be one of our top players on special teams.&rdquo;<br /><br />Phillips recorded 13 tackles, one quarterback sack and 15 special-teams tackles in 14 regular-season games in 2009. He added three tackles and a special-teams wrap-up in two playoff games. <br /><br />&ldquo;I am very excited and feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my football career in Calgary,&rdquo; said Phillips. &ldquo;The team and entire community have been very supportive over the past three years and have really made the experience of playing in Calgary a blessing. I look forward to continuing my career for the team that made it all possible by drafting me.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />Phillips enters his fourth season with the Red and White and was originally selected by Calgary in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> <p><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1378" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog by Justin Phillips</strong></a></p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3448 <p>I am very excited and feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my football career in Calgary. The entire community and team have been very supportive over the past three years and have really made the experience of playing in Calgary a blessing. I look forward to continuing my career for the team that made it all possible by drafting me, and to continue to be actively involved in our community. <br /><br />The decision to stay in Calgary was truly an easy one to make. From top to bottom this is a <img alt="PhillipsB_100122.jpg" height="344" src="/common/uploads/images/PhillipsB_100122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="PhillipsB_100122.jpg" width="250" />class act organization. The coaching staff is outstanding, the training and equipment staff make life as a football player much easier and the players are not just teammates but friends. I really do feel like when we line up to play every week that we are going to be successful. That&rsquo;s the most important thing for any competitor, and trust me we are surrounded by competitors in Calgary. That&rsquo;s the kind of team and atmosphere I want to be a part of, and the kind of opportunity I just couldn&rsquo;t pass up. <br /><br />I have always taken training very serious but this off-season I realized if I want to get to the level the coaches and myself expect from me, I need to refocus my training. That is why I went down to Sarasota, Florida, during the month of December and worked with the highly regarded trainer Mike Gough at Athletic Edge, who works with many of the top NFL players. In addition to him working with me he has provided me with a custom-tailored workout program to ensure I am in the best shape possible the upcoming season. Focused on being more explosive, faster and better conditioned. Over the past few seasons, I feel I have developed a better understanding on how to train, from watching what the veterans do. I use to just have the mentality bigger is better, but that&rsquo;s not always the case. <br /><br />With such a long season, I need to be better conditioned so my body doesn&rsquo;t break down in the final stretch, the most important time of the season. This past season I had to freeze my shoulder for the final month of the season to continue playing and that&rsquo;s something I am determined to avoid this upcoming season. I promise to all the fans that I am doing my part to get this team back to where it belongs, as champs. I look forward to what the future holds for the 2010 Stampeders and I am very excited to be part of it.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Along with training, this off-season I have begun a second career as a Real Estate Sales Representative in the Tri-Cities (Kitchener/ Waterloo/ Cambridge) of Ontario. The past couple of off-seasons, I went to the Ontario Real Estate College and got my certification, while working in a business development role for the brokerage. It has been a good experience and has allowed me to stay actively involved in the community and presents new challenges everyday. It has been fun, but I can&rsquo;t wait to get back to Calgary and tie up the cleats again!<br /><br />Justin Phillips, #44<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=12" target="_blank"><strong> &gt;&gt; Phillips bio</strong></a></p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1378 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import defensive lineman Justin Phillips has signed a contract extension with the club. Phillips was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/PhillipsI_100122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="PhillipsI_100122.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Justin continues to grow as a player and he had a very good season in 2009,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He earned a lot of playing time at defensive end and continued to be one of our top players on special teams.&rdquo;<br /><br />Phillips recorded 13 tackles, one quarterback sack and 15 special-teams tackles in 14 regular-season games in 2009. He added three tackles and a special-teams wrap-up in two playoff games. <br /><br />&ldquo;I am very excited and feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my football career in Calgary,&rdquo; said Phillips. &ldquo;The team and entire community have been very supportive over the past three years and have really made the experience of playing in Calgary a blessing. I look forward to continuing my career for the team that made it all possible by drafting me.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />Phillips enters his fourth season with the Red and White and was originally selected by Calgary in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 22, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3448 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=287" target="_blank"><strong>Blaine Kruger</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="KrugerI.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/KrugerI.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="KrugerI.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Blaine has good size and extremely good hands,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played three games for us as a rookie in 2009 and adapted well to the Canadian Football League game.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger spent most of 2009 on the team&rsquo;s practice roster but he made his CFL debut on Aug. 8 against Winnipeg. He dressed for two other games in 2009 but did not record any stats.<br /><br />&ldquo;Last season was an excellent learning opportunity for me,&rdquo; said Kruger. &ldquo;Now I&rsquo;m just focused on getting ready for training camp and hopefully I can take what I learned last year, continue to improve and contribute wherever possible this season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger, a native of Cochrane, Alta., played with the University of British Columbia in 2008 and with the Victoria Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference from 2005-07.</p> January 21, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3445 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=287" target="_blank"><strong>Blaine Kruger</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="KrugerI.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/KrugerI.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="KrugerI.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Blaine has good size and extremely good hands,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played three games for us as a rookie in 2009 and adapted well to the Canadian Football League game.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger spent most of 2009 on the team&rsquo;s practice roster but he made his CFL debut on Aug. 8 against Winnipeg. He dressed for two other games in 2009 but did not record any stats.<br /><br />&ldquo;Last season was an excellent learning opportunity for me,&rdquo; said Kruger. &ldquo;Now I&rsquo;m just focused on getting ready for training camp and hopefully I can take what I learned last year, continue to improve and contribute wherever possible this season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger, a native of Cochrane, Alta., played with the University of British Columbia in 2008 and with the Victoria Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference from 2005-07.</p> January 21, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3445 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import receiver Blaine Kruger has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="KrugerI.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/KrugerI.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="KrugerI.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Blaine has good size and extremely good hands,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He played three games for us as a rookie in 2009 and adapted well to the Canadian Football League game.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger spent most of 2009 on the team&rsquo;s practice roster but he made his CFL debut on Aug. 8 against Winnipeg. He dressed for two other games in 2009 but did not record any stats.<br /><br />&ldquo;Last season was an excellent learning opportunity for me,&rdquo; said Kruger. &ldquo;Now I&rsquo;m just focused on getting ready for training camp and hopefully I can take what I learned last year, continue to improve and contribute wherever possible this season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Kruger, a native of Cochrane, Alta., played with the University of British Columbia in 2008 and with the Victoria Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference from 2005-07.</p> January 21, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3445 <p><a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/2010wintergames/Lions coach Wally Buono carry Olympic torch Alberta border/2464732/story.html" target="_blank"><strong><br />By Yvonne Zacharias<br />Canwest News Service</strong></a><br /><br />The Olympic torch has travelled through Indian reserves, small prairie towns, parks, across desolate stretches of Canadian highways and through the rock-solid Canadian Shield.<br /><br />On Thursday, it will enter the home stretch as it crosses the border into British Columbia's stunning Kicking Horse Pass.<br /><br />And who better to pass the torch than two old football warriors &mdash; one a former politician and the other a coach.<br /><br />Shortly after 4 p.m., Alberta's most popular former premier, Peter Lougheed, will pass the torch to BC Lions general manager-coach and former Calgary Stampeders boss Wally Buono, representatives of two long-time rival teams meeting on common ground.<img alt="wally_flutie090919.jpg" height="362" src="/common/uploads/images/wally_flutie090919.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="wally_flutie090919.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Lougheed, who is now 81, played two seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos (1949 and 1950) before becoming Alberta premier in 1971, easily sailing to victory in subsequent elections until 1985.<br /><br />Buono is a former head coach of the Stampeders, which he led to three Grey Cup championships.<br /><br />It's a moment that the affable Buono has been waiting for.<br /><br />&ldquo;I guess a part of me is humbled by the fact that they have asked me,&rdquo; he said in an interview before flying to Calgary and then travelling to the Rockies.<br /><br />&ldquo;The other part of me is proud that I can do a little part to represent my country because it's really probably the first time I have been able to do something of this magnitude.&rdquo;<br /><br />He said he didn't know Lougheed personally but had certainly heard of his great skill as a premier. &ldquo;Obviously he was very highly regarded and still in in Alberta.<br /><br />&ldquo;He wouldn't have played with the Edmonton Eskimos by any chance, would he?&rdquo; Buono joked.<br /><br />Lougheed spearheaded Alberta's oil and gas boom and was premier during Calgary's successful bid to host the 1988 Olympics.<br /><br />Buono, who is 59, said he hasn't been working out specifically for the 300-metre distance he will run with the torch but because he works out regularly in the gym he doesn&rsquo;t think he will have any problems.<br /><br />&ldquo;I do try to keep myself in fairly good shape, so I'm hoping that the thin mountain air will do me good," said Buono, who had triple-bypass surgery in 2004.<br /><br />Buono added with a laugh: &ldquo;I am hoping to be able to run at my slow pace as I always do. I've still got some form of athleticism left in my body.&rdquo;<br /><br />Buono, who became the CFL's all-time winningest coach in September, said he was deeply honoured to be the first to carry the torch back into his home province. &ldquo;I get to do my little part, so that is great.&rdquo;<br /><br />He knows that the moment when the torch is handed over to him, which relay organizers estimate will be at precisely 4:28 p.m., will be very special for people lining the route &ldquo;as it will be for me.&rdquo;</p> January 21, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3442 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import running back <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=40" target="_blank"><strong>Jon Cornish</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Cornish <img alt="CornishI_100120.jpg" height="314" src="/common/uploads/images/CornishI_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CornishI_100120.jpg" width="250" />was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Jon has established himself as a very solid contributor to our team on offence and on special teams,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He always responds when given the opportunity and takes pride in all of his responsibilities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish missed the first three games of 2009 with an injury, but dressed for the final 15 regular-season contests and both playoff matchups. He carried the ball 20 times for 105 yards and two majors while adding eight receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was also a force on special teams, notching 18 tackles.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am very happy to be a member of the Stampeders for the foreseeable future,&rdquo; said Cornish. &ldquo;Playing with the Stamps has been a great learning tool for me and I hope that through my continued development, I will be able to further contribute to this team down the road.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish enters his fourth season with Calgary after being drafted by the Stamps in the second round (10th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 20, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3440 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import running back <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=40" target="_blank"><strong>Jon Cornish</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Cornish <img alt="CornishI_100120.jpg" height="314" src="/common/uploads/images/CornishI_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CornishI_100120.jpg" width="250" />was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Jon has established himself as a very solid contributor to our team on offence and on special teams,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He always responds when given the opportunity and takes pride in all of his responsibilities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish missed the first three games of 2009 with an injury, but dressed for the final 15 regular-season contests and both playoff matchups. He carried the ball 20 times for 105 yards and two majors while adding eight receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was also a force on special teams, notching 18 tackles.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am very happy to be a member of the Stampeders for the foreseeable future,&rdquo; said Cornish. &ldquo;Playing with the Stamps has been a great learning tool for me and I hope that through my continued development, I will be able to further contribute to this team down the road.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish enters his fourth season with Calgary after being drafted by the Stamps in the second round (10th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 20, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3440 <p>It&rsquo;s hard to believe I&rsquo;m heading into my fourth year with the Stampeders. I guess I&rsquo;m one of the old guys now.<br /><br />It really is true what they say about how time flies and every season seems to go by faster and faster as you go along.<img alt="CornishB_100120.jpg" height="376" src="/common/uploads/images/CornishB_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CornishB_100120.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />I&rsquo;m really looking forward to the new season. Joffrey Reynolds is coming back to the team of course and even though we play the same position, our situations our completely different. First of all, I&rsquo;m a Canadian and that makes a big difference. A lot of people out there think Canadian running backs are inferior and that&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;m determined to overcome. I want to show everyone what a Canadian running back is capable of. That&rsquo;s my challenge.<br /><br />It was great working with Dave Dickenson as our running backs coach last year. It doesn&rsquo;t matter that he was a quarterback during his career, Dave knows football and he knows offence. I remember when I got to Kansas, it was a defensive back who was coaching the running backs and that was a source of great frustration because he had zero understanding of offensive football. That certainly isn&rsquo;t the case with Dave. He&rsquo;s a very smart guy, he knows the game and he helped us a lot.<br /><br />Not to take anything away from Joffrey because he&rsquo;s obviously been very good for a long time but I give some of the credit to Dave for the fact Joffrey was able to take things up yet another level this past season and have such an outstanding season.<br /><br />I&rsquo;m really looking forward to working alongside Joffrey and providing the effective 1-2 punch at running back that people have been hoping to get.<br /><br />In order to make that happen, I&rsquo;m working out very hard in the off-season. I want to be the best football player I can possibly be &mdash; that&rsquo;s been my goal ever since I&rsquo;ve been in the CFL &mdash; so my trainer and I are being very progressive.<br /><br />We&rsquo;re doing lots of plyometrics, lots of work in the water and I&rsquo;m also doing some running with a track coach. I&rsquo;m also doing some yoga and some other things to work on my flexibility.<br /><br />Every year, I have a theme for my program. Last year, the theme was explosiveness. This year, I haven&rsquo;t forgotten about the explosiveness &mdash; that&rsquo;s still a major area of focus &mdash; but the main theme is speed.<br /><br />Getting hurt at the start of last season set me back a little bit but this year I know I&rsquo;ll be ready to go this year and I&rsquo;m looking forward to continuing to improve and to making further contributions to the team.<br /><br />Jon Cornish, # 9<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=40" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Cornish bio</strong></a></p> January 20, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1376 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import running back <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=40" target="_blank"><strong>Jon Cornish</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. Cornish <img alt="CornishI_100120.jpg" height="314" src="/common/uploads/images/CornishI_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CornishI_100120.jpg" width="250" />was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Jon has established himself as a very solid contributor to our team on offence and on special teams,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He always responds when given the opportunity and takes pride in all of his responsibilities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish missed the first three games of 2009 with an injury, but dressed for the final 15 regular-season contests and both playoff matchups. He carried the ball 20 times for 105 yards and two majors while adding eight receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was also a force on special teams, notching 18 tackles.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am very happy to be a member of the Stampeders for the foreseeable future,&rdquo; said Cornish. &ldquo;Playing with the Stamps has been a great learning tool for me and I hope that through my continued development, I will be able to further contribute to this team down the road.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish enters his fourth season with Calgary after being drafted by the Stamps in the second round (10th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 20, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3440 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import running back Jon Cornish has signed a contract extension with the club. Cornish <img alt="CornishI_100120.jpg" height="314" src="/common/uploads/images/CornishI_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CornishI_100120.jpg" width="250" />was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 15, 2010. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Jon has established himself as a very solid contributor to our team on offence and on special teams,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He always responds when given the opportunity and takes pride in all of his responsibilities.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish missed the first three games of 2009 with an injury, but dressed for the final 15 regular-season contests and both playoff matchups. He carried the ball 20 times for 105 yards and two majors while adding eight receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He was also a force on special teams, notching 18 tackles.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am very happy to be a member of the Stampeders for the foreseeable future,&rdquo; said Cornish. &ldquo;Playing with the Stamps has been a great learning tool for me and I hope that through my continued development, I will be able to further contribute to this team down the road.&rdquo;<br /><br />Cornish enters his fourth season with Calgary after being drafted by the Stamps in the second round (10th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> January 20, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3440 <p>Keep checking throughout the off-season for the latest on Stampeders transactions.</p> <p><strong>Jan. 19: LB Malik Jackson signs extension</strong><br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a></strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank"><img alt="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" height="238" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds2_100114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=224" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Jackson bio</a></strong></p> <p><strong>Jan. 15: RB Joffrey Reynolds signs extension<a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3431" target="_blank"><br />&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=938" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1375" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Insider Blog</a></strong><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Jan. 11: OL Godfrey Ellis and OL Tim O'Neill sign extensions</strong><br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3430" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a></strong><br /><strong><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; O'Neill bio</a><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=33" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Ellis bio</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3439 <p>Keep checking throughout the off-season for the latest on Stampeders transactions.</p> <p><strong>Jan. 19: LB Malik Jackson signs extension</strong><br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a></strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank"><img alt="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" height="238" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds2_100114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=224" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Jackson bio</a></strong></p> <p><strong>Jan. 15: RB Joffrey Reynolds signs extension<a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3431" target="_blank"><br />&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=938" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1375" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Insider Blog</a></strong><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Jan. 11: OL Godfrey Ellis and OL Tim O'Neill sign extensions</strong><br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3430" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a></strong><br /><strong><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; O'Neill bio</a><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=33" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Ellis bio</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3439 <p>Keep checking throughout the off-season for the latest on Stampeders transactions.</p> <p><strong>Jan. 19:</strong> LB Malik Jackson signs extension<br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a></strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3436" target="_blank"><img alt="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" height="238" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds2_100114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=224" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Jackson bio</a></strong></p> <p><strong>Jan. 15:</strong> RB Joffrey Reynolds signs extension<br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3431" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=938" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1375" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Insider Blog</a></strong></p> <p><strong>Jan. 11:</strong> OL Godfrey Ellis and OL Tim O'Neill sign extensions<br /><strong><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3430" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Full story</a><br /><a href="/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3439 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import linebacker <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=224" target="_blank"><strong>Malik Jackson</strong></a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Malik had an outstanding rookie season for us in 2009 as he started the year at defensive end before moving to linebacker,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;I look forward to seeing how he will perform this <img alt="MJackson_100120.jpg" height="269" src="/common/uploads/images/MJackson_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="MJackson_100120.jpg" width="250" />season with a year of experience under his belt and a full training camp at the linebacker position.&rdquo;<br /><br />Jackson was the Stamps&rsquo; 2009 Most Outstanding Rookie nominee after leading Calgary with 65 tackles and five tackles for loss. He added three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, eight special-teams tackles and a pass knockdown.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to my second season with the Stampeders,&rdquo; said Jackson. &ldquo;I have a year of CFL experience now and I can&rsquo;t wait to get going again.&rdquo;<br /><br />The 24-year-old Louisville product dressed in 15 regular-season games and both of Calgary&rsquo;s playoff contests in 2009. He started three games at defensive end early in the year and finished the regular-season with 10 consecutive starts at outside linebacker. He started at linebacker in both play contests.</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3436 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import linebacker Malik Jackson has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Malik had an outstanding rookie season for us in 2009 as he started the year at defensive end before moving to linebacker,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;I look forward to seeing how he will perform this <img alt="MJackson_100120.jpg" height="269" src="/common/uploads/images/MJackson_100120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="MJackson_100120.jpg" width="250" />season with a year of experience under his belt and a full training camp at the linebacker position.&rdquo;<br /><br />Jackson was the Stamps&rsquo; 2009 Most Outstanding Rookie nominee after leading Calgary with 65 tackles and five tackles for loss. He added three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, eight special-teams tackles and a pass knockdown.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to my second season with the Stampeders,&rdquo; said Jackson. &ldquo;I have a year of CFL experience now and I can&rsquo;t wait to get going again.&rdquo;<br /><br />The 24-year-old Louisville product dressed in 15 regular-season games and both of Calgary&rsquo;s playoff contests in 2009. He started three games at defensive end early in the year and finished the regular-season with 10 consecutive starts at outside linebacker. He started at linebacker in both play contests.</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3436 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce <a href="/team/club_operations/profile/?id=86" target="_blank"><strong>Lyle Bauer</strong></a> will join the club as President and Chief Operating Officer. He becomes the 28th president in Stamps history.<br /><br />&ldquo;Lyle brings tremendous administration skills to the Stampeders and we&rsquo;re excited about having him take control of the club&rsquo;s business operations,&rdquo; said John Forzani, managing partner of business of operations. &ldquo;He did an exceptional job of turning around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; financial situation and has also been very successful in his non-football business pursuits.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=944" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; View video of Monday's press conference</strong></a><br /><br />Most recently, Bauer served as chief executive officer and president of the Bombers from <img alt="Bauer_HS.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/Bauer_HS.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Bauer_HS.jpg" width="165" />February of 2000 to December of 2009. Under his direction, the Winnipeg football club went from a position of financial difficulty to a position of long-term stability with an extremely strong balance sheet.<br /><br />He will oversee and operate all of the Stampeders&rsquo; business operations, while head coach/general manager John Hufnagel continues to handle all aspects of football operations.<br /><br />"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization like the Calgary Stampeders,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;Over the years, I have been able to watch the commitment this ownership group has demonstrated to ensure the viability of this organization for the city, their fans, staff and players. They have also demonstrated the commitment to acquire the best talent on and off the field and understand the required investment to be a premier franchise in the Canadian Football League."<br /><br />Bauer helped revive the Winnipeg franchise by developing a sound internal business plan and by invigorating the relationship between fans, the business community and the storied franchise.<br /><br />Bauer also founded the Never Alone Foundation, which supports numerous programs including CancerCare Manitoba. The Never Alone Foundation was conceived by Bauer following his own battle with cancer in late 2004.<br /><br />Bauer played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League &mdash; all in Winnipeg &mdash; and appeared in 161 regular-season games. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cups in 1984, 1988 and 1990. As a player, he served as the team&rsquo;s representative to the Canadian Football League Players&rsquo; Association and he was inducted as a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1998. <br /><br />Bauer majored in business administration at Weber State College. He moved to the real estate industry in 1982 and practiced that profession throughout his playing career.<br /><br />Upon his retirement from football in February of 1992, he became the Bombers&rsquo; assistant GM and held that position for three years before becoming the general manager during Cal Murphy&rsquo;s absence in 1992.<br /><br />He left the Bombers in 1995 to pursue business opportunities in the grain industry, working for AgPro in Calgary where he served as the company&rsquo;s general manager. He holds the C.I.M. and P.Mgr. professional designations through the Canadian Institute of Management. He also is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers and completed the association&rsquo;s executive program at Cornell University in 2005.<br /><br />During his recent tenure in Winnipeg, Bauer kept his primary residence in Calgary. Originally from Saskatoon, Lyle and his wife Heidi have three children &mdash; Danni, Brodie and Wesley.</p> January 18, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3434 <p>In 2009, Henry Burris systematically removed Doug Flutie from the No. 1 position in most of the major categories of the Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; all-time passing statistics.<br /><br />In 2010, Joffrey Reynolds is in position to do the same to Kelvin Anderson in the rushing section of the Red and White record books.<br /><br />Reynolds heads into the coming season needing only 757 yards to vault over Anderson and <img alt="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" height="297" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds2_100114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds2_100114.jpg" width="250" />claim the top spot on Calgary&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Reynolds has been climbing the charts fast &mdash; with a league-leading 1,504 yards in 2009, the Tyler, Tex., product moved from fifth to second on the Stamps&rsquo; list as he passed Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford.<br /><br />In addition to owning the two best career rushing-yard totals in franchise history &mdash; 8,292 for Anderson; 7,536 for Reynolds &mdash; the two running backs share an impressive feat. Anderson hit the 1,000-yard plateau in each of his seven seasons in Calgary (1996-2002) while Reynolds has reached the same milestone in each of his five full seasons with the Stamps (2005-2009). They&rsquo;re the only backs in franchise history to string together five consecutive 1,000-yard efforts.<br /><br />&ldquo;They&rsquo;re almost identical players,&rdquo; said Calgary offensive coordinator George Cortez, who coached both players. &ldquo;The best thing about them? They don&rsquo;t miss games. They just don&rsquo;t miss games. They&rsquo;re always there. They&rsquo;re dependable. It&rsquo;s a huge plus to know that every time you go out there, you&rsquo;re going to have the same guy.&rdquo;<img alt="KAnderson_100118.jpg" height="386" src="/common/uploads/images/KAnderson_100118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="KAnderson_100118.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Except for the brief transition period between Anderson and Reynolds in 2003 and early 2004, the Stamps have been able to count on a standout running back for the past 14 years. The reliability and production out of the backfield have been tremendous assets for Red and White quarterbacks from Jeff Garcia to Dave Dickenson to Marcus Crandell to Henry Burris.<br /><br />&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a trust factor there knowing the back&rsquo;s going to pick up the guy he&rsquo;s supposed to in protection and he&rsquo;s going to be where he&rsquo;s supposed to be,&rdquo; said Cortez. &ldquo;He takes the correct steps so you don&rsquo;t have to be looking for him in the running game. All those little things allow you to operate efficiently.&rdquo;<br /><br />Since arriving in 2004, Reynolds has missed just one game &mdash; he sat out the final contest of the 2007 season when the Stamps had already clinched a playoff spot &mdash; and in 2009, at age 29, the University of Houston alum showed no signs of slowing down.<br /><br />&ldquo;Joffrey had by far his best year,&rdquo; said Cortez. &ldquo;He was explosive, he ran physically and he was an improved protector (of the quarterback on blocking assignments). That brought him into the elite level of running backs in the league. And he&rsquo;s an integral part of the passing game, too.&rdquo;<br /><br />In addition to chasing down the career yardage mark, Reynolds already has a share (along with Earl Lunsford) of Calgary&rsquo;s record for 100-yard games with 28. With 42 career rushing majors, Reynolds trails only Lunsford (55) and Anderson (52).<br /><br />Reynolds&rsquo; career mark of 5.9 yards per carry is tops among the Stamps&rsquo; all-time rushing leaders.</p> January 19, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1375 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce <a href="/team/club_operations/profile/?id=86" target="_blank"><strong>Lyle Bauer</strong></a> will join the club as President and Chief Operating Officer. He becomes the 28th president in Stamps history.<br /><br />&ldquo;Lyle brings tremendous administration skills to the Stampeders and we&rsquo;re excited about having him take control of the club&rsquo;s business operations,&rdquo; said John Forzani, managing partner of business of operations. &ldquo;He did an exceptional job of turning around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; financial situation and has also been very successful in his non-football business pursuits.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=944" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; View video of Monday's press conference</strong></a><br /><br />Most recently, Bauer served as chief executive officer and president of the Bombers from <img alt="Bauer_HS.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/Bauer_HS.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Bauer_HS.jpg" width="165" />February of 2000 to December of 2009. Under his direction, the Winnipeg football club went from a position of financial difficulty to a position of long-term stability with an extremely strong balance sheet.<br /><br />He will oversee and operate all of the Stampeders&rsquo; business operations, while head coach/general manager John Hufnagel continues to handle all aspects of football operations.<br /><br />"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization like the Calgary Stampeders,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;Over the years, I have been able to watch the commitment this ownership group has demonstrated to ensure the viability of this organization for the city, their fans, staff and players. They have also demonstrated the commitment to acquire the best talent on and off the field and understand the required investment to be a premier franchise in the Canadian Football League."<br /><br />Bauer helped revive the Winnipeg franchise by developing a sound internal business plan and by invigorating the relationship between fans, the business community and the storied franchise.<br /><br />Bauer also founded the Never Alone Foundation, which supports numerous programs including CancerCare Manitoba. The Never Alone Foundation was conceived by Bauer following his own battle with cancer in late 2004.<br /><br />Bauer played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League &mdash; all in Winnipeg &mdash; and appeared in 161 regular-season games. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cups in 1984, 1988 and 1990. As a player, he served as the team&rsquo;s representative to the Canadian Football League Players&rsquo; Association and he was inducted as a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1998. <br /><br />Bauer majored in business administration at Weber State College. He moved to the real estate industry in 1982 and practiced that profession throughout his playing career.<br /><br />Upon his retirement from football in February of 1992, he became the Bombers&rsquo; assistant GM and held that position for three years before becoming the general manager during Cal Murphy&rsquo;s absence in 1992.<br /><br />He left the Bombers in 1995 to pursue business opportunities in the grain industry, working for AgPro in Calgary where he served as the company&rsquo;s general manager. He holds the C.I.M. and P.Mgr. professional designations through the Canadian Institute of Management. He also is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers and completed the association&rsquo;s executive program at Cornell University in 2005.<br /><br />During his recent tenure in Winnipeg, Bauer kept his primary residence in Calgary. Originally from Saskatoon, Lyle and his wife Heidi have three children &mdash; Danni, Brodie and Wesley.</p> January 18, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3434 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce <a href="/team/club_operations/profile/?id=86" target="_blank"><strong>Lyle Bauer</strong></a> will join the club as President and Chief Operating Officer. He becomes the 28th president in Stamps history.<br /><br />&ldquo;Lyle brings tremendous administration skills to the Stampeders and we&rsquo;re excited about having him take control of the club&rsquo;s business operations,&rdquo; said John Forzani, managing partner of business of operations. &ldquo;He did an exceptional job of turning around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; financial situation and has also been very successful in his non-football business pursuits.&rdquo;<br /><br />Most recently, Bauer served as chief executive officer and president of the Bombers from <img alt="Bauer_HS.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/Bauer_HS.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Bauer_HS.jpg" width="165" />February of 2000 to December of 2009. Under his direction, the Winnipeg football club went from a position of financial difficulty to a position of long-term stability with an extremely strong balance sheet.<br /><br />He will oversee and operate all of the Stampeders&rsquo; business operations, while head coach/general manager John Hufnagel continues to handle all aspects of football operations.<br /><br />"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization like the Calgary Stampeders,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;Over the years, I have been able to watch the commitment this ownership group has demonstrated to ensure the viability of this organization for the city, their fans, staff and players. They have also demonstrated the commitment to acquire the best talent on and off the field and understand the required investment to be a premier franchise in the Canadian Football League."<br /><br />Bauer helped revive the Winnipeg franchise by developing a sound internal business plan and by invigorating the relationship between fans, the business community and the storied franchise.<br /><br />Bauer also founded the Never Alone Foundation, which supports numerous programs including CancerCare Manitoba. The Never Alone Foundation was conceived by Bauer following his own battle with cancer in late 2004.<br /><br />Bauer played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League &mdash; all in Winnipeg &mdash; and appeared in 161 regular-season games. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cups in 1984, 1988 and 1990. As a player, he served as the team&rsquo;s representative to the Canadian Football League Players&rsquo; Association and he was inducted as a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1998. <br /><br />Bauer majored in business administration at Weber State College. He moved to the real estate industry in 1982 and practiced that profession throughout his playing career.<br /><br />Upon his retirement from football in February of 1992, he became the Bombers&rsquo; assistant GM and held that position for three years before becoming the general manager during Cal Murphy&rsquo;s absence in 1992.<br /><br />He left the Bombers in 1995 to pursue business opportunities in the grain industry, working for AgPro in Calgary where he served as the company&rsquo;s general manager. He holds the C.I.M. and P.Mgr. professional designations through the Canadian Institute of Management. He also is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers and completed the association&rsquo;s executive program at Cornell University in 2005.<br /><br />During his recent tenure in Winnipeg, Bauer kept his primary residence in Calgary. Originally from Saskatoon, Lyle and his wife Heidi have three children &mdash; Danni, Brodie and Wesley.</p> January 18, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3434 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce Lyle Bauer will join the club as President and Chief Operating Officer. He becomes the 28th president in Stamps history.<br /><br />&ldquo;Lyle brings tremendous administration skills to the Stampeders and we&rsquo;re excited about having him take control of the club&rsquo;s business operations,&rdquo; said John Forzani, managing partner of business of operations. &ldquo;He did an exceptional job of turning around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers&rsquo; financial situation and has also been very successful in his non-football business pursuits.&rdquo;<br /><br />Most recently, Bauer served as chief executive officer and president of the Bombers from <img alt="Bauer_HS.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/Bauer_HS.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Bauer_HS.jpg" width="165" />February of 2000 to December of 2009. Under his direction, the Winnipeg football club went from a position of financial difficulty to a position of long-term stability with an extremely strong balance sheet.<br /><br />He will oversee and operate all of the Stampeders&rsquo; business operations, while head coach/general manager John Hufnagel continues to handle all aspects of football operations.<br /><br />"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization like the Calgary Stampeders,&rdquo; said Bauer. &ldquo;Over the years, I have been able to watch the commitment this ownership group has demonstrated to ensure the viability of this organization for the city, their fans, staff and players. They have also demonstrated the commitment to acquire the best talent on and off the field and understand the required investment to be a premier franchise in the Canadian Football League."<br /><br />Bauer helped revive the Winnipeg franchise by developing a sound internal business plan and by invigorating the relationship between fans, the business community and the storied franchise.<br /><br />Bauer also founded the Never Alone Foundation, which supports numerous programs including CancerCare Manitoba. The Never Alone Foundation was conceived by Bauer following his own battle with cancer in late 2004.<br /><br />Bauer played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League &mdash; all in Winnipeg &mdash; and appeared in 161 regular-season games. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cups in 1984, 1988 and 1990. As a player, he served as the team&rsquo;s representative to the Canadian Football League Players&rsquo; Association and he was inducted as a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1998. <br /><br />Bauer majored in business administration at Weber State College. He moved to the real estate industry in 1982 and practiced that profession throughout his playing career.<br /><br />Upon his retirement from football in February of 1992, he became the Bombers&rsquo; assistant GM and held that position for three years before becoming the general manager during Cal Murphy&rsquo;s absence in 1992.<br /><br />He left the Bombers in 1995 to pursue business opportunities in the grain industry, working for AgPro in Calgary where he served as the company&rsquo;s general manager. He holds the C.I.M. and P.Mgr. professional designations through the Canadian Institute of Management. He also is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers and completed the association&rsquo;s executive program at Cornell University in 2005.<br /><br />During his recent tenure in Winnipeg, Bauer kept his primary residence in Calgary. Originally from Saskatoon, Lyle and his wife Heidi have three children &mdash; Danni, Brodie and Wesley.</p> January 18, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3434 <p>For me, getting the contract done was just a matter of time. Calgary is where I wanted to stay and play. This is the only place I know and this is the only place I want to be.<br /><br />Football is a year-to-year thing and you can never look too far ahead, but it&rsquo;s definitely my goal to retire as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Calgary has treated me with the utmost consideration ever since I&rsquo;ve been here and I really had no desire to play anywhere else. I have a personal relationship with the ownership group and <img alt="Reynolds_100115.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_100115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_100115.jpg" width="250" />even though I&rsquo;ve played for three coaches since I&rsquo;ve been here, this will be my third year playing for Coach Huff. It&rsquo;s nice to be considered one of his guys.<br /><br />And it&rsquo;s not just the management I&rsquo;ve built a relationship with, it&rsquo;s the players, too &mdash; like Hank and Nik and Cope and Rambo. Those guys, we&rsquo;ve been together here for five years and that&rsquo;s a long time. That chemistry that we have is something that would have been hard to duplicate anywhere else. To be as successful as we have, both statistically and as a winning program, speaks volumes for player and management. Team success is something we&rsquo;ve all been able to enjoy as a group.<br /><br />I remember first coming to Calgary. I had spent a year with St. Louis and I had just come out of training camp with the New York Giants that I basically just walked out of. As a player, I was frustrated with football. When you&rsquo;re younger, you&rsquo;re a little bit bratty when things aren&rsquo;t going your way and I remember coming to Calgary under Coach Dunigan at a time and getting an opportunity to showcase my skills, which I hadn&rsquo;t gotten a chance to do in the NFL.<br /><br />Then he left and new ownership came in and fortunately, they wanted to keep me, which doesn&rsquo;t always happen when there are major changes. From then on, they&rsquo;ve allowed to me to write my story and be the type of player that I wanted to be. That doesn&rsquo;t happen a lot.<br /><br />No matter what&rsquo;s happened in the past, my goal is to keep getting better. As a player, you have to learn how to do everything well. Let&rsquo;s face it, in pro football, they can bring in guys just to run the ball or catch the ball or block. So you do everything you can to incorporate everything into your game. Every year, you have to humble yourself because you&rsquo;re only as good as the team that&rsquo;s around you. I try to approach every year with the goal of getting better.<br /><br />People have been asking about closing in on the team&rsquo;s all-time rushing record. I know Kelvin Anderson is the all-time leader and somebody told me I was like 750 yards behind him. <br /><br />In running back terms, that&rsquo;s still a long way away. From what I hear, Kelvin was a great player, but getting record is not really on my list of things to do. My list includes just one item and that&rsquo;s to continue putting a good product on the field. That&rsquo;s it. I&rsquo;m glad that I&rsquo;ll still be getting the chance to do that in Calgary.<br /><br />Joffrey Reynolds, #21<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import running back <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank">Joffrey Reynolds</a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Joffrey is a key part of our team and we&rsquo;re delighted to have him back,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He is one of the premier backs in the Canadian Football League and his production speaks for itself. He is the model of consistency and professionalism.&rdquo;<br /><br />Reynolds was named the 2009 West Division Most Outstanding Player after leading all CFL rushers with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with 1,935 yards from scrimmage and nine 100-yard games. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the league.<br /><br />The 30-year-old, Tyler, Tex., product enters his seventh season with the Stamps as the franchise&rsquo;s second-leading all-time rusher with 7,536 yards. He trails only Kelvin Anderson (8,292).</p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3431 <p>For me, getting the contract done was just a matter of time. Calgary is where I wanted to stay and play. This is the only place I know and this is the only place I want to be.<br /><br />Football is a year-to-year thing and you can never look to far ahead, but it&rsquo;s definitely my goal to retire as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Calgary has treated me with the utmost consideration ever since I&rsquo;ve been here and I really had no desire to play anywhere else. I have a personal relationship with the ownership group and <img alt="Reynolds_100115.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_100115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_100115.jpg" width="250" />even though I&rsquo;ve played for three coaches since I&rsquo;ve been here, this will be my third year playing for Coach Huff. It&rsquo;s nice to be considered one of his guys.<br /><br />And it&rsquo;s not just the management I&rsquo;ve built a relationship with, it&rsquo;s the players, too &mdash; like Hank and Nik and Cope and Rambo. Those guys, we&rsquo;ve been together here for five years and that&rsquo;s a long time. That chemistry that we have is something that would have been hard to duplicate anywhere else. To be as successful as we have, both statistically and as a winning program, speaks volumes for player and management. Team success is something we&rsquo;ve all been able to enjoy as a group.<br /><br />I remember first coming to Calgary. I had spent a year with St. Louis and I had just come out of training camp with the New York Giants that I basically just walked out of. As a player, I was frustrated with football. When you&rsquo;re younger, you&rsquo;re a little bit bratty when things aren&rsquo;t going your way and I remember coming to Calgary under Coach Dunigan at a time and getting an opportunity to showcase my skills, which I hadn&rsquo;t gotten a chance to do in the NFL.<br /><br />Then he left and new ownership came in and fortunately, they wanted to keep me, which doesn&rsquo;t always happen when there are major changes. From then on, they&rsquo;ve allowed to me to write my story and be the type of player that I wanted to be. That doesn&rsquo;t happen a lot.<br /><br />No matter what&rsquo;s happened in the past, my goal is to keep getting better. As a player, you have to learn how to do everything well. Let&rsquo;s face it, in pro football, they can bring in guys just to run the ball or catch the ball or block. So you do everything you can to incorporate everything into your game. Every year, you have to humble yourself because you&rsquo;re only as good as the team that&rsquo;s around you. I try to approach every year with the goal of getting better.<br /><br />People have been asking about closing in on the team&rsquo;s all-time rushing record. I know Kelvin Anderson is the all-time leader and somebody told me I was like 750 yards behind him. <br /><br />In running back terms, that&rsquo;s still a long way away. From what I hear, Kelvin was a great player, but getting record is not really on my list of things to do. My list includes just one item and that&rsquo;s to continue putting a good product on the field. That&rsquo;s it. I&rsquo;m glad that I&rsquo;ll still be getting the chance to do that in Calgary.<br /><br />Joffrey Reynolds, #21<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373 <p>For me, getting the contract done was just a matter of time. Calgary is where I wanted to stay and play. This is the only place I know and this is the only place I want to be.<br /><br />Football is a year-to-year thing and you can never look to far ahead, but it&rsquo;s definitely my goal to retire as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Calgary has treated me with the utmost consideration ever since I&rsquo;ve been here and I really had no desire to play anywhere else. I have a personal relationship with the ownership group and <img alt="Reynolds_100115.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_100115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_100115.jpg" width="250" />even though I&rsquo;ve played for three coaches since I&rsquo;ve been here, this will be my third year playing for Coach Huff. It&rsquo;s nice to be considered one of his guys.<br /><br />And it&rsquo;s not just the management I&rsquo;ve built a relationship with, it&rsquo;s the players, too &mdash; like Hank and Nik and Cope and Rambo. Those guys, we&rsquo;ve been together here for five years and that&rsquo;s a long time. That chemistry that we have is something that would have been hard to duplicate anywhere else. To be as successful as we have, both statistically and as a winning program, speaks volumes for player and management. Team success is something we&rsquo;ve all been able to enjoy as a group.<br /><br />I remember first coming to Calgary. I had spent a year with St. Louis and I had just come out of training camp with the New York Giants that I basically just walked out of. As a player, I was frustrated with football. When you&rsquo;re younger, you&rsquo;re a little bit bratty when things aren&rsquo;t going your way and I remember coming to Calgary under Coach Dunigan at a time and getting an opportunity to showcase my skills, which I hadn&rsquo;t gotten a chance to do in the NFL.<br /><br />Then he left and new ownership came in and fortunately, they wanted to keep me, which doesn&rsquo;t always happen when there are major changes. From then on, they&rsquo;ve allowed to me to write my story and be the type of player that I wanted to be. That doesn&rsquo;t happen a lot.<br /><br />No matter what&rsquo;s happened in the past, my goal is to keep getting better. As a player, you have to learn how to do everything well. Let&rsquo;s face it, in pro football, they can bring in guys just to run the ball or catch the ball or block. So you do everything you can to incorporate everything into your game. Every year, you have to humble yourself because you&rsquo;re only as good as the team that&rsquo;s around you. I try to approach every year with the goal of getting better.<br /><br />People have been asking about closing in on the team&rsquo;s all-time rushing record. I know Kelvin Anderson is the all-time leader and somebody told me I was like 750 yards behind him. <br /><br />In running back terms, that&rsquo;s still a long way away. From what I hear, Kelvin was a great player, but getting record is not really on my list of things to do. My list includes just one item and that&rsquo;s to continue putting a good product on the field. That&rsquo;s it. I&rsquo;m glad that I&rsquo;ll still be getting the chance to do that in Calgary.<br /><br />Joffrey Reynolds, #21<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1373 <p><strong><em>Veteran Stampeders linebacker and special-teams player Marc Calixte is a first-generation Canadian whose parents were both born in Haiti. Like many Canadians of Haitian heritage, Marc has anxiously been waiting for word of the fate of family members living in the earthquake-ravaged country.</em></strong><br /><br />We&rsquo;ve heard that my father-in-law is still alive, so we&rsquo;re grateful for that. We don&rsquo;t know much <img alt="Calixte_100115.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/Calixte_100115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Calixte_100115.jpg" width="250" />else about his condition and we haven&rsquo;t been able to talk to him yet, but at least we know he&rsquo;s alive.<br /><br />There are lots of cousins and other family on my father&rsquo;s and mother&rsquo;s side that we still haven&rsquo;t heard from. All we can do is hold our breath, hope and wait.<br /><br />I&rsquo;ve never been to Haiti myself because there&rsquo;s never been an appropriate occasion in the past to go there because of the political situation in that country. But obviously, I have a lot of strong sentiment for the country through my parents and also because of family members still living there.<br /><br />The Haitian community here in Montreal and I&rsquo;m sure also in Calgary is coming together and we&rsquo;re leaning on each other as we&rsquo;re waiting to hear about our family and loved one. There&rsquo;s also discussion among a group of volunteers about what can be done to help. We&rsquo;re talking about a long-term project here because this obviously isn&rsquo;t something that&rsquo;s going to be resolved in just a couple of weeks.<br /><br />In the meantime, I would urge people to make donations to the Red Cross or to any of the other organizations that are committed to relief efforts in Haiti. I know people in Western Canada and in Calgary in particular have always been very generous when it comes to supporting worthwhile causes and I know they will be again.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Marc Calixte, #37<br /><br /><a href="http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=33898&amp;tid=001" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Donate to the Red Cross</strong></a></p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1370 <p><strong><em>Veteran Stampeders linebacker and special-teams player Marc Calixte is a first-generation Canadian whose parents were both born in Haiti. Like many Canadians of Haitian heritage, Marc has anxiously been waiting for word of the fate of family members living in the earthquake-ravaged country.</em></strong><br /><br />We&rsquo;ve heard that my father-in-law is still alive, so we&rsquo;re grateful for that. We don&rsquo;t know much <img alt="Calixte_100115.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/Calixte_100115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Calixte_100115.jpg" width="250" />else about his condition and we haven&rsquo;t been able to talk to him yet, but at least we know he&rsquo;s alive.<br /><br />There are lots of cousins and other family on my father&rsquo;s and mother&rsquo;s side that we still haven&rsquo;t heard from. All we can do is hold our breath, hope and wait.<br /><br />I&rsquo;ve never been to Haiti myself because there&rsquo;s never been an appropriate occasion in the past to go there because of the political situation in that country. But obviously, I have a lot of strong sentiment for the country through my parents and also because of family members still living there.<br /><br />The Haitian community here in Montreal and I&rsquo;m sure also in Calgary is coming together and we&rsquo;re leaning on each other as we&rsquo;re waiting to hear about our family and loved one. There&rsquo;s also discussion among a group of volunteers about what can be done to help. We&rsquo;re talking about a long-term project here because this obviously isn&rsquo;t something that&rsquo;s going to be resolved in just a couple of weeks.<br /><br />In the meantime, I would urge people to make donations to the Red Cross or to any of the other organizations that are committed to relief efforts in Haiti. I know people in Western Canada and in Calgary in particular have always been very generous when it comes to supporting worthwhile causes and I know they will be again.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Marc Calixte, #37<br /><br /><a href="http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=33898&amp;tid=001"><strong>&gt;&gt; Donate to the Red Cross</strong></a></p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1370 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import running back <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39" target="_blank">Joffrey Reynolds</a> has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Joffrey is a key part of our team and we&rsquo;re delighted to have him back,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He is one of the premier backs in the Canadian Football League and his production speaks for itself. He is the model of consistency and professionalism.&rdquo;<br /><br />Reynolds was named the 2009 West Division Most Outstanding Player after leading all CFL rushers with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with 1,935 yards from scrimmage and nine 100-yard games. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the league.<br /><br />The 30-year-old, Tyler, Tex., product enters his seventh season with the Stamps as the franchise&rsquo;s second-leading all-time rusher with 7,536 yards. He trails only Kelvin Anderson (8,292).</p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3431 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that import running back Joffrey Reynolds has signed a contract extension with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&ldquo;Joffrey is a key part of our team and we&rsquo;re delighted to have him back,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;He is one of the premier backs in the Canadian Football League and his production speaks for itself. He is the model of consistency and professionalism.&rdquo;<br /><br />Reynolds was named the 2009 West Division Most Outstanding Player after leading all CFL rushers with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with 1,935 yards from scrimmage and nine 100-yard games. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the league.<br /><br />The 30-year-old, Tyler, Tex., product enters his seventh season with the Stamps as the franchise&rsquo;s second-leading all-time rusher with 7,536 yards. He trails only Kelvin Anderson (8,292).</p> January 15, 2010 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3431 <p>It&rsquo;s nice to get the contract signed and out of the way and now I can just concentrate on getting ready for the coming season.<br /><br />I&rsquo;m really glad to be staying with this team. I went to the University of Calgary and now this is going to be my third year with the Stamps. This has been a great city for me and there are <img alt="ONeill_100111.jpg" height="354" src="/common/uploads/images/ONeill_100111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ONeill_100111.jpg" width="250" />definitely some great opportunities both on and off the field, so I&rsquo;m very happy to be here.<br /><br />The off-season has been good so far, but there&rsquo;s always work to be done. Right after the season ends, you let your body recover for a little while and you take care of yourself. Then you start right back into it. <br /><br />I&rsquo;ve been doing some yoga to improve my flexibility and I&rsquo;ve also been doing some weight training. The weight training hasn&rsquo;t been too heavy so far but I&rsquo;ll start picking that up as the month goes along.<br /><br />I managed to get down to Phoenix and to Palm Springs, where I was able to get a little sun and enjoy the outdoors. I did some golfing and, because my parents are down there, I even did some lawn bowling and bocce ball. The Stampeders offensive linemen play bocce during the season but let me tell you, those old-timers have got some skills. They know what they&rsquo;re doing. It was a good time down there.<br /><br />When I look back on the past season, the main thing you think about is how you can be better. Or at least that&rsquo;s the way I look at it anyway. You look back at what you did and you do everything you can to make improvements. To me, that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s important.<br /><br />After not seeing much action earlier in my career, it was just nice to get out there and play some football this past season and I&rsquo;m looking forward to getting a chance to do it again in 2010.<br /><br />Tim O&rsquo;Neill, #66<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; O&rsquo;Neill bio</strong></a></p> January 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1369 <p>It&rsquo;s nice to get the contract signed and out of the way and now I can just concentrate on getting ready for the coming season.<br /><br />I&rsquo;m really glad to be staying with this team. I went to the University of Calgary and now this is going to be my third year with the Stamps. This has been a great city for me and there are <img alt="ONeill_100111.jpg" height="354" src="/common/uploads/images/ONeill_100111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ONeill_100111.jpg" width="250" />definitely some great opportunities both on and off the field, so I&rsquo;m very happy to be here.<br /><br />The off-season has been good so far, but there&rsquo;s always work to be done. Right after the season ends, you let your body recover for a little while and you take care of yourself. Then you start right back into it. <br /><br />I&rsquo;ve been doing some yoga to improve my flexibility and I&rsquo;ve also been doing some weight training. The weight training hasn&rsquo;t been too heavy so far but I&rsquo;ll start picking that up as the month goes along.<br /><br />I managed to get down to Phoenix and to Palm Springs, where I was able to get a little sun and enjoy the outdoors. I did some golfing and, because my parents are down there, I even did some lawn bowling and bocce ball. The Stampeders offensive linemen play bocce during the season but let me tell you, those old-timers have got some skills. They know what they&rsquo;re doing. It was a good time down there.<br /><br />When I look back on the past season, the main thing you think about is how you can be better. Or at least that&rsquo;s the way I look at it anyway. You look back at what you did and you do everything you can to make improvements. To me, that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s important.<br /><br />After not seeing much action earlier in my career, it was just nice to get out there and play some football this past season and I&rsquo;m looking forward to getting a chance to do it again in 2010.<br /><br />Tim O&rsquo;Neill, #66<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; O&rsquo;Neill bio</strong></a></p> January 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1369 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import offensive linemen <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Tim O&rsquo;Neill</strong></a> and <strong><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=33" target="_blank">Godfrey Ellis</a></strong> have signed contract extensions with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="linemen_100111.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/linemen_100111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="linemen_100111.jpg" width="175" /><br />&ldquo;Godfrey and Tim are valuable members of our offensive line and I expect them both to push for starting jobs in 2010,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;They did some good things in 2009 and I look forward to seeing them continue to progress.&rdquo;<br /><br />O&rsquo;Neill enters his third season with Calgary and fourth in the Canadian Football League. He dressed in every game for the Stamps last season and started in 14 of the contests including the Western Final.<br /><br />&ldquo;First with the University of Calgary and now the Stampeders, I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time in this city,&rdquo; said O&rsquo;Neill. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m grateful for the opportunity to remain in Calgary and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the new season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Ellis, who is entering his sixth season with Calgary, dressed for each of the Stamps&rsquo; 18 regular-season games in 2009 and both playoff games.</p> <p>He was originally drafted by Calgary in the second round (10th overall) of the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been with the Stampeders since the start of my career and I couldn&rsquo;t be any happier about re-signing with this team,&rdquo; said Ellis. &ldquo;Calgary is my home now so I&rsquo;m glad that we were able to get this done.&rdquo;</p> January 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3430 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import offensive linemen <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>Tim O&rsquo;Neill</strong></a> and <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=33" target="_blank">Godfrey Ellis</a> have signed contract extensions with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><img alt="linemen_100111.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/linemen_100111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="linemen_100111.jpg" width="175" /><br />&ldquo;Godfrey and Tim are valuable members of our offensive line and I expect them both to push for starting jobs in 2010,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;They did some good things in 2009 and I look forward to seeing them continue to progress.&rdquo;<br /><br />O&rsquo;Neill enters his third season with Calgary and fourth in the Canadian Football League. He dressed in every game for the Stamps last season and started in 14 of the contests including the Western Final.<br /><br />&ldquo;First with the University of Calgary and now the Stampeders, I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time in this city,&rdquo; said O&rsquo;Neill. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m grateful for the opportunity to remain in Calgary and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the new season.&rdquo;<br /><br />Ellis, who is entering his sixth season with Calgary, dressed for each of the Stamps&rsquo; 18 regular-season games in 2009 and both playoff games.</p> <p>He was originally drafted by Calgary in the second round (10th overall) of the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft.<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been with the Stampeders since the start of my career and I couldn&rsquo;t be any happier about re-signing with this team,&rdquo; said Ellis. &ldquo;Calgary is my home now so I&rsquo;m glad that we were able to get this done.&rdquo;</p> January 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3430 <p>The Calgary Stampeder Football Club of the Canadian Football League extends an invitation to athletes to attend open tryouts. If you would like the opportunity to showcase yourself and your football skills to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel and members of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff, join us for our open tryouts in January and February.</p> <p>The sessions will be held at the following locations:</p> <h2>Tampa, Fla.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> University of South Florida recreation fields &mdash; 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Birmingham, Ala.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Spain Park High School &mdash; 4700 Jaguar Dr., Birmingham, Ala.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Houston, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Rhodes Stadium &mdash; 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd., Katy, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Dallas, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> IAD Complex &mdash; 2800 North Interstate-35, Carrollton, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only</p> <h2>Pittsburgh, Pa.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Family Sports Center &mdash; 542 Evans City Rd., Butler, Pa.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p>Bring appropriate workout gear (i.e. shorts, cleats, water) <br /><br />Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. when participants will be weighed and measured. Each participant will be put through a number of Canadian Football League-specific athletic tests. The testing drills will include the 40-yard dash, the short shuttle, a broad jump and a vertical jump. This will be followed by individual position drills and one-on-ones.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:bmahoney@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For further information, email Brendan Mahoney</strong></a></p> January 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3424 <p><img alt="2001_guys.jpg" height="247" src="/common/uploads/images/2001_guys.jpg" title="2001_guys.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><a href="http://www.cfl.ca/article/decade-in-review-2001-grey-cup" target="_blank"><strong>From CFL.ca</strong></a></p> <p>It took 88 years for a team with a losing record in the regular season to lay claim to the Grey Cup. It took just one year for it to happen again.<br /><br />The Calgary Stampeders, a team which began the year with four straight losses, had just three wins on Labour Day. But Calgary rallied, saving their season with an 8-10 record, good for a third place finish in the West Division. The Stampeders secured their berth in the Grey Cup with playoff victories over B.C. and Edmonton.<img alt="Crandell.jpg" height="404" src="/common/uploads/images/Crandell.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Crandell.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Calgary&rsquo;s opponent was a strong Winnipeg Blue Bombers club which had the CFL&rsquo;s best regular season record of 14-4. But it was clear regular season play didn&rsquo;t matter as the Stampeders built a 17-4 lead at halftime.<br /><br />Trailing 4-3 late in the second quarter, Calgary quarterback Marcus Crandell hit a streaking Marc Boerigter down the left hash marks for a 68-yard touchdown. The Stampeders struck again before intermission when Calgary flooded the right side with receivers and Crandell hit Travis Moore for a nine-yard score.<br /><br />It seemed to be the wake-up call the Blue Bombers needed. On their first possession of the second half, quarterback Khari Jones hit Arland Bruce III for a 23-yard touchdown completion.<br /><br />But the turning point came at 5:37 of the fourth quarter. With the Blue Bombers trailing 17-12, Calgary&rsquo;s Aldi Henry -- playing the game in his hometown -- blocked Bob Cameron&rsquo;s punt attempt. Willie Fells recovered the ball and ran 11 yards for a Calgary touchdown.<br /><br />The Blue Bombers fought back, as Jones hit Milt Stegall who made a remarkable 23-yard touchdown reception. But once again the Stampeders pulled further ahead. Stuck on the Calgary 11 with time ticking down, Crandell threw to running back Kelvin Anderson on a sideline pattern. Anderson slipped past Marvin Coleman for a 44-yard gain. Three plays later, Mark McLoughlin kicked a 24-yard field goal.<br /><br />There was one final comeback attempt by Winnipeg. With the Blue Bombers on the Calgary 36 with time running out, Jones was driven by Stampeders defensive tackle Joe Fleming into the turf for a game-ending sack.<br /><br />It was a game of missed opportunity for the Blue Bombers, who repeatedly got near or into Calgary territory and came away empty handed. Winnipeg kicker Troy Westwood missed three of four field goal attempts.<br /><br />The attendance of 65,255 at Montreal&rsquo;s Olympic Stadium was the second-largest crowd to witness a Grey Cup.</p> January 11, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3427 <p>The Calgary Stampeder Football Club of the Canadian Football League extends an invitation to athletes to attend open tryouts. If you would like the opportunity to showcase yourself and your football skills to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel and members of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff, join us for our open tryouts in January and February.</p> <p>The sessions will be held at the following locations:</p> <h2>Tampa, Fla.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> University of South Florida recreation fields &mdash; 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Birmingham, Ala.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> TBA<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Houston, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Rhodes Stadium &mdash; 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd., Katy, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Dallas, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> IAD Complex &mdash; 2800 North Interstate-35, Carrollton, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only</p> <h2>Pittsburgh, Pa.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Family Sports Center &mdash; 542 Evans City Rd., Butler, Pa.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p>Bring appropriate workout gear (i.e. shorts, cleats, water) <br /><br />Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. when participants will be weighed and measured. Each participant will be put through a number of Canadian Football League-specific athletic tests. The testing drills will include the 40-yard dash, the short shuttle, a broad jump and a vertical jump. This will be followed by individual position drills and one-on-ones.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:bmahoney@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For further information, email Brendan Mahoney</strong></a></p> January 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3424 <p>The Calgary Stampeder Football Club of the Canadian Football League extends an invitation to athletes to attend open tryouts. If you would like the opportunity to showcase yourself and your football skills to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel and members of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff, join us for our open tryouts in January and February.</p> <p>The sessions will be held at the following locations:</p> <h2>Tampa, Fla.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> University of South Florida recreation fields &mdash; 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Birmingham, Ala.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> TBA<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Houston, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Rhodes Stadium &mdash; 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd., Katy, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Dallas, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> IAD Complex &mdash; 2800 North Interstate-35, Carrollton, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only</p> <h2>Pittsburgh, Pa.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Family Sports Center &mdash; 542 Evans City Rd., Butler, Pa.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p>Bring appropriate workout gear (i.e. shorts, cleats, water) <br /><br />Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. when participants will be weighed and measured. Each participant will be put through a number of Canadian Football League-specific athletic tests. The testing drills will include the 40-yard dash, the short shuttle, a broad jump and a vertical jump. This will be followed by individual position drills and one-on-ones.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:bmahoney@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For further information, email Brendan Mahoney</strong></a></p> January 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3424 <p>The Calgary Stampeder Football Club of the Canadian Football League extends an invitation to athletes to attend open tryouts. If you would like the opportunity to showcase yourself and your football skills to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel and members of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff, join us for our open tryouts in January and February.</p> <p>The sessions will be held at the following locations:</p> <h2>Tampa, Fla.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> University of South Florida recreation fields &mdash; 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Birmingham, Ala.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> TBA<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Houston, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Rhodes Stadium &mdash; 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd., Katy, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Dallas, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> IAD Complex &mdash; 2800 North Interstate-35, Carrollton, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only</p> <h2>Pittsburgh, Pa.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Family Sports Center &mdash; 542 Evans City Rd., Butler, Pa.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p>Bring appropriate workout gear (i.e. shorts, cleats, water) <br /><br />Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. when participants will be weighed and measured. Each participant will be put through a number of Canadian Football League-specific athletic tests. The testing drills will include the 40-yard dash, the short shuttle, a broad jump and a vertical jump. This will be followed by individual position drills and one-on-ones.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:bmahoney@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For further information, email Brendan Mahoney</strong></a></p> January 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3424 <p>The Calgary Stampeder Football Club of the Canadian Football League extends an invitation to athletes to attend open tryouts. If you would like the opportunity to showcase yourself and your football skills to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel and members of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff, join us for our open tryouts in January and February.</p> <p>The sessions will be held at the following locations:</p> <h2>Tampa, Fla.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> University of South Florida recreation fields &mdash; Tampa, Fla.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Birmingham, Ala.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> TBA<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Houston, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Rhodes Stadium &mdash; 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd., Katy, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong></strong></p> <h2>Dallas, Tex.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> IAD Complex &mdash; 2800 North Interstate-35, Carrollton, Tex.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only</p> <h2>Pittsburgh, Pa.<br /></h2> <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010<br /><strong>Registration: </strong>From 8:30-9:30 a.m. <br /><strong>Where:</strong> Family Sports Center &mdash; 542 Evans City Rd., Butler, Pa.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $80 &ndash; cash only<strong><br /> </strong></p> <p>Bring appropriate workout gear (i.e. shorts, cleats, water) <br /><br />Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. when participants will be weighed and measured. Each participant will be put through a number of Canadian Football League-specific athletic tests. The testing drills will include the 40-yard dash, the short shuttle, a broad jump and a vertical jump. This will be followed by individual position drills and one-on-ones.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:bmahoney@stampeders.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For further information, email Brendan Mahoney</strong></a></p> January 8, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3424 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> <p><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=934" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Video</strong></a></p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>What's your fancy, Stamps fans?</p> <p>A fancy-footed dash into the end-zone?</p> <p>The high-flying acrobatics of a receiver pulling a ball out of the sky?</p> <p>A momentum-turning play by the defence?</p> <p>A bone-jarring block?</p> <p>The candidates for the Stampeders' 2009 Play of the Year include all of the above and we need your help to pick the best of the best. The Play of the Year Showdown starts Monday, Jan. 11 with the first of a series of four-way first-round showdowns.</p> <p>The semifinal round begins Feb. 8 and voting for the ultimate showdown between the two finalists will get under way on Feb. 22. Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for the latest results and a new showdown every week.</p> January 5, 2010 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3421 <p>Hey Stamps fans!<br /><br />Another season has come and gone.<br /><br />This past year has gone by so fast. It didn&rsquo;t seem like too long ago we were anticipating the first home game. I can&rsquo;t believe in three short months we will be holding auditions for the 2010 <img alt="MichelleH_091222.jpg" height="454" src="/common/uploads/images/MichelleH_091222.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="MichelleH_091222.jpg" width="250" />Calgary Stampeder Outriders.<br /><br />Looking back on the season, it was definitely an emotional ride. The Outriders were there every step along the way. We were able to travel with the team to Edmonton and Regina this year and they were exciting games. Even though the Stampeders did not make it to Grey Cup, they made us proud every game. In between all the home games, we were busy attending promotions and practices.<br /><br />As the city unwinds from an exciting and successful Grey Cup Festival, it is a bittersweet end for the 2009 Calgary Stampeder Outriders. We go from spending practically every waking minute with each other during Grey Cup to not seeing each other at all. It was great to make new friends this year and see everyone grow into beautiful dancers but unfortunately we will be saying goodbye to some veterans who will not be returning next year.<br /><br />I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful sponsors throughout the season: Devitt and Forand, MAC Makeup, Fabu, Sketchers, and Gold&rsquo;s Gym. I would also like to thank Coach Kelli Labonte and Assistant Coach Megan Holz. This year would not have been as fun or rewarding without these two lovely ladies&rsquo; hard work and dedication on and off the field. <br />One last shout-out to all the Stampeders fans. We would like to thank you for your generous support buying our calendars.<br />See you in the stands for the 2010 home opener! <br /><br />GO STAMPS GO!</p> <p>Michelle H.<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=21" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Michelle's bio</strong></a></p> December 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1366 <p>Hey Stamps fans!<br /><br />Another season has come and gone.<br /><br />This past year has gone by so fast. It didn&rsquo;t seem like too long ago we were anticipating the first home game. I can&rsquo;t believe in three short months we will be holding auditions for the 2010 Calgary Stampeder Outriders.<br /><br />Looking back on the season, it was definitely an emotional ride. The Outriders were there every step along the way. We were able to travel with the team to Edmonton and Regina this year and they were exciting games. Even though the Stampeders did not make it to Grey Cup, they made us proud every game. In between all the home games, we were busy attending promotions and practices.<br /><br />As the city unwinds from an exciting and successful Grey Cup Festival, it is a bittersweet end for the 2009 Calgary Stampeder Outriders. We go from spending practically every waking minute with each other during Grey Cup to not seeing each other at all. It was great to make new friends this year and see everyone grow into beautiful dancers but unfortunately we will be saying goodbye to some veterans who will not be returning next year.<br /><br />I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful sponsors throughout the season: Devitt and Forand, MAC Makeup, Fabu, Sketchers, and Gold&rsquo;s Gym. I would also like to thank Coach Kelli Labonte and Assistant Coach Megan Holz. This year would not have been as fun or rewarding without these two lovely ladies&rsquo; hard work and dedication on and off the field. <br />One last shout-out to all the Stampeders fans. We would like to thank you for your generous support buying our calendars.<br />See you in the stands for the 2010 home opener! <br /><br />GO STAMPS GO!</p> <p>Michelle H.<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=21" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Michelle's bio</strong></a></p> December 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1366 <p><br /> In a special Christmas edition of the Two and Out series, Stamps players and personnel tell us about presents of Christmas past and holiday meal favourites.</p> <h2>What's the best Christmas gift you've ever received?</h2> <p><strong>Godfrey Ellis:</strong> That would probably have to be the Nintendo I got from my parents when I was about 12 or 13. I had the track and field game, I really liked that one, and Duck Hunt.<img alt="Cote_091112.jpg" height="263" src="/common/uploads/images/Cote_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cote_091112.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>Rob Cote:</strong> I can&rsquo;t choose one. It&rsquo;s definitely a toss-up between a drum set I got in Grade 5 or the Nintendo 64 I got one year. I can&rsquo;t remember which year I got it, but it was probably a couple of years after the drums.</p> <p><strong>Markus Howell:</strong> I was a big basketball guy growing up and I was really excited when I got a basketball hoop set. I couldn&rsquo;t wait to set it up outside and shoot hoops. Of course, I grew in Winnipeg and I had to wait for the spring, but once spring finally arrived, I played all day and all night.</p> <p><strong>Jon Cornish:</strong> That probably was the Lego set I got when I was a kid. It was the Trauma Team and there were ambulances and stuff and I incorporated them into my Space Lego set and we would drop down the emergency rescue team. That came from my parents. Well, from Santa actually.</p> <p><strong>Pete Costanza (receivers coach):</strong> I&rsquo;ve gotten some really cool gifts. Back when I was a Kid, <img alt="Costanza_091211.jpg" height="312" src="/common/uploads/images/Costanza_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Costanza_091211.jpg" width="250" />Evel Knievel was real big then and my dad got me an Evel Knievel bike. That was pretty cool. Then, a couple of years back, Tracy got me a Playstation for Christmas. The neat thing about it was receiving the present was an ongoing thing with a little rhyme. I had to go to all these different spots to find clues to the gift. I went out to the car, back to the laundry machine, into the bedroom closet and then I finally found it. That was a pretty cool gift as was the whole way of getting it.</p> <p><strong>Juwan Simpson:</strong> I can&rsquo;t remember what year it was, but it would have to the Christmas I got my Super Nintendo. That Mario World was the best adventure game ever. After I got that gift, I was playing video games for four straight days. My mom didn&rsquo;t have to worry about me getting into trouble for those four days at least.</p> <p><strong>Mike Labinjo:</strong> That would probably be the time I received the old Nintendo. The original Nintendo. That was the best. Of course it comes with Duck Hunt game and there was the original Mario Brothers and the Legend of Zelda.</p> <p><strong>Jeremaine Copeland: </strong>The best gift I&rsquo;ve ever received would probably be when I was a kid and I got the Dreamcast when it first came out, just to take you back a little bit. Before Playstation got crazy and Xbox got wild, it was Dreamcast. I had them all &mdash; Atari, Nintendo . . . Atari was the best, though.<img alt="Dales_091211.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/Dales_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Dales_091211.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo:</strong> That would be my Nintendo, when the Nintendo first came out. I loved it. I was on the Super Mario Brothers and it just went on from there. Now I&rsquo;m just a super-top gamer &mdash; I went from Ninento to Sega Genesis to Playstation 1, Playstation 2 and Playstation 3. They call me the game guru.</p> <p><strong>Burke Dales:</strong> The best Christmas gift was a pellet gun. I think I was 12 years old and my dad gave me a gun. It was a one-shot pellet gun with a scope. I lived out in the forest, so it was probably the best gift I&rsquo;ve ever received.</p> <h2>What's the best part of the Christmas meal?</h2> <p><strong>Rob Cote:</strong> My favourite part of the meal is definitely the sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows and then baked. It&rsquo;s more of a desert than a part of the meal, but definitely the highlight for me each year.<br /><br /><strong>Godfrey Ellis:</strong> Oh I&rsquo;d have to say that stuffing. My mom makes the best stuffing and most of the time, she makes it from scratch.<img alt="Cornish_091211.jpg" height="324" src="/common/uploads/images/Cornish_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cornish_091211.jpg" width="250" /><br /> <br /> <strong>Jon Cornish: </strong>I would say a honey-baked ham. Every year, we always have a selection of meats including turkey but the honey-baked ham is the best. One of our family members goes down to the States to pick one up and they&rsquo;re just so good. I would recommend to anybody who takes pride in their Christmas meal.<br /><br /><strong>Jeremaine Copeland:</strong> Ooh, ham and potato salad. Oh yeah. I am a ham and potato salad freak. It&rsquo;s unbelievable. If it&rsquo;s Christmas dinner and there&rsquo;s no ham and potato salad? I am going to be ticked. If it&rsquo;s Thanksgiving dinner and there&rsquo;s no ham and potato salad? I am going to be ticked. Ham and potato salad is mandatory at all my important meals.<br /><br /><strong>Burke Dales:</strong> The dressing. I&rsquo;m a big stuffing guy, but it&rsquo;s got to be my mom&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s the most moist and it&rsquo;s got the most flavour. It&rsquo;s what I grew up on.<br /><br /><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo: </strong>Christmas meal is just like Thanksgiving &mdash; turkey, chicken, dressing, collard greens, mashed potatoes, corn, candied yams, cranberry sauce . . . it goes on and on, man. But my favourite thing is the dressing. Dressing and gravy.</p> <p><strong>Nik Lewis:</strong> Desserts. We have 12 to 15 different options of dessert. Anything from choloclate pie, lemon meringue, strawberry cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, pound cake. I can't wait.<br /><br /><strong>Juwan Simpson: </strong>It&rsquo;s got to be the desserts. The rest of the meal? It&rsquo;s similar to the kind of food you have all year long. But those cakes and pies? You don&rsquo;t get that all the time, so you really<img alt="Howell_091211.jpg" height="240" src="/common/uploads/images/Howell_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Howell_091211.jpg" width="250" /> enjoy them on the special occasions.<br /><br /><strong>Markus Howell: </strong>The best part about the Christmas meal is having an excuse for overeating. I have my mama&rsquo;s cooking, my lady&rsquo;s cooking and my grandma&rsquo;s cooking, so it&rsquo;s the best of all words. Our family is Caribbean and I really enjoy some of the Caribbean dishes we serve. We have the traditional foods like turkey and that sort of thing, but we also have Caribbean dishes like curry chicken and chicken roti. It&rsquo;s just so delicious.</p> <p><strong>Wes Lysack:</strong> My mom's home-made gravy.</p> <p><strong>Pete Costanza: </strong>Usually my favourite part is the nap afterwards. We usually do an Italian Christmas, so we&rsquo;ll have pasta, fresh manigot, salad and shrimp. By the time it&rsquo;s all done with that and the wine and some sangria, the best part&rsquo;s the nap on the couch afterwards.</p> December 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3418 <p>I feel I have a greater appreciation and enjoyment of Christmas now that I have a family and we&rsquo;ve settled in Calgary year-round.<br /> <br /> Christmas in Oklahoma is a much different Christmas because the traditions we have there are much different than the traditions we have adopted here in Calgary. First of all, we know in Oklahoma there&rsquo;s not going to be any snow, so there aren&rsquo;t going to be any sleighs. We sing <img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="365" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" />Christmas carols but for the most part, just like Thanksgiving, Christmas is a day of football, family and food. <br /> <br /> Here in Calgary, you get more of a Christmas feeling. All the Christmas carols you used to sing were about things like having a White Christmas. Well, when it&rsquo;s Christmas and it&rsquo;s 80-something degrees, it&rsquo;s Christmas but it&rsquo;s really not. In Calgary, you get the true feeling of Christmas when the snow is falling, you&rsquo;re seeing the lights and you&rsquo;re seeing the many things that come with Christmas here. That&rsquo;s probably the biggest difference for me but even more than that it&rsquo;s the fact we&rsquo;re parents now and at this time of the year, you start to see the kids get excited about what they&rsquo;re going to get. <br /> <br /> But the No. 1 thing above it all is counting your blessings and being thankful for what the holiday is all about and celebrating the birth of Christ. We&rsquo;re trying to spread the joy and the reason why we&rsquo;re celebrating this beautiful holiday.<br /> <br /> We still have two young kids so they don&rsquo;t truly understand the meaning of Christmas yet, but the joy and the love that is being shared and the fact that we are thankful for our two blessings when we look at Armand and Barron. The fact that Nicole and I are parents now, I realize now that it&rsquo;s all about ensuring that the kids enjoy Christmas. For them, it&rsquo;s a different meaning than it is for us. They want to see what Santa left, whereas for me it&rsquo;s about waking up that morning and seeing the joy that&rsquo;s in their eyes and it makes us grateful for the blessings we have received.<br /> <br /> Because of those blessings, you realize all the more how important it is to spread the joy during this season.<br /> <br /> I know from spending my time in Philadelphia when I was a Temple and seeing all the people who grew up in the hoods of Philadelphia. When you drive down certain streets, you wonder if there really is the joy of Christmas. Maybe there is but you don&rsquo;t see the spirit like you do in Calgary. That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m truly thankful to be in a city like Calgary and that&rsquo;s why I never want to leave.<br /> <br /> The Calgary Food Bank is something that&rsquo;s so important all year-round but more notably at this time because you want each and every body to experience the joy of Christmas because the blessing of what the season is all about will affect us forever. That celebration is truly special and it&rsquo;s something that was meant for everybody. Christmas has no boundaries. Christmas has no borders. It&rsquo;s for everybody. When you look at the meaning of what Christmas is truly about &mdash; it&rsquo;s about love.<br /> <br /> With the Calgary Herald Christmas Fund, you can be sure your donations are going directly to assist the 14 charities chosen in their multiple projects to help people of all ages in our city. As the city of Calgary grows, and particularly at Christmastime, we all need to reach out as much as we can to help others in their time of need.<br /> <br /> Henry Burris, #1</p> December 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1363 <p>I&rsquo;m so excited about my old school&rsquo;s victory over Florida in the SEC championship game. Now Alabama gets to go to the national championship game in Pasadena and I&rsquo;m really confident about their chances.<br /> <br /> Us SEC guys like to think that conference is the best in the country. Just ask Cope, who went to Tennessee. We like to think that even the weakest team in the conference could play with the <img alt="Simpson_091112.jpg" height="246" src="/common/uploads/images/Simpson_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Simpson_091112.jpg" width="250" />best teams in other conferences. There&rsquo;s a lot of good teams in the SEC and there&rsquo;s some very good football played in that conference.<br /> <br /> As a guy from Alabama, it&rsquo;s great to see the Crimson Tide have this opportunity and I&rsquo;m behind those boys all the way. Before I was recruited to go to there, I was more of a basketball fan but once I committed to go to Alabama before my senior year of high school, I became a real fan. And it was at that time I started paying attention to all the other Alabama fans and I started realizing how important the team was to them.<br /> <br /> I must admit, it caught me off guard a little bit that they were able to beat Florida so easily. I have to give credit to the defence &mdash; they did a great job and they had Tim Tebow rattled back there. I was watching the game at my brother&rsquo;s house along with a former Alabama teammate, Shad Williams, and I was watching I told myself, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got to get to Pasadena for the championship.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;ll manage to get there, but I&rsquo;m sure going to try my best. These opportunities don&rsquo;t come along very often and it would be great to be there in person. It means a lot to me because I was teammates with most of the guys who are seniors now and one of the players, Rolando McClain, is from my hometown of Decatur, Alabama.<br /> <br /> Some Alabama fans were disappointed that Texas came back to beat Nebraska and clinch the other spot in the title game, but not me. If Texas wasn&rsquo;t there, it would have been a horrible championship game in my opinion. If Texas had lost, Alabama would have probably played TCU or Boise and in my mind, even though those two teams were undefeated, there are a lot of one-loss teams out there that are better than TCU or Boise. But that&rsquo;s just my opinion.<br /> <br /> Anyway, it doesn&rsquo;t matter now. It&rsquo;s Alabama against Texas and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a great game.<br /> <br /> Juwan Simpson, #48<br /> <a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=13" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Simpson bio</strong></a></p> December 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1360 <p>Hi Stamps fans,<br /> &nbsp;<br /> I want to sincerely thank you for your outstanding support during the 2009 Canadian Football <img alt="Huff_091211.jpg" height="318" src="/common/uploads/images/Huff_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Huff_091211.jpg" width="250" />League season.</p> <p>You helped the Calgary Stampeders set a franchise attendance record and gave our football team a boost whenever we needed it. That was greatly appreciated by our players, our coaches and the entire organization.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> We&rsquo;re just sorry that we weren&rsquo;t able to reward your support by playing in the Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium. In retrospect, I view 2009 as a positive season because we had a winning record and a home playoff game, but we&rsquo;re bitterly disappointed about not being able to complete the journey.</p> <p>Our goals are always set high and we&rsquo;re working hard to be better in 2010.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> I hope you have a great holiday season and the Stampeders look forward to seeing you in the community and at the stadium again in the new year.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Best wishes,<br /> John Hufnagel</p> December 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1357 <p><br /> In a special Christmas edition of the Two and Out series, Stamps players and personnel tell us about presents of Christmas past and holiday meal favourites.</p> <h2>What's the best Christmas gift you've ever received?</h2> <p><strong>Godfrey Ellis:</strong> That would probably have to be the Nintendo I got from my parents when I was about 12 or 13. I had the track and field game, I really liked that one, and Duck Hunt.<img alt="Cote_091112.jpg" height="263" src="/common/uploads/images/Cote_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cote_091112.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>Rob Cote:</strong> I can&rsquo;t choose one. It&rsquo;s definitely a toss-up between a drum set I got in Grade 5 or the Nintendo 64 I got one year. I can&rsquo;t remember which year I got it, but it was probably a couple of years after the drums.</p> <p><strong>Markus Howell:</strong> I was a big basketball guy growing up and I was really excited when I got a basketball hoop set. I couldn&rsquo;t wait to set it up outside and shoot hoops. Of course, I grew in Winnipeg and I had to wait for the spring, but once spring finally arrived, I played all day and all night.</p> <p><strong>Jon Cornish:</strong> That probably was the Lego set I got when I was a kid. It was the Trauma Team and there were ambulances and stuff and I incorporated them into my Space Lego set and we would drop down the emergency rescue team. That came from my parents. Well, from Santa actually.</p> <p><strong>Pete Costanza (receivers coach):</strong> I&rsquo;ve gotten some really cool gifts. Back when I was a Kid, <img alt="Costanza_091211.jpg" height="312" src="/common/uploads/images/Costanza_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Costanza_091211.jpg" width="250" />Evel Knievel was real big then and my dad got me an Evel Knievel bike. That was pretty cool. Then, a couple of years back, Tracy got me a Playstation for Christmas. The neat thing about it was receiving the present was an ongoing thing with a little rhyme. I had to go to all these different spots to find clues to the gift. I went out to the car, back to the laundry machine, into the bedroom closet and then I finally found it. That was a pretty cool gift as was the whole way of getting it.</p> <p><strong>Juwan Simpson:</strong> I can&rsquo;t remember what year it was, but it would have to the Christmas I got my Super Nintendo. That Mario World was the best adventure game ever. After I got that gift, I was playing video games for four straight days. My mom didn&rsquo;t have to worry about me getting into trouble for those four days at least.</p> <p><strong>Mike Labinjo:</strong> That would probably the time I received the old Nintendo. The original Nintendo. That was the best. Of course it comes with Duck Hunt game and there was the original Mario Brothers and the Legend of Zelda.</p> <p><strong>Jeremaine Copeland: </strong>The best gift I&rsquo;ve ever received would probably be when I was a kid and I got the Dreamcast when it first came out, just to take you back a little bit. Before Playstation got crazy and Xbox got wild, it was Dreamcast. I had them all &mdash; Atari, Nintendo . . . Atari was the best, though.<img alt="Dales_091211.jpg" height="307" src="/common/uploads/images/Dales_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Dales_091211.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo:</strong> That would be my Nintendo, when the Nintendo first came out. I loved it. I was on the Super Mario Brothers and it just went on from there. Now I&rsquo;m just a super-top gamer &mdash; I went from Ninento to Sega Genesis to Playstation 1, Playstation 2 and Playstation 3. They call me the game guru.</p> <p><strong>Burke Dales:</strong> The best Christmas gift was a pellet gun. I think I was 12 years old and my dad gave me a gun. It was a one-shot pellet gun with a scope. I lived out in the forest, so it was probably the best gift I&rsquo;ve ever received.</p> <h2>What's the best part of the Christmas meal?</h2> <p><strong>Rob Cote:</strong> My favourite part of the meal is definitely the sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows and then baked. It&rsquo;s more of a desert than a part of the meal, but definitely the highlight for me each year.<br /><br /><strong>Godfrey Ellis:</strong> Oh I&rsquo;d have to say that stuffing. My mom makes the best stuffing and most of the time, she makes it from scratch.<img alt="Cornish_091211.jpg" height="324" src="/common/uploads/images/Cornish_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cornish_091211.jpg" width="250" /><br /> <br /> <strong>Jon Cornish: </strong>I would a honey-baked ham. Every year, we always have a selection of meats including turkey but the honey-baked ham is the best. One of our family members goes down to the States to pick one up and they&rsquo;re just so good. I would recommend to anybody who takes pride in their Christmas meal.<br /><br /><strong>Jeremaine Copeland:</strong> Ooh, ham and potato salad. Oh yeah. I am a ham and potato salad freak. It&rsquo;s unbelievable. If it&rsquo;s Christmas dinner and there&rsquo;s no ham and potato salad? I am going to be ticked. If it&rsquo;s Thanksgiving dinner and there&rsquo;s no ham and potato salad? I am going to be ticked. Ham and potato salad is mandatory at all my important meals.<br /><br /><strong>Burke Dales:</strong> The dressing. I&rsquo;m a big stuffing guy, but it&rsquo;s got to be my mom&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s the most moist and it&rsquo;s got the most flavour. It&rsquo;s what I grew up on.<br /><br /><strong>Ken-Yon Rambo: </strong>Christmas meal is just like Thanksgiving &mdash; turkey, chicken, dressing, collard greens, mashed potatoes, corn, candied yams, cranberry sauce . . . it goes on and on, man. But my favourite thing is the dressing. Dressing and gravy.</p> <p><strong>Nik Lewis:</strong> Desserts. We have 12 to 15 different options of dessert. Anything from choloclate pie, lemon meringue, strawberry cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, pound cake. I can't wait.<br /><br /><strong>Juwan Simpson: </strong>It&rsquo;s got to be the desserts. The rest of the meal? It&rsquo;s similar to the kind of food you have all year long. But those cakes and pies? You don&rsquo;t get that all the time, so you really<img alt="Howell_091211.jpg" height="240" src="/common/uploads/images/Howell_091211.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Howell_091211.jpg" width="250" /> enjoy them on the special occasions.<br /><br /><strong>Markus Howell: </strong>The best part about the Christmas meal is having an excuse for overeating. I have my mama&rsquo;s cooking, my lady&rsquo;s cooking and my grandma&rsquo;s cooking, so it&rsquo;s the best of all words. Our family is Caribbean and I really enjoy some of the Caribbean dishes we serve. We have the traditional foods like turkey and that sort of thing, but we also have Caribbean dishes like curry chicken and chicken roti. It&rsquo;s just so delicious.</p> <p><strong>Wes Lysack:</strong> My mom's home-made gravy.</p> <p><strong>Pete Costanza: </strong>Usually my favourite part is the nap afterwards. We usually do an Italian Christmas, so we&rsquo;ll have pasta, fresh manigot, salad and shrimp. By the time it&rsquo;s all done with that and the wine and some sangria, the best part&rsquo;s the nap on the couch afterwards.</p> December 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3418 <p>The Calgary Stampeders announce today that Scott Ackles has stepped down from his post as club president.</p> <p>Ackles and John Forzani, the club&rsquo;s managing partner of business operations, will be available to the media at 11 a.m. today in the new Coaches&rsquo; Building at McMahon Stadium. Please park in the south parking lot and enter through the lower (north-facing) level.<img alt="Acklescropped.jpg" height="225" src="/common/uploads/images/Acklescropped.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Acklescropped.jpg" width="150" /></p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s with mixed emotions that I deliver this news today,&rdquo; said Ackles. &ldquo;On one hand, I&rsquo;m very excited because I will be going back home to Vancouver with my family, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a fantastic career opportunity that has been presented to me.</p> <p>&ldquo;On the other hand, it&rsquo;s difficult to leave Calgary because I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time here. I&rsquo;ve met a lot of outstanding people in the city; from business and community leaders to the members of the Stampeders organization and our corporate partners, I&rsquo;ve made a lot of great friends.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our accomplishments during my time with the Stampeders as we increased our season-ticket base, won a Grey Cup championship and our Grey Cup Festival Committee staged the best Festival ever. It has all been very rewarding and I thank the ownership group for the opportunity.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ackles joined the Stamps in March of 2007 as senior vice-president of club operations and became the club&rsquo;s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2007.</p> <p><img alt="Forzanicropped.jpg" height="225" src="/common/uploads/images/Forzanicropped.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: left;" title="Forzanicropped.jpg" width="150" />Under his watch, the Stamps set a franchise-record for attendance and had the Canadian Football League&rsquo;s largest season-ticket base in 2009. He also was at the helm of the highly successful 2009 Grey Cup Festival.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders would like to thank Scott for his leadership the past three years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,&rdquo; said Forzani. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for some time that he wouldn&rsquo;t return for 2010 and he did a tremendous job this season, culminating with a very successful hosting of the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> December 14, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3416 <p>The Calgary Stampeders announce today that Scott Ackles has stepped down from his post as club president.</p> <p>Ackles and John Forzani, the club&rsquo;s managing partner of business operations, will be available to the media at 11 a.m. today in the new Coaches&rsquo; Building at McMahon Stadium. Please park in the south parking lot and enter through the lower (north-facing) level.</p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s with mixed emotions that I deliver this news today,&rdquo; said Ackles. &ldquo;On one hand, I&rsquo;m very excited because I will be going back home to Vancouver with my family, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a fantastic career opportunity that has been presented to me.</p> <p>&ldquo;On the other hand, it&rsquo;s difficult to leave Calgary because I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time here. I&rsquo;ve met a lot of outstanding people in the city; from business and community leaders to the members of the Stampeders organization and our corporate partners, I&rsquo;ve made a lot of great friends.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our accomplishments during my time with the Stampeders as we increased our season-ticket base, won a Grey Cup championship and our Grey Cup Festival Committee staged the best Festival ever. It has all been very rewarding and I thank the ownership group for the opportunity.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ackles joined the Stamps in March of 2007 as senior vice-president of club operations and became the club&rsquo;s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2007.</p> <p>Under his watch, the Stamps set a franchise-record for attendance and had the Canadian Football League&rsquo;s largest season-ticket base in 2009. He also was at the helm of the highly successful 2009 Grey Cup Festival.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders would like to thank Scott for his leadership the past three years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,&rdquo; said Forzani. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for some time that he wouldn&rsquo;t return for 2010 and he did a tremendous job this season, culminating with a very successful hosting of the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> December 14, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3416 <p>The Calgary Stampeders announce today that Scott Ackles has stepped down from his post as club president.</p> <p>Ackles and John Forzani, the club&rsquo;s managing partner of business operations, will be available to the media at 11 a.m. today in the new Coaches&rsquo; Building at McMahon Stadium. Please park in the south parking lot and enter through the lower (north-facing) level.</p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s with mixed emotions that I deliver this news today,&rdquo; said Ackles. &ldquo;On one hand, I&rsquo;m very excited because I will be going back home to Vancouver with my family, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a fantastic career opportunity that has been presented to me.</p> <p>&ldquo;On the other hand, it&rsquo;s difficult to leave Calgary because I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time here. I&rsquo;ve met a lot of outstanding people in the city; from business and community leaders to the members of the Stampeders organization and our corporate partners, I&rsquo;ve made a lot of great friends.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our accomplishments during my time with the Stampeders as we increased our season-ticket base, won a Grey Cup championship and our Grey Cup Festival Committee staged the best Festival ever. It has all been very rewarding and I thank the ownership group for the opportunity.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ackles joined the Stamps in March of 2007 as senior vice-president of club operations and became the club&rsquo;s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2007.</p> <p>Under his watch, the Stamps set a franchise-record for attendance and had the Canadian Football League&rsquo;s largest season-ticket base in 2009. He also was at the helm of the highly successful 2009 Grey Cup Festival.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders would like to thank Scott for his leadership the past three years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,&rdquo; said Forzani. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for some time that he wouldn&rsquo;t return for 2010 and he did a tremendous job this season, culminating with a very successful hosting of the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> December 14, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3416 <p>The Calgary Stampeders announce today that Scott Ackles has stepped down from his post as club president.</p> <p>Ackles and John Forzani, the club&rsquo;s managing partner of business operations, will be available to the media at 11 a.m. today in the new Coaches&rsquo; Building at McMahon Stadium. Please park in the south parking lot and enter through the lower (north-facing) level.</p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s with mixed emotions that I deliver this news today,&rdquo; said Ackles. &ldquo;On one hand, I&rsquo;m very excited because I will be going back home to Vancouver with my family, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a fantastic career opportunity that has been presented to me.</p> <p>&ldquo;On the other hand, it&rsquo;s difficult to leave Calgary because I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time here. I&rsquo;ve met a lot of outstanding people in the city; from business and community leaders to the members of the Stampeders organization and our corporate partners, I&rsquo;ve made a lot of great friends.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our accomplishments during my time with the Stampeders as we increased our season-ticket base, won a Grey Cup championship and our Grey Cup Festival Committee staged the best Festival ever. It has all been very rewarding and I thank the ownership group for the opportunity.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ackles joined the Stamps in March of 2007 as senior vice-president of club operations and became the club&rsquo;s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2007.</p> <p>Under his watch, the Stamps set a franchise-record for attendance and had the Canadian Football League&rsquo;s largest season-ticket base in 2009. He also was at the helm of the highly successful 2009 Grey Cup Festival.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders would like to thank Scott for his leadership the past three years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,&rdquo; said Forzani. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for some time that he wouldn&rsquo;t return for 2010 and he did a tremendous job this season, culminating with a very successful hosting of the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> December 14, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3416 <p>The Calgary Stampeders announce today that Scott Ackles has stepped down from his post as club president.</p> <p>Ackles and John Forzani, the club&rsquo;s managing partner of business operations, will be available to the media at 11 a.m. today in the new Coaches&rsquo; Building at McMahon Stadium. Please park in the south parking lot and enter through the lower (north-facing) level.</p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s with mixed emotions that I deliver this news today,&rdquo; said Ackles. &ldquo;On one hand, I&rsquo;m very excited because I will be going back home to Vancouver with my family, and I&rsquo;m looking forward to a fantastic career opportunity that has been presented to me.</p> <p>&ldquo;On the other hand, it&rsquo;s difficult to leave Calgary because I&rsquo;ve really enjoyed my time here. I&rsquo;ve met a lot of outstanding people in the city; from business and community leaders to the members of the Stampeders organization and our corporate partners, I&rsquo;ve made a lot of great friends.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud of our accomplishments during my time with the Stampeders as we increased our season-ticket base, won a Grey Cup championship and our Grey Cup Festival Committee staged the best Festival ever. It has all been very rewarding and I thank the ownership group for the opportunity.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ackles joined the Stamps in March of 2007 as senior vice-president of club operations and became the club&rsquo;s 27th president on Dec. 12, 2007.</p> <p>Under his watch, the Stamps set a franchise-record for attendance and had the Canadian Football League&rsquo;s largest season-ticket base in 2009. He also was at the helm of the highly successful 2009 Grey Cup Festival.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders would like to thank Scott for his leadership the past three years and wish him the best in his future endeavors,&rdquo; said Forzani. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for some time that he wouldn&rsquo;t return for 2010 and he did a tremendous job this season, culminating with a very successful hosting of the Grey Cup.&rdquo;</p> December 14, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3416 <p>A look at the Calgary Stampeders top cumulative performers in various categories in the past decade, from 2000-2009.</p> <p><img alt="top.jpg" height="282" src="/common/uploads/images/top.jpg" title="top.jpg" width="469" /></p> <p><img alt="part2.jpg" height="331" src="/common/uploads/images/part2.jpg" title="part2.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part3.jpg" height="284" src="/common/uploads/images/part3.jpg" title="part3.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part4.jpg" height="366" src="/common/uploads/images/part4.jpg" title="part4.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part5.jpg" height="390" src="/common/uploads/images/part5.jpg" title="part5.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> December 10, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3413 <p>A look at the Calgary Stampeders top cumulative performers in various categories in the past decade, from 2000-2009.</p> <p><img alt="top.jpg" height="282" src="/common/uploads/images/top.jpg" title="top.jpg" width="469" /></p> <p><img alt="part2.jpg" height="331" src="/common/uploads/images/part2.jpg" title="part2.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part3.jpg" height="284" src="/common/uploads/images/part3.jpg" title="part3.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part4.jpg" height="366" src="/common/uploads/images/part4.jpg" title="part4.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><img alt="part5.jpg" height="390" src="/common/uploads/images/part5.jpg" title="part5.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> December 10, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3413 <p>When the present decade started, the Calgary Stampeders were under the guidance of Wally Buono and the football club was on the verge of a fifth Grey Cup championship.<img alt="wally_huff090919.jpg" height="336" src="/common/uploads/images/wally_huff090919.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="wally_huff090919.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />As the decade is ending, the Stampeders are led by one of Buono&rsquo;s proteges &mdash; John Hufnagel &mdash; and the franchise is one year removed from a sixth Grey Cup title.<br /><br />As the 2000s began, Dave Dickenson was the Stampeders&rsquo; quarterback and he was putting together one of the best seasons ever turned in by a Canadian Football League pivot.<br /><br />As the 2000s ended, Dickenson was a rookie on the Stampeders coaching staff and putting his keen football mind to work as an offensive assistant.<br /><br />In between 2000 and 2009, there were two ownership changes in Calgary, five head coaches, 86 victories, five 10-win seasons, 11 post-season contests, two Grey Cup championships, eight major award winners, 59 West Division all-star team berths and 31 All-Canadian selections.</p> <h2>LOTS OF FUN IN 2001</h2> <p>Following an award-winning 2000 season, Dave Dickenson left the Stampeders to try his luck in the National Football League. Calgary then turned to Marcus Crandell to take over the offence and the results were quite good &mdash; the Stamps ranked second in the CFL in 2001 with 478 points scored.<img alt="Ring2001.jpg" height="209" src="/common/uploads/images/Ring2001.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Ring2001.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />However, the club as a whole had its ups and downs and the Stamps finished second in a parity-heavy West Division with an 8-10 record. That&rsquo;s when the fun started. First, the Red and White downed the BC Lions, who were also 8-10, in the West Semi-Final. The Stamps then went up to Edmonton for the West Final and knocked off the 9-9 Eskimos.<br /><br />That set the stage for a Grey Cup matchup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who ruled the league during the regular season with a sparkling 14-4 mark. The underdog Stamps were undeterred, however, as Calgary claimed a 27-19 victory in the big game.<br /><br />Crandell threw second-quarter touchdown passes to Travis Moore and Marc Boerigter on the way to claiming MVP honours in the game while Aldi Henry was top Canadian based primarily on his third-quarter punt block that led to a Willie Fells touchdown.</p> <h2>THINGS WERE GREAT IN 2008</h2> <p>Seven years after the 2001 triumph, the city of Montreal was very good to the Stampeders again. With rookie head coach John Hufnagel calling the shots, the Stamps recorded a 22-14 over the hometown Alouettes.<img alt="AndersonD.jpg" height="167" src="/common/uploads/images/AndersonD.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="AndersonD.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Als&rsquo; home-field advantage notwithstanding, the 2008 result could hardly be classed as an upset. Calgary led the CFL with a 13-5 mark during the regular season and led the league in both points scored and fewest points allowed.<br /><br />Henry Burris threw for 328 yards and connected with Brett Ralph for Calgary&rsquo;s only touchdown as the quarterback captured the MVP award. Sandro DeAngelis, who booted five field goals, was top Canadian.<br /><br />Calgary was one of four teams to win two Grey Cups during the past decade. The others were BC, Edmonton and Montreal.</p> <h2>BUONO IS MUCHO BUENO</h2> <p>Wally Buono spent all of the 1990s at the control for the Stamps and his reign spilled over into the 2000s by three seasons. In 2001, the man who would go on to become the winningest coach in CFL history added a third Grey Cup championship as the Red and White&rsquo;s boss as Calgary downed the heavily favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers.<br /><br />Jim Barker, Matt Dunigan and Tom Higgins all took their turns on the Stampeders&rsquo; sideline in the middle of the decade before former Stampeders quarterback and one-time Buono assistant John Hufnagel took over.<br /><br />Buono is the runaway leader in every significant coaching category in the franchise&rsquo;s history including games coached (234), wins (153), playoff wins (12) and Grey Cup titles (three).<br /><br />Much like the Buono Era carried into the 2000s, members of the Stampeders&rsquo; great teams of the &rsquo;90s to play into the new century included offensive lineman Rocco Romano, linebackers Alondra Johnson and Darryl Hall, safety Greg Frers, receivers Allen Pitts, Travis Moore and Vince Danielsen, quarterback Dave Dickenson, fullback Duane Forde, kicker Mark McLoughlin and punter Tony Martino.</p> <h2>LOCAL GROUP TAKES OVER<img alt="owners_091210.jpg" height="348" src="/common/uploads/images/owners_091210.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="owners_091210.jpg" width="250" /></h2> <p>At the dawn of the new decade, Sig Gutsche owned the Stampeders. In 2001, the club was sold to California businessman Michael Feterik.<br /><br />Four years later, a group of Calgary businessmen comprised of former players and community-minded individuals purchased the club from Feterik and started the methodical process of restoring the franchise&rsquo;s lustre. Ted Hellard, Doug Mitchell and John Forzani were part of the group as were former Stamps Dave Sapunjis and Bob Viccars.<br /><br />When the new group assumed control, the Stamps had missed the playoffs three years in a row but the team has since made five straight trips to the post-season while compiling a 51-37-2 record.</p> <h2>ROLL CALL</h2> <p>From 2000 to 2009, no fewer than 325 players &mdash; from Abdullah (Rahim and Khalid) to Zubedi (Farwan) &mdash; played at least one regular-season contest for the Stampeders.<br /><br />It would be a time-consuming task to mention all the players who have passed through McMahon Stadium in the past decade, but three groups deserve special notice.<br /><br />&bull; Let&rsquo;s start with the hogs of the offensive line, led by Jeff Pilon &mdash; the only player to make an appearance in each season of the past decade. Pilon naturally was also the Stamps&rsquo; leader in games played in the 2000s with 147.<br /><br />Two of the other men to play at least 100 games with the Red and White over the past 10 years were a couple of Pilon&rsquo;s trenchmates &mdash; guard Jay McNeil (135 games) and centre Jamie Crysdale (101).<img alt="Pilon_091022.jpg" height="254" src="/common/uploads/images/Pilon_091022.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Pilon_091022.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />&bull; In the middle of the decade, the Stampeders went to a 3-4 defensive system that was reliant on the linebacking crew making plays. Well, the four-man unit of John Grace, George White, Brian Clark and Scott Coe certainly did that.<br /><br />Over a two-year period &mdash; 2004 and 2005 &mdash; the four linebackers combined for 601 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 39 sacks, 16 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries and 40 pass knockdowns.<br /><br />&bull; It was at around this time that the Stampeders started assembling an outstanding crew of receivers that remained intact through the decade.<br /><br />Nik Lewis, who was the CFL&rsquo;s rookie of the year in 2004, was the first to arrive. The following season was critical as Jeremaine Copeland, Ken-Yon Rambo and Brett Ralph would all arrive on the scene. Ryan Thelwell came along in 2007.<br /><br />All told, the Fab Five has produced 1,325 catches for 20,335 yards and 127 touchdowns. The man on the launching end of most of that aerial damage was Henry Burris, who returned to the Stampeders in 2005.<br /><br />The Stamps&rsquo; long-standing offensive corps also includes running back Joffrey Reynolds, who came to Calgary in 2004.</p> <h2>RUNNING MEN</h2> <p>Speaking of Reynolds, the Texan was Calgary&rsquo;s top rusher for the final six years of the decade as he moved into second spot on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time list in ground yards.<img alt="AndersonK_091110.jpg" height="217" src="/common/uploads/images/AndersonK_091110.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="AndersonK_091110.jpg" width="194" /><br /><br />The only man he trails is Kelvin Anderson, who was the Stamps&rsquo; top ground-gainer for the first three seasons of the 2000s.<br /><br />The transition running back between the two eras was Saladin McCullough, who joined the Stamps mid-season in 2003 after the team parted ways with Lawrence Phillips and wound up leading the team with 734 rushing yards in 13 games.</p> <h2>ARMED AND DANGEROUS</h2> <p>Henry Burris spent two seasons with the Stampeders in the late &rsquo;90s but with Dave Dickenson and Jeff Garcia ahead of him on the depth chart, the former Temple quarterback spent most of his time wearing a ballcap and carrying a clipboard on the sidelines.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, Burris threw just 11 passes during his rookie season and 60 in his sophomore campaign before making to move the Regina in order to get an opportunity to be a starter.<img alt="090816burris.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/090816burris.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="090816burris.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />After three seasons with the Roughriders, with some NFL time mixed into the equation, Burris returned to Calgary in 2005 and has promptly claimed top spot in most major franchise passing categories including career marks for passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<br /><br />Burris threw for 22,947 yards and 141 touchdowns in the decade, well ahead of Marcus Crandell who was runner-up in both categories with 11,867 and 57.<br /><br />Incidentally, 19 different players threw TD passes in the 2000s for the Red and White including three guys you wouldn&rsquo;t expect &mdash; receivers Allen Pitts, Brett Ralph and Wane McGarity.<br /><br />Some of the more unlikely recipients of touchdown passes in the decade were all-star quarterback Dave Dickenson, all-star defensive lineman Joe Fleming, defensive lineman Mike Labinjo, safety Trey Young and lineman/long snapper Randy Chevrier.</p> <h2>TAKE A BOW</h2> <p>The Stamps produced a number of CFL award winners in the 2000s including 2000 Most Outstanding Player Dave Dickenson and a couple of Most Outstanding Defensive Player recipients &mdash; Joe Fleming in 2003 and John Grace in 2005.<img alt="Anselmo_mug.jpg" height="300" src="/common/uploads/images/Anselmo_mug.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Anselmo_mug.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br />Nik Lewis was top rookie in 2004, Sandro DeAngelis was the CFL&rsquo;s special teams player of the year in 2006 and Greg Frers won the Tom Pate Memorial Award for sportsmanship and dedication in 2002.<br /><br />A couple of Calgary bosses were presented the Annis Stukus Trophy for being the CFL coach of the year &mdash; Tom Higgins was honoured in 2005 while John Hufnagel got the nod in 2008.<br /><br />Stamps were selected as CFL all-stars 31 times in the past 10 years and 59 Calgary players were honoured with berths on the West all-star squad. <br /><br />Jay McNeil and Sandro DeAngelis top the list with five division all-star selections apiece while Joffrey Reynolds was recognized on four occasions. Fleming, who was Calgary&rsquo;s sacks leader during the decade, was a three-time all-star with the Stamps.<br /><br />Former Stampeders who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in the past decade were Doug Flutie, Allen Pitts, Alondra Johnson, Willie Burden, Rocco Romano, Danny Bass, Ray Nettles, Rudy Phillips and, into the builder&rsquo;s category, former club president Tony Anselmo (pictured right).</p> December 10, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3410 <p>Now that the 97th Grey Cup champion has been crowned, the focus of teams and their fans turn to next season, including the all-important 2010 CFL Canadian Draft.</p> <p>To help provide fans with a look which players may be drafted by their respective teams, the CFL's Amateur Scouting Bureau today published its second ranking of top Canadian amateur football players that are eligible for the 2010 Canadian Draft.<img alt="draft_english.jpg" height="180" src="/common/uploads/images/draft_english.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="draft_english.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The original ranking was published in September and since then, there has been a fair amount of movement at the top. Representing the biggest move is Queen's defensive lineman and Vanier Cup champion Shomari Williams who jumped from 15th to fourth. Topping the ranking at number one is Nevada offensive lineman John Bender (previously ranked sixth) and coming in at second (previously ranked third) is Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood, who was recently named this year's top defensive player in the CIS.</p> <p>The CFL's Amateur Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league's eight teams.</p> <p>In the New Year, the CFL will publish the entire roster of players that will attend the 2010 CFL Evaluation Camp, scheduled for March 12-14 in Toronto.</p> <p>The date of the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft will be announced in the coming months.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="4">2010 draft prospects</th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Rank</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Pos.</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>School</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>1</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Bender</td> <td style="text-align:center;">OL</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nevada</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>2</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cory Greenwood</td> <td style="text-align:center;">LB</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Concordia</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>3</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Danny Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">OT</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Baylor</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>4</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Shomari Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">DL</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Queen's</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>5</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">J'Michael Deane</td> <td style="text-align:center;">OL</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Michigan State</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>6</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cory Watson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">WR</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Concordia</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>7</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Rob Maver</td> <td style="text-align:center;">K/P</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Guelph</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>8</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Joash Geese</td> <td style="text-align:center;">LB</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Montreal</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>9</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Akeem Foster</td> <td style="text-align:center;">WR</td> <td style="text-align:center;">St. Francis Xavier</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>10</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Brian Bulcke</td> <td style="text-align:center;">DL</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Stanford</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>11</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Joe Eppele</td> <td style="text-align:center;">OL</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Washington State</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>12</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Eddie Steele</td> <td style="text-align:center;">DT</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Manitoba</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>13</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Taurean Allen</td> <td style="text-align:center;">DB</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wilfrid Laurier</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>14</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chima Ihekwoaba</td> <td style="text-align:center;">DE</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wilfrid Laurier</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>15</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nasser Jamal</td> <td style="text-align:center;">OT</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Louisiana-Lafayette</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><img alt="draft_order.jpg" height="410" src="/common/uploads/images/draft_order.jpg" title="draft_order.jpg" width="490" /></p> December 9, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3409 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave me the opportunity to coordinate the special teams for five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones. Monson worked with Stamps coaches as an understudy in 2009.</p> December 8, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave me the opportunity to coordinate the special teams for five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones. Monson worked with Stamps coaches as an understudy in 2009.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department while also serving as a coaching understudy.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave me the opportunity to coordinate the special teams for five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department and as a coaching understudy.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave me the opportunity to coordinate the special teams for five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave me the opportunity to coordinate the special teams for five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>Calgary Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel announces today that Craig Dickenson is leaving his position as special teams coordinator after seven years with the club, including the past five seasons in charge of special teams.<img alt="DickensonD_091208.jpg" height="264" src="/common/uploads/images/DickensonD_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DickensonD_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />Mark Kilam will become the special teams coordinator, after working the past five years mainly as a defensive assistant coach. The Stamps also have promoted Brent Monson to defensive quality control/strength and conditioning coach after he spent last season as an assistant in the club&rsquo;s video department.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing to lose Craig because he&rsquo;s a very good, very experienced coach,&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;But I respect his decision to take a year off from football and he&rsquo;ll continue to help us as we move forward.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely happy to be able to fill Craig&rsquo;s position and the subsequent vacancy by promoting from within. Mark has been with the club for five years. He and Brent are young, Canadian coaches who are eager and capable.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Dickenson will remain with the Stamps through the winter in a consulting role. He joined the Stamps in 2002 as the receivers coach. After spending 2003 with the Montreal Alouettes, he returned to Calgary in 2004 and handled the receivers and running backs before taking over special teams.<img alt="Kilam_091208.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Kilam_091208.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Kilam_091208.jpg" width="250" /><br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I want to thank the Calgary Stampeders organization and specifically John Hufnagel and Ted Hellard,&rdquo; said Dickenson. &ldquo;Coaching with Huff these past two years has been a productive and rewarding experience. Ted believed in me and gave the opportunity to coordinate the special teams five years and I&rsquo;m very appreciative for that.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to spending more time with my family and embarking on some new adventures.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br />Kilam joined the Stamps in 2005 as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2006, he became a defensive quality control coach and he was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to be able to progress within this organization,&rdquo; said Kilam. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just looking forward to 2010.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />This will be Monson&rsquo;s first pro coaching opportunity and he will assist with the linebackers, an area that will now chiefly be the responsibility of defensive coordinator Chris Jones.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3407 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture consecutive CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than their fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 regular-season contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders rallied for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 cathces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>PROVINCIAL DOMINATION</h2> <p>The Stamps had their hands full during the 2009 season against the Roughriders, who ultimately ended Calgary's season by beating the Red and White in the West Final, but the Stamps did have the number of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>After losing the first Battle of Alberta clash in mid-August, the Stamps rattled off four wins in a row over the Esks including a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series and a 24-21 victory in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture consecutive CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than their fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 regular-season contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders rallied for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>PROVINCIAL DOMINATION</h2> <p>The Stamps had their hands full during the 2009 season against the Roughriders, who ultimately ended Calgary's season by beating the Red and White in the West Final, but the Stamps did have the number of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>After losing the first Battle of Alberta clash in mid-August, the Stamps rattled off four wins in a row over the Esks including a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series and a 24-21 victory in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture consecutive CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than their fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 regular-season contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders ralled for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>PROVINCIAL DOMINATION</h2> <p>The Stamps had their hands full during the 2009 season against the Roughriders, who ultimately ended Calgary's season by beating the Red and White in the West Final, but the Stamps did have the number of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>After losing the first Battle of Alberta clash in mid-August, the Stamps rattled off four wins in a row over the Esks including a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series and a 24-21 victory in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture consecutive CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 regular-season contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders ralled for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>PROVINCIAL DOMINATION</h2> <p>The Stamps had their hands full during the 2009 season against the Roughriders, who ultimately ended Calgary's season by beating the Red and White in the West Final, but the Stamps did have the number of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>After losing the first Battle of Alberta clash in mid-August, the Stamps rattled off four wins in a row over the Esks including a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series and a 24-21 victory in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 regular-season contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders ralled for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>PROVINCIAL DOMINATION</h2> <p>The Stamps had their hands full during the 2009 season against the Roughriders, who ultimately ended Calgary's season by beating the Red and White in the West Final, but the Stamps did have the number of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.</p> <p>After losing the first Battle of Alberta clash in mid-August, the Stamps rattled off four wins in a row over the Esks including a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series and a 24-21 victory in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.</p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders ralled for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.</p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:</p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> <h2>Stamps fans, what was your highlight for 2009?</h2> <p><a href="/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Vote on our home-page poll</strong></a></p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; 2009 season started back in early June when 83 players reported for training camp. The campaign ended in late November with an appearance in the West Final.<br /><br />The six months in between were filled with the typical highs and lows, thrills and chills; challenges and conquests and marquee performances and milestone moments.<br /><br />Some of the big stories of the 2009 season included . . .</p> <h2>HANK REWRITES THE BOOKS</h2> <p>One at a time, quarterback Henry Burris picked off each of the Stampeders&rsquo; all-time career passing records. In doing so, he relegated Hall-of-Famer Doug Flutie to second place in each major category: passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.<img alt="Burris_091112.jpg" height="288" src="/common/uploads/images/Burris_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Burris_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The first of the records to fall was the yardage mark, accomplished Aug. 13 in Edmonton when Burris hooked up with Brett Ralph for a 13-yard completion. The connection allowed Burris to sneak past Flutie&rsquo;s Calgary career total of 20,551 yards.<br /><br />In the Stampeders&rsquo; next game after a bye week &mdash; an Aug. 28 visit to Toronto &mdash; Burris surpassed Flutie&rsquo;s total of 1,438 completions to take over top spot in the franchise record books. Really on a roll now, Burris made it three straight games with a new team record as he took over the No. 1 position with his 2,383rd pass attempt as Stamp during the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium against Edmonton on Sept. 7.<br /><br />The final career record to fall was the touchdowns standard, and that took place on Sept. 25 in a home game against the BC Lions. A third-quarter scoring toss to Jeremaine Copeland gave Burris 141 TD passes as a Stampeder, knocking Flutie off yet another perch.</p> <h2>REYNOLDS ON THE RUN</h2> <p>In the early-season going, it didn&rsquo;t look like running Joffrey Reynolds&rsquo; season was going to amount to much.<img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The Stampeders in July had a nasty habit of falling behind early in games, which means the team had to go heavy on the passing, which means Reynolds had just 24 carries for 97 yards through the first three games of the season.<br /><br />An inauspicious start for the defending rushing champion to be sure, but boy did Reynolds make up for lost time. The Tyler, Tex., native&rsquo;s talented feet produced nine 100-yard performances in the season&rsquo;s final 15 games on the way to a league-leading total of 1,504 yards.<br /><br />Reynolds became the first Stamp since James Sykes (1980, 1981) to capture CFL rushing crowns and earned the West Division nomination as the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player.<br /><br />Reynolds moved past Willie Burden, Lovell Coleman and Earl Lunsford to claim the No. 2 position on the Red and White&rsquo;s all-time rushing list. Only Kelvin Anderson remains ahead of Reynolds in career rushing yards for the Red and White. Reynolds also claimed a share of the franchise record with 28 career 100-yard games.</p> <h2>CLOSE CALLS</h2> <p>At 10-7-1, Calgary tied Saskatchewan for the best record in the West Division and the Stamps had more than fair share of tight games in accumulating that mark.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, half of the Stampeders&rsquo; 18 contests were decided by eight points or fewer including three games that a differential of one measly little point as well as an Oct. 17 draw against the Roughriders.<img alt="davis090911.jpg" height="241" src="/common/uploads/images/davis090911.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="davis090911.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Early on, the fantastic finishes weren&rsquo;t going the Stamps&rsquo; way.<br /></p> <ul> <li>On Aug. 1 at McMahon, Saskatchewan&rsquo;s Chris Getzlaf made a 65-yard touchdown catch with 1:17 to go as the Roughriders ralled for a 24-23 victory over the Stampeders.</li> <li>On Aug. 13 at Edmonton&rsquo;s Commonwealth Stadium, Ricky Ray found Fred Stamps in the end-zone with nine seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a 38-35 victory. Moments before, the Stamps thought they had secured a dramatic last-minute victory thanks to Jeremaine Copeland&rsquo;s score.</li> </ul> <p><br />Led by veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland, the heart-stoppers started going Calgary&rsquo;s way after the August bye week.<br /></p> <ul> <li>At Rogers Centre on Aug. 28, Copeland made an eight-yard touchdown catch with 46 ticks left on the clock to give the Stamps a 23-20 win over the Argonauts.</li> <li>In the Labour Day Classic rematch in Edmonton on Sept. 11, the Stamps overcame a 34-20 deficit after three quarters to claim a 35-34 victory. Scoring the winning TD with 22 seconds to play was that man again &mdash; Copeland.<img alt="ralph_blog2.jpg" height="308" src="/common/uploads/images/ralph_blog2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ralph_blog2.jpg" width="250" /></li> </ul> <p><br />October brought three more white-knuckle affairs:<br /></p> <ul> <li>On Oct. 3, five Sandro DeAngelis field goals provided all the points and the Stamps defence did the rest as Calgary nipped Hamilton 15-14. The Ticats had a great chance to win the game in the late going but timely sacks by Charleston Hughes and Keon Raymond pushed Hamilton out of field-goal range.</li> <li>A 44-44 draw against the Roughriders on Oct. 17 at McMahon was considered by many as the CFL&rsquo;s game of the year in 2009. Twice &mdash; once late in regulation and again on the first overtime possession &mdash; the Riders scored touchdowns to knot up the affair. Calgary turned the tables by overcoming a seven-point Saskatchewan lead on the Stamps&rsquo; second and final OT drive. Henry Burris connected with Brett Ralph for the ultimate equalizer.</li> <li>At BC on Halloween night, Sandro DeAngelis had to boot the game-winning field goal twice to give the Stamps a 28-26 decision over the Lions. DeAngelis&rsquo; first kick went through the uprights but a Calgary penalty forced him to do it again.</li> </ul> <h2>JEREMAINE&rsquo;S THE MAIN MAN</h2> <p>Receiver Jeremaine Copeland had an all-star season for the Red and White. In addition to his flair for the dramatic (see the Close Calls section) Copeland led the CFL with a dozen receiving touchdowns and produced the fifth 1,000-yard season of his distinguished career.<img alt="Copeland_091015.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/Copeland_091015.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Copeland_091015.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />He was especially productive during a four-game stretch in August and September as he made a total of 25 ctahces for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. His best single-game effort was an astounding 11-catch, 182-yard, two-touchdown beauty against the Esks on Aug. 13. <br /><br />Copeland also produced at least two catch-of-the-year candidates &mdash; a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab during the Labour Day Classic and a full-extension scoring reception while keeping his toes inbounds against BC on Sept. 25.<br /><br />Besides being productive, Copeland remains remarkably durable. Going back to his final season in Montreal and through five seasons with the Stamps, Copeland has played in 104 consecutive games.</p> <h2>NIK AT NIGHT</h2> <p>Throughout his Stampeders career, there have been two constants with Nik Lewis. One, he makes a catch in every game in which he appears. Two, he reaches the 1,000-yard mark for the season.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Both those trends continued in 2009 as Lewis extended his franchise records in both categories. The games-with-a-catch streak reached double digits in an Oct. 3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By season&rsquo;s end, the streak was at 105 games, which matches exactly the number of games Lewis has played as a Stampeder.<br /><br />Already the only Stamp with five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Lewis made it six in a row. Along the way, the slotback passed the likes of Dave Sapunjis and Herm (Ham Hands) Harrison to move into fourth place on the Stamps&rsquo; all-time receiving yards list and into sixth spot on the receptions chart.<br /><br />Despite the usual array of pass-catching accomplishments, it was a thunderous block that was perhaps Lewis&rsquo; most memorable 2009 highlight. In an Aug. 28 contest in Toronto, Lewis obliterated Argos linebacker Zeke Moreno to give Henry Burris enough time to complete a pass downfield.</p> <h2>BIG BEN AND THE CORNER MEN</h2> <p>In addition to the aforementioned Reynolds and Copeland, three other members of the Red and White earned their way onto the 2009 CFL all-star team.<img alt="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" height="285" src="/common/uploads/images/ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ArchibaldB_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The third member of the Calgary offence to be so honoured was left tackle Ben Archibald. Not only did Archibald make the all-star squad, he was also the first Stampeder since Jay McNeil in 2001 to be a finalist for the league&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.<br /><br />Meanwhile, both of the Stamps&rsquo; cornerbacks &mdash; Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson &mdash; were all-stars. For Browner, it was his second straight all-star nod.</p> <h2>DEFENCE NEVER RESTS</h2> <p>The Stampeders led the West Division in defence, allowing just 443 points. That&rsquo;s 41 points fewer than Saskatchewan, which had the West&rsquo;s second-stingiest defence.<br /><br />Calgary also did something only one other Stampeders club has accomplished since 1980 &mdash; on no fewer than four occasions, the Red and White help opponents to 10 or fewer points.<br /><img alt="Hughes_091112.jpg" height="319" src="/common/uploads/images/Hughes_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Hughes_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br />Two of the stellar defensive efforts came in back-to-back games &mdash; a 44-9 win over the Argos on July 17 and a 48-10 thumping of the Lions at BC Place on July 24. Calgary also turned the trick twice at home against Edmonton &mdash; on Sept. 7 (a 32-8 win) and Oct. 23 (30-7).<br /><br />The only other instance in the past three decades of the Stamps having four games in a season of 10 or fewer points allowed came in 1993.<br /><br />From an individual standpoint, Malik Jackson started the season as a lineman but made a smooth switch to linebacker and performed so well that he was chosen as the team&rsquo;s top rookie.<br /><br />Charleston Hughes, a key contributor in the Stampeders&rsquo; 2008 championship season, rejoined the Stamps in September after attending training camp with the National Football League&rsquo;s Philadelphia Eagles. He wasted no time making an impact as he recorded two sacks in each of his first three games.</p> <h2>WEST STARS</h2> <p>The Stamps placed eight players on the West Division all-star team including both of their foot soldiers &mdash; punter Burke Dales and place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis.<br /><br />The division all-star nod was the fifth of his career for DeAngelis, who led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate. Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per punt.<br /><br />Two members of the offensive line &mdash; Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas &mdash; were recognized as were running back Joffrey Reynolds and slotback Jeremaine Copeland.<br /><br />Cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner rounded out the Stamps&rsquo; slate of all-stars.</p> December 8, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3404 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have completed a Sept. 20 trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by sending offensive lineman Derek Armstrong to Winnipeg in exchange for a conditional draft pick.<br /><br />The initial part of the trade saw defensive lineman Odell Willis and receivers Jabari Arthur and Titus Ryan dealt to Winnipeg for veteran receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin, along with the future considerations that were decided after the season and announced today.</p> December 7, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3401 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have completed a Sept. 20 trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by sending offensive lineman Derek Armstrong to Winnipeg in exchange for a conditional draft pick.<br /><br />The initial part of the trade saw defensive lineman Odell Willis and receivers Jabari Arthur and Titus Ryan dealt to Winnipeg for veteran receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin, along with the future considerations that were decided after the season and announced today.</p> December 7, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3401 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have completed a Sept. 20 trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by sending offensive lineman Derek Armstrong to Winnipeg in exchange for a conditional draft pick.<br /><br />The initial part of the trade saw defensive lineman Odell Willis and receivers Jabari Arthur and Titus Ryan dealt to Winnipeg for veteran receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin, along with the future considerations that were decided after the season and announced today.</p> December 7, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3401 <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="SantaShuffle_091207.jpg" height="253" src="/common/uploads/images/SantaShuffle_091207.jpg" title="SantaShuffle_091207.jpg" width="490" /></p> <p><strong>Date: Wednesday, Dec. 2<br />Players:</strong> Henry Burris<br /><strong>Event:</strong> CIBC Children&rsquo;s Miracle Day<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Bankers Hall &mdash; East Tower, ninth floor &mdash; 855, 2nd St. S.W.<br /><strong>Details:</strong> Henry was on hand on behalf of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, which received a $10,000 donation<img alt="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" height="97" src="/common/uploads/images/devitt_forand_spot.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="devitt_forand_spot.jpg" width="205" /></p> <p><strong>Date: Friday, Dec. 4<br />Players:</strong> DeVone Claybrooks<br /><strong>Event:</strong> QR77 Children's Foundation Pledge Day<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Westin Hotel &mdash; 320 4th Ave. S.W.<br /><strong>Details:</strong> DeVone was in studio to help take pledges for the charity fundraiser</p> <p><strong>Date: Saturday, Dec. 5<br />Players:</strong> Jeremaine Copeland and Burke Dales<br /><strong>Event:</strong> Salvation Army Santa Shuffle<br /><strong>Location:</strong> Eau Claire Market &mdash; Food Court entrance &mdash; 202, 200 Barclay Parade S.W.<br /><strong>Details:</strong> Participants ran a fun race to raise money for the Salvation Army</p> December 7, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3398 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will be holding an open tryout this Saturday when they visit Occidental College in Los Angeles.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is going to be our only trip to the West Coast,&rdquo; said Stamps senior vice-president of football operations and director of player personnel Jim Barker, &ldquo;and we&rsquo;re excited about the players we think we&rsquo;re going to get. Also, I used to coach at Occidental College, so I&rsquo;m looking forward to being there again.&rdquo;<img alt="calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" height="193" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Besides Barker, head coach/general manager John Hufnagel will attend the sessions, as will defensive coordinator Chris Jones and receivers coach Pete Costanza.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is the first step of a three-step process,&rdquo; Barker explained. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want to sign players we haven&rsquo;t worked out, so this camp is to get a clock on them, to watch them move, to watch how they learn. We&rsquo;re going to do four or five of these across the country. From these, we&rsquo;re going to select the players we&rsquo;re going to take to our camp in Florida (in the spring). That&rsquo;s Step 2 and then coming to training camp and earning a spot is Step 3.&rdquo;<br /><br />Many of the current Stamps players went through this process before earning a roster spot.<br /><br />&ldquo;I think anybody who thinks they have the ability to potentially play in Canada should (come to the camp),&rdquo; said Barker. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking for all positions. Our goal this year is that every guy who gets a contract will be a guy who we&rsquo;ve worked out. This is the first step in that process.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a fast track there. They have a great field &mdash; it&rsquo;s a FieldTurf field. The weather is supposed to be in the high 60s, low 70s, so it should make for perfect conditions for a guy to show what he can do.&rdquo;<br /><br /><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3322" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More info on the open tryout</strong></a></p> December 3, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3395 <p>The Calgary Stampeders will be holding an open tryout this Saturday when they visit Occidental College in Los Angeles.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is going to be our only trip to the West Coast,&rdquo; said Stamps senior vice-president of football operations and director of player personnel Jim Barker, &ldquo;and we&rsquo;re excited about the players we think we&rsquo;re going to get. Also, I used to coach at Occidental College, so I&rsquo;m looking forward to being there again.&rdquo;<img alt="calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" height="193" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_helmet_3_r.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Besides Barker, head coach/general manager John Hufnagel will attend the sessions, as will defensive coordinator Chris Jones and receivers coach Pete Costanza.<br /><br />&ldquo;This is the first step of a three-step process,&rdquo; Barker explained. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want to sign players we haven&rsquo;t worked out, so this camp is to get a clock on them, to watch them move, to watch how they learn. We&rsquo;re going to do four or five of these across the country. From these, we&rsquo;re going to select the players we&rsquo;re going to take to our camp in Florida (in the spring). That&rsquo;s Step 2 and then coming to training camp and earning a spot is Step 3.&rdquo;<br /><br />Many of the current Stamps players went through this process before earning a roster spot.<br /><br />&ldquo;I think anybody who thinks they have the ability to potentially play in Canada should (come to the camp),&rdquo; said Barker. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking for all positions. Our goal this year is that every guy who gets a contract will be a guy who we&rsquo;ve worked out. This is the first step in that process.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a fast track there. They have a great field &mdash; it&rsquo;s a FieldTurf field. The weather is supposed to be in the high 60s, low 70s, so it should make for perfect conditions for a guy to show what he can do.&rdquo;<br /><br /><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3322" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; More info on the open tryout</strong></a></p> December 3, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3395 <p>The 2009 Grey Cup party is over and it&rsquo;s time to start the clean-up. Just in time for the time people are making lists and checking them twice.</p> <p>Starting Thursday, Dec. 3, the Stamps&rsquo; Store (located on the East side of McMahon Stadium) will be holding a clear-out sale of all 2009 Grey Cup and Calgary Stampeders apparel, with merchandise reduced by up to 40 per cent.<br />&nbsp;<br />The sale features the largest selection of Canadian Football League merchandise in Calgary and will be held from Dec. 3 to Dec. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Grey Cup Merchandise Tent, located outside of the Stamps&rsquo; Store.<br />&nbsp;<br />The sale will be a great place to find Christmas gifts for all CFL fans.</p> December 2, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3394 <p>The University of Calgary Dinos fell short in their bid for the Canadian university football championship, dropping a 33-31 decision to Queen's in the Vanier Cup on Saturday at Quebec City's PEPS Stadium.</p> <p>The Gaels rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to claim their first national title since 1992 and their fourth overall.<br /><br />Queen's took the lead for the first time early in the fourth quarter as quarterback Danny Brannagan rolled out and hit Scott Valberg with a 17-yard touchdown strike to put Queen's up 26-25.<br /><br />The Gaels roster includes defensive lineman Osie Ukwuoma, a 2009 draft choice of the Stampeders who spent training camp with the Red and White before returning to the Queen's campus in Kingston, Ont.</p> November 28, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3385 <p>The year 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium, home of the Calgary Stampeders.<br /><br />The Stamps have won five Grey Cups since the move from Mewata Stadium to McMahon in 1960 &mdash; four of the titles have come in the past 18 seasons &mdash; and what better way would there be to celebrate the golden anniversary of their home park than with another championship?<br /><br />You can be there for all the action as 2010 season tickets are on sale right now. Isn&rsquo;t there a Stamps fan on your Christmas list who would love a full season of football excitement?<img alt="McMahonaerial.jpg" height="200" src="/common/uploads/images/McMahonaerial.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="McMahonaerial.jpg" width="300" /><br /><a href="/tickets/tickets/season/" target="_blank"><strong><br />&gt;&gt; Buy tickets here</strong></a><br /><br />You should know that with the next Grey Cup contest being just up the road in Edmonton, Stampeders season-ticket holders will get a chance to buy tickets for the big game before the general public sale begins.<br /><br />Purchasing season tickets also ensures your seat for the annual Labour Day Classic as well as the visit by the defending-champion Montreal Alouettes, who won their latest title right at McMahon in one of the most dramatic championship games the Canadian Football League has ever seen.<br /><br />The rival Saskatchewan Roughriders, who lost the 97th Grey Cup in such heart-breaking fashion, will also be in Calgary in 2010 for what is typically an exciting grudge match.</p> December 2, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1354 <p>Hey Stamps Fans!<br /><br />It's that exciting time of the year again . . . GREY CUP!</p> <p>For myself, being a rookie, this of course is my first time and I'm extremely excited about all the events that are taking place here in our hometown. Our days are jammed pack full of events but without a doubt we are having a blast!<img alt="Camille.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/Camille.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Camille.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It was Day 2 of Grey Cup and Friday was a big night for all of the cheerteams of the CFL. Friday, a whole 240 cheerleaders from across Canada performed their routines at the Telus Convention Center in the Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon.</p> <p>It is known as Cheer Extravanganza and it was a fun and entertaining evening! Each cheer team performed their number and to close off as the hosting team, the Outriders performed last.<br /><br />At rehearsal for the evening, we all had the opportunity to watch the other girls and cheer them on. It's a fun experience to see what the other teams have been working on since no routine is the same. Many also have different styles. A little chat with the other girls is always encouraged as everyone is very friendly and just as excited for these next few days.<br /><br />We all worked very hard to put on a great show and the feedback we received was all positive and really pumped us up that much more.<br /><br />Camille<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=43" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Camille bio</strong></a></p> November 28, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1352 <p>Hey Stamps Fans!<br /><br />It's that exciting time of the year again . . . GREY CUP!</p> <p>For myself, being a rookie, this of course is my first time and I'm extremely excited about all the events that are taking place here in our hometown. Our days are jammed pack full of events but without a doubt we are having a blast!<img alt="Camille.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/Camille.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Camille.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It was Day 2 of Grey Cup and Friday was a big night for all of the cheerteams of the CFL. Friday, a whole 240 cheerleaders from across Canada performed their routines at the Telus Convention Center in the Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon.</p> <p>It is known as Cheer Extravanganza and it was a fun and entertaining evening! Each cheer team performed their number and to close off as the hosting team, the Outriders performed last.<br /><br />At rehearsal for the evening, we all had the opportunity to watch the other girls and cheer them on. It's a fun experience to see what the other teams have been working on since no routine is the same. Many also have different styles. A little chat with the other girls is always encouraged as everyone is very friendly and just as excited for these next few days.<br /><br />We all worked very hard to put on a great show and the feedback we received was all positive and really pumped us up that much more.<br /><br />Camille<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=43" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Camille bio</strong></a></p> November 28, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1352 <p><br /><a href="http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=6d7c50d3-7eaf-4c48-93a7-f87c52a87813" target="_blank"><strong>By Sean Myers<br />Calgary Herald</strong></a></p> <p>There was no need to explain to Jeremaine Copeland the purpose of the Salvation Army Coat Drive.</p> <p>The Calgary Stampeders' star receiver became all too familiar with the program as a kid in his hometown of Harriman, Tenn.<img alt="CopeCoatDrive.jpg" height="258" src="/common/uploads/images/CopeCoatDrive.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CopeCoatDrive.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>"Growing up we didn't have a lot, so we went to the Salvation Army for a coat or a pair of pants here and there," says Copeland. "It was a big help. So I know first-hand what the need is."</p> <p>The Stamps' leading catcher this season with 81 receptions for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns, Copeland says his desire to help those less fortunate marries well with the expectation that star athletes donate their time.</p> <p>"I think it inspires the fans big-time, they love to see their favourite guys out there helping and doing their part when they're not on the field," says Copeland. "Nobody likes to see their favourite guys turn out to be snobby and not helping.</p> <p>"It's real important to me that I give back. A lot of time we don't know how much effect we have on the community and you want to be sure to have a positive effect."</p> <p>Calgary's high-profile professional athletes all have their own reasons for getting involved with community endeavours, whether it's a personal desire to help kids or a request from the team to make an appearance. As the Calgary Herald embarks on its 19th annual Christmas Fund which supports 14 local agencies, it's worth looking at the impact the city's sports teams have on non-profit organizations.</p> <p>Stamps defensive back Keon Raymond looks for charitable groups to align himself with in every city he plays in.<img alt="ACH_nealysign.jpg" height="245" src="/common/uploads/images/ACH_nealysign.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ACH_nealysign.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>With three young boys, Raymond says it's as much about providing a good example for his own kids as being a role model for the fans.</p> <p>"I get involved in everything I can. My thing is just giving time to help people in need," says Raymond, 27. "That's part of what it means to be a professional football player.</p> <p>"My boys are three, four and seven and they're going to be looking up to guys just like I did. We have to set the example for the next guys coming up."</p> <p>Raymond believes his charitable work will form as much of his legacy when he's done playing football as his play on the field.</p> <p>"One of these days nobody's going to be looking for my autograph and I'll just be a guy sitting on the couch watching TV with my kids," he says. "I want to make sure I did what I could when I had the chance."</p> <p>Robert Perry, senior director of operations with the Calgary Urban Project Society, says having the support of local professional sports teams provides a significant boost to fundraising efforts.</p> <p>The Stampeders/CUPS kickoff breakfast in May raised about $50,000 for the organization, one of the 14 supported by the Herald Christmas Fund.<img alt="CUPS-establishing.jpg" height="250" src="/common/uploads/images/CUPS-establishing.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="CUPS-establishing.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>In 17 years, the breakfast has raised a total of $700,000 for CUPS, which helps Calgary families overcome poverty through health-care, social and educational programs.</p> <p>"We love the Stamps," says Perry. "Aside from raising money, hosting that breakfast allows us to tell our story.</p> <p>"They genuinely care and want to be a part of the community and we're fortunate to be a recipient of their generosity. They come down here and spend hours on end hugging every baby, every kid, meeting people. They're an amazing group of guys."</p> <p>Nollind van Bryce, spokesman for the Inter-Faith Food Bank, another Herald Christmas Fund recipient, says he's always amazed at the depth of knowledge professional athletes have of his organization when they come for events.</p> <p>"Once they come to our warehouse once, they get it. They get the need," says van Bryce. "And once they get it, they become strong advocates for the cause among their teammates and their own families.</p> <p>"We always extend the invitation because we know they want to do their part."</p> <p>Stamps co-owner Ted Hellard says a big part of the reason the local ownership group came together to buy the team was to ensure the players truly become part of the community.</p> <p>That means supporting both social and health-related causes as well as minor sports.</p> <p>"I'm pretty proud of what the players do and how much commitment they're willing to make," says Hellard. "And doing it with no real incentive or bonus, it's just done because they love being out in the community."</p> <p>While the team's management fields requests for time and donations and helps match up players with specific causes, Hellard says he's never had to force a player into action.</p> <p>"It's a big part of what we do. The players are out in the community an incredible amount. Our requests and our participation are up a significant amount. The players are awesome about going out. They're there wherever we need them," he says.</p> <p>"They truly feel a part of the community and want to give whatever they can give. They're not rich athletes, they don't make a ton of money so what they are able to give is their time and support."</p> <p>Stamps quarterback Henry Burris says the players have all picked up on the spirit he's found throughout the city since being here.</p> <p>"That's one of the things I love about Calgary, The people turn out and support everything here like no other," says Burris.</p> <p>"There's been some good things that have happened to people in this city and people have made some money but people are definitely staying humble and helping out those who are less fortunate. Just to see that happening in the city of Calgary bodes well for the future of the city that my kids will be growing up in."</p> <p>The Stampeders' richer cousin, the Calgary Flames, have equally ensured that the NHL players who come through the organization have ample opportunities to give back. With larger resources to marshal, the team has donated over $32 million to charitable causes and projects over the past 30 years. Since 1998, those efforts have been directed through the Flames Foundation for Life.</p> <p>While the Flames maintain a large amateur sport component in their community support, they've always been involved with the Alberta Children's Hospital. The foundation donated $2.5 million toward the recently opened Flames Rotary House, a hospice for terminally ill kids located adjacent to the children's hospital.</p> <p>"Our players understand that it's part of our culture to be a responsible part of the community," says Flames president Ken King.</p> <p>"Our players have always been more than happy to take part in any event that they've been requested to participate in. And many of them have done a lot of work under their own initiative."<br />Individually, Flames players often take on charitable organizations whose work has some special significance for them.</p> <p>"A lot comes from the (Flames) organization. They really send a message and encourage us as players to get involved in the community," says Flames captain Jarome Iginla.</p> <p>"And it's not just getting involved for the sake of getting involved, but they try to align us with things that are close to our hearts and we can really connect with."</p> <p>Iginla has supported numerous sports and health-care-related organizations and causes, including Kid-Sport, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Doctors Without Borders and the Jarome Iginla/Cassie Campbell Hockey School.</p> <p>Iginla says it's all part of a long-standing tradition that's been passed down with each generation of players.</p> <p>"When I came in, the veterans were doing it," says Iginla. "As a veteran player now, I see the young guys doing it.</p> <p>"These examples were already there and it was an easy transition. The organization promotes and encourages it."</p> <p>Iginla's sometime line-mate David Moss received the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award last year in recognition of his work in the community.</p> <p>As a college graduate, his big cause is literacy and he's directly involved in the Flames program, Reading . . . Give it a Shot!</p> <p>"There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a kid you're trying to help smile back at you," says Moss. "I'm in a pretty fortunate position so I feel it's important to give back.</p> <p>"Being involved in the community is a way to help remind us what's really important in life."</p> November 30, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3388 <p>The University of Calgary Dinos fell short in their bid for the Canadian university football championship, dropping a 33-31 decision to Queen's in the Vanier Cup on Saturday at Quebec City's PEPS Stadium.</p> <p>The Gaels rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to claim their first national title since 1992 and their fourth overall.<br /><br />Queen's took the lead for the first time early in the fourth quarter as quarterback Danny Brannagan rolled out and hit Scott Valberg with a 17-yard touchdown strike to put Queen's up 26-25.<br /><br />The Gaels roster includes defensive lineman Osie Ukwuoma, a 2009 draft choice of the Stampeders who spent training camp with the Red and White before returning to the Queen's campus in Kingston, Ont.</p> November 28, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3385 <p>The University of Calgary Dinos fell short in their bid for the Canadian university football championship, dropping a 33-31 decision to Queen's in the Vanier Cup on Saturday at Quebec City's PEPS Stadium.</p> <p>The Gaels rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to claim their first national title since 1992 and their fourth overall.<br /><br />Queen's took the lead for the first time early in the fourth quarter as quarterback Danny Brannagan rolled out and hit Scott Valberg with a 17-yard touchdown strike to put Queen's up 26-25.<br /><br />The Gaels roster includes defensive lineman Osie Ukwuoma, a 2009 draft choice of the Stampeders who spent training camp with the Red and White before returning to the Queen's campus in Kingston, Ont.</p> November 28, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3385 <p>The Canadian Football League on Thursday announced the winners of the 2009 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards in ceremony at Calgary's Telus Convention Centre.</p> <p>Voters were asked to select players from the League who through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards' title: Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. The nominees included <img alt="wally_flutie090919.jpg" height="362" src="/common/uploads/images/wally_flutie090919.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="wally_flutie090919.jpg" width="250" />Stampeders Joffrey Reynolds (Most Outstanding Player) and Ben Archibald (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman).</p> <p>Also announced at the 2009 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards show were the Commissioner's Award, which went to former Stampeders head coach and general manager Wally Buono, and the Tom Pate Memorial Award.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Player - Anthony Calvillo - QB - Montreal Alouettes</h2> <p>For the second consecutive year, Anthony Calvillo has been named the league's top player. Calvillo led the Montreal Alouettes to a franchise-best 15-3 record. He passed for 4,639 yards, 26 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing 72% of his passes, the second highest single-season completion percentage in CFL history. Calvillo was also named a CFL All-Star for the 4th time in his career. This is his third Most Outstanding Player award (2003, 2008).<br />Calvillo received 44 first place votes.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Canadian - Ricky Foley - DE - BC Lions</h2> <p>BC Lions defensive end Ricky Foley had a breakout year in 2009, finishing the season with 12 quarterback sacks, tied for the most in the CFL. The third year player registered 51 tackles, two special teams tackles and two pass knockdowns. The native of Courtice, Ontario was drafted fourth overall by the Lions in the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft. This is Foley's first Most Outstanding Canadian award.<br />Foley received 31 first place votes.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Defensive Player - John Chick - DE - Saskatchewan Roughriders</h2> <p>In just his third year in the CFL, Saskatchewan defensive end John Chick has been named the league's top defensive player. Chick finished the season with the second highest total in sacks (11) and forced fumbles (4). He also registered 32 tackles, including four tackles for a loss, five pass knockdowns and two special teams' tackles. The product of Utah State was also named a CFL All-Star in 2009. Both honours are the first of his career.<br />Chick received 34 first place votes.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Lineman - Scott Flory - OG - Montreal Alouettes</h2> <p>For the second-straight season Montreal Alouettes Scott Flory has been named the CFL's top offensive lineman. Flory anchored an offensive line that allowed the third fewest quarterback sacks (35) in the CFL. Montreal's offence finished first in total yards per game (390.3), first in passing yards per game (288.4) and second in rushing yards per game (119.9). Flory was named a CFL All-Star for the seventh time in his career. This is his second Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award (2008).<br />Flory received 37 first place votes.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Special Teams Player - Larry Taylor - KR - Montreal Alouettes</h2> <p>Kick return specialist Larry Taylor is the third Alouettes player to be honoured in 2009. Taylor finished the season third in combined years with 2,040, including 788 punt returns yards (first),&nbsp; 1,059 kickoff return yards (fifth) and 124 missed field goal return yards (second). He had three kick return touchdowns (two punt, 1 missed field goal), which was the most by any player in 2009. The product of the University of Connecticut was also named a CFL All-Star in 2009. Both honours are the first of his career.<br />Taylor received 36 first place votes.</p> <h2>Most Outstanding Rookie - Martell Mallett - RB - BC Lions</h2> <p>In a season dubbed by many as the year of the running back it's only fitting that a running back was named the league's top rookie. Martell Mallett finished the season with 1,240 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 214 carries. He also added 43 receptions for 432 yards and two touchdowns. Mallett was also named a 2009 West Division All-Star.<br />Mallett received 35 first place votes.</p> <h2>Tom Pate Memorial Award - Marwan Hage - C - Hamilton Tiger-Cats</h2> <p>Hamilton Tiger-Cats centre Marwan Hage is the 2009 recipient of the Tom Pate Memorial Award. The Tom Pate Award is handed out each year to a CFL player who displays qualities that distinguish them from their peers.</p> <p>Every year the CFLPA invites each CFL Club to nominate a team member for this award.&nbsp; The recipient must be a player with outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team and to his community and Association.</p> <h2>Commissioner's Award - Wally Buono</h2> <p>This award is presented annually to someone who has made a tremendous contribution to the Canadian Football League. This year's recipient of the Commissioner's Award is BC Lions General Manager and Head Coach Wally Buono. As a player, coach and general manager, Buono has been involved with the CFL for nearly four decades including a very successful stint with the Calgary Stampeders as head coach and GM. This season, Buono set a new record for the most wins by a head coach in the long history of the CFL.</p> <p>This year's award winners were selected by 55 voting members, including representation from the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) from the eight CFL markets, a national chapter and CFL head coaches.</p> November 26, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3382 <p>Hey Stamps Fans!<br /><br />It's that exciting time of the year again . . . GREY CUP!</p> <p>For myself, being a rookie, this of course is my first time and I'm extremely excited about all the events that are taking place here in our hometown. Our days are jammed pack full of events but without a doubt we are having a blast!<img alt="Camille.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/Camille.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Camille.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It was Day 2 of Grey Cup and Friday was a big night for all of the cheerteams of the CFL. Friday, a whole 240 cheerleaders from across Canada performed their routines at the Telus Convention Center in the Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon.</p> <p>It is known as Cheer Extravanganza and it was a fun and entertaining evening! Each cheer team performed their number and to close off as the hosting team, the Outriders performed last.<br /><br />At rehearsal for the evening, we all had the opportunity to watch the other girls and cheer them on. It's a fun experience to see what the other teams have been working on since no routine is the same. Many also have different styles. A little chat with the other girls is always encouraged as everyone is very friendly and just as excited for these next few days.<br /><br />We all worked very hard to put on a great show and the feedback we received was all positive and really pumped us up that much more.<br /><br />Camille<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=43" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Camille bio</strong></a></p> November 28, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1352 <p>Hey Stamps Fans!<br /><br />It's that exciting time of the year again . . . GREY CUP!</p> <p>For myself, being a rookie, this of course is my first time and I'm extremely excited about all the events that are taking place here in our hometown. Our days are jammed pack full of events but without a doubt we are having a blast!<img alt="Camille.jpg" height="398" src="/common/uploads/images/Camille.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Camille.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It was Day 2 of Grey Cup and Friday was a big night for all of the cheerteams of the CFL. Friday, a whole 240 cheerleaders from across Canada performed their routines at the Telus Convention Center in the Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon.</p> <p>It is known as Cheer Extravanganza and it was a fun and entertaining evening! Each cheer team performed their number and to close off as the hosting team, the Outriders performed last.<br /><br />At rehearsal for the evening, we all had the opportunity to watch the other girls and cheer them on. It's a fun experience to see what the other teams have been working on since no routine is the same. Many also have different styles. A little chat with the other girls is always encouraged as everyone is very friendly and just as excited for these next few days.<br /><br />We all worked very hard to put on a great show and the feedback we received was all positive and really pumped us up that much more.<br /><br />Camille<br /><strong>&gt;&gt; Camille bio</strong></p> November 28, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1352 <p><br /><strong><a href="http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Queen lineman impressed Stamps camp/2273457/story.html" target="_blank">By Rita Mingo<br />Calgary Herald</a></strong></p> <p>Osie Ukwuoma is quick to credit the Calgary Stampeders for making him into just that much better a football player.</p> <p>&ldquo;It was fun, it was an amazing experience,&rsquo;&rsquo; said the six-foot-two, 250-pound Queen&rsquo;s University defensive lineman, who attended the Canadian Football League team&rsquo;s training camp in the spring. &ldquo;They have phenomenal coaches there, always willing to teach. I think as a player they advanced me. But the time wasn&rsquo;t right for me to be there, so I came back.&rsquo;&rsquo;<img alt="Osie_091127.jpg" height="207" src="/common/uploads/images/Osie_091127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Osie_091127.jpg" width="165" /></p> <p>The Stampeders chose Ukwuoma in the fifth round of the 2009 CFL entry draft, after an exceptional season at Queen&rsquo;s during which he registered 9.5 sacks and 25 tackles.</p> <p>He reportedly had a fine rookie training camp, but it was decided going back to school would help make up his mind as to whether football is the direction he wants to take.</p> <p>&ldquo;He performed very well,&rsquo;&rsquo; explained Stampeders director of player personnel Jim Barker. &ldquo;Osie&rsquo;s problem had nothing to do with his athletic ability, but just about how much he wanted to play football. He has a bright future. His family is full of engineers. The question was how much he wanted to play.</p> <p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking forward to having him back. We think this experience (the Vanier Cup) will help his progress. We&rsquo;ve been watching him play and we expect him to be a good player for us.&rsquo;&rsquo;<br />As far as Ukwuoma is concerned, he&rsquo;ll go wherever the prevailing wind takes him.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not really sure,&rsquo;&rsquo; conceded the 21-year-old, who on Thursday night was named first-team all-Canadian for the second straight season. &ldquo;I love football. It&rsquo;s one of my passions. I&rsquo;d love to play as long as I can. I&rsquo;m not really too structured. We&rsquo;ll see where the cards fall. If they sign me again, I&rsquo;d love to try to make the roster.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> <p>Ukwuoma has a different Calgary team on his mind this week, as the Queen&rsquo;s Gaels get ready to rumble with the Dinos in the 2009 Vanier Cup. The Nigerian-born Ukwuoma is a key cog in a tough defence that will no doubt have its hands full with quarterback Erik Glavic, running back Matt Walter and Co.</p> <p>&ldquo;They have a very strong offensive line,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said, &ldquo;top flight receivers and two very good running backs, so they pose a very unique challenge &mdash; and with a quarterback who can run, too. They can gain yards in so many different ways. At the same time, we have some firepower in our own end and we feel we match up pretty well.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> <p>With Ukwuoma and Shomari Williams shoring up the defensive line, that should provide a few challenges for the Calgary offence. Williams was player of the game in the Queen&rsquo;s upset of Laval in the Mitchell Bowl, posting 3.5 sacks and seven tackles in that game.</p> <p>He&rsquo;s looking for an even greater test on Saturday.</p> <p>&ldquo;This is the biggest stage we can be on,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Williams. &ldquo;To work from August to being only one of two teams still practising is very exciting.</p> <p>&ldquo;Their quarterback is a dual threat. It&rsquo;s kind of scary and poses a lot of problems for us. And their running game is very solid. Pretty much their whole team on offence is dangerous, so we&rsquo;re going to have to play sound defence to contain them.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> November 27, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3380 <p><br /><a href="http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Queen lineman impressed Stamps camp/2273457/story.html" target="_blank">By Rita Mingo<br />Calgary Herald</a></p> <p>Osie Ukwuoma is quick to credit the Calgary Stampeders for making him into just that much better a football player.</p> <p>&ldquo;It was fun, it was an amazing experience,&rsquo;&rsquo; said the six-foot-two, 250-pound Queen&rsquo;s University defensive lineman, who attended the Canadian Football League team&rsquo;s training camp in the spring. &ldquo;They have phenomenal coaches there, always willing to teach. I think as a player they advanced me. But the time wasn&rsquo;t right for me to be there, so I came back.&rsquo;&rsquo;<img alt="Osie_091127.jpg" height="207" src="/common/uploads/images/Osie_091127.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Osie_091127.jpg" width="165" /></p> <p>The Stampeders chose Ukwuoma in the fifth round of the 2009 CFL entry draft, after an exceptional season at Queen&rsquo;s during which he registered 9.5 sacks and 25 tackles.</p> <p>He reportedly had a fine rookie training camp, but it was decided going back to school would help make up his mind as to whether football is the direction he wants to take.</p> <p>&ldquo;He performed very well,&rsquo;&rsquo; explained Stampeders director of player personnel Jim Barker. &ldquo;Osie&rsquo;s problem had nothing to do with his athletic ability, but just about how much he wanted to play football. He has a bright future. His family is full of engineers. The question was how much he wanted to play.</p> <p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking forward to having him back. We think this experience (the Vanier Cup) will help his progress. We&rsquo;ve been watching him play and we expect him to be a good player for us.&rsquo;&rsquo;<br />As far as Ukwuoma is concerned, he&rsquo;ll go wherever the prevailing wind takes him.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not really sure,&rsquo;&rsquo; conceded the 21-year-old, who on Thursday night was named first-team all-Canadian for the second straight season. &ldquo;I love football. It&rsquo;s one of my passions. I&rsquo;d love to play as long as I can. I&rsquo;m not really too structured. We&rsquo;ll see where the cards fall. If they sign me again, I&rsquo;d love to try to make the roster.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> <p>Ukwuoma has a different Calgary team on his mind this week, as the Queen&rsquo;s Gaels get ready to rumble with the Dinos in the 2009 Vanier Cup. The Nigerian-born Ukwuoma is a key cog in a tough defence that will no doubt have its hands full with quarterback Erik Glavic, running back Matt Walter and Co.</p> <p>&ldquo;They have a very strong offensive line,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said, &ldquo;top flight receivers and two very good running backs, so they pose a very unique challenge &mdash; and with a quarterback who can run, too. They can gain yards in so many different ways. At the same time, we have some firepower in our own end and we feel we match up pretty well.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> <p>With Ukwuoma and Shomari Williams shoring up the defensive line, that should provide a few challenges for the Calgary offence. Williams was player of the game in the Queen&rsquo;s upset of Laval in the Mitchell Bowl, posting 3.5 sacks and seven tackles in that game.</p> <p>He&rsquo;s looking for an even greater test on Saturday.</p> <p>&ldquo;This is the biggest stage we can be on,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Williams. &ldquo;To work from August to being only one of two teams still practising is very exciting.</p> <p>&ldquo;Their quarterback is a dual threat. It&rsquo;s kind of scary and poses a lot of problems for us. And their running game is very solid. Pretty much their whole team on offence is dangerous, so we&rsquo;re going to have to play sound defence to contain them.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p> November 27, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3380 <p>A pair of Calgary Stampeders will be up for major trophies tonight at the 2009 Canadian Football League's Gibson's Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /></p> <p>Running back Joffrey Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Ben Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman honour. The winners will be announced at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 30-year-old Tyler, Tex., product just completed his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Finalists</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Category</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>West</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>East</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Defensive</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Canadian</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ricky Foley</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Special teams</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rookie</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Lineman</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 26, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3373 <p>A pair of Calgary Stampeders will be up for major trophies tonight at the 2009 Canadian Football League's Gibson's Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /></p> <p>Running back Joffrey Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Ben Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman honour. The winners will be announced at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 30-year-old Tyler, Tex., product just completed his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Finalists</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Category</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>West</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>East</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Defensive</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Canadian</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ricky Foley</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Special teams</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rookie</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Lineman</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 26, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3373 <p>The University of Calgary Dinos are seeking their first Vanier Cup title since 1995 as they take on the Queen's Golden Gaels in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football championship game on Saturday at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City.</p> <p>The Dinos advanced to the Vanier Cup by defeating the Saint Mary's Huskies 38-14 in the Uteck Bowl last week in Halifax. The U of C is making its eighth appearance at the championship game and is looking to claim a fifth title. The Dinos previously won in 1983 (over Queen's), 1985 (Western), 1988 (Saint Mary's) and 1995 (Western).</p> <p>The game will be played Saturday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m. MST and will be televised both on TSN and in French on Radio-Canada.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> November 25, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3379 <p>Sunday&rsquo;s loss and the season being over takes a couple of days to sink in. It really hits you on the Tuesday when you know you should be back at practice. When you come to the stadium and there&rsquo;s another team setting up in your locker-room? That&rsquo;s when it really sinks in.<br /><br />Next year? I haven&rsquo;t really though too much about it yet.<img alt="Pilon_091022.jpg" height="254" src="/common/uploads/images/Pilon_091022.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Pilon_091022.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />I&rsquo;ve been playing for 10 years and 10 years is a long time. I haven&rsquo;t missed that many games. My knee has been acting up a little bit lately but I&rsquo;m a competitor. I love to compete. I love to be around good, positive people. I love to be around a first-class organization. I want to play again and I want to be with this team. Hey, I still have another year on my contract and that would be put me at 11 years. That would be up there in the Jay McNeil-Jamie Crysdale-Rocco Romano category in terms of length of career. If I could get up there in the high double digits, that would be awesome.<br /><br />Anybody who&rsquo;s been in this league a long time will always have the will to play, otherwise you would never be a professional athlete. Your body will always give out before your mind and your desire do. That&rsquo;s the sad part about our game. What happened to Jay and Jamie and those guys is going to happen to everyone here. But hey, hopefully I can prolong things. I&rsquo;ll work real hard to try and get this thing back together and I have a lot of really good people taking care of me.<br /><br />They say the average football career is four years, so I&rsquo;ve already doubled and almost tripled that. So yeah, I&rsquo;m getting up there. I&rsquo;ve been blessed to have a family that supports me the way that they do. I&rsquo;ve been blessed to have great teammates. I want to keep competing, I want to keep playing and I want to be around guys who want to be here.<br /><br />As for the off-season, I want to enjoy it for a little bit. I want to enjoy my daughter and my son. I&rsquo;ll take a week or so and then figure out what we&rsquo;re going to do from there.<br /><br />Jeff Pilon, #64<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=36" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Pilon bio</strong></a></p> November 25, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1349 <p>It&rsquo;s Grey Cup Week and because the event is in Calgary, you know the party is going to be done in style. Here is a complete list of the official Grey Cup Festival activities:</p> <h2>Thursday, Nov. 26</h2> <p><strong>Business of Sport, Sport of Business Luncheon</strong><br />Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Enmax Ballroom<br />11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Gibson&rsquo;s Finest CFL Player Awards</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />7 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Spirit of Edmonton</strong><br />Westin Hotel; 320 4th Ave. S.W.<br />4 p.m.-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Riderville</strong><br />Macleod Hall, Telus Convention Centre; 120 9th Ave. S.W.<br />7 p.m.-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Atlantic Schooners Down East Kitchen Party</strong><br />Stampede Casino; 421 12th Ave. S.E.<br />5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Fourth Annual Calgary&rsquo;s Bravest Men</strong><br />Stampede Park, BMO Centre<br />6 p.m-9:30 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Pro Players&rsquo; Award Show After Party</strong><br />Featuring Divine Brown<br />Flames Central; 219 8th Ave. S.W.<br />8:30 p.m.</p> <h2>Friday, Nov. 27</h2> <p><strong>Grey Cup Festival Breakfast</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Calgary Herald Family Fan Fest</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>CFL Alumni Legends Club Luncheon</strong><br />Flames Central; 219 8th Ave. S.W.<br />11 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Enmax Street Festival</strong><br />Stephen Avenue<br />11 a.m.-5 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Grey Cup Festival BBQ</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />11 a.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Maritimes, Mussels &amp; Music</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />1 p.m.-2:45 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Scotiabank CFL Experience</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />11 a.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />Noon-2 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Enmax Illuminate Calgary Stampeders</strong><br />Stephen Avenue<br />5 p.m.-11 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Spirit of Edmonton</strong><br />Westin Hotel; 320 4th Ave. S.W.<br />4 p.m.-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Riderville</strong><br />Macleod Hall, Telus Convention Centre; 120 9th Ave. S.W.<br />3 p.m.-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Lions Den 2009</strong><br />The Palomino; 109 7th Ave. S.W.<br />3:30 p.m.-9 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Tiger Town</strong><br />Royal Canadian Legion #1 Branch; 116 7th Ave. S.W.<br />6 p.m.-2 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Touchdown Manitoba</strong><br />BMO Centre, Hall E; Stampede Park<br />1 p.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Atlantic Schooners Down East Kitchen Party</strong><br />Stampede Casino; 421 12th Ave. S.E.<br />5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Night of Champions</strong><br />Rush Restaurant; 100, 207 9th Ave. S.W.<br />8 p.m.-2 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Scotiabank Pro Players&rsquo; Party</strong><br />Featuring Maestro Fresh Wes and Choclair<br />Flames Central; 219 8th Ave. S.W.<br />8:30 p.m.</p> <h2>Saturday, Nov. 28</h2> <p><strong>Athletes in Action 31st Annual Grey Cup Breakfast</strong><br />Hyatt Regency, Imperial Ballroom; 700 Centre St. S.E.<br />7:30 a.m.-10 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Grey Cup Festival Breakfast</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade</strong><br />Downtown<br />11 a.m.-1 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Enmax Street Festival</strong><br />Stephen Avenue<br />11 a.m.-5 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Grey Cup Festival BBQ</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />11 a.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Calgary Herald Family Fan Fest</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Scotiabank CFL Experience</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />11 a.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>NHL and CFL Alumni Ball Hockey Game</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />Noon-2 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Scotiabank Grey Cup Festival Concert</strong><br />Pengrowth Saddledome<br />7 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Enmax Illuminate Calgary Stampeders</strong><br />Stephen Avenue<br />5 p.m.-11 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Spirit of Edmonton Annual Grey Cup Breakfast<br /></strong>Westin Hotel; 320 4th Ave. S.W.<br />7 a.m.-noon<br /><br /><strong>Spirit of Edmonton</strong><br />Westin Hotel; 320 4th Ave. S.W.<br />4 p.m.-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Double Blue Bash</strong><br />The Unicorn; 304 8th Ave. S.W.<br />2 p.m.-6 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Riderville</strong><br />Macleod Hall, Telus Convention Centre; 120 9th Ave. S.W.<br />Noon-1 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Lions Den 2009</strong><br />The Palomino; 109 7th Ave. S.W.<br />3:30 p.m.-9 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Tiger Town</strong><br />Royal Canadian Legion #1 Branch; 116 7th Ave. S.W.<br />Noon-2 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>MontreALS Huddle</strong><br />Flames Central; 219 8th. Ave. S.W.<br />5 p.m.-9 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Atlantic Schooners Down East Kitchen Party</strong><br />Stampede Casino; 421 12th Ave. S.E.<br />5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.</p> <h2>Sunday, Nov. 29</h2> <p><strong>Grey Cup Festival Breakfast</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.<br /><br /><strong>Enmax Street Festival</strong><br />Stephen Avenue<br />11 a.m.-4 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Grey Cup Festival BBQ</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />11 a.m.-4 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Calgary Herald Family Fan Fest</strong><br />Olympic Plaza<br />8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Scotiabank CFL Experience</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />11 a.m.-4 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon</strong><br />Telus Convention Centre<br />Noon-4 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>Sport Chek Grey Cup Family Viewing Party</strong><br />Pengrowth Saddledome<br />3 p.m.-9 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>McMahon Stadium Pre-Game Party</strong><br />McMahon Stadium<br />Noon-4 p.m.<br /><br /><strong>97th Grey Cup Championship</strong><br />McMahon Stadium<br />4:30 p.m.</p> November 24, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3376 <p>At the end of a football season, you&rsquo;re beat up and bruised up. Everything hurts.<br /><br />Of course, had we had the opportunity to play in the Grey Cup this Sunday? Yeah, I&rsquo;d have been out there. You better believe that &mdash; if we were playing, I would have recovered in time and been out there.<img alt="Anderson_091106.jpg" height="315" src="/common/uploads/images/Anderson_091106.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Anderson_091106.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It was disappointing the way it ended but despite everything it was a great season. A lot of good things came out of this season. We&rsquo;ll come back next year fully loaded and ready to do it again, only better.<br /><br />It&rsquo;s going to take a while to set aside the disappointment &mdash; probably a month or two of sitting back at home and relaxing. During that time, you just sit back and reflect on everything. It&rsquo;s going to take a while &mdash; the disappointment and the pain don&rsquo;t disappear just like that. But in the end, that&rsquo;s just going to be more motivation heading into next season.<br /><br />One of the positives that came out of this season is the adversity that we overcame during the season as a defence and as a team. We went through a lot this year and I think we did a pretty good job dealing with everything.<br /><br />Our secondary went through some changes during the season but we came out strong in the end. We came out of it as a tight group. Hopefully things will work out and we can keep everybody together and we can come back next year and try to do it again and be even stronger.<br /><br />As for the game on Sunday? Nah, I ain&rsquo;t going to watch. I ain&rsquo;t got nothing to do with it. If I&rsquo;m not playing and the Stamps aren&rsquo;t in it, I don&rsquo;t want anything to do with it. I just can&rsquo;t stand to see somebody else win when we don&rsquo;t win. It would be hard to sit back and watch them play the Grey Cup right in McMahon Stadium and I don&rsquo;t think I would be able to do it.<br /><br />For the off-season, my plans are just to be a housedad. That&rsquo;s all I&rsquo;m going to do is chill at home with my kids. That and to start getting ready for next year. I can&rsquo;t wait.<br /><br />Dwight Anderson, #33<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=8" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Anderson bio</strong></a></p> November 23, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1348 <p>Hey Stamps Fans,</p> <p>The Outriders just got back from our trip to Regina to help cheer on the Stampeders in the Western Final and we had an amazing time. The bus ride up to Regina was a very exciting one.</p> <p>Even though we boarded the bus on Saturday at midnight, everyone was pumped up to cheer <img alt="Nicola_091123.jpg" height="450" src="/common/uploads/images/Nicola_091123.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Nicola_091123.jpg" width="250" />on the Stamps at Mosaic Stadium. As a fourth-year veteran of the Calgary Stampeder Outriders, I&rsquo;ve never had the opportunity to take a road trip to cheer on the Stamps at the Western Finals. It was definitely an experience I&rsquo;ll never forget.</p> <p>As soon as we arrived in Regina Sunday morning, our bus full of anxious Outriders headed to Gold&rsquo;s Gym so we could get ready for the game. The atmosphere in the locker-room was one of excitement as we prepared ourselves to go out and cheer for the Stamps.</p> <p>We left Gold&rsquo;s Gym, boarded the bus once again and headed to Mosaic Stadium. This is a drive I&rsquo;ll never forget as the streets, cars, and buses were full of Green. Once we arrived at Mosaic Stadium, we were greeted by many Roughriders fans all decked out in costumes that were of course . . . green. We proudly walked into the stadium all dressed in red and got ready to cheer on the Stamps.</p> <p>Cheering on the sidelines at Mosaic Stadium is something that I know the Outriders will always remember. Even though we were there to cheer for the opposing team, we were still welcomed by the majority of Roughrider fans. We cheered on our Stamps while the Sea of Green screamed at decibel levels that were beyond ear piercing. My ears are still ringing today. The energy felt on the field was exhilarating and despite the final score, we are honoured to be part of such an amazing football team.</p> <p>Although we didn&rsquo;t come home with a victory, we are still very proud of our Stampeders and all the work and effort involved in making it to the Western Final. We are now working hard to get ready for the Grey Cup Festivities this week and the Grey Cup Championship Game on Sunday.</p> <p>The Outriders are looking forward to helping the fans cheer on the Stamps next season.<br /><br />Go Stamps!<br /><br />Love,<br /> Nicola<br /><a href="/outriders/team_roster/profile/?id=23" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Nicola's bio</strong></a></p> November 23, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/outrider_blog/?id=1345 <p>A pair of Calgary Stampeders will be up for major trophies on Thursday at the 2009 Canadian Football League's Gibson's Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /></p> <p>Running back Joffrey Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Ben Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman honour. The winners will be announced at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 29-year-old Tyler, Tex., product just completed his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Finalists</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Category</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>West</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>East</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Defensive</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Canadian</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ricky Foley</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Special teams</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rookie</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Lineman</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 23, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3373 <p>This is really disappointing to have the season come to an end this way. We knew this was a do-or-die situation and we just weren&rsquo;t able to get the job done. It&rsquo;s hard to believe it&rsquo;s over.<br /> <br /> We made too many mistakes today and that&rsquo;s what cost us the game. We have to cut down on <img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" />penalties. If we had stayed away from the penalties, we would have been in better position in the first half. We also had to make some plays on offence. The Riders were able to make some plays when they had to and that was the difference.<br /><br />They came out with that big kickoff return at the start of the second half to get them going and offensively, we had to respond. We weren&rsquo;t able to do that at all in the second half until it was very late. Too late.<br /><br />Obviously their crowd had an impact on our offence. We had some offside penalties, but that&rsquo;s no excuse for us. We knew we were going to have to deal with that and we just have to do a better job. We&rsquo;ve played there before. We&rsquo;ve played in front of loud crowds and a hostile environment before. You just have to execute.<br /><br />You&rsquo;ve got to give Saskatchewan a lot of credit. They had our number this year. They played their game very well and they executed better than we did. They did what they had to do to get to a championship game.<br /><br />All year long you&rsquo;ve heard about how hard it is for a champion to repeat and we have another example of that. You have to realize that everybody is going to give you their best and you have to respond to that. You can&rsquo;t expect anybody to come out and just roll over for you. What happened last year doesn&rsquo;t give you any kind of special advantage and each year brings a different challenge. You have to work just as hard as you did the year before to achieve your goals at the end.<br /><br />Somebody suggested that because of the loss today, the CFL awards this week are going to be bittersweet. Well, as far as I&rsquo;m concerned, there&rsquo;s nothing sweet about it. I&rsquo;m all about the team moving forward and advancing to the championship game. I&rsquo;m happy for the success this season, not just for myself but for the whole team and the way they rallied around me this year, but I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s possible to enjoy individual accolades when they don&rsquo;t come with team success.<br /><br />To the fans, I just want to say that this loss hurts a lot and it&rsquo;ll really hurt to see the Grey Cup without us being in it. I know a lot of fans were looking forward to cheering for us at home next week and all I can say is that we&rsquo;re just as disappointed, if not more, than all of you are.<br /><br />Joffrey Reynolds, #21<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1343 <p>This is really disappointing to have the season come to an end this way. We knew this was a do-or-die situation and we just weren&rsquo;t able to get the job done. It&rsquo;s hard to believe it&rsquo;s over.<br /> <br /> We made too many mistakes today and that&rsquo;s what cost us the game. We have to cut down on <img alt="Reynolds_091103.jpg" height="305" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091103.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091103.jpg" width="250" />penalties. If we had stayed away from the penalties, we would have been in better position in the first half. We also had to make some plays on offence. The Riders were able to make some plays when they had to and that was the difference.<br /><br />They came out with that big kickoff return at the start of the second half to get them going and offensively, we had to respond. We weren&rsquo;t able to do that at all in the second half until it was very late. Too late.<br /><br />Obviously their crowd had an impact on our offence. We had some offside penalties, but that&rsquo;s no excuse for us. We knew we were going to have to deal with that and we just have to do a better job. We&rsquo;ve played there before. We&rsquo;ve played in front of loud crowds and a hostile environment before. You just to execute.<br /><br />You&rsquo;ve got to give Saskatchewan a lot of credit. They had our number this year. They played their game very well and they executed better than we did. They did what they had to do to get to a championship game.<br /><br />All year long you&rsquo;ve heard about hard it is for a champion to repeat and we have another example of that. You have to realize that everybody is going to give you their best and you have to respond to that. You can&rsquo;t expect anybody to come out and just roll over for you. What happened last year doesn&rsquo;t give you any kind of special advantage and each year brings a different challenge. You have to work just as hard as you did the year before to achieve your goals at the end.<br /><br />Somebody suggested that because of the loss today, the CFL awards this week are going to be bittersweet. Well, as far as I&rsquo;m concerned, there&rsquo;s nothing sweet about it. I&rsquo;m all about the team moving forward and advancing to the championship game. I&rsquo;m happy for the success this season, not just for myself but for the whole team and the way they rallied around me this year, but I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s possible to enjoy individual accolades when they don&rsquo;t come with team success.<br /><br />To the fans, I just want to say that this loss hurts a lot and it&rsquo;ll really hurt to see the Grey Cup without us being in it. I know a lot of fans were looking forward to cheering for us at home next week and all I can say is that we&rsquo;re just as disappointed, if not more, than all of you are.<br /><br />Joffrey Reynolds, #21<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=39"><strong>&gt;&gt; Reynolds bio</strong></a></p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1343 <p>There will be no hometown party for the Calgary Stampeders at the 97th Grey Cup.</p> <p>It's Saskatchewan that will be representing the West in the Canadian Football League's championship game on Nov. 29 in Calgary as the Roughriders defeated the Stampeders 27-17 in the West Final on Sunday at Regina's Mosaic Stadium.</p> <p>Third-quarter touchdown catches by Andy Fantuz and Rob Bagg put the Roughriders ahead to stay as Saskatchewan earned a Grey Cup date with the Montreal Alouettes while foiling the Stamps' bid to repeat as CFL champions.<img alt="Inset_091122.jpg" height="294" src="/common/uploads/images/Inset_091122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Inset_091122.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>Assisted by interceptions from James Patrick and Eddie Davis, the Riders defence contained the Calgary offence in the second half until a late touchdown catch by Jeremaine Copeland.</p> <p>The teams were tied 10-10 at the half as the Stampeders took a 10-point lead and the Roughriders replied to pull even before the midway break.</p> <p>"We had a good first quarter," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "Then they got the momentum when they had a good second quarter. Then we came out in the second half and they got a big kickoff return (by Jason Armstead) to put them in a control postion and it kind of took the wind out of our sails."</p> <p>"What can I say?" said Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds, who scored the Stamps' first touchdown. "It just came down to us not making plays and them making plays."</p> <p>The playoff loss comes after a regular-season series that saw the Stamps go 0-2-1 against the Roughriders.</p> <p>"You have to say Saskatchewan deserved it," said Hufnagel. "We played them four times and we weren't able to beat them even one time."</p> <p>Sandro DeAngelis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest as he kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Calgary a 3-0 advantage. Early in the second quarter, West Division Most Outstanding Player nominee Reynolds ran the ball in from 17 yards out and, with the convert, it was 10-0 for the Stamps.</p> <p>The Riders responded with a scoring drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Darian Durant to Chris Getzlaf. Luca Congi's 18-yard field goal made it 10-10.</p> <p>Calgary had penalty trouble in the first half as nine of the 11 flags thrown were against the visitors.</p> <p><strong>INDIVIDUAL<br />PASSING</strong><br /> Cal: Burris 22-34-278-1-3; Sask: Durant 18-25-204-3-0, Armstead 1-1-42-0-0<br /> <br /> <strong>RUSHING</strong><br /> Cal: Reynolds 12-90-1, Burris 4-33; Sask: Cates 14-57, Durant 5-29, Jyles 3-8, Armstead 1-6, Szarka 1-3, Foord 5-2<br /> <br /> <strong>RECEIVING</strong></p> <p>Cal: Franklin 3-76, Copeland 6-71-1, Lewis 4-45, Bryant 4-32, Reynolds 3-30, Summers 2-24; Sask: Fantuz 5-89-1, Bagg 3-73-1, Cates 3-25, Getzlaf 3-21-1, Foord 2-14, Nicolson 1-11, Walker 1-10, Szarka 1-3<br /> <br /> <strong>NOTABLES</strong></p> <p>Cal: Robede 5 TK 1 SK 1 FR, Hughes 8 TK 1 SK, James 5 TK, Claybrooks 5 TK; Sask: Armstead 3-99 KOR, Williams 10 TK 3 SK, Kornegay 6 TK, Chick 5 TK 1 STT 1 SK, Patrick 4 TK 2 SK, Davis 2 TK 1 SK</p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3370 <p>There will be no hometown party for the Calgary Stampeders at the 97th Grey Cup.</p> <p>It's Saskatchewan that will be representing the West in the Canadian Football League's championship game on Nov. 29 in Calgary as the Roughriders defeated the Stampeders 27-17 in the West Final on Sunday at Regina's Mosaic Stadium.</p> <p>Third-quarter touchdown catches by Andy Fantuz and Rob Bagg put the Roughriders ahead to stay as Saskatchewan earned a Grey Cup date with the Montreal Alouettes while foiling the Stamps' bid to repeat as CFL champions.<img alt="Inset_091122.jpg" height="294" src="/common/uploads/images/Inset_091122.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Inset_091122.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>Assisted by interceptions from James Patrick and Eddie Davis, the Riders defence contained the Calgary offence in the second half until a late touchdown catch by Jeremaine Copeland.</p> <p>The teams were tied 10-10 at the half as the Stampeders took a 10-point lead and the Roughriders replied to pull even before the midway break.</p> <p>"We had a good first quarter," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "Then they got the momentum when they had a good second quarter. Then we came out in the second half and they got a big kickoff return (by Jason Armstead) to put them in a control postion and it kind of took the wind out of our sails."</p> <p>"What can I say?" said Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds, who scored the Stamps' first touchdown. "It just came down to us not making plays and them making plays."</p> <p>The playoff loss comes after a regular-season series that saw the Stamps go 0-2-1 against the Roughriders.</p> <p>"You have to say Saskatchewan deserved it," said Hufnagel. "We played them four times and we weren't able to beat them even one time."</p> <p>Sandro DeAngelis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest as he kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Calgary a 3-0 advantage. Early in the second quarter, West Division Most Outstanding Player nominee Reynolds ran the ball in from 17 yards out and, with the convert, it was 10-0 for the Stamps.</p> <p>The Riders responded with a scoring drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Darian Durant to Chris Getzlaf. Luca Congi's 18-yard field goal made it 10-10.</p> <p>Calgary had penalty trouble in the first half as nine of the 11 flags thrown were against the visitors.</p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3370 <p>There will be no hometown party for the Calgary Stampeders at the 97th Grey Cup.</p> <p>It's Saskatchewan that will be representing the West in the Canadian Football League's championship game on Nov. 29 in Calgary as the Roughriders defeated the Stampeders 27-17 in the West Final on Sunday at Regina's Mosaic Stadium.</p> <p>Third-quarter touchdown catches by Andy Fantuz and Rob Bagg put the Roughriders ahead to stay as Saskatchewan earned a Grey Cup date with the Montreal Alouettes while foiling the Stamps' bid to repeat as CFL champions.</p> <p>Assisted by interceptions from James Patrick and Eddie Davis, the Riders defence contained the Calgary offence in the second half until a late touchdown catch by Jeremaine Copeland.</p> <p>The teams were tied 10-10 at the half as the Stampeders took a 10-point lead and the Roughriders replied to pull even before the midway break.</p> <p>"We had a good first quarter," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "Then they got the momentum when they had a good second quarter. Then we came out in the second half and they got a big kickoff return (by Jason Armstead) to put them in a control postion and it kind of took the wind out of our sails."</p> <p>"What can I say?" said Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds, who scored the Stamps' first touchdown. "It just came down to us not making plays and them making plays."</p> <p>The playoff loss comes after a regular-season series that saw the Stamps go 0-2-1 against the Roughriders.</p> <p>"You have to say Saskatchewan deserved it," said Hufnagel. "We played them four times and we weren't able to beat them even one time."</p> <p>Sandro DeAngelis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest as he kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Calgary a 3-0 advantage. Early in the second quarter, West Division Most Outstanding Player nominee Reynolds ran the ball in from 17 yards out and, with the convert, it was 10-0 for the Stamps.</p> <p>The Riders responded with a scoring drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Darian Durant to Chris Getzlaf. Luca Congi's 18-yard field goal made it 10-10.</p> <p>Calgary had penalty trouble in the first half as nine of the 11 flags thrown were against the visitors.</p> November 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3370 <p>There will be no hometown party for the Calgary Stampeders at the 97th Grey Cup.</p> <p>It's Saskatchewan that will be representing the West in the Canadian Football League's championship game on Nov. 29 in Calgary as the Roughriders defeated the Stampeders 27-17 in the West Final on Sunday at Regina's Mosaic Stadium.</p> <p>Third-quarter touchdown catches by Andy Fantuz and Rob Bagg put the Roughriders ahead to stay as Saskatchewan earned a Grey Cup date with the Montreal Alouettes while foiling the Stamps' bid to repeat as CFL champions.</p> <p>Assisted by interceptions from James Patrick and Eddie Davis, the Riders defence contained the Calgary offence in the second half until a late touchdown catch by Jeremaine Copeland.</p> <p>The teams were tied 10-10 at the half as the Stampeders took a 10-point lead and the Roughriders replied to pull even before the midway break.</p> <p>Sandro DeAngelis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest as he kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Calgary a 3-0 advantage. Early in the second quarter, West Division Most Outstanding Player nominee Joffrey Reynolds ran the ball in from 17 yards out and, with the convert, it was 10-0 for the Stamps.</p> <p>The Riders responded with a scoring drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Darian Durant to Chris Getzlaf. Luca Congi's 18-yard field goal made it 10-10.</p> <p>Calgary had penalty trouble in the first half as nine of the 11 flags thrown were against the visitors.</p> November 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3370 <p>When I woke up this morning and opened my eyes and saw the sun, truthfully I just said &lsquo;thank you God for this day.&rsquo; This is a day that he created and I will gladly relish in it. This is a day that we couldn&rsquo;t deny; everybody wants to be in this position. To go back-to-back, you have to go through hostile environments and there isn&rsquo;t anything more hostile than this. I&rsquo;m just trying to stay calm, keep my composure and not get too fired up until the game comes, because right now, I&rsquo;m wanting to explode.</p> <p>After last game, I spoke with the team and I think guys really listened to what I was saying. I have a lot of respect from the guys on this team and I think guys really understood what it takes to be a champion. They understood that it&rsquo;s hard work, preparation and dedication and I really think we when out last week and demonstrated that. We&rsquo;re getting better and better and I think tonight will be one of the best games the Stamps have played.<img alt="Cope_blog.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Cope_blog.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cope_blog.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>I&rsquo;m really trying to let my actions speak louder than words today. The younger guys that we&rsquo;ve got on this team understand and follow well from the leadership that we have. I&rsquo;m going to let me actions speak and allow that to be what demonstrates how big of a game this is. I&rsquo;m going to cut when I have to cut, I&rsquo;m going to block down field as hard as I can and try to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.</p> <p>This is one of those games man. It&rsquo;s one of the biggest games you can play in outside of the Grey Cup. I&rsquo;ve been through the Western Final, I&rsquo;ve been through the Eastern Final. This game is probably on e of the biggest finals I&rsquo;ve ever played in just because of the road we took to get here. Now we&rsquo;ve got to play in a hostile environment, it&rsquo;s going to be like a jungle, all loud and crazy. We&rsquo;re facing a team that we haven&rsquo;t beat this season and this will definitely be one of the toughest games I have ever played in. I thrive under pressure, so even right now as I&rsquo;m writing, my heart is thumping and I&rsquo;m trying to keep from getting too fired up.</p> <p>There has been verbal shots going back and forth all week, but once we take the field I really think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure. When they take the field, we&rsquo;ll already be out there and I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;ll come out with some jaw-jacking, but I think as a team, we&rsquo;re not going to get involved in that. I think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure and let our actions on the field do the talking. I&rsquo;m not going to say that there won&rsquo;t be any talking during the game, but before the game we&rsquo;ll keep it together. I think we got a little carried away against Edmonton and I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s who we are. We just need to go out and take care of business.</p> <p>Now we have meetings, just a quick refresh of the mind. Then at 11 o&rsquo;clock we have chapel. Rodd Sawatsky (team Chaplain) is here and he&rsquo;ll give us the word. We usually have a lot of people that attend that. At 11:30 we have our pre-game meal, where we can get that good breakfast in. If you want pasta and chicken, they have that too, but I know I&rsquo;m definitely going to have a bacon and egg sandwich on white toast with a couple of glasses of orange juice. I&rsquo;ve got my Snickers loaded in my pocket for pre-game snack and after that, we just relax and take the bus over to the stadium. We&rsquo;ll relax in the room, warm up, stretch and then its time to go do work. Time to do what we came here for. This is a business trip and it will be time to take care of business.</p> <p>Jeremaine Copeland, #80<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=37">Copleand bio</a></p> November 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1342 <p>When I woke up this morning and opened my eyes and saw the sun, truthfully I just said &lsquo;thank you God for this day.&rsquo; This is a day that he created and I will gladly relish in it. This is a day that we couldn&rsquo;t deny; everybody wants to be in this position. To go back-to-back, you have to go through hostile environments and there isn&rsquo;t anything more hostile than this. I&rsquo;m just trying to stay calm, keep my composure and not get too fired up until the game comes, because right now, I&rsquo;m wanting to explode.</p> <p>After last game, I spoke with the team and I think guys really listened to what I was saying. I have a lot of respect from the guys on this team and I think guys really understood what it takes to be a champion. They understood that it&rsquo;s hard work, preparation and dedication and I really think we when out last week and demonstrated that. We&rsquo;re getting better and better and I think tonight will be one of the best games the Stamps have played.<img alt="Cope_blog.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Cope_blog.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cope_blog.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>I&rsquo;m really trying to let my actions speak louder than words today. The younger guys that we&rsquo;ve got on this team understand and follow well from the leadership that we have. I&rsquo;m going to let me actions speak and allow that to be what demonstrates how big of a game this is. I&rsquo;m going to cut when I have to cut, I&rsquo;m going to block down field as hard as I can and try to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.</p> <p>This is one of those games man. It&rsquo;s one of the biggest games you can play in outside of the Grey Cup. I&rsquo;ve been through the Western Final, I&rsquo;ve been through the Eastern Final. This game is probably on e of the biggest finals I&rsquo;ve ever played in just because of the road we took to get here. Now we&rsquo;ve got to play in a hostile environment, it&rsquo;s going to be like a jungle, all loud and crazy. We&rsquo;re facing a team that we haven&rsquo;t beat this season and this will definitely be one of the toughest games I have ever played in. I thrive under pressure, so even right now as I&rsquo;m writing, my heart is thumping and I&rsquo;m trying to keep from getting too fired up.</p> <p>There has been verbal shots going back and forth all week, but once we take the field I really think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure. When they take the field, we&rsquo;ll already be out there and I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;ll come out with some jaw-jacking, but I think as a team, we&rsquo;re not going to get involved in that. I think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure and let our actions on the field do the talking. I&rsquo;m not going to say that there won&rsquo;t be any talking during the game, but before the game we&rsquo;ll keep it together. I think we got a little carried away against Edmonton and I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s who we are. We just need to go out and take care of business.</p> <p>Now we have meetings, just a quick refresh of the mind. Then at 11 o&rsquo;clock we have chapel. Rodd Sawatsky (team Chaplain) is here and he&rsquo;ll give us the word. We usually have a lot of people that attend that. At 11:30 we have our pre-game meal, where we can get that good breakfast in. If you want pasta and chicken, they have that too, but I know I&rsquo;m definitely going to have a bacon and egg sandwich on white toast with a couple of glasses of orange juice. I&rsquo;ve got my Snickers loaded in my pocket for pre-game snack and after that, we just relax and take the bus over to the stadium. We&rsquo;ll relax in the room, warm up, stretch and then its time to go do work. Time to do what we came here for. This is a business trip and it will be time to take care of business.</p> <p>Jeremaine Copeland, #80<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=37">Copleand bio</a></p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1342 <p>When I woke up this morning and opened my eyes and saw the sun, truthfully I just said &lsquo;thank you God for this day.&rsquo; This is a day that he created and I will gladly relish in it. This is a day that we couldn&rsquo;t deny; everybody wants to be in this position. To go back-to-back, you have to go through hostile environments and there isn&rsquo;t anything more hostile than this. I&rsquo;m just trying to stay calm, keep my composure and not get too fired up until the game comes, because right now, I&rsquo;m wanting to explode.</p> <p>After last game, I spoke with the team and I think guys really listened to what I was saying. I have a lot of respect from the guys on this team and I think guys really understood what it takes to be a champion. They understood that it&rsquo;s hard work, preparation and dedication and I really think we when out last week and demonstrated that. We&rsquo;re getting better and better and I think tonight will be one of the best games the Stamps have played.<img alt="Cope_blog.jpg" height="296" src="/common/uploads/images/Cope_blog.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cope_blog.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>I&rsquo;m really trying to let my actions speak louder than words today. The younger guys that we&rsquo;ve got on this team understand and follow well from the leadership that we have. I&rsquo;m going to let me actions speak and allow that to be what demonstrates how big of a game this is. I&rsquo;m going to cut when I have to cut, I&rsquo;m going to block down field as hard as I can and try to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.</p> <p>This is one of those games man. It&rsquo;s one of the biggest games you can play in outside of the Grey Cup. I&rsquo;ve been through the Western Final, I&rsquo;ve been through the Eastern Final. This game is probably on e of the biggest finals I&rsquo;ve ever played in just because of the road we took to get here. Now we&rsquo;ve got to play in a hostile environment, it&rsquo;s going to be like a jungle, all loud and crazy. We&rsquo;re facing a team that we haven&rsquo;t beat this season and this will definitely be one of the toughest games I have ever played in. I thrive under pressure, so even right now as I&rsquo;m writing, my heart is thumping and I&rsquo;m trying to keep from getting too fired up.</p> <p>There has been verbal shots going back and forth all week, but once we take the field I really think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure. When they take the field, we&rsquo;ll already be out there and I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;ll come out with some jaw-jacking, but I think as a team, we&rsquo;re not going to get involved in that. I think we&rsquo;ll keep our composure and let our actions on the field do the talking. I&rsquo;m not going to say that there won&rsquo;t be any talking during the game, but before the game we&rsquo;ll keep it together. I think we got a little carried away against Edmonton and I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s who we are. We just need to go out and take care of business.</p> <p>Now we have meetings, just a quick refresh of the mind. Then at 11 o&rsquo;clock we have chapel. Rodd Sawatsky (team Chaplain) is here and he&rsquo;ll give us the word. We usually have a lot of people that attend that. At 11:30 we have our pre-game meal, where we can get that good breakfast in. If you want pasta and chicken, they have that too, but I know I&rsquo;m definitely going to have a bacon and egg sandwich on white toast with a couple of glasses of orange juice. I&rsquo;ve got my Snickers loaded in my pocket for pre-game snack and after that, we just relax and take the bus over to the stadium. We&rsquo;ll relax in the room, warm up, stretch and then its time to go do work. Time to do what we came here for. This is a business trip and it will be time to take care of business.</p> <p>Jeremaine Copeland, #80<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=37">Copleand bio</a></p> November 22, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1342 <table border="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> </tr> <tr> <td><img alt="calgary.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary.jpg" title="calgary.jpg" width="100" /></td> <td><img alt="saskatchewan_dk.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/saskatchewan_dk.jpg" title="saskatchewan_dk.jpg" width="100" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The Calgary Stampeders have already knocked off one of their main rivals as they try to advance to the 97th Grey Cup on their home turf Nov. 29. Now that the Edmonton Eskimos have been knocked aside, it's the Saskatchewan Roughriders who stand in the Stamps' way.</p> <p>Regina is the site of the showdown as the Stampeders and Green Riders meet in the West Final for the first time since 1971. Kick-off is at 2:30 p.m. MST.</p> <p>Looking to talk about the game as the action unfolds? You can join us and your fellow Red and White fans for a live chat. The chat will begin half an hour before kickoff (at 2 p.m. MST) and remain live until an hour or so after the contest.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Join us for the chat (Live at 2 p.m. MST)<br /></strong></a></p> <p>You can also get exclusive live updates from Taylor Field at Mosaic Stadium during the game by following the updates on our StampsConnect Twitter feed.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/twitter/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get live updates during the game</strong></a></p> <p>Meanwhile, here are some links to get your ready for kickoff:</p> <p><strong><a href="/schedule/the_game/preview/?id=17022" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Game preview</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1333" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Ultimate Fan Guide to the West Final</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=908" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Audio of head coach/GM John Hufnagel's pre-game comments</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1336" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog by Sandro DeAngelis</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1339" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog by Tim Johnson</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/news/?id=3361" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Four Stamps are all-Canadians</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=904" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video of the Stamps' all-stars</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1327" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Stampeders-Roughriders West Final history</a><br /></strong></p> November 22, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1340 <p>The No. 2 Calgary Dinos are headed to their first national championship game since 1995 after dominating the Saint Mary&rsquo;s Huskies with a 38-14 victory Saturday in the Uteck Bowl.<br /><br />Calgary (10-1) will play No. 4 Queen&rsquo;s (10-1), who upset top-ranked Laval 33-30 in the Mitchell <img alt="calgary_dinos.jpg" height="190" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_dinos.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_dinos.jpg" width="237" />Bowl, in the Desjardins Vanier Cup Saturday, Nov. 28 at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City, live on TSN and Radio-Canada (12 p.m. local, 10 a.m. MT). It will be the first meeting between the Dinos and Gaels since the 1983 Vanier Cup, which Calgary won 31-21 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.<br /><br />In front of 5,735 partisan fans at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, the Dinos took a 19-0 lead with a dominant first quarter led by running back Matt Walter, the 2008 Canada West player of the year. Walter had eight carries for 125 yards in the first quarter alone, highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown scamper. After being lost in the shadow of the media frenzy surrounding the return of Dinos head coach Blake Nill and quarterback Erik Glavic to Halifax, Walter was named the Uteck Bowl MVP for his performance, finishing the game with 20 carries for 235 yards and two touchdowns.<br /><br />&ldquo;It was nice to have the spotlight off me this week, but it was almost like their defence forgot we had a run game,&rdquo; said Walter, a third-year science student from Calgary. &ldquo;It just shows we&rsquo;re a dynamic team, we have so many weapons on offence, and we can beat teams in so many different ways. Today it was with the run.&rdquo;<br /><br />Nill, who led the Saint Mary&rsquo;s Huskies to four Vanier Cup games and two championships in his eight years with the program, returns to the national final for the first time since 2003 and has taken the Dinos program from a 2-6 record in 2006 to consecutive Canada West championships and a Bowl game championship in just four seasons.<br /><br />&ldquo;The whole focus seemed to be on Glavic, and nothing was mentioned about our running game,&rdquo; said Nill, the 2009 Canada West coach of the year. &ldquo;We thought from day one that we would be able to run the ball against them and that we needed to exploit that because they have such a great secondary.<br /><br />&ldquo;We still need to learn to play ahead and play in front, but we&rsquo;ve come a long way. We still have one more step to take though, and there&rsquo;s a lot of work to do this week to prepare for Queen&rsquo;s.&rdquo;<br /><br />Glavic, the 2007 Hec Crighton Trophy winner who is up for the award again this season, had just 77 yards on 7-of-18 passing in the game, his first full game at Huskies Stadium since leading Saint Mary&rsquo;s to a 24-2 over Laval in the 2007 Uteck Bowl. But the Dinos racked up 426 total yards rushing, with rookie Steven Lumbala adding 156 yards on the ground as well.<br /><br />The Huskies&rsquo; offence was on the sidelines for more than 10 minutes in the first quarter and did not record a first down until the final play of the opening frame when they were already trailing 19-0. Jack Creighton and the Huskies extended that drive to last more than seven minutes, taking the ball 83 yards and scoring on a one-yard plunge by Devon Jones to pull within a dozen points.<br /><br />Any momentum Saint Mary&rsquo;s may have gained from that touchdown was quickly taken back by the Dinos when Walter capped off a six-play, 56-yard drive with a four-yard major, his second of the day. Calgary got a fortuitous bounce on the ensuing kickoff, which Tye Noble and Steve Truzak combined to recover for the Dinos, setting up a 17-yard Aaron Ifield field goal to give the Canada West champions a 29-7 lead.<br /><br />Saint Mary&rsquo;s would answer back after a Calgary fake punt attempt that came up just short of the first down marker, giving the Huskies good field position with 54 seconds left in the half. Creighton connected with Carl Hardwick for a 34-yard completion, setting up an eight-yard TD catch by Jahmeek Murray to make the score 29-14 Calgary at the half.<br /><br />The running backs led Calgary on a 77-yard touchdown drive to open the second half with a five-yard major from Lumbala. A conceded safety midway through the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring as the Dinos were content to just run out the clock.<br /><br />Creighton finished the day 19-for-34 for 199 yards and one touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions &ndash; two of which landed in the arms of Calgary safety Wyatt Getty. Hardwick was Creighton&rsquo;s favoured target on the day, finishing with eight catches for 102 yards. Craig Leger led the Huskies in rushing with 13 carries for 63 yards.<br /><br />It was a quiet day for Calgary&rsquo;s receivers, with Anthony Parker recording three catches for 33 yards while Richard Snyder had 29 yards on just one catch, which was the Dinos&rsquo; first touchdown of the game.<br /><br />Calgary will remain in Eastern Canada for the week, departing Halifax for Quebec City on Sunday and spending the week in preparation for the Queen&rsquo;s Gaels and the Desjardins Vanier Cup.<br /><br />&ldquo;I feel confident in our offence, and our defence has shown that they can hang with anybody,&rdquo; said Walter. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wait for next week.&rdquo;</p> November 21, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3367 <p>The big game is almost here and how do I feel? Wonderful. Great. Tremendous. I&rsquo;m loving it, man. This kind of game is exactly why I wanted to resume my football career &mdash; I&rsquo;m really excited and my desire to win is really strong. And it&rsquo;s getting stronger. It&rsquo;s going to be an exciting Sunday.<br /><br />We lost in Regina a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first time we&rsquo;re playing them in the playoffs. It&rsquo;s a new game and a new day and it&rsquo;s a new outlook on things. The past is the past <img alt="TJohnson_2.jpg" height="342" src="/common/uploads/images/TJohnson_2.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="TJohnson_2.jpg" width="250" />and we&rsquo;re a different football team now. We&rsquo;re a playoff team now, so what happened in the regular season doesn&rsquo;t matter.<br /><br />We showed in the Edmonton game that the playoffs are a new ballgame and that game prepared us for this week. It was a playoff atmosphere and a close game and we know we&rsquo;re going to get another close one here this week. One win and we get to come home.<br /><br />The game a couple of weeks ago was my first in Saskatchewan and it was a fun atmosphere. They were a loud and rowdy bunch. That&rsquo;s what you want in playoff football and that&rsquo;s why we play. But as crazy as they might be, the fans in Saskatchewan aren&rsquo;t touching the Black Hole, which is the name for the fans in Oakland when I was playing for the Raiders.<br /><br />There&rsquo;s no denying it &mdash; that&rsquo;s a great fanbase they have in Saskatchewan but the big thing is that no matter how many fans they have or how loud their stadium is, if we get just one win there, we get to come home and play in front of our loud fans for the championship. It&rsquo;ll be a helluva battle, I know that.<br /><br />Their quarterback, Darian Durant, has made some plays against us in the games during the regular season. He makes throws to open guys, he makes throws to guys who are covered. The quarterback and the receivers seem to have good rapport. Durant knows his guys and they know him. It&rsquo;s a good bunch, but they are beatable. That&rsquo;s our challenge on Sunday.<br /><br />Tim Johnson, #0<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=293" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Johnson bio</strong></a></p> November 21, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1339 <p>With one pack of Huskies out of their way, the Canada West champion University of Calgary Dinos will look to muzzle the Huskies of the east when they take on Atlantic champion Saint Mary&rsquo;s in Saturday&rsquo;s Uteck Bowl in Halifax.<br /><br />The winner will face the champion of the Mitchell Bowl between Laval and Queen&rsquo;s in the Vanier Cup game next weekend in Quebec City.<img alt="calgary_dinos.jpg" height="190" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_dinos.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_dinos.jpg" width="237" /><br /><br />Calgary repeated as conference champions after a 39-38 Hardy Cup game last weekend in Saskatoon that will go down as an all-time classic. The Dinos came back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit and successfully ran the Saskatchewan Huskies&rsquo; last-second missed field goal out of the end zone to earn the one-point victory, joining Laval, Queen&rsquo;s, and Saint Mary&rsquo;s as the last four Canadian university football teams standing in the 2009 season.<br /><br />While the Dinos have not faced off with the Halifax-based Huskies since the 1993 Atlantic Bowl in the same stadium, Calgary has a distinct Saint Mary&rsquo;s flavour on the sideline. Head coach Blake Nill spent eight years with the Huskies before taking over the Dinos program in 2006, winning six Atlantic championships, appearing in four Vanier Cups, and winning back-to-back national titles in 2001 and 2002.<br /><br />Many of the current Saint Mary&rsquo;s players were originally recruited by Nill, while six current Dinos played for him with the Huskies: linebacker Andrea Bonaventura, quarterback Erik Glavic, defensive linemen Deji Oduwole and Brandon Rockhill, linebacker Julian Simmerling, and defensive back Steve Truzak.<br /><br />Glavic won the 2007 Hec Crighton Trophy as CIS player of the year with Saint Mary&rsquo;s, leading the Huskies to a Uteck Bowl upset over the Laval Rouge et Or. It was in that game he sustained a severe knee injury that kept him out of action for nearly the entire 2008 season.<br /><br />In 2009 after transferring to Calgary, Glavic became the first player in CIS history to earn MVP awards from two conferences when Canada West gave him the nod. His remarkable performance in last week&rsquo;s Hardy Cup gave the Dinos their second straight Canada West championship, setting up Saturday&rsquo;s homecoming showdown in Halifax.<br /><br />Calgary and Saint Mary&rsquo;s have met on the gridiron just three times in history, with the Dinos holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The Huskies&rsquo; lone win was the 1992 Atlantic Bowl, a 23-11 triumph, with Calgary taking the 1988 Vanier Cup 52-23 and the 1993 Atlantic Bowl 37-23. It&rsquo;s the third consecutive Bowl game appearance for the Huskies, while the Dinos make their second straight trip to the national semi-final. Both teams lost in out-of-conference action last season, and only one will move on to play for the Vanier Cup.<br /><br />The Uteck Bowl will be broadcast live on www.fan960.com with the voice of the Dinos, Dave Rowe, along with Tony Spoletini calling the action. The game will also be simulcast by the University of Calgary&rsquo;s campus radio station, CJSW 90.9 FM, while Radio-Canada will provide a live French-language video webcast of the proceedings from Huskies Stadium in Halifax, which kick off at 1 p.m. local time, 10 a.m. MST. TSN will broadcast the game over its full network on a four-hour tape delay, beginning at 2 p.m. MST following the live Mitchell Bowl telecast.</p> November 20, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3364 <p>It&rsquo;s a really exciting time to be a Calgary Stampeder. This is the stuff dreams are made of. When you&rsquo;re a little kid or you&rsquo;re just sitting there daydreaming about the season, you&rsquo;re dreaming about playing in that big game. So here it is. We need to meet the challenge and enjoy every single minute of it. <img alt="DeAngelis250_091120.jpg" height="342" src="/common/uploads/images/DeAngelis250_091120.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="DeAngelis250_091120.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />I&rsquo;ve played in this league five years now and this will be my second Western final. It just goes to show you it doesn&rsquo;t happen every year. We&rsquo;ve had some pretty darn talented Stampeders teams over the years that haven&rsquo;t made it to the Western final. You need to enjoy it because you may never get this opportunity again.<br /><br />I&rsquo;m looking forward to the challenge of going against 30,000 strong wearing green. As an athlete, you like that situation. Last year, we beat 68,000 strong in Montreal. Of course we would have preferred to have the game here in Calgary, but you have to give credit to them &mdash; they got it done. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise for us. Maybe losing that game will give us the motivation that we need to get this win. With that being said, we wish we were playing at home &mdash; there&rsquo;s nothing better than home cooking &mdash; but if you can&rsquo;t play at home, I can&rsquo;t think of a much better place to play than Saskatchewan where the crowd is very, very rowdy and very rambunctious. We&rsquo;re looking forward to the challenge.<br /><br />Some of those fans can be very, very rude. Some are pretty ruthless but it&rsquo;s funny. It really is. I&rsquo;ve heard every joke under the sun, so there&rsquo;s nothing that I&rsquo;ve heard over the years that was very original. I enjoy the aspect of the crowd talking and treating you in a certain way. If you&rsquo;re going to dish it out when you&rsquo;re playing at home, you&rsquo;ve got to be able to take it when you&rsquo;re on the road. We didn&rsquo;t get the job done last time but hopefully we can silence 30,000 strong by our performance. I&rsquo;ll tell you what, there&rsquo;s no more gratifying feeling in the world than being able to do that. Our actions need to speak a lot louder than any words.<br /><br />When you&rsquo;re playing at home, you can feed off the crowd&rsquo;s energy because they&rsquo;re behind you 100 per cent. When you&rsquo;re on the road, you can&rsquo;t do that and so you&rsquo;ve got to create your own energy. Maybe that&rsquo;s a good thing. Maybe that&rsquo;s the kick in the pants this team needed. I guess we&rsquo;ll have the answer to that Sunday night.<br /><br />Sandro DeAngelis, #12<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=18" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; DeAngelis bio</strong></a></p> November 20, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1336 <p>The West Final &mdash; the final step before the 97th Grey Cup &mdash; is on tap Sunday afternoon in Regina. We've got another Ultimate Fan Guide to get you ready for the contest between the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders.</p> <p>The game notes package is bigger and better than ever &mdash; 35 pages of notes, stats and info on the game, the teams and their playoff past.</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/notes_091122.pdf"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download the game notes package (PDF)</strong></a></p> <p>Our coverage also includes:</p> <p><strong><a href="/schedule/the_game/preview/?id=17022" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; An in-depth game preview </a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blogs from Stamps players</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1327" target="_blank"> &gt;&gt; An Insider Blog on the Stamps' playoff history with the Riders</a></strong></p> <p>Keep coming back to Stampeders.com for more coverage as kickoff approaches.</p> November 19, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1333 <p>It&rsquo;s exciting to think about the game that&rsquo;s coming up on Sunday. I&rsquo;m just looking forward to it. We&rsquo;ve got a lot of work ahead of us before that but when the time comes, it&rsquo;s going to be a lot of fun.<br /><br />That stadium in Regina is a good place to be. It&rsquo;s fun with the crowd there in previous games <img alt="ONeill250_091118.jpg" height="278" src="/common/uploads/images/ONeill250_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="ONeill250_091118.jpg" width="250" />and I&rsquo;m sure it&rsquo;ll be more of the same on Sunday.<br /><br />I feel good right now. It&rsquo;s a big week ahead and I&rsquo;m looking forward to the challenge on the weekend. There was some talk about me playing hurt last week but I was ready to play, otherwise I wouldn&rsquo;t have been dressed. It was just one of those things &mdash; I was ready to go and I ended up getting the opportunity to play.<br /><br />I&rsquo;ve had the chance to start at a couple of different positions this season and there are some differences between centre and guard. At centre, you have to be more vocal and start the calls and that sort of thing. But otherwise, they&rsquo;re similar positions. You&rsquo;re in there to pass-block and run-block.<br /><br />Our game in Saskatchewan isn&rsquo;t the only big one this weekend. On Saturday, the University of Calgary &mdash; my old school &mdash; is playing Saint Mary&rsquo;s in the Uteck Bowl for the chance to get to the Vanier Cup.<br /><br />I see the guys training over at the gym and they worked real hard in this off-season. I actually got to see a couple of home games here. They look good and I&rsquo;m excited to watch them on TV on Saturday. It&rsquo;s going to be a good challenge for them. I&rsquo;m sure it&rsquo;s a lot of fun being out there in Halifax for a week. <br /><br />There are a number of guys on the team I still know and I see them training and so I know some of the guys I didn&rsquo;t play with also. I&rsquo;ll always be an alumni and a fan of the Dinos. I wish them good luck. I&rsquo;m so happy for the guys.<br /><br />Tim O&rsquo;Neill, #66<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=19" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; O&rsquo;Neill bio</strong></a></p> November 19, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1330 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="3">CFL all-stars</th> </tr> <tr align="left" class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 18, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="3">CFL all-stars</th> </tr> <tr align="left" class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>CFL all-stars</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr align="left" class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>CFL all-stars</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>CFL all-stars</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and cornerback Brandon Browner have been named 2009 Canadian Football League All-Stars.<br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935, thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a <img alt="FourStarz_091118.jpg" height="179" src="/common/uploads/images/FourStarz_091118.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="FourStarz_091118.jpg" width="300" />total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is the West Division&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a CFL all-star for the second time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald, the West division nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman, started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34). <br /><br />Browner tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. He led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive CFL all-star nod.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3361 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce the return of the team&rsquo;s Grey Cup Festival Fan Party. The party will feature a special live performance of The Tennessee 3 &mdash; the sound behind Johnny Cash. <br /><br />&ldquo;We are so excited to be a part of the 2009 Grey Cup in Calgary,&rdquo; said Vicky Wootton, guitarist with The Tennessee 3. &ldquo;Canada gave us our first chance when we started out and we are honoured to come and play at such a huge event. To us, it&rsquo;s like being given the entertainer of the year award.&rdquo;<img alt="image001.jpg" height="88" src="/common/uploads/images/image001.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="image001.jpg" width="170" /></p> <p>The Stamps&rsquo; fan party will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Molson Canadian Quick Six Saloon (Telus Convention Centre).</p> <p>&ldquo;We are very excited to introduce our own fan party at this years Grey Cup,&rdquo; said Stamps president Scott Ackles. &ldquo;This is something that Stamps fans have requested and something we plan on moving to all future Grey Cups in cities across Canada.&rdquo; <br /><br />In addition to the The Tennessee 3, the event will feature performances by Canadian musicians Tim Hus and Sierra Noble. Former Stamps players and Ralph the Dog will be in attendance and the Stampeders Outriders will perform.</p> <p>Tickets are available at the door for only $20.</p> <p><a href="http://www.2009greycupfestival.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For more information, visit the Grey Cup Festival site</strong></a><br /><br />The fan party will become an annual event at all future Grey Cups, where Stamps fans will be able to gather and celebrate the Red and White.</p> November 18, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3358 <p>As hard as it may be to believe, it&rsquo;s been 38 years since the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders have met in a West Final.<br /><br />The previous West Final meeting between the Red and White and the Green Riders was all the way back in 1971 and even predates the familiar single-game format for the contest. Back then, teams played a best-of-three format and the Stampeders swept the 1971 series in two straight en route to the Grey Cup title.<img alt="Cal_Sask.jpg" height="251" src="/common/uploads/images/Cal_Sask.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Cal_Sask.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />The 1971 Stampeders-Roughriders tussle started on Saturday matinee on Nov. 13 at McMahon Stadium. Thanks to a pair of touchdowns by George Reed, the Riders built a 21-10 lead through three quarters but the Stamps roared back with 20 unanswered points in the final period to take a 30-21 victory.<br /><br />Reggie Holmes started the comeback by picking off a Ron Lancaster pass and returning it for a touchdown. After a Larry Robinson field goal cut the visitors&rsquo; lead to 21-20, Jerry Keeling and Gerry Shaw connected for a 35-yard touchdown pass that put Calgary ahead with less than three minutes to play. The attendance at McMahon Stadium was 23,616.<br /><br />The clubs then headed to Regina&rsquo;s Taylor Field for the second game, which was played in front of 14,582 spectators on a frigid Wednesday night with an 8 p.m. local start time. Calgary led 9-0 at the half thanks to a 21-yard touchdown pass from Keeling to Jon Henderson and a couple of punt singles. The Riders took a 14-9 lead with a pair of third-quarter rushing touchdown &mdash; including Reed&rsquo;s third major of the series &mdash; but Calgary went back ahead to stay thanks to a 42-yard scoring run by Hugh McKinnis. Both McKinnis and Jesse Mims recorded 100-yard rushing games for the Stamps in the 23-21 victory while Rudy Linterman had three catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.<br /><br />That 1971 encounter marked the fifth consecutive season the Stamps and Riders had clashed in the West Final, which makes the subsequent 37-year stretch without a Calgary-Saskatchewan championship game all the more amazing. Calgary won the matchups in 1968 and 1970 as well as 1971 while the Riders prevailed in 1967 and 1969.<br /><br />The teams also met twice in the late 1940s when the game was played under the banner of the Western Interprovincial Football Union final. Calgary won the two-game, total-point series in both 1948 and 1949.</p> November 17, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1327 <p>It'll be a Night of Champions in Calgary on Friday, Nov. 27.<br /><br />Two days before the Grey Cup championship game at McMahon Stadium, you get a chance to party like an all-star while supporting a great cause in minor football. The Night of Champions is hosted by former CFLers Bruce (Tuna) Covernton and Damon Allen and features a host of former gridiron greats including Sugarfoot Anderson, Pinball Clemons, John Helton, Matt Dunigan, J.T. Hay, Gizmo Williams, Milt Stegall, Rocco Romano, Alondra Johnson, Willie Pless and many more.</p> <p>A special guest will be Canadian Olympic speed-skating legend Catriona Le May Doan.<br /><br />Besides a chance to meet and mingle with the stars and Canadian Football League cheerleaders, the football-themed evening at Rush Restaurant (100, 207 9th Ave. S.W.) includes complimentary cocktails upon arrival, hors d'ouevres, DJ music and limited complimentary valet parking.<br /><br />The cost is $75 per ticket and all proceeds go to the Greater Calgary Amateur Football Association and the Shouldice field project.<br /><br />For more information, call Linda Orr at 403-667-5315 or email at info@nightofchampions.ca<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nightofchampions.ca/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Official event website</strong></a></p> November 17, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3355 <p>The inaugural winners of the Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award were honoured in a halftime ceremony at McMahon Stadium during Calgary&rsquo;s West Semi-Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday, Nov. 15.<br /><br />The recipients of the award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, <img alt="Schwartz_091116.jpg" height="191" src="/common/uploads/images/Schwartz_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Schwartz_091116.jpg" width="300" />dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, were Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Crescent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 16, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3353 <p>Clothes make the man. Or is it the other way around?<br /><br />Either way, much like the great Johnny Cash, the Calgary Stampeders simply have a great aura about them when they&rsquo;re sporting black.<img alt="Lewis_091116.jpg" height="372" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Sunday&rsquo;s West Semi-Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos continues a tradition of success for the Stamps when wearing dark tops. Naturally, the players in the uniforms have a lot more to do with the results than the colour of the garments but still, it&rsquo;s fun to look back at the Stamps&rsquo; record when they&rsquo;re the doing the Men in Black routine.<br /><br />For example, the black-clad Stamps are now 5-1 all-time in post-season action, including 2-0 in the semi-final round. (And if you really want to stretch a point, Calgary is now 3-0 when wearing black for a playoff contest played on Nov. 15)<br /><br />The only playoff setback for the Black Attack came against Edmonton in the 2000 West Final.</p> <p>Otherwise, Calgary has prevailed in the 1998 West Final against the Eskimos, the 1998 Grey Cup against Hamilton, the 1999 West Semi-Final against Edmonton, the 2008 West Final against BC and in the most recent contest against the Esks.<br /><br />The playoff history:</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Black Attack</th><th></th><th></th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Season</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Game</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Date</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Opponents</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Result</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>1998</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">West final</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 15</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edmonton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">33-10 W</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>1998</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Grey Cup</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 22</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Hamilton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">26-24 W</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>1999</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">West semi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 14</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edmonton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">30-17 W</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>2000</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">West final</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 19</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edmonton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">37-23 L</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>2008</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">West final</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 15</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> <td style="text-align:center;">22-18 W</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>2009</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">West semi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Nov. 15</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edmonton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">24-21 W</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Calgary has done pretty well in the regular season with the black jerseys, posting an 11-4 mark that includes an active four-game winning streak. Combined, the Stamps are 16-5 when wearing black, which computes to a 76.2 per cent success rate.</p> November 16, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1325 <p>It was a tight game on Sunday but one of the great things about this team is that we&rsquo;ve brought some veterans who have been in big games. I&rsquo;ve been fortunate enough to have been in some big games and so have Wes, Carp and a bunch of other old guys. That&rsquo;s what we stressed to everybody else &mdash; we&rsquo;ve been here before, so don&rsquo;t panic. Do your job and we&rsquo;ll make the plays when it counts and that&rsquo;s what we were able to do.<img alt="Claybrooks_091116.jpg" height="348" src="/common/uploads/images/Claybrooks_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Claybrooks_091116.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />I got my first sack as a Stampeder on Sunday. It&rsquo;s been a long time coming but I&rsquo;ve got to give Cornell Brown and the D-line a lot of credit because we work as a unit. It really was a group effort as a front four &mdash; the other guys were able to flush him, there was good coverage downfield and I was lucky enough to run him down.<br /><br />We also pride ourselves on stopping the run. We know they had had three good games of running the ball. When you can run the ball, you can set up the play-action and we didn&rsquo;t want to have to face that. Especially not against Ricky Ray because of what a prolific passer he is. We were able to make them one-dimensional.<br /><br />On the offensive side, Joffrey&rsquo;s our workhorse. We&rsquo;ve been riding him so far and we&rsquo;re going to try keep to riding him some more. That&rsquo;s what we need him for. You&rsquo;ve also got to give the O-line a lot of credit. We have some injuries on the line but those guys fought through it and we were able to ride Joffrey like we always do. That was big, especially the way he ate up the clock in the fourth quarter. I think our defence was only out there for two series because Joffrey and our offence were controlling the ball.<br /><br />There was some talk out of Edmonton during the week that we were looking past the Eskimos but we all know that you can&rsquo;t take a team lightly. Especially not when it&rsquo;s as big of a rivalry as this one is, you know you&rsquo;re going to get their best effort. We knew that. Our coaches always stress that to us &mdash; respect your opponent, and we definitely did that. We never took them lightly and the closeness of this game shows the reason why it was important to respect them.<br /><br />Now we get another shot at the Riders. We&rsquo;ve kind of shot ourselves in the foot the last two times we&rsquo;ve played them. Defensively, we didn&rsquo;t play well in either game. We&rsquo;re looking forward to getting our nose to the grindstone and try to make them beat us instead of us beating ourselves.<br /><br />DeVone Claybrooks, #95<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=296" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Claybrooks bio</strong></a></p> November 16, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1322 <p>The inaugural winners of the Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award were honoured in a halftime ceremony at McMahon Stadium during Calgary&rsquo;s West Semi-Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday, Nov. 15.<br /><br />The recipients of the award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, <img alt="Schwartz_091116.jpg" height="191" src="/common/uploads/images/Schwartz_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Schwartz_091116.jpg" width="300" />dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, were Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Crescent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 16, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3353 <p>The inaugural winners of the Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award were honoured in a halftime ceremony at McMahon Stadium during Calgary&rsquo;s West Semi-Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday, Nov. 15.<br /><br />The recipients of the award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, <img alt="Schwartz_091116.jpg" height="191" src="/common/uploads/images/Schwartz_091116.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Schwartz_091116.jpg" width="300" />dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, were Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Crescent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 16, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3353 <p>The inaugural winners of the Calgary Stampeders&rsquo; Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award were honoured in a halftime ceremony at McMahon Stadium during Calgary&rsquo;s West Semi-Final victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday, Nov. 15.<br /><br />The recipients of the award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, were Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Crescent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 16, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3353 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The Stamps now face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final, which will be played in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.</p> <p>The victory over the Esks evens the all-time playoff series between Calgary and Edmonton at 10 wins apiece.</p> <p>"I knew it was going to be a tight game," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "I thought it was going to be a game that was going to be decided late in the fourth quarter. Our defence played extremely well all game long. Our offence struggled a bit in the first half but we kept working and we were able to get into the end-zone in the second half."</p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform. The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>A pair of holding penalties and a sack by DeVone Claybrooks pushed the Eskimos out of long field-goal range late in the fourth quarter. The Calgary offence then ran out the clock.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> <p><strong>INDIVIDUAL<br /> PASSING</strong><br /> Cal: Burris 19-32-264-2-0; Edm: Ray 18-30-162-0-0</p> <p><strong>RUSHING</strong><br /> Cal: Reynolds 18-127, Burris 7-63; Edm: Whitlock 11-50, Ray 4-17-1, McCarty 1-5</p> <p><strong>RECEIVING</strong><br /> Cal: Lewis 7-100, Bryant 4-63-1,Reynolds 3-35, Ralph 2-35, Copeland 2-22, Franklin 1-9-1; Edm: Stamps 4-76, Hill 3-24, Peterson 3-15, McCarty 2-13, Nowacki 1-13, Barnes 1-10, Whitlock 2-8, Bertrand 2-3</p> <p><strong>NOTABLE</strong><br />Cal:Claybrooks 4 TKL 1 SK, James 5 TKL, Raymond 2 TKL 2 KD, Anderson 4 TKL 1 KD, DeAngelis 3-3 FG 11 PTS; Edm: Drew 6 TKL 1 STT, Parker 5 TKL 2 KD, Lloyd 4 TKL, Ellis TKL 1 SK, Peach 5 TKL</p> November 15, 2009 http://stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <p><strong><em>Note: Before Sunday&rsquo;s West Semi-Finale even started, veteran Stampeders offensive lineman Jeff Pilon went face to face with Edmonton o-lineman Patrick Kabongo and the two big men exchanged heated words.</em></strong><br /><br />I think it was B.S. what he did. You get a guy coming onto our side of the field trying to throw his weight around? That&rsquo;s just not going to happen. We&rsquo;re not going to put up with that from anybody. Kabongo is a great guy and he&rsquo;s a good player, but I don&rsquo;t put up with that.<img alt="Pilon_091022.jpg" height="254" src="/common/uploads/images/Pilon_091022.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Pilon_091022.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />You want to be a playground bully? I&rsquo;m stepping up and our whole team&rsquo;s stepping up. You don&rsquo;t do that.<br /><br />This is a huge rivalry. Not a lot of guys on this team have been through what I&rsquo;ve been through against Edmonton. We&rsquo;ve had bench-clearing brawls against them &mdash; it&rsquo;s a huge rivalry. They&rsquo;re a great team and it&rsquo;s a game that you know is going to be a solid, hard-fought game. When you get that emotion going right away, you&rsquo;re showing that hey, we&rsquo;re not backing down from anybody. It was a great, hard-fought game.<br /><br />After not being able to practise all week, guys were saying I was going to have fresh legs today. I was tired, but you don&rsquo;t think about that when it comes down to this game when it&rsquo;s this big and it&rsquo;s against Edmonton. None of that matters when it comes to being sick or hurt or tired because the other team doesn&rsquo;t care about that. They just want to beat you.<br /><br />Just look at Tim O&rsquo;Neill. You get a guy like Rob, who&rsquo;s the quarterback of our offensive line, going down and it&rsquo;s really a testament to Timmy&rsquo;s character and what our offensive line is all about the way that he stepped in and played. We try to prove week in and week out that no matter what happens, we&rsquo;re fighting through it and we&rsquo;re going to do our best. Timmy stepped up big tonight. Everybody did. We want to be the best o-line in the league &mdash; I&rsquo;ve been saying it for a long time and I truly believe it. We have character guys and guys who really, really care.<br /><br />And what about Joffrey Reynolds? He is the MVP. He is the man. He&rsquo;s been underrated for the past couple of years. He&rsquo;s quiet, he&rsquo;s not flashy. When he scores, he hands the ball over and that&rsquo;s it. He goes out week in and week out and plays hard and tonight, he did it again.<br /><br />Joff is taking us out for supper tomorrow night. So he better bring his credit card because I don&rsquo;t think he has that much cash in his wallet.<br /><br />Jeff Pilon, #64<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=36" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Pilon bio</strong></a></p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1321 <p><strong><em>Note: Before Sunday&rsquo;s West Semi-Finale even started, veteran Stampeders offensive lineman Jeff Pilon went face to face with Edmonton o-lineman Patrick Kabongo and the two big men exchanged heated words.</em></strong><br /><br />I think it was B.S. what he did. You get a guy coming onto our side of the field trying to throw his weight around? That&rsquo;s just not going to happen. We&rsquo;re not going to put up with that from anybody. Kabongo is a great guy and he&rsquo;s a good player, but I don&rsquo;t put up with that.<img alt="Pilon_091022.jpg" height="254" src="/common/uploads/images/Pilon_091022.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Pilon_091022.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />You want to be a playground bully? I&rsquo;m stepping up and our whole team&rsquo;s stepping up. You don&rsquo;t do that.<br /><br />This is a huge rivalry. Not a lot of guys on this team have been through what I&rsquo;ve been through against Edmonton. We&rsquo;ve had bench-clearing brawls against them &mdash; it&rsquo;s a huge rivalry. They&rsquo;re a great team and it&rsquo;s a game that you know is going to be a solid, hard-fought game. When you get that emotion going right away, you&rsquo;re showing that hey, we&rsquo;re not backing down from anybody. It was a great, hard-fought game.<br /><br />After not being able to practise all week, guys were saying I was going to have fresh legs today. I was tired, but you don&rsquo;t think about that when it comes down to this game when it&rsquo;s this big and it&rsquo;s against Edmonton. None of that matters when it comes to being sick or hurt or tired because the other team doesn&rsquo;t care about that. They just want to beat you.<br /><br />Just look at Tim O&rsquo;Neill. You get a guy like Rob, who&rsquo;s the quarterback of our offensive line, going down and it&rsquo;s really a testament to Timmy&rsquo;s character and what our offensive line is all about the way that he stepped in and played. We try to prove week in and week out that no matter what happens, we&rsquo;re fighting through it and we&rsquo;re going to do our best. Timmy stepped up big tonight. Everybody did. We want to be the best o-line in the league &mdash; I&rsquo;ve been saying it for a long time and I truly believe it. We have character guys and guys who really, really care.<br /><br />And what about Joffrey Reynolds? He is the MVP. He is the man. He&rsquo;s been underrated for the past couple of years. He&rsquo;s quiet, he&rsquo;s not flashy. When he scores, he hands the ball over and that&rsquo;s it. He goes out week in and week out and plays hard and tonight, he did it again.<br /><br />Joff is taking us out for supper tomorrow night. So he better bring his credit card because I don&rsquo;t think he has that much cash in his wallet.<br /><br />Jeff Pilon, #64<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=36" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Pilon bio</strong></a></p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1321 <p>We played a great football game on offence and defence. We really stuck with it. Offensively, early on we felt we left some points out there but we gotta give the credit to the defence. They did a great job of holding Edmonton in check.</p> <p>I really liked the balance that we had and the way Hank managed the game, especially right near the end and we were able to seal the deal. It&rsquo;s a great feeling to know that here in a passing league the offensive coordinator tells you to go out and close the door on the opponent by running, and you can do it. That was kind of what we did. And hey, 24-21 headed to Regina.<img alt="caledm28.jpg" height="221" src="/common/uploads/images/caledm28.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="caledm28.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>It was tough because Edmonton is a good football team. Ricky Ray easily could be the Most Outstanding Player of the West. They have great players like Arkee Whitlock and that defense is solid. I just think for us to kind of wear them down at the end of the game is a testament to what kind of team we have. It gives us that confidence that we can impose our will.</p> <p>I can&rsquo;t say enough about the offensive line. We had some guys missed practice this week. Ben was sick and missed time. Pilon didn&rsquo;t practice much. Laz went down in the game. Newman stepped up by starting his first game in a while. To have the performance that we did speaks volumes about our talent on offence and the depth we have. They gave me and Hank the chance to be successful.</p> <p>I think the crowd really helped out and played a big part, too. Edmonton had that one situation where it was second and 40, or whatever it was, and the crowd really got into it. That was a huge momentum shifter and we fed off that.</p> <p>We need another solid week of practice, man. It&rsquo;s going to be tough knowing what type of atmosphere it is in Regina. I just think that if we stick to our game plan, take what they give us, and stay on the field like tonight, I really think we can go there and be successful. I really do believe that. It will be tough. But we wouldn&rsquo;t want it any other way.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1318 <p>We played a great football game on offence and defence. We really stuck with it. Offensively, early on we felt we left some points out there but we gotta give the credit to the defence. They did a great job of holding Edmonton in check.</p> <p>I really liked the balance that we had and the way Hank managed the game, especially right near the end and we were able to seal the deal. It&rsquo;s a great feeling to know that here in a passing league the offensive coordinator tells you to go out and close the door on the opponent by running, and you can do it. That was kind of what we did. And hey, 24-21 headed to Regina.<img alt="caledm28.jpg" height="221" src="/common/uploads/images/caledm28.jpg" style="margin: 8px;" title="caledm28.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>It was tough because Edmonton is a good football team. Ricky Ray easily could be the Most Outstanding Player of the West. They have great players like Arkee Whitlock and that defense is solid. I just think for us to kind of wear them down at the end of the game is a testament to what kind of team we have. It gives us that confidence that we can impose our will.</p> <p>I can&rsquo;t say enough about the offensive line. We had some guys missed practice this week. Ben was sick and missed time. Pilon didn&rsquo;t practice much. Laz went down in the game. Newman stepped up by starting his first game in a while. To have the performance that we did speaks volumes about our talent on offence and the depth we have. They gave me and Hank the chance to be successful.</p> <p>I think the crowd really helped out and played a big part, too. Edmonton had that one situation where it was second and 40, or whatever it was, and the crowd really got into it. That was a huge momentum shifter and we fed off that.</p> <p>We need another solid week of practice, man. It&rsquo;s going to be tough knowing what type of atmosphere it is in Regina. I just think that if we stick to our game plan, take what they give us, and stay on the field like tonight, I really think we can go there and be successful. I really do believe that. It will be tough. But we wouldn&rsquo;t want it any other way.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1318 <p>We played a great football game on offence and defence. We really stuck with it. Offensively, early on we felt we left some points out there but we gotta give the credit to the defence. They did a great job of holding Edmonton in check.</p> <p>I really liked the balance that we had and the way Hank managed the game, especially right near the end and we were able to seal the deal. It&rsquo;s a great feeling to know that here in a passing league the offensive coordinator tells you to go out and close the door on the opponent by running, and you can do it. That was kind of what we did. And hey, 24-21 headed to Regina.<img alt="caledm28.jpg" height="221" src="/common/uploads/images/caledm28.jpg" style="margin: 8px;" title="caledm28.jpg" width="200" /></p> <p>It was tough because Edmonton is a good football team. Ricky Ray easily could be the Most Outstanding Player of the West. They have great players like Arkee Whitlock and that defense is solid. I just think for us to kind of wear them down at the end of the game is a testament to what kind of team we have. It gives us that confidence that we can impose our will.</p> <p>I can&rsquo;t say enough about the offensive line. We had some guys missed practice this week. Ben was sick and missed time. Pilon didn&rsquo;t practice much. Laz went down in the game. Newman stepped up by starting his first game in a while. To have the performance that we did speaks volumes about our talent on offence and the depth we have. They gave me and Hank the chance to be successful.</p> <p>I think the crowd really helped out and played a big part, too. Edmonton had that one situation where it was second and 40, or whatever it was, and the crowd really got into it. That was a huge momentum shifter and we fed off that.</p> <p>We need another solid week of practice, man. It&rsquo;s going to be tough knowing what type of atmosphere it is in Regina. I just think that if we stick to our game plan, take what they give us, and stay on the field like tonight, I really think we can go there and be successful. I really do believe that. It will be tough. But we wouldn&rsquo;t want it any other way.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1318 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The Stamps now face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final, which will be played in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.</p> <p>The victory over the Esks evens the all-time playoff series between Calgary and Edmonton at 10 wins apiece.</p> <p>"I knew it was going to be a tight game," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "I thought it was going to be a game that was going to be decided late in the fourth quarter. Our defence played extremely well all game long. Our offence struggled a bit in the first half but we kept working and we were able to get into the end-zone in the second half."</p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform. The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>A pair of holding penalties and a sack by DeVone Claybrooks pushed the Eskimos out of long field-goal range late in the fourth quarter. The Calgary offence then ran out the clock.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> <p><strong>INDIVIDUAL<br /> PASSING</strong><br /> Cal: Burris 19-32-264-2-0; Edm: Ray 18-30-162-0-0</p> <p><strong>RUSHING</strong><br /> Cal: Reynolds 18-127, Burris 7-63; Edm: Whitlock 11-50, Ray 4-17-1, McCarty 1-5</p> <p><strong>RECEIVING</strong><br /> Cal: Lewis 7-100, Bryant 4-63-1,Reynolds 3-35, Ralph 2-35, Copeland 2-22, Franklin 1-9-1; Edm: Stamps 4-76, Hill 3-24, Peterson 3-15, McCarty 2-13, Nowacki 1-13, Barnes 1-10, Whitlock 2-8, Bertrand 2-3</p> <p><strong>NOTABLE</strong><br />Cal:Claybrooks 4 TKL 1 SK, James 5 TKL, Raymond 2 TKL 2 KD, Anderson 4 TKL 1 KD, DeAngelis 3-3 FG 11 PTS; Edm: Drew 6 TKL 1 STT, Parker 5 TKL 2 KD, Lloyd 4 TKL, Ellis TKL 1 SK, Peach 5 TKL</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The Stamps now face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final, which will be played in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.</p> <p>The victory over the Esks evens the all-time playoff series between Calgary and Edmonton at 10 wins apiece.</p> <p>"I knew it was going to be a tight game," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "I thought it was going to be a game that was going to be decided late in the fourth quarter. Our defence played extremely well all game long. Our offence struggled a bit in the first half but we kept working and we were able to get into the end-zone in the second half."</p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform. The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>A pair of holding penalties and a sack by DeVone Claybrooks pushed the Eskimos out of long field-goal range late in the fourth quarter. The Calgary offence then ran out the clock.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> <p><strong>INDIVIDUAL<br /> PASSING</strong><br /> Cal: Burris 19-32-264-2-0; Edm: Ray 18-30-162-0-0</p> <p><strong>RUSHING</strong><br /> Cal: Reynolds 18-127, Burris 7-63; Edm: Whitlock 11-50, Ray 4-17-1, McCarty 1-5</p> <p><strong>RECEIVING</strong><br /> Cal: Lewis 7-100, Bryant 4-63-1,Reynolds 3-35, Ralph 2-35, Copeland 2-22, Franklin 1-9-1; Edm: Stamps 4-76, Hill 3-24, Peterson 3-15, McCarty 2-13, Nowacki 1-13, Barnes 1-10, Whitlock 2-8, Bertrand 2-3</p> <p><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <p>Cal:Claybrooks 4 TKL 1 SK, James 5 TKL, Raymond 2 TKL 2 KD, Anderson 4 TKL 1 KD, DeAngelis 3-3 FG 11 PTS; Edm: Drew 6 TKL 1 STT, Parker 5 TKL 2 KD, Lloyd 4 TKL, Ellis TKL 1 SK, Peach 5 TKL</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The Stamps now face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final, which will be played in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.</p> <p>The victory over the Esks evens the all-time playoff series between Calgary and Edmonton at 10 wins apiece.</p> <p>"I knew it was going to be a tight game," said Stampeders head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. "I thought it was going to be a game that was going to be decided late in the fourth quarter. Our defence played extremely well all game long. Our offence struggled a bit in the first half but we kept working and we were able to get into the end-zone in the second half."</p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform. The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>A pair of holding penalties and a sack by DeVone Claybrooks pushed the Eskimos out of long field-goal range late in the fourth quarter. The Calgary offence then ran out the clock.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 24-21 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.</p> <p>The Stamps face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform.</p> <p>The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <p>The Calgary Stampeders have advanced to the next round of the Canadian Football League playoffs after defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 27-24 in the West Semi-Final on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.</p> <p>The Stamps face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final in Regina on Sunday, Nov. 22.<img alt="inset_091115.jpg" height="328" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091115.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091115.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>The first touchdown of the afternoon came in the third quarter as Henry Burris found Arjei Franklin in the end-zone from nine yards out. It was the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver's first major in a Calgary uniform.</p> <p>The major was the culmination of an eight-play, 57-yard drive.</p> <p>The Eskimos wasted no time in answering as Skyler Green returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a major.</p> <p>The Stampeders got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter as Burris connected with Romby Bryant on a 29-yard scoring strike. Like Franklin, it was Bryant's first touchdown with the Red and White afer joining the club in a mid-season trade with Winnipeg. Calgary went 64 yards on three players to get the ball into the end-zone.</p> <p>Edmonton again responded with a touchdown and this time it was the Eskimos offence, aided by three flags thrown against the Stampeders, that did the scoring. Ricky Ray capped the drive with a one-yard sneak on a third-and-goal situation.</p> <p>The first half was a battle of the kickers as Sandro DeAngelis booted three short field goals for the Stampeders while Noel Prefontaine replied with two field goals and a kickoff single. The Stamps' field goals were from 15, 20 and 21 yards while the Eskimos' three-pointers were from nine and 36 yards out.</p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3352 <table border="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> </tr> <tr> <td><img alt="calgary.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary.jpg" title="calgary.jpg" width="100" /></td> <td><img alt="edmonton_dk.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/edmonton_dk.jpg" title="edmonton_dk.jpg" width="100" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>For the 20th time in the rivals' long and acrimonious history, the Stampeders and Eskimos are battling in post-season action. On the line Sunday afternoon at Calgary's McMahon Stadium is a berth in the West Final and a date with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kickoff for the latest playoff edition of the Battle of Alberta is 2:30 p.m. MST.</p> <p>The Stampeders posted a 10-7-1 record during the regular season and finished second in the West Division. Edmonton was 9-9 and placed third. Calgary won three of the four 2009 regular-season meetings with the Esks, including both contests at McMahon. Calgary shows a 9-10 record in the previous 19 playoff meetings with the Esks.</p> <p>Back this week is the live chat at StampsConnect. The chat will begin half an hour before kickoff (at 2 p.m. MST) and remain live until an hour or so after the contest. Drop by and say hello to your fellow Stamps supporters.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Join us for the chat (Live now!)</strong></a></p> <p>You can get exclusive live updates from McMahon during the game by following the updates on our StampsConnect Twitter feed.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/twitter/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get live updates during the game</strong></a></p> <p>Don't forget about our exclusive StampsConnect contest, where you could win a Sirius satellite radio and six months of free service simply by submitting your Stamps-related photos.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/promos/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Submit your photos for a chance to win</strong></a></p> <p>In the meantime, here are some links to get your ready for kickoff:</p> <p><strong><a href="/schedule/the_game/preview/?id=17021" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Game preview</a><br /> </strong><strong><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1309" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Ultimate Fan Guide</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1300" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Fans' help needed</a><br /> <a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1291" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Stamps-Esks playoff history</a><br /> <a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1312" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Shannon James</a></strong><strong><br /> </strong><strong><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1306" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Nik Lewis</a><br /> </strong><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1303" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Jim Davis</strong></a><br /> <strong><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/video/id/-B6O1xn_RaQ/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video: Joffrey Reynolds named TSN's Gladiator of the Year</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=889" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video: Player's pre-game comments</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=886" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Audio of Coach Huff's pre-game comments</a></strong><br /><a href="/team/media_info/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get your game notes and updated roster and depth chart</strong></a></p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1315 <table border="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> </tr> <tr> <td><img alt="calgary.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary.jpg" title="calgary.jpg" width="100" /></td> <td><img alt="edmonton_dk.jpg" height="100" src="/common/uploads/images/edmonton_dk.jpg" title="edmonton_dk.jpg" width="100" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>For the 20th time in the rivals' long and acrimonious history, the Stampeders and Eskimos are battling in post-season action. On the line Sunday afternoon at Calgary's McMahon Stadium is a berth in the West Final and a date with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kickoff for the latest playoff edition of the Battle of Alberta is 2:30 p.m. MST.</p> <p>The Stampeders posted a 10-7-1 record during the regular season and finished second in the West Division. Edmonton was 9-9 and placed third. Calgary won three of the four 2009 regular-season meetings with the Esks, including both contests at McMahon. Calgary shows a 9-10 record in the previous 19 playoff meetings with the Esks.</p> <p>Back this week is the live chat at StampsConnect. The chat will begin half an hour before kickoff (at 2 p.m. MST) and remain live until an hour or so after the contest. Drop by and say hello to your fellow Stamps supporters.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Join us for the chat (goes live at 2 p.m. MST)</strong></a></p> <p>You can get exclusive live updates from McMahon during the game by following the updates on our StampsConnect Twitter feed.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/twitter/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get live updates during the game</strong></a></p> <p>Don't forget about our exclusive StampsConnect contest, where you could win a Sirius satellite radio and six months of free service simply by submitting your Stamps-related photos.</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/promos/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Submit your photos for a chance to win</strong></a></p> <p>In the meantime, here are some links to get your ready for kickoff:</p> <p><strong><a href="/schedule/the_game/preview/?id=17021" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Game preview</a><br /> </strong><strong><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1309" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Ultimate Fan Guide</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1300" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Fans' help needed</a><br /> <a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1291" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Stamps-Esks playoff history</a><br /> <a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1312" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Shannon James</a></strong><strong><br /> </strong><strong><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1306" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Nik Lewis</a><br /> </strong><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1303" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blog entry by Jim Davis</strong></a><br /> <strong><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/video/id/-B6O1xn_RaQ/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video: Joffrey Reynolds named TSN's Gladiator of the Year</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=889" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Video: Player's pre-game comments</a><br /><a href="/multimedia/audio_video/?id=886" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Audio of Coach Huff's pre-game comments</a></strong><br /><a href="/team/media_info/" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Get your game notes and updated roster and depth chart</strong></a></p> November 15, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1315 <p>The No. 2 University of Calgary Dinos claimed their second straight Canada West football championship, the school&rsquo;s 11th overall, with a classic 39-38 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium.<br /><br />The Dinos (9-1) head east next week to face the Saint Mary&rsquo;s University Huskies in the Uteck Bowl, the national semi-final, on Saturday at 10 a.m. MT at Huskies Stadium in Halifax. The winner of that game will advance to the Desjardins Vanier Cup a week later in Quebec City.<img alt="calgary_dinos.jpg" height="190" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_dinos.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_dinos.jpg" width="237" /><br /><br />After the Dinos scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter, the Huskies drove the length of the field and were poised to kick the game-winning field goal, but after a bobbled snap Grant Shaw sent his 35-yard attempt short and wide, and Nathan Coehoorn was able to run it out of the end zone to preserve the one-point win.<br /><br />&ldquo;What a football game,&rdquo; said an emotional Calgary head coach Blake Nill after the contest. &ldquo;It was a rough day for our defence, but I was so proud of how our players stayed in it and kept playing their hearts out, even when we were down by nine points in the fourth quarter.&rdquo;<br /><br />It was the third time in four meetings in history Calgary has defeated the Huskies in the Hardy Cup. In 1988, the Dinos won 46-33 in overtime, followed by a 1995 32-30 overtime victory. Saskatchewan won 34-17 in 1994.<br /><br />Dinos quarterback Erik Glavic, who was named the Canada West Football MVP earlier this week, was impressive in the victory completing 28 of 36 passes for 479 yards and three touchdowns &ndash; a season high and the third best single-game total in school history. He also had 106 yards and one touchdown rushing and was named the game&rsquo;s MVP.<br /><br />Glavic&rsquo;s top target was Richard Snyder, who had a spectacular outing with seven catches for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns.<br /><br />The entire game was back and forth between the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked teams in the country that both finished 7-1 on the season. Saskatchewan was the first to score when Shaw hit from 27 yards and by 37 yards to give the Huskies a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter. He added another to begin the second quarter from 38-yards putting the Huskies up 9-0.<br /><br />Calgary finally found the end zone when Glavic found an open Anthony Parker for a 19-yard touchdown to cap off a four-play, 73-yard drive. The added another touchdown roughly six minutes later when Snyder caught a 14-yard pass in the end zone after the Dinos marched 107 yards down the length of the field.<br /><br />Saskatchewan quickly answered back on the next possession with a Rory Kohlert 37 yard pass from Huskies quarterback Laurence Nixon. Shaw then added another field goal from 40 yards to give the Huskies a 19-14 lead. To end the frame, Dinos kicker Aaron Ifield missed a 12-yard field goal but was given a single on the play, and Saskatchewan led 19-15 heading into halftime.<br /><br />The Dinos quickly restored their lead to open the second half on a six-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard Matt Walter rushing touchdown to gain a three point lead at 22-19. But Saskatchewan gained momentum at the halfway mark of the third quarter when defensive back Keenan McDougall blocked an Ifield punt, taking it 20 yards into the end zone to put the Huskies up 26-22. Shaw added another eight-yard field goal at 3:37 to make the lead 29-22.<br /><br />Calgary tied it up on the very next drive, when Snyder caught a 60-yard bomb from Glavic and took it to the end zone for his second major.<br /><br />Faced with a punting situation deep in their own end at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Dinos elected to give up the safety, giving Saskatchewan the lead at 31-29. The move backfired when Nixon led the Huskies down the field, finding Braeden George for a 10-yard major to go up by nine.<br /><br />Ifield kicked an 18-yard field goal, the Dinos got a key defensive stop, and Glavic led the Dinos 68 yards to the house, capping the drive by calling his own number to score the winning touchdown from four yards out.<br /><br />The teams combined for an amazing 1,243 yards of total offence as both defences struggled to limit their opponents&rsquo; high-powered passing attack. Nixon finished 24-for-35 for 422 yards and two touchdowns, while veteran running back Tyler O&rsquo;Gorman had 24 carries and 162 yards on the ground for the Huskies. Two Huskie receivers finished with more than 100 yards in the game &ndash; Kohlert had 166 with one touchdown and George had 104 with one touchdown.<br /><br />Calgary responded with Snyder&rsquo;s 222 yards, while Coehoorn had five catches for 78 yards and Taylor Altilio had four grabs for 63 yards. Glavic&rsquo;s 106 along the ground led the Dinos&rsquo; rushing attack, with Matt Walter adding 96 yards on 19 carries.<br /><br />Defensively, Andrea Bonaventura led the Dinos with 8.5 tackles and one breakup. Nico Higgs led the Huskies with seven tackles, followed by Jonathan Krahenbil with 6.5 tackles, one interception and one break up.</p> <p class="mce_text_right">- U of C Athletics</p> November 14, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3349 <p>The No. 2 University of Calgary Dinos claimed their second straight Canada West football championship, the school&rsquo;s 11th overall, with a classic 39-38 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium.<br /><br />The Dinos (9-1) head east next week to face the Saint Mary&rsquo;s University Huskies in the Uteck Bowl, the national semi-final, on Saturday at 10 a.m. MT at Huskies Stadium in Halifax. The winner of that game will advance to the Desjardins Vanier Cup a week later in Quebec City.<img alt="calgary_dinos.jpg" height="190" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_dinos.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_dinos.jpg" width="237" /><br /><br />After the Dinos scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter, the Huskies drove the length of the field and were poised to kick the game-winning field goal, but after a bobbled snap Grant Shaw sent his 35-yard attempt short and wide, and Nathan Coehoorn was able to run it out of the end zone to preserve the one-point win.<br /><br />&ldquo;What a football game,&rdquo; said an emotional Calgary head coach Blake Nill after the contest. &ldquo;It was a rough day for our defence, but I was so proud of how our players stayed in it and kept playing their hearts out, even when we were down by nine points in the fourth quarter.&rdquo;<br /><br />It was the third time in four meetings in history Calgary has defeated the Huskies in the Hardy Cup. In 1988, the Dinos won 46-33 in overtime, followed by a 1995 32-30 overtime victory. Saskatchewan won 34-17 in 1994.<br /><br />Dinos quarterback Erik Glavic, who was named the Canada West Football MVP earlier this week, was impressive in the victory completing 28 of 36 passes for 479 yards and three touchdowns &ndash; a season high and the third best single-game total in school history. He also had 106 yards and one touchdown rushing and was named the game&rsquo;s MVP.<br /><br />Glavic&rsquo;s top target was Richard Snyder, who had a spectacular outing with seven catches for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns.<br /><br />The entire game was back and forth between the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked teams in the country that both finished 7-1 on the season. Saskatchewan was the first to score when Shaw hit from 27 yards and by 37 yards to give the Huskies a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter. He added another to begin the second quarter from 38-yards putting the Huskies up 9-0.<br /><br />Calgary finally found the end zone when Glavic found an open Anthony Parker for a 19-yard touchdown to cap off a four-play, 73-yard drive. The added another touchdown roughly six minutes later when Snyder caught a 14-yard pass in the end zone after the Dinos marched 107 yards down the length of the field.<br /><br />Saskatchewan quickly answered back on the next possession with a Rory Kohlert 37 yard pass from Huskies quarterback Laurence Nixon. Shaw then added another field goal from 40 yards to give the Huskies a 19-14 lead. To end the frame, Dinos kicker Aaron Ifield missed a 12-yard field goal but was given a single on the play, and Saskatchewan led 19-15 heading into halftime.<br /><br />The Dinos quickly restored their lead to open the second half on a six-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard Matt Walter rushing touchdown to gain a three point lead at 22-19. But Saskatchewan gained momentum at the halfway mark of the third quarter when defensive back Keenan McDougall blocked an Ifield punt, taking it 20 yards into the end zone to put the Huskies up 26-22. Shaw added another eight-yard field goal at 3:37 to make the lead 29-22.<br /><br />Calgary tied it up on the very next drive, when Snyder caught a 60-yard bomb from Glavic and took it to the end zone for his second major.<br /><br />Faced with a punting situation deep in their own end at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Dinos elected to give up the safety, giving Saskatchewan the lead at 31-29. The move backfired when Nixon led the Huskies down the field, finding Braeden George for a 10-yard major to go up by nine.<br /><br />Ifield kicked an 18-yard field goal, the Dinos got a key defensive stop, and Glavic led the Dinos 68 yards to the house, capping the drive by calling his own number to score the winning touchdown from four yards out.<br /><br />The teams combined for an amazing 1,243 yards of total offence as both defences struggled to limit their opponents&rsquo; high-powered passing attack. Nixon finished 24-for-35 for 422 yards and two touchdowns, while veteran running back Tyler O&rsquo;Gorman had 24 carries and 162 yards on the ground for the Huskies. Two Huskie receivers finished with more than 100 yards in the game &ndash; Kohlert had 166 with one touchdown and George had 104 with one touchdown.<br /><br />Calgary responded with Snyder&rsquo;s 222 yards, while Coehoorn had five catches for 78 yards and Taylor Altilio had four grabs for 63 yards. Glavic&rsquo;s 106 along the ground led the Dinos&rsquo; rushing attack, with Matt Walter adding 96 yards on 19 carries.<br /><br />Defensively, Andrea Bonaventura led the Dinos with 8.5 tackles and one breakup. Nico Higgs led the Huskies with seven tackles, followed by Jonathan Krahenbil with 6.5 tackles, one interception and one break up.</p> <p class="mce_text_right">- U of C Athletics</p> November 14, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3349 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to introduce The Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.<br /><br />The inaugural Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award winners are Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Cresent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />The winners will be honoured at halftime of the Stamps&rsquo; Western Semi-Final clash with the Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 15.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 13, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3340 <p><a href="http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/football/2009/11/14/11745066-sun.html" target="_blank"><br />By Wes Gilbertson<br />Calgary Sun</a><br /><br />When Tearrius George signed on for a second stint in the Stampede City, he never imagined he'd be saddled with a nickname like this.</p> <p>Then again, you'd be hard-pressed to find a person in any workplace, let alone the testosterone-charged world of pro football, who would embrace a handle like 'Can't Get Right.'<img alt="GeorgeA_091114.jpg" height="256" src="/common/uploads/images/GeorgeA_091114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="GeorgeA_091114.jpg" width="250" /></p> <p>"When I came back from the NFL, coming back to the CFL and getting adjusted to everything, to all the running and the pass-motions and everything, (defensive lineman DeVone Claybrooks) was just nagging me and picking on me about it, so that's the nickname he gave me," George said.</p> <p>"It's a progression. There's still stuff that I don't want to say I'm learning, but I'm getting used to week by week by week that I get better at. And there's certain things coaches nag on me about &mdash; you know what I mean, to get right &mdash; that I've gotta change."</p> <p>You get the feeling George could rid himself of the unwelcome alias with a solid stat line in tomorrow's divisional semifinal against the Edmonton Eskimos at McMahon Stadium.<br />According to Claybrooks, George has already proven to his Stamps teammates he can get right. The name, though, will likely stick.</p> <p>"We're not going to just let it go," Claybrooks said. "It's just like them calling me Biscuit or Headquarters because I've got a big head -- I just can't get rid of it. So it's not going anywhere soon, that's for sure."</p> <p>George led the Horsemen with eight sacks in 2007, catching the eye of NFL scouts and eventually embarking on a two-year southern sojourn that included stops in Dallas, New Orleans and Miami.</p> <p>He returned to McMahon Stadium on the same day as Philadelphia Eagles training camp casualty Charleston Hughes, giving the Stamps a potential sack-machine on both corners of their retooled defensive line.</p> <p>While Hughes made an instant impact, recording two sacks in each of his first three contests, it's been a slow transition for George. The former Kansas State star has just one sack and one fumble recovery in eight outings since returning to three-down football.</p> <p>"It's two totally different games," George said. "I think everybody looks at the talent level and how much you get paid and who drives a Bentley, and they think it's supposed to be (easy).</p> <p>"It's very, very different. The CFL is a lot of quick motions. Everybody is fast. The field is way, way bigger. It's more cat and mouse. The NFL is more direct and head-on, but here, it's shootin' and running, and you've gotta get used to that."</p> <p>Now is the time. After all, George doesn't want to be remembered simply as the guy fingered for pyramiding, a penalty foreign to most CFL followers until he was accused of jumping off the back of a teammate to block a convert in a 44-44 stalemate with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.</p> <p>"This is where &mdash; it's a little saying we say &mdash; the ballers show up to ball. This is where you come to play," George said.</p> <p>"The playoffs, this is what we spend all off-season for, all season, all the working out, all the running, everything is for this time right now."</p> November 14, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3343 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to introduce The Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.<br /><br />The inaugural Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award winners are Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Cresent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />The winners will be honoured at halftime of the Stamps&rsquo; Western Semi-Final clash with the Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 15.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 13, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3340 <p>The West Semi-Final is just around the corner.<br /><br />In the last 24 hours before a game, you watch some film and study up on your opponent as much as you can. You try to get your body ready and your mind focused on the task at hand. That doesn&rsquo;t change no matter if it&rsquo;s a playoff game or a regular-season game.<img alt="James_091114.jpg" height="368" src="/common/uploads/images/James_091114.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="James_091114.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />With this being an afternoon game, the biggest difference is that you get up earlier on game day but otherwise there&rsquo;s no difference in the way you prepare. Your meals and your preparation are still the same, you just get up earlier to get your body ready.<br /><br />We expect a big game out of Edmonton. I expect them to come out and play hard. I think it&rsquo;s going to be physical and they&rsquo;re going to give us their best shot. I know my teammates are expecting the same.<br /><br />Of course the Eskimos have got Ricky Ray and right now with Arkee Whitlock, they&rsquo;re running the ball well. With all their weapons, they&rsquo;re a real challenge for us and we&rsquo;re ready for it.<br /><br />After the loss against Saskatchewan last week, we knew that there was no time to cry about or feel sorry for ourselves. We knew right away that evening that we had to get ourselves ready to play and we had to get ready for Edmonton. You&rsquo;ve got to move forward.<br /><br />I&rsquo;m anxious for the game to get here and to our fans I just want to say one thing: We need all your support Sunday afternoon.<br /><br />Shannon James, #23<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=50" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; James bio</strong></a></p> November 14, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1312 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to introduce The Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award, which will be presented annually to three Calgary high school football seniors who display important life skills such as determination, pride, perseverance, dedication, leadership and integrity through their pursuit of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.<br /><br />The inaugural Stan Schwartz Heart of a Champion Award winners are Jesse Hiebert from Lord Beaverbrook (Division I), Jeffrey Vela from Cresent Heights (Division II) and Benjamin Bullock from Bishop Carroll (Division III).<br /><br />The winners will be honoured at halftime of the Stamps&rsquo; Western Semi-Final clash with the Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 15.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Calgary Stampeders are truly proud to recognize these three students for being hard-working, well-rounded individuals,&rdquo; said Ted Hellard, managing partner, football operations. &ldquo;Rather than just talking about results and performance on the field, it&rsquo;s also important to acknowledge the work young people are doing in their communities and in their classrooms. That was the impetus of this award.&#8232;<br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only fitting that the award be named after Stan Schwartz, who has always exhibited great leadership, pride and dedication as a member of our football club and in our community. He&rsquo;s a great champion, as are these three young men.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Stampeders, in conjunction with the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association football program, invited each high-school football team to nominate one player for the award and one winner was named from each of the three divisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled that the Calgary Stampeders are so supportive of our kids and came up with this type of award,&rdquo; said Tom Parker, executive director of the CSHSAA. &ldquo;It is fitting that the award is named after Stan Schwartz, because it isn&rsquo;t about recognizing the best player, it&rsquo;s about having the biggest heart and the most desire. That&rsquo;s Stan in a nutshell. He coached in the Calgary high-school system and is a longtime supporter of amateur football in our city, and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication over the years. This is also just another way in which the Stampeders support our programs and football in Calgary at the grassroots level.&rdquo;<br /><br />Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice-President, Business Operations/Consultant to the Executive Committee and is in his 22nd year with the Stampeders. He was inducted onto the Calgary Stampeder Football Club&rsquo;s Wall of Fame in 2004 and into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continued support of football in southern Alberta.</p> November 13, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3340 <p>The countdown is one for Sunday's West Semi-Final showdown against the Edmonton Eskimos and we've got everything to help yout get ready for the contest. Call it the Ultimate Fan Guide.</p> <p>The highlight is a comprehensive 33-page game notes package which includes all info about the team, the participants in Sunday's clash, the recently completed regular-season, the Red and White's playoff history and all-time post-season records and much, much more.</p> <p><a href="/common/uploads/files/Semifinal_notes.pdf"><strong>&gt;&gt; Download the game notes package (PDF)</strong></a></p> <p>Our coverage also includes:</p> <p><strong><a href="/schedule/the_game/preview/?id=17021" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; An in-depth game preview</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/players_blog/" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; Locker-Room Blogs from Stamps players</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1291" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; An Insider Blog on the Stamps' playoff history with the Esks'</a><br /><a href="/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1300" target="_blank">&gt;&gt; A call for Stamps fans to be loud and proud</a></strong></p> November 13, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1309 <p>Thursday was the first day of practice that I felt I could actually get better. Usually, I go out at practice and I give it everything I&rsquo;ve got but I just don&rsquo;t feel that I can get better because of some of the injuries that I&rsquo;ve had. But Thursday I actually felt good enough and my body felt good enough and I felt I became a better player.<br /><br />Once you get this late in the season and you go through some of the punishment my body goes through, it makes it harder and harder every week. But at the same time, I have to get better <img alt="Lewis_091112.jpg" height="286" src="/common/uploads/images/Lewis_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Lewis_091112.jpg" width="250" />because as I&rsquo;ve said before, my performance this season was a good performance, but it wasn&rsquo;t up to my standards. So now I&rsquo;m motivated even more to go out in the playoffs and put out my performance, whether it&rsquo;s blocking, catching balls or whatever I do. I expect to be better than I was at any point of the season.<br /><br />When you think about Edmonton, you think of that offence. Fred Stamps &mdash; that&rsquo;s a good, young receiver. I&rsquo;ve got a lot of respect for him and he&rsquo;s making a name for himself. Arkee Whitlock came in and did good. Ricky Ray is always Ricky Ray. Their defence has been changing things up &mdash; they brought some new players in at the midway point and they&rsquo;re playing better. They looked really motivated against BC and if that&rsquo;s the same team that comes down here? Then we have to be equally motivated &mdash; if not more motivated &mdash; to defend our home turf.<br /><br />A year ago, the fans proved everybody wrong with the way that they came out in that West Final. It got so loud in that West Final. They didn&rsquo;t have a reputation as a loud crowd but in that game, they were loud. It propelled us to get a victory. Then in going to the Grey Cup, our fans proved that they would come out and support us big, so we supported them by bringing one home. Now we&rsquo;ve got to do it again. It&rsquo;s time for us to come together now.<br /><br />As for the team, there&rsquo;s always going to be people who are skeptical. The last big game we had, we went out and lost. We put up 14 points on offence and we really didn&rsquo;t show up. So we have to be better in that respect. Go out and make plays and make it happen.<br /><br />Last year, we had an us-against-the-world attitude and we went and played better. I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;re the most feared team in the playoffs. That&rsquo;s what I want us to be but if we&rsquo;re not, then I guess we&rsquo;ll just surprise everybody.<br /><br />To the fans, I want to say just come out and be loud, right from the get-go. Let&rsquo;s not wait until the second half. Let&rsquo;s not wait until the second series. Let&rsquo;s make it loud in here. Let&rsquo;s make people fear what&rsquo;s going to happen. Let&rsquo;s send a message to the league that whether it&rsquo;s Montreal or BC or Hamilton coming in here for the Grey Cup, let&rsquo;s show them that this is the loudest place on Earth. That&rsquo;s what we want to do. We want to send a message as far as our playing and we want the fans to send a message as far as how loud it&rsquo;s going to be.<br /><br />Nik Lewis, #82<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=16" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Lewis bio</strong></a></p> November 13, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1306 <p>They have been on a collision course since Week 1.<br /><br />In one of the most thrilling finishes any of the more than 6,000 fans at Griffiths Stadium that night have ever seen, the Saskatchewan Huskies handed the University of Calgary Dinos their only loss of the season on Sept. 4 with a 34-33 overtime decision when a Calgary two-point convert attempt &ndash; which would have given the Dinos the victory &ndash; was denied.<img alt="calgary_dinos.jpg" height="190" src="/common/uploads/images/calgary_dinos.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="calgary_dinos.jpg" width="237" /><br /><br />Seven regular-season games and a pair of conference semi-finals later, the two teams meet again at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on Saturday, but this time there will be much more on the line when the 73rd Hardy Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. local, noon MST on Shaw TV, The FAN 960 and www.fan960.com.<br /><br />The winner will advance to the Uteck Bowl next weekend in Halifax to face the Atlantic conference champion for the right to play for the Vanier Cup a week later in Quebec City.<br /><br />The No. 2 Dinos and No. 3 Huskies took vastly different paths to get to their 7-1 records this season. After the opening-week loss, the Dinos survived a scare from Alberta in their home-opener and then went on a roll, outscoring their opponents by more than 30 points per game in their final six victories of the season, setting offensive records left and right.<br /><br />Saskatchewan, meanwhile, came out of the opening weekend unscathed and then dodged another bullet when the Regina Rams missed a potential game-winning field goal in the final minute a week later. The Huskies fell 27-7 on the road to Alberta in their first road game of the year, then went to overtime again at Simon Fraser where yet another missed field goal worked in the Huskies&rsquo; favour. In the following four weeks, however, Saskatchewan gave up just 38 total points while scoring an average of 39 per game to head into the playoffs with significant momentum.<br /><br />Neither side had too much trouble in the semi-final round last weekend, with both Calgary and Saskatchewan scoring early and often as the Dinos dumped Alberta 45-13 while the Huskies outgunned the Regina Rams 53-23.</p> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3337 <p>The Calgary Stampeders and the 2009 Grey Cup Festival are pleased to donate a pair of Silver-section tickets to the 97th Grey Cup championship to the Kids Up Front Foundation, allowing one lucky child an opportunity to attend the game, up close and personal.</p> <p>The game will be played Nov. 29 at McMahon Stadium.<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;We believe this is an amazing opportunity to give a young person their first experience of the Grey Cup. We are happy to provide these tickets to Kids Up Front and partner together in improving the lives of children in our community,&rdquo; says Scott Ackles, member of the 2009 Grey Cup Committee and president of the Calgary Stampeders.<br />&nbsp;<br />More than 2,500 Stampeders game tickets were donated to Kids Up Front from season-ticket holders this past regular season. The total value of the Stamps tickets received this year was over $85,000.<br />&nbsp;<br />Kids Up Front is a local charity that provides access to arts, culture, sport, and recreation for children and youth who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Through donated tickets, kids are provided with positive experiences that increase self-esteem, and help them develop better relationships with peer groups, support workers and family members. Tickets can also provide at-risk youth with incentives to become involved in healthier activities. <br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;Kids Up Front is thrilled to receive two tickets to the sold-out Grey Cup championship game. We have selected a student in Grade 6 to receive the tickets and he is very excited to go!&rdquo; says Kari Scarlett, Executive Director. &ldquo;And we are very grateful for the wonderful support the Calgary Stampeders have shown this year. Kids Up Front partners with over 150 charitable agencies to distribute tickets, reaching over 100,000 children and youth in the Calgary area. Many times this year we have had kids on waitlists for tickets to a Stamps game. With assistance from the Calgary Stampeders, the community has responded by increasing ticket donations this year, so that more kids have the opportunity to enjoy events in our City.&rdquo; <br />&nbsp;<br />The 2009 Grey Cup Festival, &ldquo;Canada&rsquo;s Game Calgary&rsquo;s Party,&rdquo; will be distinctly Canadian and showcase Calgary&rsquo;s famous Western hospitality.</p> <p><a href="http://www.2009greycupfestival.com" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; For tickets and more event information log onto The Grey Cup Festival site</strong></a></p> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3334 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds and offensive lineman Ben Archibald are West Division finalists for the 2009 Canadian Football League&rsquo;s Gibson&rsquo;s Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br /><br />Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Lineman honour. The winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov 26 at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 29-year-old Tyler, Tex., product is in his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Finalists</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Category</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>West</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>East</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Defensive</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Canadian</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ricky Foley</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Special teams</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rookie</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Lineman</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3331 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds and offensive lineman Ben Archibald are West Division finalists for the 2009 Canadian Football League&rsquo;s Gibson&rsquo;s Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br /><br />Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Lineman honour. The winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov 26 at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 29-year-old Tyler. Tex., product is in his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Finalists</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Category</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>West</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>East</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Defensive</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Canadian</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ricky Foley</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Special teams</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Rookie</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Lineman</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3331 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that running back Joffrey Reynolds and offensive lineman Ben Archibald are West Division finalists for the 2009 Canadian Football League&rsquo;s Gibson&rsquo;s Finest Player Awards.<img alt="Reynolds_091112.jpg" height="144" src="/common/uploads/images/Reynolds_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Reynolds_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br /><br />Reynolds will represent the West Division for the Most Outstanding Player award while Archibald is a finalist for the Most Outstanding Lineman honour. The winners will be announced on Thursday, Nov 26 at Calgary&rsquo;s Telus Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup Week festivities.<br /><br />Reynolds led all CFL rushers in 2009 with 1,504 yards as he won his second consecutive rushing title. He also led the league with nine 100-yard games and 1,935 yards from scrimmage. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL.<br /><img alt="Archibald_091112.jpg" height="150" src="/common/uploads/images/Archibald_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Archibald_091112.jpg" width="125" /><br />The 29-year-old Tyler. Tex., product is in his sixth season with the Stamps and during the past season he moved into second place on the franchise&rsquo;s all-time rushing list.<br /><br />Archibald started all 18 games at the all-important left tackle position this past season and has been a cornerstone in one of the league&rsquo;s top units. The Stamps led the league in rushing yards per game (129.7), yards per carry (6.0) and were third in fewest sacks allowed (34).<br /><br />The Tacoma. Wash., native is completing his second season with the Red and White.</p> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3331 <p>Everything&rsquo;s good and we&rsquo;re ready to go for Sunday. When you have that time off after a big loss, you get mad and you have a lot of time to think about things. But then it&rsquo;s a good thing. You get to clear your mind, reset your focus and realize that it doesn&rsquo;t even matter anymore. <br /><br />It&rsquo;s a different season and we know that if you lose, you&rsquo;re out. What better to start off the playoff season than with a game against Edmonton? I&rsquo;m excited for that. Getting on the field for practice, you see the energy in guys, the vibe is good &mdash; it&rsquo;s all on us now and we&rsquo;re excited. I&rsquo;m just happy to be where we&rsquo;re at right now.<img alt="Davis_091112.jpg" height="314" src="/common/uploads/images/Davis_091112.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Davis_091112.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />It&rsquo;s good to be a part of the playoff picture. Last year, I was in Edmonton and I didn&rsquo;t get a chance to play in the playoffs. This year, I get to line up against them, so I&rsquo;m just so blessed and so happy and I&rsquo;m so excited. That&rsquo;s a true, genuine feeling and I believe these guys feel the same way.<br /><br />We&rsquo;ve played Edmonton a lot since I&rsquo;ve arrived here with the Stamps and I wouldn&rsquo;t mind if we kept on playing Edmonton. It&rsquo;s a good deal, man. It&rsquo;s always exciting to line up against those guys. There are some familiar faces. I just know that if we play the type of football that we&rsquo;re capable of playing, we should have a pretty good chance against those guys.<br /><br />Let me tell you something &mdash; Arkee Whitlock has been playing lights out these past couple of games. I can also tell you that those guys are focused. They found some things in their running game. Ricky Ray is no secret but you also know that they&rsquo;re going to try and get that running game going early. We have to be prepared and we have to be solid against them. When it comes to the playoffs or any big game, you have to eliminate those big plays in order to have a chance. If we contain Ricky &mdash; not necessarily crush him, but just contain him &mdash; we should do well.<br /><br />Whether this is your first game or one of many games you&rsquo;ve been to this year, I feel like Calgary has the best fans in the world. I honestly do. It&rsquo;s been a blessing to have people come up to me and say, &ldquo;Good job, we&rsquo;re rooting for you in the playoffs and we&rsquo;re coming to this game.&rdquo; Come on out and support and we&rsquo;re going to do you proud this weekend.<br /><br />Jim Davis, #99<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=299" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Davis bio</strong></a></p> November 12, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1303 <p>When Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel was asked for his favourite memory of the 2008 season, he didn&rsquo;t choose any of the highlights from the Grey Cup victory over the Alouettes at Montreal&rsquo;s Olympic Stadium but instead recalled a moment from the week before.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never forget the atmosphere that I experienced at McMahon Stadium during the West Final (against the BC Lions),&rdquo; said Hufnagel. &ldquo;The crowd&rsquo;s energy and noise lifted our team and disrupted our opponent, helping us win that game and earn a spot in the Grey Cup.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;Last year, the fans created such emotion and energy,&rdquo; said quarterback Henry Burris. &ldquo;To me, that was the most electric crowd I&rsquo;ve played in front of here at McMahon Stadium.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Heading into the contest, Stamps fans &mdash; especially the diehards at the GoStampsGo forum &mdash; were challenging each other to wear red and to be loud and proud during the game. The Calgary players joined in.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;I know people say we don't win playoff games and those same people also say our stadium isn't a loud stadium to play in,&rdquo; said Nik Lewis prior to the contest. &ldquo;Well, as a player we have something to prove, and as fans you have something to prove. The best thing is that we have the chance to prove it at the same time.&rdquo;&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Both sides delivered on their end of the bargain in 2008 and the Stamps are counting on more of that home-field advantage this Sunday when they will entertain the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Semi-Final.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p>Once again, the appeal has been made for the crowd to pitch in and help when it matters most &mdash; when the Stamps defence is on the field and they need the help of the 13th man to disrupt the opposing offence.&#8232;&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.stampsconnect.com/video/id/hdsnC-cPXIQ/" target="_blank"><strong> &gt;&gt; YouTube fan video</strong></a><br /></p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/stamps_blog/?id=1300 <p>It is with deep regret that the Calgary Stampeders announce the passing of long-time team executive Tony Anselmo. A former president of both the Calgary Stampeder Football Club and the McMahon Stadium Society, Anselmo passed away on Tuesday evening. He was 91.<br /><br />Anselmo was first elected to the Stampeders board of directors in 1967 and he served the football club in numerous capacities, including as club president in 1973-74, over the next four <img alt="halloffame090925.jpg" height="287" src="/common/uploads/images/halloffame090925.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="halloffame090925.jpg" width="250" />decades. As president of the McMahon Stadium Society, he was instrumental in the major improvements to the stadium in the mid-1970s. He played an instrumental role in the two Save Our Stampeders campaigns, the first in the mid-1980s and the other in 1994.<br /><br />For his long service to the Stampeders and the CFL, Anselmo in September was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder.<br /><br />A native of Michel, B.C., Anselmo was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and served in Italy and the Middle East. His numerous awards and honours include the Canada Medal of the Order of Canada in 1975.<br /><br />He joined Canada Safeway as a clerk in 1938 and steadily rose through the ranks &mdash; store manager, district manager, zone manager &mdash; to eventually become president and chairman of the board. Anselmo also served on several committees for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and McMahon Stadium was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.<br /><br />&ldquo;Tony certainly left a big print wherever he went,&rdquo; said Stampeders executive vice-president and long-time associate Stan Schwartz. &ldquo;From his rise through the business world to his dedication to football to his amazing spirit of volunteerism, he was an amazing person and I&rsquo;m proud to have had him as a mentor and as a friend.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;On behalf of our Board of Governors and the entire Canadian Football League, I want to express our sympathies to the family and friends of Tony Anselmo, a true gentleman who did so much to build the Calgary Stampeders, strengthen our league and lift the spirits of those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him,&rdquo; said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.<br />&nbsp;<br />Anselmo is survived by his wife Minerva, his son Garry and his daughters Dale and Toni. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.</p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3328 <p>It is with deep regret that the Calgary Stampeders announce the passing of long-time team executive Tony Anselmo. A former president of both the Calgary Stampeder Football Club and the McMahon Stadium Society, Anselmo passed away on Tuesday evening. He was 91.<br /><br />Anselmo was first elected to the Stampeders board of directors in 1967 and he served the football club in numerous capacities, including as club president in 1973-74, over the next four <img alt="halloffame090925.jpg" height="287" src="/common/uploads/images/halloffame090925.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="halloffame090925.jpg" width="250" />decades. As president of the McMahon Stadium Society, he was instrumental in the major improvements to the stadium in the mid-1970s. He played an instrumental role in the two Save Our Stampeders campaigns, the first in the mid-1980s and the other in 1994.<br /><br />For his long service to the Stampeders and the CFL, Anselmo in September was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder.<br /><br />A native of Michel, B.C., Anselmo was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and served in Italy and the Middle East. His numerous awards and honours include the Canada Medal of the Order of Canada in 1975.<br /><br />He joined Canada Safeway as a clerk in 1938 and steadily rose through the ranks &mdash; store manager, district manager, zone manager &mdash; to eventually become president and chairman of the board. Anselmo also served on several committees for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and McMahon Stadium was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.<br /><br />&ldquo;Tony certainly left a big print wherever he went,&rdquo; said Stampeders executive vice-president and long-time associate Stan Schwartz. &ldquo;From his rise through the business world to his dedication to football to his amazing spirit of volunteerism, he was an amazing person and I&rsquo;m proud to have had him as a mentor and as a friend.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;On behalf of our Board of Governors and the entire Canadian Football League, I want to express our sympathies to the family and friends of Tony Anselmo, a true gentleman who did so much to build the Calgary Stampeders, strengthen our league and lift the spirits of those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him,&rdquo; said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.<br />&nbsp;<br />Anselmo is survived by his wife Minerva, his son Garry and his daughters Dale and Toni. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.</p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3328 <p>It is with deep regret that the Calgary Stampeders announce the passing of long-time team executive Tony Anselmo. A former president of both the Calgary Stampeder Football Club and the McMahon Stadium Society, Anselmo passed away on Tuesday evening. He was 91.<br /><br />Anselmo was first elected to the Stampeders board of directors in 1967 and he served the football club in numerous capacities, including as club president in 1973-74, over the next four <img alt="halloffame090925.jpg" height="287" src="/common/uploads/images/halloffame090925.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="halloffame090925.jpg" width="250" />decades. As president of the McMahon Stadium Society, he was instrumental in the major improvements to the stadium in the mid-1970s. He played an instrumental role in the two Save Our Stampeders campaigns, the first in the mid-1980s and the other in 1994.<br /><br />For his long service to the Stampeders and the CFL, Anselmo in September was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder.<br /><br />A native of Michel. B.C., Anselmo was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and served in Italy and the Middle East. His numerous awards and honours include the Canada Medal of the Order of Canada in 1975.<br /><br />He joined Canada Safeway as a clerk in 1938 and steadily rose through the ranks &mdash; store manager, district manager, zone manager &mdash; to eventually become president and chairman of the board. Anselmo also served on several committees for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and McMahon Stadium was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.<br /><br />&ldquo;Tony certainly left a big print wherever he went,&rdquo; said Stampeders executive vice-president and long-time associate Stan Schwartz. &ldquo;From his rise through the business world to his dedication to football to his amazing spirit of volunteerism, he was an amazing person and I&rsquo;m proud to have had him as a mentor and as a friend.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;On behalf of our Board of Governors and the entire Canadian Football League, I want to express our sympathies to the family and friends of Tony Anselmo, a true gentleman who did so much to build the Calgary Stampeders, strengthen our league and lift the spirits of those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him,&rdquo; said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.<br />&nbsp;<br />Anselmo is survived by his wife Minerva, his son Garry and his daughters Dale and Toni. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.</p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3328 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that eight members of the team are 2009 Canadian Football League West Division All-Stars. The players are running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas, cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner, kicker Sandro DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales.<img alt="inset_091111.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091111.jpg" width="201" /><br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935 thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is Calgary&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a division all-star for the third time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald and Tsoumpas were part of an offensive line that paved the way for Reynolds&rsquo; rushing title. The Stampeders also ranked third in the CFL with just 34 sacks allowed. Archibald is the Stampeders&rsquo; nominee for the Most Outstanding Lineman award while Tsoumpas is Calgary&rsquo;s representative for Top Canadian.<br /><br />Anderson is Calgary&rsquo;s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a first-time division all-star. He shared the club lead with three interceptions including one that was returned 52 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered three fumbles, forced two fumbles and made a career-high 55 tackles.<br /><br />Browner shared the team lead in interceptions with Anderson and like Anderson he returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. Browner led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and he made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive division all-star nod.<br /><br />DeAngelis is a West all-star for the fourth time in his career as he led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate.<br /><br />Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per kick. This is his second career division all-star honour.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <p>Here are the full all-star teams:</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table" style="height: 528px;" width="250"> <tbody> <tr align="left"> <th>West</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td align="left" scope="col" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Darian Durant</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Joffrey Reynolds</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jeremaine Copeland</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Weston Dressler</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Geroy Simon</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Ben Archibald</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Calvin Armstrong</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Dimitri Tsoumpas</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Aaron Hunt</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dario Romero</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Stevie Baggs</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Tad Kornegay</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sean Lucas</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anton McKenzie</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Dwight Anderson</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Brandon Browner</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Lance Frazier</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Sandro DeAngelis</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Burke Dales</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Cal.</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>East</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Reid</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamel Richardson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Josh Bourke</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Brendon LaBatte</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Bryan Chiu</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Bowman</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mark Estelle</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Lenny Walls</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mathieu Proulx</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3325 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that eight members of the team are 2009 Canadian Football League West Division All-Stars. The players are running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas, cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner, kicker Sandro DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales.<img alt="inset_091111.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091111.jpg" width="201" /><br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935 thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is Calgary&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a division all-star for the third time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald and Tsoumpas were part of an offensive line that paved the way for Reynolds&rsquo; rushing title. The Stampeders also ranked third in the CFL with just 34 sacks allowed. Archibald is the Stampeders&rsquo; nominee for the Most Outstanding Lineman award while Tsoumpas is Calgary&rsquo;s representative for Top Canadian.<br /><br />Anderson is Calgary&rsquo;s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a first-time division all-star. He shared the club lead with three interceptions including one that was returned 52 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered three fumbles, forced two fumbles and made a career-high 55 tackles.<br /><br />Browner shared the team lead in interceptions with Anderson and like Anderson he returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. Browner led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and he made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive division all-star nod.<br /><br />DeAngelis is a West all-star for the fourth time in his career as he led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate.<br /><br />Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per kick. This is his second career division all-star honour.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table" style="height: 528px;" width="250"> <tbody> <tr align="left"> <th>West</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td align="left" scope="col" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Darian Durant</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Martell Mallett</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Joffrey Reynolds</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremaine Copeland</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Weston Dressler</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Geroy Simon</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Stamps</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Archibald</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Calvin Armstrong</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Gene Makowsky</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dimitri Tsoumpas</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jeremy O'Day</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Aaron Hunt</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dario Romero</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Edm.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Stevie Baggs</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Chick</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Tad Kornegay</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sean Lucas</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anton McKenzie</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dwight Anderson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Brandon Browner</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Korey Banks</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Lance Frazier</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sask.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Barron Miles</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Sandro DeAngelis</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Burke Dales</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Cal.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jason Arakgi</td> <td style="text-align:center;">BC</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table cellspacing="0" class="site_table stats_table"> <tbody> <tr> <th>East</th><th></th><th></th> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>Pos</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Player</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><strong>Team</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>QB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anthony Calvillo</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Avon Cobourne</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>RB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Fred Reid</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Arland Bruce III</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ben Cahoon</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamel Richardson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>R</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Kerry Watkins</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Josh Bourke</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>T</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Dan Goodspeed</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Scott Flory</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>G</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Brendon LaBatte</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>C</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Bryan Chiu</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Doug Brown</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DT</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Keron Williams</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Anwar Stewart</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DE</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">John Bowman</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Chip Cox</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Markeith Knowlton</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>LB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jamall Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Ham.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mark Estelle</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>CB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jovon Johnson</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Jonathan Hefney</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>DB</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Lenny Walls</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Wpg.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>S</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mathieu Proulx</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>K</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr class="alternate"> <td><strong>P</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Damon Duval</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>ST</strong></td> <td style="text-align:center;">Larry Taylor</td> <td style="text-align:center;">Mtl.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3325 <p>The Calgary Stampeders are proud to announce that eight members of the team are 2009 Canadian Football League West Division All-Stars. The players are running back Joffrey Reynolds, receiver Jeremaine Copeland, offensive linemen Ben Archibald and Dimitri Tsoumpas, cornerbacks Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner, kicker Sandro DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales.<img alt="inset_091111.jpg" height="480" src="/common/uploads/images/inset_091111.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="inset_091111.jpg" width="201" /><br /><br />Reynolds ran for 1,504 yards this season to capture his second consecutive CFL rushing title. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,935 thanks to 36 catches for a career-high 431 yards. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns for a total of 13 majors, which ranked him second in the CFL. Reynolds is Calgary&rsquo;s Most Outstanding Player nominee.<br /><br />Copeland, who is a division all-star for the third time in his career, led the CFL with 12 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in the league with 1,235 yards on 81 catches. It is Copeland&rsquo;s third 1,000-yard season with the Stamps and his fifth overall.<br /><br />Archibald and Tsoumpas were part of an offensive line that paved the way for Reynolds&rsquo; rushing title. The Stampeders also ranked third in the CFL with just 34 sacks allowed. Archibald is the Stampeders&rsquo; nominee for the Most Outstanding Lineman award while Tsoumpas is Calgary&rsquo;s representative for Top Canadian.<br /><br />Anderson is Calgary&rsquo;s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a first-time division all-star. He shared the club lead with three interceptions including one that was returned 52 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered three fumbles, forced two fumbles and made a career-high 55 tackles.<br /><br />Browner shared the team lead in interceptions with Anderson and like Anderson he returned one of his three picks for a touchdown. Browner led the Stamps with eight pass knockdowns and he made 39 tackles in earning his second consecutive division all-star nod.<br /><br />DeAngelis is a West all-star for the fourth time in his career as he led all division kickers with 176 points, 42 field goals and an 85.7 per cent field goal success rate.<br /><br />Dales led all CFL punters in 2009 with a 46.0-yard average per kick. This is his second career division all-star honour.<br /><br />Selections are made by the Football Reporters of Canada, each Canadian Football League team and fans across the country.</p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/news/?id=3325 <p>In football, you&rsquo;ve got to have a tough skin. The one thing I&rsquo;ve learned about this business is that you&rsquo;ve got to have an ebb and flow. You can&rsquo;t get too high, you can&rsquo;t get too low. When they praise you, you can&rsquo;t get too high on that and when they get on you, don&rsquo;t get too low.<br /><br />That&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;ve got to do this week &mdash; we&rsquo;ve just got to get to work, let bygones be bygones, chop wood and get ready for the next game. We&rsquo;ve been able to do that this year when we&rsquo;ve had letdowns and hopefully we can continue that.<img alt="Claybrooks_091108.jpg" height="281" src="/common/uploads/images/Claybrooks_091108.jpg" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" title="Claybrooks_091108.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />At first, you&rsquo;re upset about the previous game but you wash it out of your system, you work hard and take out your aggression that way, you do a little hot yoga to relax and get my Chi back and then I&rsquo;m fine. We&rsquo;re where we want to be.<br /><br />We played Edmonton a lot in the second half and the first thing you think of when it comes to playing the Eskimos is Ricky Ray. He&rsquo;s a nice pocket passer and if we give him a little window, he&rsquo;s going to break it. He&rsquo;s going to make sure to put the ball on the money. We&rsquo;ve got to pressure him and then we&rsquo;ve got to play solid on the back end. When we&rsquo;ve been able to do both those things, we&rsquo;ve been successful when we played Edmonton.<br /><br />Right now, the Eskimos are on a roll. They&rsquo;ve been putting up points in their past couple of games against Toronto and BC. We want to be able to give them a different look and see what will happen.<br /><br />At this stage of the season, a lot of teams know what defences we&rsquo;re going to call. It&rsquo;s up to us to execute. They have their bread-and-butter plays that they believe in also. We know what they&rsquo;re going to do and it&rsquo;s up to us to stop them. They know what we&rsquo;re going to do and it&rsquo;s up to them to beat us. It&rsquo;s pretty much a chess game and it&rsquo;s just a matter of executing the calls.<br /><br />We had a letdown in Saskatchewan but we&rsquo;re still in control of our own destiny. We get one at home, which is great for us. Then hopefully we&rsquo;ll have one away and then another one at home. We&rsquo;re in a good situation. We&rsquo;re not in the exact situation we wanted to be in, but at the end of the day we control our own destiny right until the end. With the crowd we&rsquo;ll have behind us on Sunday, we know this will be a tough place to play.<br /><br />DeVone Claybrooks, #95<br /><a href="/team/player_roster/career/?id=296" target="_blank"><strong>&gt;&gt; Claybrooks bio</strong></a></p> November 11, 2009 http://www.stampeders.com/news_blogs/players_blog/?id=1297 <p>It&rsquo;s great that Joffrey Reynolds won the rushing title for a second consec