LOCKER-ROOM BLOG
Smith: Things are going good
March 2, 2010
The off-season has been pretty good so far. I’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’m getting very close to being all the way back. I’m doing some drills on the field now, which is a big step.
Robede: Winter sports aplenty
February 26, 2010
It’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.
A typical off-season for me is ice fishing, ski-dooing and spending some time at the sugar shack — for those of you who don’t know, the sugar shack is the place to be in Quebec when the maple syrup starts running in the spring.
Cote: Hitting the books
February 17, 2010
I’m pretty excited about the fact that I’m so close to getting my university degree. No, check that, let’s make it that I’m extremely excited about it.
It’s been a long time coming for me and let’s just say I’ve taken the long road.
Hughes: I'm coming back
February 11, 2010
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’s no place else I’d rather be right now.
I can’t wait to see the fans in Section L at McMahon Stadium again and now I’ll have even more stuff to throw up there for them.
Franklin: Calgary is the place for us
January 28, 2010
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’m looking forward to continue working with them. Also, with the players, there are a lot of good guys on the team.
Another person I’ve come to know very well is (team chaplain) Rodd Sawatzky, so I can’t wait to return and meet up with everyone again. So after discussing it with my wife, we decided Calgary is where we wanted to be
Phillips: A busy off-season
January 22, 2010
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.
Cornish: Seasons flying by
January 20, 2010
It’s hard to believe I’m heading into my fourth year with the Stampeders. I guess I’m one of the old guys now.
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.
I’m really looking forward to the new season.
Reynolds: I want to retire a Stampeder
January 15, 2010
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.
Football is a year-to-year thing and you can never look too far ahead, but it’s definitely my goal to retire as a Stampeder.
Calixte: Helping hand for Haiti
January 15, 2010
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.
We’ve heard that my father-in-law is still alive, so we’re grateful for that. We don’t know much else about his condition and we haven’t been able to talk to him yet, but at least we know he’s alive.
O'Neill: Glad to be coming back
January 11, 2010
It’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.
I’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 definitely some great opportunities both on and off the field, so I’m very happy to be here.
Burris: The Joy of Christmas
December 15, 2009
I feel I have a greater appreciation and enjoyment of Christmas now that I have a family and we’ve settled in Calgary year-round.
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’s not going to be any snow, so there aren’t going to be any sleighs. We sing Christmas carols but for the most part, just like Thanksgiving, Christmas is a day of football, family and food.
Simpson: Roll Tide!
December 15, 2009
I’m so excited about my old school’s victory over Florida in the SEC championship game. Now Alabama gets to go to the national championship game in Pasadena and I’m really confident about their chances.
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 best teams in other conferences. There’s a lot of good teams in the SEC and there’s some very good football played in that conference.
Coach Huff: Message to the fans
December 15, 2009
Hi Stamps fans,
I want to sincerely thank you for your outstanding support during the 2009 Canadian Football League season.
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.
Pilon: I still have the desire
November 25, 2009
Sunday’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’s another team setting up in your locker-room? That’s when it really sinks in.
Next year? I haven’t really thought too much about it yet.
Anderson: We'll be back
November 23, 2009
At the end of a football season, you’re beat up and bruised up. Everything hurts.
Of course, had we had the opportunity to play in the Grey Cup this Sunday? Yeah, I’d have been out there. You better believe that — if we were playing, I would have recovered in time and been out there.
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’ll come back next year fully loaded and ready to do it again, only better.
Reynolds: Can't believe it's over
November 22, 2009
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’t able to get the job done. It’s hard to believe it’s over.
We made too many mistakes today and that’s what cost us the game. We have to cut down on 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.
Copeland: It's time to take care of business
November 22, 2009
This is one of those games man. It’s one of the biggest games you can play in outside of the Grey Cup. I’ve been through the Western Final, I’ve been through the Eastern Final. This game is probably on e of the biggest finals I’ve ever played in just because of the road we took to get here. Now we’ve got to play in a hostile environment, it’s going to be like a jungle, all loud and crazy. We’re facing a team that we haven’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’m writing, my heart is thumping and I’m trying to keep from getting too fired up.
Johnson: This is what it's all about
November 21, 2009
The big game is almost here and how do I feel? Wonderful. Great. Tremendous. I’m loving it, man. This kind of game is exactly why I wanted to resume my football career — I’m really excited and my desire to win is really strong. And it’s getting stronger. It’s going to be an exciting Sunday.
We lost in Regina a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first time we’re playing them in the playoffs. It’s a new game and a new day and it’s a new outlook on things.
DeAngelis: The stuff dreams are made of
November 20, 2009
It’s a really exciting time to be a Calgary Stampeder. This is the stuff dreams are made of. When you’re a little kid or you’re just sitting there daydreaming about the season, you’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.
I’ve played in this league five years now and this will be my second Western final. It just goes to show you it doesn’t happen every year.
O'Neill: Big weekend for Calgary football
November 19, 2009
It’s exciting to think about the game that’s coming up on Sunday. I’m just looking forward to it. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us before that but when the time comes, it’s going to be a lot of fun.
That stadium in Regina is a good place to be. It’s fun with the crowd there in previous games and I’m sure it’ll be more of the same on Sunday.
Claybrooks: Experience matters
November 16, 2009
It was a tight game on Sunday but one of the great things about this team is that we’ve brought some veterans who have been in big games. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been in some big games and so have Wes, Carp and a bunch of other old guys. That’s what we stressed to everybody else — we’ve been here before, so don’t panic. Do your job and we’ll make the plays when it counts and that’s what we were able to do.
I got my first sack as a Stampeder on Sunday. It’s been a long time coming but I’ve got to give Cornell Brown and the D-line a lot of credit because we work as a unit.
Pilon: Not in our house
November 15, 2009
Note: Before Sunday’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.
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’s just not going to happen. We’re not going to put up with that from anybody. Kabongo is a great guy and he’s a good player, but I don’t put up with that.
Reynolds: We closed the door
November 15, 2009
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’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.
We need another solid week of practice, man. It’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’t want it any other way.
James: Not much longer now
November 14, 2009
The West Semi-Final is just around the corner.
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’t change no matter if it’s a playoff game or a regular-season game.
Lewis: I have to be better
November 13, 2009
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’ve got but I just don’t feel that I can get better because of some of the injuries that I’ve had. But Thursday I actually felt good enough and my body felt good enough and I felt I became a better player.
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 because as I’ve said before, my performance this season was a good performance, but it wasn’t up to my standards.
