OTTAWA – Outside the conference room/holding pen, as the Stampeders began spilling out to fulfill their obligation on Grey Cup media-availability Thursday afternoon, a familiar face was hosting his own meet-and-greet.
Micah Johnson strolled over. “What’s up, man?” A slapping of skin.
Brandon Smith. A playful punch.
Charleston Hughes. Big hug.
“You know, I shared a great moment with a lot of these guys in 2014,’’ Nik Lewis, who retired as the CFL’s all-time pass receiving leader, is saying.
“That feeling, that bond, never diminishes.
“Every time I see these guys brings back memories. So happy for them. Even the guys in Toronto that I played with in Montreal. Happy for them, too.
“It’s an awesome feeling to get here, to this game, as a player. For Calgary to do it two years in a row is even better. I was part of a lot of (Stampeder) teams that should’ve been here two, three years in a row and failed.
“So I’m so proud of these guys.
“The thing that made 2014 so special is that I felt that I’d won at two different levels, not only of my career but of my life.
“I’d won a Grey Cup in 2008 as a go-to receiver, 11 catches for 122. Really set a high standard.
“Then to come back in ’14 after the injury” – a tackle from B.C. middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian that fractured a fibula in Week 8 the year before, ending Lewis’ season – “and have to do things differently, have to mentor the young guys, pull them along …
“My role on that team was more of a leader and a mental guy than a No.-1 target.
“They’re both rewarding jobs when it ends the right way. Being a leader of men is an awesome feeling.
“Right now I feel good. Fourteen years, I’ve done a lot. I’m still motivated to be here, around the scene.”
Nik Lewis, middle, celebrating the 2014 Grey Cup win (Photo by Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
Fast forward to today, 2017, Argos-Stamps on Sunday afternoon at TD Place Stadium in the 105th Grey Cup.
“The name of this game,’’ lectures Lewis, the 11-year Stampeder, “is to make plays in the fourth quarter. I used to always listen to Marc Trestman say 57-plus-3.
“57-plus-3. He was always harping on about that.
“Ten years ago I didn’t know what that meant. Now I do. You have to play a great 57 but you have to win the last three.
“I’ve played against Toronto play three times year and seen them raise their level in every game. I think that’s going to be the key – if their defence can raise that level again, it’ll be a very, very tough battle.
“But if the best team plays the way it can … I think we know who that is.
“I think it’ll be a great game. I really do. I just think if this machine” – a quick nod over a shoulder to the Stampeder players trooping off to the interview area – “gets going it’s gonna be hard to stop.”