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November 14, 2018

First Chance For The Rookies

You always remember your first.

The Stampeders are gearing up for the Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this Sunday at McMahon Stadium, and there’s a long list of rookies ready for their first taste of CFL playoff action.

“I watched a lot of CFL football growing up, and that’s an understatement,” said receiver Richard Sindani.

“Me and my dad starting watching way back, I can’t even tell you what year I started. I actually just had an hour-long conversation with him about the Western Final, and how big of a game it is. We always used to watch it together and we always made a big deal of it, too – so it’s pretty special I’m in it now.”

It’s been a long, demanding season for rookies as they work to prove themselves as starters. And now, the culmination of that effort will be put to the test in a do-or-die game in just five days.

“I’m really excited, it’s been a lot of hard work that took place,” said defensive back Tre Roberson. “Coming up in the CFL in my first year and having the chance to go to the playoffs is awesome.”

“This is what you play the game for,” added defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade. “It’s great to be out here and get my first action in playoffs.”

And as students of the game, the post-season brings a new opportunity to learn.

“I had a decent year, but I didn’t have the best year I wanted,” said Roberson. “But playoffs are a brand new season, so I’m going to focus on technique and focus on doing things that are going to help this team win.”

“I’m just trying to capitalize on the opportunities I do get,” Orimolade said. “I’m still going to continue to get better every week. If I can get better in the playoffs, I think I’ll be in for a good day.”

Others look to stay consistent under pressure.

“I just want to be dependable during the playoffs, and be relied on by the coaches,” said running back Romar Morris. “If they need me to go in at running back, I’ll go. If they need me at returner, I’ll do that. I just want to keep up the accountability, and dependability, doing whatever I can to help the team out.”

The Stamps’ first years are no stranger to intensity of playoffs, though. They’ve all had some form of post-season experience prior to their pro career.

“Every single play you have to go as hard as you can,” said Roberson. “You have to run at a different speed, you have to hit at a different speed, details have to always be on point.”

“A lot of people get more antsy, they get more intense,” Morris said. “You might see the team crank it up even more because of what’s at stake.”

And what’s at stake this weekend is an entire season given the CFL’s one-and-done format.

“But we don’t look at it like do-or-die,” Sindani explained. “I mean we do, we want to win so badly.

“But we’re not worried about dying, were worried about winning. We’re just trying to come out there and play our best football.”

So what exactly do the Stamps have to bring on Sunday to keep their Grey Cup dreams alive?

“We have to try to make them one-dimensional,” Roberson explained. “Any time you have a team that’s able to run and pass, you’re going to have a hard day.

“We’ll be good if we just make them-one dimensional, it doesn’t matter if it’s the run, or pass, or if we shut it all down.”
They’ll look to set the pace of the game early, too.

“We want a good start, we want to be the first ones to hit them in mouth,” Morris said. “We don’t get hit in the mouth before we wake up – go out there alert, and fired up at the beginning of the game and just take it to them.”

“We just want to come out there, do our part, and take care of our jobs,” said Roberson.