After 2 years of writing the Dirty Bird Blog, I am back for a third season of covering the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes for ProSportsBlogging.com.

But now, I welcome you all to The ALSternative. New blog name, same fiery passion.

I will still covering all things Alouettes like I did before, offering up my thoughts on what happens on and off the field. In fact, look for my season preview coming up soon as the Alouettes kick off their 17th season.

So be sure to update your bookmarks to http://www.ALSternative.com and follow me on Twitter for updates & news as the 2013 Canadian Football League season gets underway soon. You can still read past blog posts here as well.

I am looking forward to what will be a memorable season and hope that once again you’ll join me for the ride.

GO ALS GO!!

This past weekend was the zenith of the 2012 Canadian Football League season, a celebration of a century’s worth of football in this country.

Fans from every corner of this land converged on the city of Toronto prepared to eat, drink and represent their team and this game with pride.

I couldn’t be there for the entire week long celebration, but I was there for 4 fabulous days and got to experience not just some great football, but meet some great people as well.

We laughed, we partied and we all got to share in what makes the CFL experience truly special.  Here now is my tale of a great long weekend:

Day 1: Toronto, I Am Inside You

Leaving Ottawa in the afternoon, I arrived in downtown Toronto to find the city buzzing. Partly due to construction downtown but mostly due to fans from all over milling about, clearly excited for the upcoming weekend and the Grey Cup game itself.

I picked up my media credentials, checked into my condo and watched some Thanksgiving NFL football despite this being the CFL’s marquee weekend. Probably the most rebellious thing I had done all evening.

But the main event was the CFL Players Association’s soiree, held at Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant in Toronto. I was very excited to meet again with a lot of the CFL players who I went to Barbados with as well as many of the fans as well. Alcohol started flowing and good times were to be had.

I got to spend some quality time at this event with Montreal Alouette Shea Emry, which was a treat all by itself. Meeting his family was great as well; his mom is such a dear. Shea’s gotten a bad rep for some of his antics on the field, even being voted by his peers as the league’s nastiest player. But I found him to be very engaging and personable.

Could it be because he knows that I’m, in his own words,  a massive Alouettes fan? Possibly. But I’ve known Shea since his rookie year in 2008 and he has always been a good guy to chat with. I think this year in particular just had some instances where his passion to play just spilled out in the wrong medium and as a result, fans have gotten the wrong impression of Emry.

I also got to meet with a lot of the media luminaries that I enjoy following on Twitter or watching on TV. Great football reporters such as TSN’s Dave Naylor & Sara Orlesky, Arash Madani from Sportsnet and Tim Micalef of Tim & Sid radio fame. All were excellent folks to sit a spell with and share football anecdotes.

In fact, Sara was quite amused when I had suggested that it seems like every time she works the sidelines at Alouettes games, they lose the game. I’m sorry, but it just seems uncanny. I’m aware this is not done on purpose, but one can’t help but notice these things. Personally, I think she is a distraction because she’s extremely easy on the eyes

Day 2: Vanier Cup Crazy

Friday morning saw me awaken with a slight headache but ready to tackle the day ahead. I met up with some folks that I met through Twitter and we proceeded to start the day off with some adult beverages. Hey, it IS Grey Cup weekend! We celebrate with style!

But before yours truly could partake in such activities, I was contacted by CBC Radio Montreal earlier in the day to do a phone interview, as they were looking to speak on the air with Alouettes fans who have been to multiple Grey Cups. Well, this being only my third Grey Cup I’m sure I am still a rookie by most people’s standards. But I still went on the air and spoke highly not only of the Alouettes and the upcoming weekend itself, but the buzz in the city of Toronto for this 100th Grey Cup.

After that bit of business was done, it was off to a fundraising event for a wonderful group. The CFL Fans Fight Cancer is a grassroots organization that helps raise funds and awareness at CFL games. We all know someone who has battled cancer in some way, shape or form, so this is an event that was important for me to be attending. It was also a great way to meet other Twitter folk as well.

But the main event for this evening was the Vanier Cup. It was a rematch from last year’s thrilling overtime game that featured Universite de Laval versus McMaster University. With McMaster being less than an hour’s drive from the Rogers Centre, a lot of students made the trek to attend the game. The final attendance was announced at 37 098, shattering the previous record for attendance at a Vanier Cup game.

Final Score: Laval 37, McMaster 14

And while these championship games normally have a neutral feel to them, this crowd was VERY pro-McMaster right away. But it was not their night as Laval came alive in the second half and trounced McMaster 37-14 to win their 7th Vanier Cup, setting a record for most CIS football championship wins.

After that great event, it was time to end the night with more good people and yes, more adult beverages. I have always considered myself a social drinker and it doesn’t get more social than at the Grey Cup

Day 3: All Alouettes All Day

Grey Cup Saturday is the day where the party really kicks into gear. By now, just about anyone who’s anyone has arrived and has been ready to get down and go crazy. As a member of the media, I had avoided looking too much like a fan in order to be taken seriously. But today for me was strictly a fan day and I wore my Alouettes colours with pride!

I started the day off by attending the Fan’s State of the League Address, hosted by CFL commissioner Mark Cohon. Essentially all fans were invited to meet with and ask questions to the league’s head honcho in a town hall meeting type of atmosphere. The turnout was fantastic and a lot of fans had good albeit long-winded questions. My guess was that the need to show how big a fan they were to the commish was vital.

Mark Cohon poses with your intrepid blogger

And true to form, he answered each question with grace and as honestly as possible. The CFL itself is doing quite well financially which must baffle a number of the uneducated haters of the league. Cohon is also very excited about the return of football to Ottawa and has made it clear that this new team will be given every opportunity to succeed, unlike the previous fiasco.

Once that event ended, it was off to meet more friends and fans. I have never been to a Super Bowl, but I wonder if there is this same sort of camaraderie amongst NFL fans who make the trek year in and year out to the big game. In the CFL, it seems like it doesn’t matter which team you cheer for as long as you are supporting the league as a whole.

And as I look back now, it seems like I have made a lot of friends and acquaintances from every single team. What started in Barbados as a mutual respect thing has blossomed into a greater appreciation for the entire league. This truly is a Canadian league. For the fans, by the fans.

With my Barbados home girl Monique! (@lilminimo)

And speaking of fans, the next event was one that I was greatly anticipating; the Grey Cup Tweetup! Hosted by CFL.ca and its incredible digital media staff, it was a great place to meet fellow CFL Twitter folk. This was THE event for me as I take great pride in my live-tweeting games and using my pulpit to be a positive voice for the Alouettes and its fans.

And once again, this allowed me the opportunity to meet with some awesome fans and people that I have only ever spoken with via Twitter. Again, we may not all cheer for the same team, but our love for football cannot be denied.

With great BC Lions fan Susan! (@Suzy_Laura)

The Commissioner also made an appearance, along with other CFL stars and the Grey Cup. Along with other fans, I spoke briefly with Mr. Cohon regarding a couple of issues that weren’t addressed at the State of The League event earlier. He answered each question patiently and was good enough to address my questions regarding pre-season TV coverage.

At the risk of pumping his tires, it is awesome to see a league’s head of state interact with the fans like this. I don’t know if any other league’s commissioner attends events like these and is willing to listen to what the fans have to say to their face. I know I truly appreciate the opportunity to be able to speak my mind to one of the league’s higher-ups about any and all concerns.

This event truly put the social in social media. In fact, I was too busy connecting with people to notice all the prizes being given out for different contests and challenges. So yours truly didn’t win any prizes. But I won something much better; the opportunity to meet with some really awesome people.

Finally got to meet Terri! (@terriwpg)

And just in case we weren’t finished partying enough, it was time for the main event as an Alouettes fan: The MontreALS Huddle!

Every year at the Grey Cup each team has their own designated party. But instead of taking over space in a convention centre with makeshift bars, the Alouettes host their own party in an actual nightclub. This year Maison Mercer had the honour of hosting us Alouettes fans.

Party up, Montreal style!

The Alouettes cheerleaders lead this great event every year and even invite their fellow cheerleaders from other teams to come and perform for the fans. I find that having the event in an actual nightclub adds to the Montreal experience. While it would be neat to have a nightly party like the other teams do, this does give the Alouettes a certain cachet as well.

In speaking with other Alouettes fans who attended previous parties, they felt this event has come a long way but still has a few more tweaks to make. Nevertheless, Alouettes fans owe it to themselves to come out and support this great event if they go to Grey Cup. It’s all about team pride.

I don't play favourites with players, but I do with cheerleaders!

The rest of the night was spent connecting with the rest of the CFL’s wonderful fans and closing down the bars, as was the custom at the time.

Day4: Toronto’s Day To Shine

Today is the day that all CFL fans greatly anticipate. What all players who report to camp in June aspire to be a part of. The playing of the 100th Grey Cup. Even if you weren’t a fan of the Stampeders or Argonauts, you still had some sort of interest in this game if you were in the city.

I personally had no dog in the fight, as there were plenty of former Alouettes on both teams that I hoped would play great and if they had won I’d be quite happy for them. I was granted access to the press box to cover the game for this blog and its readers and was prepared to be objective and fair to both squads.

Before the game itself was another remarkable first in sports. Traditionally, a Grey Cup parade is held on the weekend and this year no parade was announced, much to many fans’ dismay. But in an effort to truly innovate, the CFL did promise an alternative; The Grey Cup Fan March!

Starting at Varsity Stadium and making its way through downtown Toronto, the Fan March features all kinds of fans carrying the Grey Cup trophy along the parade route all the way to Rogers Centre. The Canadian Football League has long stated that it is a fan-driven league and this idea certainly cemented their long-time slogan: This Is OUR League.

In the heart of the Grey Cup Festival

Afterwards, the Grey Cup festival was in full swing, offering all sorts of events and concerts for fans to take in before taking refuge in the Rogers Centre from the cold November air. As I made my way to the press box, I met more media folks and enjoyed some more football talk about the weekend’s events and everything else leading up to kickoff.

Where I watched the 100th Grey Cup

What will be a lasting memory for me was during the singing of the national anthem. Despite Burton Cummings being the announced singer of it, over 53,000 people decided that they were going to handle the duties. It was the loudest rendition of O Canada I have ever heard sung at a sporting event and it gave me goosebumps. Say what you will about the CFL, but national pride has never been a question amongst the fans.

I’m not a particular fan of the performers of the halftime show but if it meant the CFL gained a few fans as a result, then bully for them. I must say that it was unusual to look out at the crowd during the performance and see the vast majority of them essentially sitting on their hands. But that is the risk you run in trying to please everyone with these halftime acts.

When the final gun sounded, the Toronto Argonauts fulfilled their destiny and won their 16th Grey Cup championship in front of their hometown fans. This marks the second time in as many years that the host city’s team plays for and wins the Grey Cup. So if this trend continues, this bodes quite well for Saskatchewan Roughriders fans as the 101st Grey Cup will be played in Regina.

Working hard, live-tweeting for your reading enjoyment.

And in an almost poetic moment to truly signify the end of the CFL season, I walked out of Rogers Centre to join the mad throngs of people and the skies started snowing. The summer league is put to rest for another year. But while June seems far away, it will sneak up on you before you know it. And we will start this madness all over again.

I want to thank the Canadian Football League and its various people for allowing me the access to cover as much of this weekend as possible. This was a great event for fans and media alike and being able to bridge the two was a privilege like no other. I think every fan should be able to experience the Grey Cup weekend like I just did.

I also want to thank the fans, players & employees from all eight teams that I met for allowing me to spend quality time with them and not only learning more about what makes this league thrive, but what the CFL personally means to them. This is their league as well as it is yours and mine.

Cheers to the greatest fans of the CFL!

By now, everyone who attended this event from out of town is home and taking a much needed vacation from this vacation. But this off-season looks to be an interesting one.

I’ll pop in on this blog with some off-season thoughts here and there and offer up my thoughts on everything Alouettes. Make sure you follow along on Twitter for updates along the way.

So for the last time this 2012 season, GO ALS GO!!!

One second. One act. One move.

The 2012 Montreal Alouettes season screeched to a halt this past Sunday, losing to the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL Eastern Final. And as disheartening as that is for this Alouettes fan & blogger, I freely admit that because of one moment on that football field my mind wasn’t on the loss itself, but rather a man and whether his dream died on that same field or not.

Marc-Olivier Brouillette is probably not yet a household name to Alouettes fans, but this season he has stepped up and quickly become one of the stars on defence.  He’s faced adversity before health-wise and has become better for it as a result. But seeing him wheeled off the field in a neck brace was a sight that truly shook me for the remainder of that game.

From that point on, you could have cancelled the rest of the game and I would have been fine with that. I hate seeing any player get injured like that, that comes with the territory of football. But knowing it was a guy who I’ve become friends with makes it tougher for sure. The uncertainty of a instance like this and the utter helplessness that follows really does make you put things in perspective. Football really is just a game when it’s all said and done. It takes without giving and is impervious to remorse.

A wave of relief washed over me as word came out that the medical actions taken on the field were precautionary measures and Brouillette not only returned from the hospital to the dressing room at Olympic Stadium, but he also tweeted out a message to his Twitter followers that he was okay.

I know Marc-O will be back stronger than ever next season; it will take a lot more to stop this young dynamo.

——–

Back to the game itself, Montreal started strong and then came out flat for the second half. It felt as though they were playing not to lose as opposed to trying to win. Was it the pressure to regain that Grey Cup form that ended up doing them in or was the bye week detrimental to the Alouettes?

I’m still baffled as to why anyone would suggest Brian Bratton was responsible for the loss, as the 3rd down pass to him bounced off his chest that ultimately sealed the Alouettes fate. I would rather want to know why Coach Trestman abandoned the solid running of Chris Jennings in order to get closer to the end zone. Jennings played a strong game at RB in the absence of Brandon Whitaker & Victor Anderson.

Much like the Clagary/Saskatchewan game the week previous, my fear was that the Alouettes would have tied the game with too much time left on the clock had AC’s quick strikes connected in the end zone. Running the ball more would have helped alleviate that.

Anthony Calvillo failed to connect in that series, seemingly looking to make that big highlight play when ideally running the ball and taking time off the clock would have made more sense. But this is why I blog and they execute.

So has the mystique been shattered now that the Alouettes have lost 2 straight playoff games at the Big O? While the prospect of 50,000 Alouettes fans sounded daunting, the Argos endured some early jitters and found a way to win. Simple as that. They now get to play at home for the Grey Cup and the Alouettes and their faithful fans can only wonder what if.

———

With the end of the season now comes the usual questions that befall the Alouettes: Will AC call it a career? Does Adrian McPherson become the next Alouettes QB or not? Will Marc Trestman eschew his contract extension and head to the NFL? Who will stay & go as free agency looms? What will the cold winter months mean for this team?

I’ll delve more into that during the off-season, but I do see a good young nucleus forming with this team. I think this loss will serve as motivation for these guys to come back a bit wiser and a lot better. History points out that the last time the Alouettes lost an Eastern Final at home to Toronto, they went on to appear in 5 of the next seven Grey Cup games. This team is always built to compete and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

In a lot of ways, this was a rebuilding year with the wholesale changes made on defense. Tweaks were made along the way in other areas and this recent loss notwithstanding, Anthony Calvillo still remains an elite QB in the CFL.

As usual, Anthony will take a bit of time to reflect on this season before deciding on his future in this league. If I were to make a prediction, I’d say that as long as he feels healthy, he’ll pursue that one final Grey Cup ring with everything he has before finally calling it a career.

The only thing we can guarantee for the 2013 season is that if I have a breath in this body, I will be at training camp the first weekend of June ready for another Montreal Alouettes football season.

———–

The Alouettes season may be over, but there is still one more football game to be played. And yours truly is going to document it all here for your reading pleasure.

Starting Thursday, I will be in Toronto to take in as much of the Grey Cup weekend as humanly possible. The plan is to do a daily recap of the day’s events, leading up to the big game itself. I plan on meeting with fans from all over the country and with their help, show the world what the CFL means to them.

It won’t be easy watching two other teams play for the Grey Cup, but I fully expect Alouettes fans to come on out and represent the team with pride in Toronto.

So tune back to this blog later this week for a daily update as well as follow along on Twitter for real-time updates as I help Canada celebrate the 100th edition of the biggest football party of the year.

GO ALS GO!!!

After 2 long weeks off… Alouettes fans, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??

After Sunday’s games in Montreal & Vancouver respectively, we will know who will be playing in the 100th Grey Cup. We know that the game itself will be played in Toronto, but so far that’s it. Will the defending champs be back to repeat? Or will their opponents overcome a myriad of issues on & off the field? Will we see another host city feature their team playing in the big game like last year? Or will the team with the best record in the East stake their claim to the championship?

There’s a lot to consider in this Alouettes/Argos match up. Both quarterbacks are coming into this game with guns blazing. Ricky Ray played with intensity last week versus Edmonton, possibly with the motivation to show up the team that considered him expendable last off-season. He’s a proven winner and has beaten the Alouettes earlier this year, so taking Ray lightly is ill-advised.

Whereas Anthony Calvillo still astounds everyone who watches him with his stellar play. This is the type of game he gets excited for; a pressure-filled situation where despite being at home and having the better record, he and the Alouettes appear to be underdogs for this upcoming tilt.

Redemption will also be on AC’s mind; last year in the Eastern Semi-Final also held at Olympic Stadium, he had a career game but still lost to Hamilton. It seems like every time he steps onto the field, he’s battling not just opponents but critics, who have been waiting for years to declare him finished. So you have to believe that Calvillo will be looking to silence his haters yet again.

Defense wins championship is the mantra and for the most part, it’s true. Whose defense will be better this Sunday? Montreal has played mostly brilliant defense this season, especially against Toronto in their last two outings. But once again they have taken a few hits and will be in tough. Going back to last year, Montreal’s offense put up a lot of points versus Hamilton…problem is, the defense also allowed a lot of points versus Hamilton.

The D will be the key…if guys like Shea Emry, Billy Parker & Marc-Olivier Brouillette can have career games, they will keep Argo points off the board. Those guys being healthy will go a long way. And one can never discount the rejuvenated play of Kyries Hebert and the punishment he can deliver.

Discipline will also be a factor; you best believe the referees will call this game as tightly as possible. You can easily say the team that will take the fewest penalties will win.

Special teams will be the Alouettes’ biggest liability, as per usual. They need to neutralize Chad Owens, plain and simple. He’s up for Most Outstanding Player this year and will be looking to add to his record-breaking season on Sunday. The Alouettes have done a good job containing him for the most part and that has to continue in order for Montreal to advance.

Win or go home…or for the Alouettes, stay home. I’m not one for predictions, but it’s obvious where my heart is with this game.

——-

For the last time this year, the fine fellas from LesGarsQuiVivent.com will be hosting their tailgate for all fans to come check out. Everyone is welcome and they will be doing their usual themed party. Come out and meet some great Alouettes fans, cook up some grub on their grill and get ready to cheer the team onto victory!

Normally held at Molson Stadium, they will be setting up shop just outside Olympic Stadium.  They’ll be in the parking lot behind Centre Pierre-Charbonneau as shown on the map below with an green A:

For more info, head on over to their web site (N.B.: It’s in French/some English). These guys welcome everyone to their great event and while the Alouettes will also have a tailgate sort of event on the other side of the stadium, this party is the original and the best bet for some awesome times.

——

So regardless of the outcome this Sunday, yours truly will be at the Grey Cup. I plan on being there all weekend taking in the festivals, events and all the things that make this the premier sporting event in Canada. I am personally looking forward to meeting a ton of people for the first time, reacquainting with old friends and celebrating the 100th version of this great Canadian game.

The plan now is to do a daily recap here on the Dirty Bird Blog; There will be a bit of Alouettes influence, naturally. But there’s a lot to see and do and I certainly plan on covering as much of it as humanly possible. So I hope you will all follow along through Twitter and here.

—–

That’s all for now. Enjoy the game Sunday and if you are part of the over 40,000 at Olympic Stadium, soak it all in. Revel in the moment. For one day out of the year, it’s the most awesome place to watch a CFL game!

GO ALS GO!!!

All Aboard!!

An innovative project that was conceived by the Canadian Football League to promote fan awareness of the Grey Cup’s 100th game literally rolled into town a couple of weeks ago.

This project started in Vancouver and will end Grey Cup week in Toronto, hitting all 8 CFL towns as well as many other cities & territories along the way.

The 100th Grey Cup Tour Train is a VIA Rail train that has been fitted with several artifacts, loads of information and plenty of activities for fans of all walks of life.  All 8 teams and their history are in the spotlight as fans can learn each team’s past while looking towards the future. And the centrepiece of it all is the Grey Cup trophy, on display for all to see.

When this event came to Ottawa, it had quite some significance to it. One, a chance for older fans in the Ottawa area to revel in the glory days of the old Rough Riders team. As well as this being a sort of coming out party for the new Ottawa franchise slated to start play in 2014.

Many feel that the CFL just isn’t complete without a team in our nation’s capital. I daresay this time around, they just might get it right. The new ownership group is led by Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ottawa 67s junior hockey team. He has a knack for getting people interested in a league that many wouldn’t consider to be major, a claim certain wags dub the Canadian Football League.

And to hear it from CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon,  this Ottawa franchise is going to be given the proper tools for long-term success. They have a tough road to hoe in this fickle sports market and the stink of failed ownership groups of the past still lingers in this city. But if anyone can make a go of the Ottawa _______s, it’s Jeff Hunt and his partners.

I’m quite pleased to learn that the name Rough Riders is NOT under consideration for the new Ottawa franchise. Despite the history behind it, it really doesn’t behoove the CFL to have two teams with similar sounding names. And those who claim they won’t support the team if it’s not called the Rough Riders are welcome to remain trapped in the past with their rotary dial telephones and black & white TVs.

I like this headline...Re-use in 2012 maybe?

Back to the Grey Cup Train….It has literally become a mobile museum/celebration of each of the current CFL teams. Alouettes fans who have been inside the train got to see a replica of the dressing room stalls of Anthony Calvillo, Jamel Richardson & Brandon Whitaker as well as seeing the three most current Grey Cup rings and reading about each team’s victory.

There were plenty of artifacts from the past as well. Helmets, jerseys and plenty of other tidbits that helped shape and form this thing known as Canadian football. But the star of the show was the trophy donated by the Earl of Grey.

Thanks to the interactive guides there, you are able to see the results, stats and so much more from all 99 previous games played. It is truly a fantastic job put forth by the CFL and once you walk through this train and soak in all of the history, you can’t help but get excited for the big game on the 25th.

In addition to all of this history, there are plenty of games and contests to test everyone’s mental and physical knowledge. Kids were testing their football skills while adults were challenging their friends at trivia. This event truly appealed to all football fans and front & centre of it was the hostess of this party, Kate McKenna.

The social media darling from CFL on TSN has been on this train since its inception and has literally traveled all over this great land of ours to meet with as many CFL fans as she can. I was looking forward most to meeting her as her passion for this league and its fans is infectious. With her disarming smile and true football acumen, Kate truly puts the social in social media.

She was an absolute delight to speak with and is a fantastic ambassador for the league as it moves forward. Be sure to check out her road stories on greycuptour.ca

Can't touch it until you win it!

The final destination for this train is Toronto for Grey Cup week. If you have not yet checked out this incredible event, I strongly encourage you all to do so.  Be sure to check their web site for tour dates and more news.

——

With the bye week over, the Alouettes now know who stands in their way of another Grey Cup trip. Once again, it’s Montreal vs. Toronto to decide the Eastern division champion. I’ll be back later this week to preview this match-up.

GO ALS GO!!!

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year, the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers were embroiled in a battle for first place in the East. It came down to the last game of the year to determine who would host the Eastern Final. This year, it’s a completely different story.

Saturday’s game is strictly for pride, as the Alouettes sit alone atop the division and Winnipeg was eliminated last week from the playoffs. So why should Alouettes fans give up a portion of their Saturday afternoon to watch this game? I did manage to come up with a few reasons:

1. Final game at Canad Inns Stadium….For real this time.

Anyone who watched last week’s Ti-Cats/Bombers game were peppered with many fond farewells & highlights of years gone by for Ivor Wynne Stadium. All this happened last year for Canad Inns Stadium as the new stadium was to be ready for this season.

But construction delays forced the Bombers back to their old digs for one more year. I don’t know if people will wax nostalgic for Canad Inns like they have been for Ivor Wynne, but this season now marks the end of TWO stadium eras.

2. It’s Mac Tonight

If anyone has earned a day of rest, it is Anthony Calvillo. Remember when everyone thought he was washed up and calling for his retirement? Good times…

This will be the first regular season start for Adrian McPherson since 2010. This will also be his second career start in Winnipeg, as he was given the start in late 2009. I remember that game as it was the only Als game that I have attended in the ‘Peg. The Alouettes had sewn up the Eastern division weeks before and they certainly played like it. Not McPherson’s fault they lost, Winnipeg simply needed the win more.

But this is a contract year for him and with some possible QB jobs opening up, AD just may consider having himself a career game against a Blue Bombers team just looking to get this game over with.

This really will be the weekend where backups audition for the big-time….Matt Nichols came off the bench last week and jump-started the Eskimos offense & earned a start. Mike Reilly did so well for Travis Lulay that people already have him pegged as the future Ottawa team’s next QB. Drew Willy will get the start in Saskatchewan. Let’s not forget that Toronto’s FOURTH-string QB was getting reps yesterday as well.  This has all the makings of a reality show competition.

3. Final tune-up.

This will be Montreal’s last game until the 18th. That’s 15 days of rest, rehab and potential rust. So this will be the last real-time chance to work out any kinks or for anyone to test their injuries. Most notable will be S.J. Green, who missed the past few games with a knee injury. He’s got to have another highlight reel catch in him for the blustery cold of Winnipeg.

4. Last game outdoors.

Unless they foolishly decide to open the roof at Rogers Centre for the Grey Cup, this will be the last time the Alouettes play in outdoor weather. As an aside, the crossover rule comes into effect with Toronto knocking Hamilton out of the playoffs. Which means a Western team does have a chance to play the Alouettes in the Eastern Final.

I find it laughable that some folks out west hope their team crosses over to play the Argos, then the Alouettes. If you’re a Western team, do you really think it’ll be easier to face a rested Montreal team with over 50,000 in attendance after having played in Toronto the week previous?

——

I’m not one for predictions, but I did state earlier in the year that I would not be surprised to see the combatants from the 97th & 98th Grey Cup play for this year’s trophy. And so far, that possibility still exists.

No matter what the results, this intrepid blogger will be in Toronto for the Grey Cup. With it being a mere drive from Montreal, Toronto will certainly see a good number of Alouettes fans  to go with the other faithful fans of the league. There’s been a buzz like no other and I’d say by and large, the league is doing all it can to ensure those who attend will remember the event forever, even if their team isn’t contending.

One of the ways the CFL is doing all it can for it’s fans is the Grey Cup train tour. I’ll detail it further next week, as it was in Ottawa last Saturday and I was able to check it out. It was a great event that drew a great crowd and helped stoke the fire of Ottawa’s impending return to the Canadian Football League.

——

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for live game-day tweets and any last minute news. Enjoy the game as the Alouettes finish the regular season.

GO ALS GO!!!

They just had to show up and not get hurt. Just go to Regina, enjoy another team’s folly and escape without ruffling any feathers. Yet somehow, that’s just not how this Marc Trestman team operates.

This past Friday the Montreal Alouettes, despite a myriad of injuries and less than stellar play in recent weeks, managed to clinch the Eastern division by virtue of Winnipeg beating Toronto (thus keeping their slim playoff hopes alive). Montreal could have been excused if they went into their match with Saskatchewan and played a conservative, safe game to prevent any injury. Instead, they played a dominant game in hostile territory.

The final score doesn’t really scream blowout victory, but with Montreal’s win they certainly proved that they didn’t need anyone’s help to secure another Eastern final at home.  Through all its trials and tribulations, the Alouettes have found ways to win and in theory, can now rest its starters and ensure that everyone is ready to go for November 18th at Olympic Stadium.

Once again, Anthony Calvillo manages to astound his fans and critics alike by scoring not one, but TWO rushing touchdowns! One would certainly understand with the Eastern division all sewn up if Coach Trestman opted to rest his prized QB and gave the ball to Adrian McPherson. But AC simply keeps on going and decided to use his legs to score in lieu of his gifted arm.

Special teams were still it’s usual self, allowing Weston Dressler to return a punt for a touchdown. After catching the Roughriders napping during their first drive with a fake punt attempt, it initially felt like they had Saskatchewan figured out on all sides of the football field. But this Riders team is playing with a purpose and can never be written off, especially playing against their Grey Cup rivals.

In an unfortunate event, Shea Emry managed to get himself thrown out of the game for sucker-punching Brendon Labatte in the nether regions. At the time, I had no idea what was going on and when I saw the replay, I still had a hard time believing Emry would go off like that, seemingly unprovoked.

After the game, he posted an apology on Twitter to the fans of the CFL for his conduct. I can appreciate the fact that he owned up to his mistake and certainly don’t agree with the “goon” comment Labatte labelled him with. Unless Emry and Labatte have some long-standing beef that no one but them are aware of, I think we can just chalk this up to a mental miscue and call it a day.

I was glad to see Bo Bowling get his first CFL touchdown, even if he did little to erase the Ben Cahoon comparison with the way he caught Calvillo’s pass. I have long stated that Bowling is a much better receiver than punt returner and would serve well as AC’s short-yardage threat.

The Alouettes are thinner at WR with S.J. Green still on the sidelines & Brandon London out for the rest of the year but with Jamel Richardson finding his superstar form again, AC still has many capable hands to throw the ball to. I think a Richardson/Bratton/Bowling/Deslauriers receiver set will still present plenty of headaches for opposing defenses.

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With two games left and literally only pride left to play for, will Coach Trestman finally let Adrian McPherson drive the car? The man they call AD has been the definition of patience, content to bide his time until Calvillo calls it a career. But it just seems like there is no stop in AC, so what is McPherson to do? The limited action he has seen has been primarily mop-up duty, merely handing the ball off to the running back in order to kill the clock.

Based on pre-season play and the scant few starts he’s had since joining the Alouettes in 2008, we know that AD is talented enough. He hasn’t been perfect but when held up to AC’s standards, it’s completely unfair to compare the two. I had said earlier this year that this has to be the time to determine whether McPherson will be the quarterback of the future in Montreal or not.

I still stand by that. Put AD in Hamilton and they’d really be competition for the Alouettes. I bet Winnipeg would salivate at the prospect of having McPherson in lieu of Buck Pierce. Toronto made a big splash this off-season in acquiring Ricky Ray, but imagine if Scott Milanovich had his way and was able to design plays for McPherson like he used to as Montreal’s OC.

And being a renown QB guru, Marc Trestman could easily develop McPherson into a more well-rounded quarterback at any given moment. Perhaps that is the long-term plan. Maybe Trestman originally underestimated just how incredible Anthony Calvillo is and would rather keep AD as an ace in the hole, no matter what.

As a Alouettes fan with a vested interest in this team’s long-term success, I truly hope Coach Trestman allows Adrian to run this high-powered offense for the next 2 games. AC is our guy and this will forever be his playground, but one day he will retire. Yes, it may be when he is 50 years old and still outclassing people half his age on the field, but surely one day AC will have had his fill…..right?

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This coming Sunday is the last home game at Percival Molson Stadium. It will also be the Purolator Tackle Hunger game. Alouettes fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the game. Cash donations can also be made as well on the spot.

In exchange for that, you can have your picture taken with the Grey Cup! Perfect if you missed the Grey Cup train in Montreal this past weekend (and if you did, you missed a chance to see over 100 years of CFL history in train format!) So open your pantry and wallets to this great cause if you are going to the game on Sunday.

And be sure to check out the tailgate from Les Gars Qui Vivent on the eastern side of the stadium. It has grown into a true social event and the party continues on even after the game! A few players have been known to stop by on their way home, so take advantage of this to connect with your fellow Alouettes fans and players alike.

The grill is always hot and everyone is welcome to hang out. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you’re sure to see a certain blogger there as well

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That’s all for now. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for live game-day tweets and get ready as the road to the 100th Grey Cup will have to roll through Montreal.

GO ALS GO!!!

I think I must be cursed when it comes to watching the Alouettes in Hamilton. I’ve been to both games in 2012 and both time the Tiger-Cats won in convincing fashion. But you have my word Alouettes Nation…after this season, no more going to games in Hamilton for 2013! That’s a promise!

After such a stellar game against the Argonauts at home earlier in the week, I expected the momentum to carry on into the Hammer. But Hamilton proved that despite their record, they are still a threat in the CFL’s Eastern division.

You really don’t know which Ti-Cats team is going to show up on any given week. A friend that I made this year from Hamilton explained it to me quite well: “It all depends which Burris shows up this week to play; Henry or Hank”. This past week Ti-Cat fans were treated to the Burris that can light up the Als’ D for 5 touchdowns.

But what will have Hamiltonians scratching their heads as the season chugs along will be just which Tiger-Cats team will show up in these next few weeks? The team that handled Edmonton and Montreal with ease or the team that struggled against Toronto during the Labour Day Rivalry games?

With that sound defeat last Friday, that should be the last time the Alouettes play in Ivor Wynne under its current state. Once the CFL season ends, work is expected to start in the stadium’s renovation which will see Hamilton relocated for the 2013 season. There’s still no definite word as to where the Cats will be playing. My guess is they share the Rogers Centre with the Argos just like the New York Jets/Giants share Metlife Stadium.  It’s a 45 minute drive away from Hamilton and can surely accommodate both teams and their fans quite handily.

If the Alouettes can win this coming Monday & Edmonton loses, then the Alouettes will clinch a playoff spot for sure. The upcoming schedule may feature teams that Montreal has had little problems defeating this season, but these are by no means gimme games. Last year the Alouettes had three prime chances to take sole possession of first place from Winnipeg and blew all three. Nothing is guaranteed in the Canadian Football League.

When Montreal plays the Eastern Final at Olympic Stadium, they are nearly perfect. So the focus now has to be on securing the home field advantage as October rolls forwards. I have faith that the Alouettes can do it. My hope is that Alouettes fans take every opportunity they can to rally this team to victory.

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While I was in Hamilton watching the game last Friday, the Alouettes front office were doing their part to endear themselves to their fan base by hosting an impromptu get-together for their season ticket holders. Held at La Cage aux Sports, fans were able to rub elbows with front office staff as well as injured Alouettes who came to greet fans.

Prizes were given away as well and from all accounts of those who were present, a good time was had by all. Once again, I sincerely hope that the higher-ups saw the value in a night like this and will continue to hold events like this in the near future. Maybe if  they even advertise it on their website or social media hubs, I am certain many more fans will partake if they are aware.

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For the second year in a row, the CFL is going pink to raise awareness for breast cancer research. So for the month of October, expect players from all eight teams to be wearing pink gloves, wristbands, shoes and other accessories. Fans will also be able to purchase pink CFL merchandise at designated games during October, as each city will be raising funds for local charities.

Montreal won’t have a “pink game” at home, but will be active during the October 14th game in Toronto, which is also the Fan Train game. I would strongly encourage fans to show the team as much support as possible. A great way to do that will tonight in Montreal at Time Supper Club.

Tickets are still available and a lot of the Alouettes players will be there in full force.  A great event for a great cause, so be sure to come on out tonight!

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This Monday, while everyone feasts on turkey and all the trimmings, the Alouettes will play their annual game on Thanskgiving Monday. And as the Alouettes themselves will tell you, it’s not a game to be missed. No major records will be broken on Monday like in years past, but it will still be a fantastic afternoon well-spent on the mountain.

The fellas from Les Gars Qui Vivent will have the tailgate rocking, even doing up some Thanksgiving fare in case you don’t have a turkey dinner to go to this weekend. Be sure to come check it out starting at 9AM on Monday. And you can even check it out after the game, as even Alouettes players have been known to stop by afterwards.

Just look for the blue tent on the eastern side of Percival Molson Stadium and the massive crowd of people cooking & having fun!

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That’s all for now. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for live game updates & any last minute news. No matter where you watch the game, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

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This past Sunday, I got to witness three amazing things;

1) The Montreal Alouettes completely dominate their opponent in front of a raucous home crowd.

2) The first Alouettes touchdown scored by special teams in almost 2 years.

3) Some amazing chimichurri steak pizza that I prepared at the tailgate. (Sorry, couldn’t resist)

The Alouettes did themselves a big favour by soundly beating the Toronto Argonauts this past Sunday. The win gave them some much needed breathing room atop the Eastern standings. With 4 of their 6 remaining games against divisional opponents, each victory becomes more and more important. If the Alouettes can come away from Hamilton this Friday with a win, they will be sitting real pretty.

Despite no Brandon Whitaker in the lineup, the Alouettes continued on their classic offensive ways. Victor Anderson relished the pressure of filling Whitaker’s shoes and earned himself 2 touchdowns in the process. As usual with this Calvillo offense, it’s never how well you can run in the backfield, it’s how well you can block. And Anderson did a great job of giving AC plenty of field to stretch the Argos secondary out.

Having missed the past 4 games with a knee injury, no one wanted to shine on the field more than Brandon London. And shine he did with some amazing catches. But he was also instrumental in firing up the hometown crowd when the Argos had the ball. Rallying the crowd and his teammates at every chance he got, he truly stepped up and got it going.

Beset by a nagging rib injury all year, no one really expected Trent Guy to do much other than protect the ball and move upfield as much as he could with this special teams unit. And while scoring your first CFL touchdown is memorable, I think people will be remembering his second TD for a long, long time.

I remember cringing when I saw Guy slightly bobble the missed field goal from Toronto’s Swayze Waters. But he gathered himself quickly and with a few key blocks from his teammates he was off to the races, setting a new team record with a 129 yard return for a touchdown. The noise from that return as well as other key moments truly helped establish Montreal as one of the loudest places to play in the CFL. Even if the PA system has to constantly remind fans to make noise on defense & be quiet on offense. Oh well.

But most impressive was the defense; the same 3-4 defense that everyone was lauding earlier this year. Led by Jeff Reinebold, who was the butt of many jokes due to his antics from his previous tenure as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Well, with each passing day that defense gets better and better. This past Sunday, not one touchdown was yielded by this D. All of Toronto’s points came from their kicker and ours (Sean Whyte did concede a safety). With veterans like Shea Emry & John Bowman leading the way, they were unstoppable and now riding a major wave of momentum into the Hammer tomorrow.

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Tomorrow’s game will be the final Alouettes tilt at Ivor Wynne Stadium before they knock the old barn down for a much-needed renovation. I thought my visit this past July would be the last time I’d see IWS, but fate seems to have me attending even more Alouettes games this year. Trust me, I’ll take full advantage. But if you can’t make your way to Hamilton for tomorrow’s tilt, you can meet up with fellow Alouettes fans in Montreal at the Cage Aux Sports on 1437 René-Lévesque West, between Bishop and Mackay.

The Alouettes administration floated this idea along to season ticket holders and I hope ALL Alouettes fans show up and put the team on notice. With no hockey or NFL football to distract anyone tomorrow evening, this is a prime opportunity to get together with your fellow fans, make new friends and perhaps start a new tradition for when the Alouettes hit the road. Why not make La Cage your Alouettes home away from home?

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and professional football will soon see its players don a myriad of pink gear to help raise awareness. This dreaded disease is not going undetected by the Angry Bird himself, Kyries Hebert. He has put together a gala night featuring your Montreal Alouettes and he needs you to attend!

Being held October 5th at the Time Supper Club in Montreal, this promises to be a spectacular event. There will be dinner, live entertainment and the keynote speaker will be none other than our legendary quarterback & cancer survivor Anthony Calvillo. This is a fund-raising event and all proceeds go directly to the Cedars Cancer Institute for the Calvillo Fund. Many of your favourite players will be there, so be sure to get your tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event. For more info or to buy tickets, click here. And special thanks to Kyries for establishing himself both on and off the football field in Montreal!!

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So get ready Alouettes Nation as our Flock of Dirty Birds descend into Steeltown and hopefully soar off with a victory. The Alouettes won’t be perfect in September like they were in August, but they are playing inspired football. And they will need us fans to rally them from afar as well. I hope to see more Alouettes fans tomorrow as well as Tiger-Cats fans who I befriended the last time I was there. I’ll be my usual self,  live-tweeting the game. Enjoy the game no matter where you watch it.

GO ALS GO!!!

Yesterday’s win versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders came at a steep price, as both Brian Bratton & Brandon Whitaker left due to injury. As of this blog going viral, no word has been released on how serious the injuries are. Both are tremendous losses respectively as the march towards the playoffs begin.

The game itself was not the most masterful win, as Montreal still at times looked shell-shocked from the beatdown B.C. put on them the week previous. Jamel Richardson & S.J. Green had highs and lows all day long. The saving grace for the Alouettes was the complete lack of discipline from the Riders. More than once, the Alouettes were saved from 2 & outs due to a errant penalty that would give Montreal a fresh set of downs.

They also benefited from backup QB Drew Willy’s first CFL start. Under pressure, he was sacked 3 times & picked off twice. Any flashes of brilliance came from Kory Sheets, who had a stellar day running for the Riders. While this game didn’t have the usual playoff feel to it compared to years previous, it was still a great afternoon of football at Molson Stadium.

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I was hoping to attend the most recent Alouettes Summit 2 Sundays ago, but was terribly ill (also why there was no blog post last week). From all account from the people who attended, it was a great event. Put on by the team for season ticket holders, the event featured a meet & greet with the CFL Commisioner Mark Cohon, Head Coach Marc Trestman & a few of the players. It also featured a Q&A session where fans were allowed to ask players & brass questions.

I would have loved to have been there…it’s my sincere hope that based on the success of this event, other such get-togethers will be put on by the team in the near future. And I promise, gentle reader that no illness will befall me and prevent me from sharing such an experience with you all!

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It does my heart good to see the tailgate explode the way it has. The guys from LesGarsQuiVivent.com always do it up properly and yesterday was no exception. There was even some visitors from Saskatchewan, as the parents of Roughriders QB Darian Durant came by. Despite the rivalry on the field, the Durants were greeted with open arms, as well as the other Rider fans in attendance.

If you haven’t been yet to the tailgate, you’re missing out. It is a great way to prepare for the game itself. The BBQ is always burning hot and the drinks are ice-cold. And when fans such as yours truly shows up with homemade Rocky Road brownies, you’ll never leave hungry!

Be sure to check it out at every home game. More details here.

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Be sure to tune in later this week as I preview the big divisional matchup on Sunday versus the Toronto Argonauts. The last time these two met, the Argos squeaked by with a win in Montreal. With Hamilton regaining their footing this week, there are no more gimme games in the CFL. Every win becomes more and more important to that 100th Grey Cup game.

GO ALS GO!!!