By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Retro twist to the weekend
Who says a little history can’t be interesting?
This weekend, as the Als fly into Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Stadium, players will don their unparalleled red-winged helmets for the second time this season, this time for an encounter with the Blue Bombers. Throughout the 2009 season, the CFL is celebrating the present by honouring the past in a classic – yet fresh manner.
In addition to the 1960s-themed uniforms being worn by all eight teams, the CFL is asking fans across Canada to vote for the 60s’ Most Outstanding Player. Voting begins this Saturday, Aug 15 and Montreal’s nominee is George Dixon. The legendary running back, one of Montreal’s few bright spots in a difficult decade starred in the Alouettes’ backfield from 1959-65. sporting the same uniform that today’s stars Anthony Calvillo, Ben Cahoon and Anwar Stewart will wear during Saturday’s matchup.
The 1974 Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee scored 59 touchdowns during his career, including a CFL-record 109-yard score against the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1963.
Vote for Dixon here and pick up your official Montreal Alouettes 1960s retro jersey at the Als’ online boutique.
Here come the Tabbies…
When the Quinton Porter-led Hamilton Tiger-Cats handed the Edmonton Eskimos their third loss of the season, it was a significant victory for the Tabbies.
Thanks to a 40-yard DeAndra’ Cobb run that set up a one-yard Porter touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining in the contest, the Ticats (4-2-0) have already exceeded their 2008 win total of three and now sit alone in second place, just two points behind the league-leading Alouettes.
Not since Danny McManus departed Steel Town in 2005 have the Tiger-Cats been able to boast a threatening passer in the backfield and with Porter, it looks like they’ve finally found a replacement.
Credit must also be dished out to Cobb. A CFL rookie who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2006, Cobb poses as a dangerous threat playing alongside Porter. Already with two CFL Player of the Week awards, Cobb has been instrumental in bringing Hamilton back to proper form and is doing so thanks to his 6.6 average yards-per-carry – first among running backs. He also sits in fifth place for rushing yards with 400.
Hamilton’s defence has also brought on reason to be recognized. Though they sit dead last for yards allowed with 2,321, they trail only Montreal when it comes to points allowed with 131 – just 21.8 per game.
Pickett takes control
It’s early in the fourth quarter during last Friday’s Alouettes-Argonauts matchup and 29-year old quarterback Cody Pickett is suddenly the focal point of a disastrous evening.
With his Argonauts trailing 16-0 and a comeback basically out of reach, Pickett looks to at least avoid embarrassment by way of getting shut out. Pickett takes his spot five yards back from centre Dominic Picard in the shotgun formation, takes the snap, and before you can spell “shutout at Percival Molson Stadium,” Pickett is brought down to the turf by Montreal’s Jermaine McElveen.
This week, Toronto hosts the BC Lions in a battle of underdogs, which is also being billed in Cowtown as Pickett’s coming out party. Will Pickett take what’s given to him and take over the starting reigns like quarterbacks such as Darian Durant and Porter have done in years past?
Tune in Friday night to find out.
