By Jack Bedell,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Hammond, LA – In the spirit of the Alouettes’ Thanksgiving Day game this Monday against the Stampeders, I thought I’d offer a few of the things I’m thankful for heading into the last month of the season.
First, I’m thankful for an Als team that has wrapped up another East Division title early. As much fun as it is to watch the tight divisional race Out West, it’s great to know the Als are one home playoff win away from another chance to bring home the Grey Cup. Let the other teams scratch and claw for positioning; I’ll take the security of six weeks’ preparation for the Eastern Division Final.
I’m thankful for veteran players like Anthony Calvillo, Ben Cahoon, Anwar Stewart, and Scott Flory who have continued to improve their games year in and year out and who’ve managed to play this season with as much hunger and effort as they played their rookie years.
I’m thankful for Jim Popp’s uncanny ability to support the Als’ veteran core with a roster full of superior young talent. Whether it’s Shea Emry or Ramon Guzman on defence or Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, S.J. Green, and Adrian McPherson on offence, the team’s got serious depth now and is no doubt stocked for the future.
I’m thankful for a cricket-quiet season off the field for the Alouettes. While other teams have fought controversy, disciplinary issues, and personnel changes this year, the Als have gone to work like true professionals. And that character translates to success on the field come game days.
I’m thankful for real team balance. The Alouettes are at or near the top in almost every meaningful statistical category heading into the season’s last leg. That’s the very definition of “team.”
I’m really thankful I got to see that dominance in person back in July when I made my first visit to Percival Molson Stadium for a game against the Ticats.
And finally, I’m thankful it’s a long season. No matter what’s happened to this point, and no matter how many wins the team’s piled up already, there’s a whole month left to get better and to keep a roll on before the playoffs.
