MontrealAlouettes.com
With yet another date with destiny almost upon Als star quarterback Anthony Calvillo, we sat down 1-on-1 with the future Hall-of-Famer. Sure, he told us what preparing to make history really feels like, but that was only the beginning.
This season you set CFL records for touchdowns and completions in games versus Toronto and now you might make history against them again on Monday. What is it with you the Argonauts, anyways?
AC: Yeah, I really can’t explain it. It’s pretty ironic how it all seems to happen against the same team. It just so happens that when those potential record games surface, they’re our opponents on the schedule. But, I don’t think that this is something that they are concerned with.
What does this record mean to you? Seeing yourself with some of those names in football not only CFL history?
AC: I honestly don’t really pay attention to what is going on in the NFL. I truly believe that it’s two different leagues. I am very happy with what I have been able to accomplish in the CFL. I don’t think that when they (NFL) are looking at their records, the names of CFL quarterbacks are thrown in the mix, and understandably so since they generally don’t get to see many of our games. I’m more excited about the fact that if I break the record, it will be remembered and appreciated by the fans here in Canada.
Do your receivers get competitive about who will catch the ball when you’re closing in on a record like this?
AC: Up until now, it’s been quiet so far, but I’m not entirely sure that all of them are aware of this record. We usually find out about those types of stats and info from our staff or by the media. I know that when the 400th touchdown pass was coming along, the receivers were all joking about it. It’s really something they find amusing and they all have fun with it to see who will make the big catch.
Any of them trying to butter you up so that you look their way when it happens?
AC: (laughs) They know better than that! All the guys know that I won’t pay any attention to their antics. It goes in one ear, and out the other. I will get the ball to whoever is open, but the compliments are always welcome.
How did football all start for you? Who taught you how to throw your first spiral as a kid?
AC: As a five year old, I started playing a lot of different sports, but in football I remember having the strongest arm and being very fast, so they plugged me in at the QB position. I wasn’t throwing any spirals at that age, though. I’m sure that I learned the proper techniques when I was playing flag football up until high school. That’s when the spirals came. I also got some football tips and guidance from a few volunteer coaches in our neighborhood and across the street from us. They were crucial in my involvement in sports.
You of course broke into the CFL with the short-lived Las Vegas Posse. What was the strangest thing you ever saw at a Posse home game?
AC: Get this, instead of having cheerleaders at one game, we had showgirls. Without a doubt, that’s what stands out from my days in Las Vegas and was the most unusual thing that I’ve witnessed over there. After all, we were in Las Vegas and it’s a place known for that. I remember the showgirls being highly talked about the next day.
Was that a distraction?
AC: (laughs) Well, we lost that game, so I’m betting that it was more of a distraction to us than the opposing team.
How tough was it to be released by the Tiger-Cats in 1998?
AC: The late Ron Lancaster became the head coach for Hamilton and they had just signed Danny McManus. They asked me to stay on the team as a backup, but I was ready to leave that and start fresh with another team. They made me an offer, I refused and shortly thereafter I was released. A few opportunities were presented including Montreal and Saskatchewan. I felt that if I had another bad year, that my career would have probably been over, so I wanted to take a step back and learn from an experienced QB. I also wanted to be part of a winning organization—that’s what Montreal had when I got here.
When you arrived in Montreal did you ever imagine that you would spend the next 14 seasons and counting in the same city?
AC: When I first got here, the most important thing for me was to gain the respect in the locker room. I came from Hamilton, where it was very inconsistent and we struggled as a team in my last year, so I needed to gain the respect of my peers. That’s definitely something you need as a quarterback. Then (starter) Tracy Ham got banged up a bit and it allowed me to jump on the field—sooner rather than later, and I was able to gain the trust of my teammates.
Tracy was an important influence on you when you were his backup upon joining the Als in 1998. Be honest, is there anything Tracy does not take credit for about your career?
AC: (laughs) No, he’s not like that. Tracy has had a lot of backups throughout his career, and he always tried to share his knowledge of the game with those around him. He said that I was the one player who really absorbed everything that he had to offer and took it to heart.
What actor could you most see playing the role of you in the movie: A.C.: The Anthony Calvillo Story?
AC: (Laughs) Someone asked me that question a few years ago and I answered Mel Gibson, because I loved his performance in Braveheart. But now, I feel that he is a bit too old to play me. I would have to change that answer now and go with Edward Norton. He can play different characters and I am sure that he can throw a football pretty good.
You wear the No. 13 so obviously you are not that superstitious. Do you have any pre-game rituals that you would dare to share?
AC: A lot of people call it superstition, but I call it a routine. If we have an afternoon game, my tendency is to sleep in late until 8:00 a.m., since I am always up bright and early during the week. Then I have my pre-game meal which consists of quinoa, salad and some sweet potato. Whether I am on the road or at home, that’s a staple for me and I don’t go without it.
Full confessional: what hurts more; getting sacked or stepping on one of your daughters’ toys?
AC: (Laughs) Without a doubt, stepping on a toy. I doesn’t matter how many times I tell them to pick up their toys, you are sure to find one laying around somewhere and it hurts.
Seriously, despite all you put your body through each season, how much fun is this?
AC: To be honest with you, if it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t be playing right now, and I would have retired a long time ago. I still feel like a 39-year-old kid playing the game of football even though my teammates like to remind me that I’m not. I might be one of the older guys on the team, but I still feel that I’m young at heart. The fire inside is still burning.
Don’t miss AC’s bid to become the all-time passing yards king in pro football on Monday, October 10 at Percival Molson Stadium when the Als host the Toronto Argonauts. Kick-off is at 1:00 p.m.
