MontrealAlouettes.com
On hand at Percival Molson Stadium for Fan Appreciation Day on October 28, former teammates Tracy Ham and Mike Pringle took a moment to catch up with us.
How often do you get back up to Montreal?
Tracy Ham: I’m back maybe once a year. I try to come and support the organization, usually for a playoff game or for Fan Appreciation Day like this year.
Mike Pringle: Same here, I always make it a point to come back here once a year. I always want to see at least a game and it’s always great to see Mr. Wetenhall and these great fans again.
What’s the best part of being back in Montreal?
TH: For me it’s just seeing the growth and the foundation that’s been laid here since the team returned from its 10-year hiatus from the CFL. I really enjoy seeing that growth.
What do these fans mean to you even to this day?
MP: These fans have been great since Day 1. Loyal fans. They’re loud. When I come back here, I always feel like I’m coming back home. Plus, these people treated me and my family so well when I was here and it’s just the same whenever I come back.
TH: The fans are what makes each stadium experience unique, how they react and their knowledge of the game: should the team go for it, shouldn’t they go for it. These fans know good football and they demand a good football team and they’re really good fans.
Tracy, Mike is the only player in CFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. Do you think anyone will ever do that again or his record safe?
TH: No record is safe. It was a great feat and records are made to be broken, but I think it’s going to stand for quite some time. In this current age of football it might stand for a little while longer because no one runs the ball like we used to. It’s a different era and games aren’t managed the same way anymore, but we all understand how records are.
MP: Records are always meant to be broken, but they throw the ball so much in today’s game so I don’t know how long it will stand. Hopefully it will stand for a little while. I’m hoping somebody will get close to the record to bring my name back in to the conversation, but other than that I hope it stands for a long time.
How amazing is it to still see your buddy AC continuing to dominate the way he is at age 40?
TH: 40? I can’t even imagine. When I hit 40 I was already on the other side of the fence. It’s pretty amazing. You always want a player to keep going as long as he can because once you stop, it’s over. So, as long as you can play, you should play. I commend his longevity and the organization sticking with him. You only get to do this thing once.
MP: 40? That’s huge. I never paid attention to age, but the front office is always bringing up how old you are and you age so fast in football so for him to still be going at his age is amazing. And the thing about Anthony is that he’s still playing at a high, high level and that’s key. As long as you’re playing at a high level, it doesn’t matter how old you are.
What do you think of the team’s chances this year?
TH: I haven’t seen the other teams, but when you win the division it means you’ve done a lot of things right. Plus you have the playoff game at home, you have a lot of things in your favour. I think any football team will tell you that football is the one sport where you only get one chance. In basketball you play a series, baseball you play a series and hockey you play a series, but in football when you only get one opportunity and you have things in your favor like they do now, you just have to capitalize on it.
MP: It’s a one-game season. We’re in a good position because we’re at home in front of your fans and they’ve been there before many times. They know what they need to do and what they have to concentrate on. And with the 100th Grey Cup this year, that even more motivation, not that they need any extra motivation, but it will be good when they can say I was in the 100th Grey Cup.
