MontrealAlouettes.com
TORONTO – The Alouettes will take a step back in time when they take a final step forward towards the 2013 regular season during Thursday’s pre-season finale at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium.
The 7:00 p.m. kick-off will mark the first time in 55 years that professional football will be played at the University of Toronto stadium, the once on-and-off home of the Argos between 1898 and 1958.
And while the game itself may represent a historic return of sorts, it’s slightly more recent history that Head Coach Dan Hawkins will be making a nod to, revealing during media availability Wednesday that he plans to stick with the trend of giving veteran QB Anthony Calvillo limited playing time once again in the pre-season contest.
“We’ve got to get into the season with all of our guys healthy,” explained Hawkins. “The last thing you want to do is have any guy get hurt during pre-season, and certainly not him.”
WATCH: COACH HAWKINS PRE-GAME »
Here are some facts and figures ahead of Thursday’s game.
LISTEN UP: Thursday’s pre-season game will be broadcast live on the radio in both English and French on CJAD 800 and 98,5 fm.
INTIMATE ENCOUNTER: In contrast to Rogers Centre’s 52,230, the third and most recent iteration of Varsity Stadium holds a maximum football capacity of 5,000 fans.
2-FOR-13: Going one-for-one for 50 yards in one offensive series a week ago at home opposite Hamilton, Anthony Calvillo will get the chance to double his production this week, the veteran QB expected to get the nod for two offensive series in Toronto.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING: The Alouettes will try to extend their two-game win streak at Varsity Stadium to three tonight, having come out on top of their previous two visits 14-10 and 44-7 on October 4, 1958 and November 1, 1958, respectively.
BIRTHDAY BOY: Two days after celebrating the end of training camp at Bishop’s University, it’s cause for celebration once again for slotback S.J. Green who turns 28 today. In 2012, quarterback Anthony Calvillo’s birthday also fell on a game day, a 31-29 home win over the Ticats on August 23.
BIRTHDAY BOY, PT. 2: Also celebrating a birthday is the newborn son of long-snapper (and new dad) Martin Bédard who was born early Thursday morning.
