MontrealAlouettes.com
REGINA – Having already visited one hostile environment in Saskatchewan, the Alouettes are readying to enter another loud stadium and city this Friday night when they face the Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg
Head coach Tom Higgins’s protégées did a pretty good job at quieting the crowd this past Saturday in Saskatchewan, keeping the offence on the field for a good chunk of the first half. Higgins would be pleased to see the same thing happen in Winnipeg.
“We handled the environment pretty well and we’re looking to be even better,” said Higgins following Wednesday’s practice at Leibel Field in Regina, the team’s final rehearsal before Friday’s showdown in Manitoba.
“They have educated fans out here in the Prairies,” he added. “They know when to make noise, just like our fans in Montreal. I never liked coming to Montreal when I was coaching in Edmonton or Calgary because of that.”
If the crowd is hostile in Regina on game day, the Alouettes have been able to witness their hospitable side as the team stayed out in the capital of Saskatchewan between both games.
“It can’t hurt the team spirit to have stayed out here. The guys got a chance to hang out with other players that they normally wouldn’t have. On Sunday, the players visited the tunnels of Moose Jaw together. It has been a great week and they enjoyed themselves.”
Keep the pressure on
The Alouettes have been working on their game plan for Friday against the Blue Bombers and will try to avenge the heartbreaking loss they suffered to Winnipeg in week 3 of the season, when Bombers’ quarterback Drew Willy completed a late game pass to Julien Feoli-Gudino.
“Drew Willy is everything the Blue Bombers wanted him to be and he’s had a great start to his season,” admitted Higgins. “Our goal every game is to protect our quarterback and put pressure on the opposing one. Our defence has done a good job of that and we need them to continue on Friday.”
Fast facts
The Alouettes will travel from Regina to Winnipeg on Thursday… A good portion of Wednesday’s practice took place under the rain, quite the opposite of Tuesday, when the mercury rose well over 30 degrees on Leibel Field… The Alouettes are undefeated in the Blue Bombers new digs (1-0), as they won the stadium’s inaugural game by a score of 38-33 in June of last year… For the first time since 2005, this game will oppose teams of opposite divisions, as the Bombers returned to the West Division, following Ottawa’s return to the CFL this year… Last week, the Alouettes did not allow the Roughriders any Red Zone opportunities. The Riders were unable to get any closer than the Montreal 23-yard line on any series. The only time they got inside was on their 30-yard TD pass.
