Win does wonders for Bombers' spirits

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COLE BREILAND / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bombers QB Alex Brink -- with a little spring in his step -- Monday at practice. The team was feeling relaxed after their first win of the season.

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Glenn January

One win can mean the world, especially when that world was crashing down all around you.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were back on the field at Canad Inns Stadium Monday morning, four days after they picked up their first victory of the season in five tries, and while the debate on just how good the Bombers actually played in last Thursday's 23-22 squeaker over the Edmonton Eskimos continues, the bottom line for the players is a win is a win, and everyone needs to move on.

Officially, that's the (correct) position taken by the club. Unofficially, though, there's no getting around it: A weight has been lifted from everyone's shoulders, whether they chose to admit it or not.

Behold the strength of one somewhat fortunate victory.

"We had a little spring in our step," Bombers quarterback Alex Brink said after practice. "Obviously, when you're going into a week when you're 0-4 like last week, it's a little harder to get yourself up and going. Guys certainly seemed excited to get to practice."

The signs of positivity were all over the stadium Monday. Coaches and players were laughing with one another while the players stretched; sturdy veteran linebacker Marcellus Bowman returned to practice following a lengthy hamstring injury; and quarterback Buck Pierce, believed to be sidelined until September, was out there bouncing around on his left foot, running and throwing balls to anyone who would catch them.

Everyone sure looked like they felt a lot better Monday.

What else does a win do? Immediately following the Edmonton win, the Bombers sent out a media release indicating 26,000 tickets had been sold for this Friday's game against Montreal. Monday, the ticket count was a grand louder and building to full chorus.

"They (the fans) understand that we were dealt a pretty tough hand coming into the season, with an extremely young team and a very difficult road schedule," left tackle Glenn January offered when asked about the correlation between winning and eating at local restaurants. "Instead of getting a lot of the negative feedback, it was a lot more of the 'we believe' or 'we're behind you' type of stuff.

"I like that more than the other things, most of which I probably can't repeat to you."

Not to throw cold water on this positivity party or anything like that, but Winnipeg is still in one-win territory and looking up at the rest of the teams in the East Division. That's where the reality comes in, specifically head coach Paul LaPolice's message to the players Monday. The coach reminded them to consider the implications of this week and what another win would do for the outlook of things heading into the bye week.

Winnipeg (1-4) sits with two points, two back of Montreal (2-3). A second straight home win pushes the Bombers even with the Als, while a loss would pull Winnipeg four points back after six games.

"I just told them that we've played well in big games; we need to be focused and have a great week of practice because this is a big game," LaPolice said. "The biggest message is: You win this game, and you're tied with them."

When asked if he noticed a change in mood when the team reconvened Monday morning, LaPolice offered this: "They're certainly more relaxed after a win -- everybody is."

All of which brings us to the man in the tower waving the yellow flag. That's a caution flag, folks, one LaPolice will be using over the next few days so his young team doesn't overlook the next opponent. Montreal may not look like the dominant force they've been for years, but taking the Alouettes and their current downturn for granted would be a huge mistake -- one that already has January correcting.

"We have a young team and they have to understand that last week is over," said January. "Regardless if you win or lose, you have to move on to the next week. We haven't accomplished anything yet. We've taken a step in the right direction, but it's going to be a tough road."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 31, 2012 D1