IF the weather is going to be part of the script for today's East Final, members of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive line didn't show it at the dress rehearsal Saturday.

Everyone was wearing shorts, and no one was sporting sleeves.

After the brisk workout and inside the Blue and Gold room, where key members of the Ticats offensive attack -- specifically quarterback Kevin Glenn and running back Avon Cobourne -- met with reporters, the topic of conversation was, naturally, a cold one.

"It's freezing outside," Cobourne said, joking at every turn. "I don't know if I'll be able to play (Sunday)."

That drew some laughs. Glenn was a little more serious when asked about the environment.

"The conditions were pretty good," he said. "I was expecting worse, playing in Winnipeg (before) at this time of year. Going out there (Saturday) was fine. This is probably what it's going to be like Sunday."

The knock on Glenn, who comes into the game against the Blue Bombers with a 5-5 record against his former club, is that he doesn't particularly enjoy the cold weather. He rolled his eyes at another mention of the suggestion Saturday -- an honest rebuttal considering he grew up in Detroit, attended Illinois State during college, and played for both Prairie CFL clubs throughout the course of his 11-year pro career.

"I don't understand how someone could make that assumption, being that I was here in Winnipeg -- one of the coldest places that you can play," he said. "I played in cold weather; I think I've done well in cold weather."

The quarterback said beating Winnipeg and getting to the Grey Cup -- an opportunity missed when he was the Bombers pivot in 2007 -- would silence his always-vocal detractors. "Getting to that game would (mean) a lot," he offered.

Glenn, as one would expect given the expected frigid conditions, isn't the man the Winnipeg defence is targeting today. That bull's-eye falls to Cobourne, who is coming off an impressive showing against Montreal (97 yards rushing) in the East semifinal.

"Good, because I have a quarterback who can throw," answered Cobourne, when told of the Winnipeg strategy. "I have five receivers who can catch it... if they're focused on me and my 4.6 (speed) -- good luck with that."

CHILLY WELCOME: Here's Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille on how his team initially responded to the winter weather when they arrived in Winnipeg:

"I asked for a show of hands: How many players from our team were actually born or raised in Manitoba or Saskatchewan or Alberta, and how many players have played in Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Seventy per cent of our team have either played in the Prairies, (played in) playoff games, or were raised and born here. It shouldn't be an issue."

Both clubs agree that getting off to hot starts is important, but that will be no small task. The offences will probably be a little sluggish, as the players try to get the blood flowing through early run establishments and safe throws underneath. The frozen football is like a rock, so the kickers will have a hard time finding much distance, as well.

Other cold factors include:

- The field is a parking lot: "It's hard right now," Winnipeg linebacker Clint Kent said. "It's like concrete and it's slick, so it will be tough to make some breaks. It's like a brick; it's going to hurt when you hit the ground."

- The ball is going to be slick: "Hands will be cold, the ball will be hard, so it will be hard to hold onto, I think, and we're going to try and force some fumbles," Winnipeg's Pierre-Luc Labbe added. "As soon as someone makes a tackle and holds the guy up, the second guy has to go for the ball."

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

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Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 20, 2011 B2