U.S. players embrace the glory of the Grey Cup

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This article was published 16/11/2023 (665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — It was the moment Kenny Lawler realized what the Grey Cup is all about.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were in Calgary for the 2019 championship game when the receiver out of California walked into a hotel ballroom for an event and saw the silver mug sitting on a table.

“I’m just looking at the Grey Cup and looking at team after team, year after year. And it’s just like this is a piece of history,” Lawler, now in his fourth year in the league, said after Thursday’s practice at Tim Hortons Field. The Bombers play the Montreal Alouettes Sunday in Hamilton for the 110th Grey Cup.

“You got everybody’s name on there, every team that’s winning, and that’s dope in itself. From there, I was just like ‘Yo, this is something that means a lot.’”

Quarterback Zach Collaros had that same realization in 2012 when he was a rookie reserve quarterback with the Grey Cup-winning Toronto Argonauts.

“I could recall that whole week not knowing anything about the Grey Cup. But being in Toronto and going to all the different restaurants and parties during the week, I figured out that this is a celebration of the country, the league, not just the two teams playing… I thought that was interesting,” said Collaros.

“The longer and longer I’ve been in the CFL, I’ve understood it’s importance to the fabric of the country. I think every year it has grown, but 2012 was certainly eye-opening seeing the fans coming from all over the country to support not just the teams that are in it, but wear their colours as well and I thought that was really cool.”

For whatever reason, the average American player just isn’t familiar with one of Canada’s best annual traditions.

“I did not know about it… It was when I first got to Canada, first got to the team, honestly,” admitted receiver Drew Wolitarsky, who grew up in California.

“That was the mission. Everyone kept talking about it so I had to look it up. They were like ‘It’s the Super Bowl of the CFL, bro’ and I was like ‘OK, that’s tight.’”

Once they’re brought up to speed, they’re all in. Defensive tackle Ricky Walker won it with the Blue and Gold in 2021 as a backup but now has a chance to add to his ring collection as a starter.

Walker has five family members making the trip to Hamilton from Virginia for the big game. It’ll be their first time stepping on Canadian soil.

“Man, it’s a big deal. It’s why we play the game. It’s why you work hard and put in the time, the blood, sweat, and tears with your brothers for the reward at the end,” said Walker.

“I’m blessed to be in my third straight Grey Cup… To be able to look in the stands and see my parents and my brothers this time is going to be pretty awesome.

This will be head coach Mike O’Shea’s eighth CFL title game — four with the Argos (three as a player, one as an assistant coach) and now four as the leader of the Bombers. He’s 7-1 on championship Sunday, but has repeatedly said over the years that his favourite part of winning is seeing everyone else in the locker room celebrating the feat – especially the first-timers.

“It’s a magnificent trophy and it’s a century of history. You can could shrink it down and have less history and you’d still marvel at how guys would react to winning a championship,” said O’Shea.

“But once again, this will be the 110th. You can show them pictures of when guys won the cup and it was basically only the top of a small base, and they get it. They get that idea that 110 years ago that guys were chasing the same dream. They filled it full of beer and drank out of it just like these guys had the opportunity to in the past. There’s something powerful to that.”

Lawler feeling extra thankful this week

Unlike several of his teammates, Kenny Lawler can’t say he’s been to the last four Grey Cups.

That’s because the star pass catcher spent 2022 with the Edmonton Elks. He acccepted a contract for $305,000 which made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the league.

The money was nice, but playing for a team that went 4-14 was not. Lawler rejoined the Bombers in the off-season, and on Thursday, offered some advice to all his teammates who are on expiring contracts and tempted to try their hand at free agency.

“Don’t go to Edmonton,” said Lawler.

“I thought the grass could be greener on the other side. This right here, Winnipeg, is a great place to be. I kind of knew (Edmonton) might not be as good as that but maybe (if) I water where my feet (are) at the grass will be greener. I tried to water so much over there and it just didn’t pan out.”

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Lawler was also asked if the receiving corps needs to step up on Sunday if leading receiver Dalton Schoen (ankle) doesn’t play.

Instead of offering up an answer, Lawler sat behind the mic for over 10 seconds without saying a word.

“I just took O’Shea’s advice,” Lawler said with a grin.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @taylorallen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.