One for the road

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/09/2010 (5532 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Paul LAPOLICE could have run for mayor this week — and won — without having to spit out any policies or promising to freeze property taxes.

It’s been that kind of week in Bomberland where the buzz from last Sunday’s 31-2 evisceration of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl has lingered for days.

There were broad smiles all week, back slaps galore and a genuine sense that all was right in their world again.

This after one victory that ended a five-game losing skid, the longest in a decade.

This for a team that is still 3-7 and in the CFL East Division dungeon.

Just imagine, then, what an encore performance in Toronto this Sunday against the Argonauts could do for the mood in these parts…

“I hope that’s the norm. I hope that’s the standard because that’s what our expectations are,” said LaPolice after practice Friday. “The fans are tremendous but we need to play consistent football and get our first win on the road.”

Oh yeah, there is that.

The Bombers, after all, are winless away from Canad Inns Stadium in five games this season; six dating back to last year.

And you have to go back 14 games — to a three game stretch late last September-October — to unearth the last time this organization won consecutive games.

So Sunday is huge because the Bombers don’t want to fall further behind a divisional rival or lose the season series to the Argos, especially after already dumping the series with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

But it’s also huge because we all might get a better feel for what this bunch is all about. Are they the team that was so dominant in the win over the Riders? Or are they, well, really a 3-7 squad just not quite good enough.

“We’ve got to remember as quickly as this appeared, it can disappear, too,” said veteran defensive tackle Doug Brown. “It’s like we’re walking toward a mirage in the desert. It’s either an oasis or a mirage. As fast as it came up it could disappear just as quickly.

“It’s a long way back to respectability but this would be another good step.”

But it’s also a step many figure this team is ready to take, even on the road and as one-point underdogs. After all, this is an outfit that has lost four games by a TD or less, including a 36-34 setback to the Argos back in Week 2.

As well, the Argos have now lost three straight after a 5-2 start and will be without Most Outstanding Player candidate and CFL leading rusher Cory Boyd. Take him out of the attack and consider this, too: they are dead last in the league in passing.

But talking about salvaging the season and actually doing the dirty work of digging out of such a monumental hole are two very distinct things. It’s why LaPolice and his staff have been so determined over the last week to keep the troops grounded. Indeed, while Bomber Nation rejoiced, the coach has been purposefully popping any party balloons still floating about.

That message has sunk in with some of his troops, but the real evidence will be displayed Sunday afternoon in The Big Smoke.

“The Banjo Bowl — at home to Saskatchewan — that was a big win,” began safety Ian Logan. “Now we have the momentum we’ve been looking for. Week after week it’s been ‘We’re close, we’re almost there.’ Finally we came out and beat them quite handily.

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“But here’s the thing: you can’t be having a party and celebrating after one win. We’re still at the bottom of the division and we need wins. We only have three wins.

“We know we’re good, but now we need to prove it.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca