Game day: 411

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/09/2011 (5442 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TURNING UP THE SOUND

Canned crowd noise — and a little ‘Raspberry Beret’ (Prince) for those looking for extra detail — was on the playlist at Canad Inns Stadium Friday as the Blue Bombers went through final preparations for the Labour Day Classic.

The club has been doing this all week, turning up the static as the offence goes through drills in hopes of avoiding the same confusion other clubs have had while on Winnipeg’s sound stage this summer.

“Hopefully, we handle it fine,” coach Paul LaPolice said.

The older players aren’t too worried about the crowd volume at Mosaic Stadium Sunday afternoon. Most of the Bombers have been exposed to the environment before.

“I’ve played there a lot,” said quarterback Buck Pierce, who was there as a Bomber last year and has seen his fair share of games in Regina as a member of the B.C. Lions (including a playoff game). Not wanting to light any fuses before kickoff, Pierce chose his words carefully when describing the Rider faithful.

“Enthusiastic,” he offered. “Football to them is very important.”

Some of the younger guns, however, have no idea what’s coming.

Receiver Cory Watson missed the 2010 LDC due to injury. He’s played in some loud stadiums before, he says, but this will be a new experience.

He’s checked in with a few veterans to get a sense of what to expect.

“It’s going to be hostile — that’s what they told me,” he said.

The game has been sold out for months. Look a healthy dose of Blue and Gold in the crowd, though.

BIG CHANCE

Rookie non-import DB Daryl Townsend, a training camp cut of the Riders, makes his pro debut with the Bombers. He’ll serve on special teams and as the backup safety. The 25-year-old from Windsor, Ont., signed with Winnipeg two weeks ago, so the learning curve has been a steep one. He’s confident he can step in when required, though.

“Athletically, I’m good,” he said. “Knowing the formations… that might be a case where I’ll be asking a lot of questions during the game.”

ROSTER SHUFFLE

LB Marcellus Bowman (toe) hasn’t practised all week, so he’s out. WR Kito Poblah is in, bumping WR Aaron Hargreaves to a backup role. WR Greg Carr remains in the starting lineup. The addition of Townsend means a Canadian will have to come off the roster. Sorry, DB Jerry-Ralph Jules.

EXTRA POINTS

NFL clubs cut down to 53 players today. Former Bombers DE Phillip Hunt looks to be in good stead for a gig with the Philadelphia Eagles… An error in the CFL picks in Friday’s paper had yours truly picking Hamilton in the Edmonton-Calgary contest. While the payout on the Ticats is astronomical in the all-Alberta clash, put me down for the Stamps.

— Wazny