STAMPEDERS TAKE STRANGE SCHEDULE IN STRIDE HEADING INTO KEY LABOUR DAY
Thursday marked quite the milestone for the Calgary Stampeders.
It was their two-week anniversary since last suiting up to play a game in the CFL … and counting.
They are not on the three-down docket for another four days, when they take the field Monday in the Labour Day Classic.
Strange schedule, to be sure.
But one the Stampeders say they are taking in stride.
“Everybody has tough scheduling at some point in their season,” said Stampeders defensive captain Mike Rose, shrugging off any notion the schedule-makers might have it out for them. “The goal is just to go out there and win, because nobody cares at the end of the year if you’ve played three games in 11 or 15 days.
“Nobody really cares.”
With that, the nobody-cares schedule of the Stamps (4-6) upcoming is two games in six days — both against the rival Edmonton Elks (3-8).
The much-hyped LDC goes Monday at McMahon Stadium (4 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary) followed by the Labour Day Replay next Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium in the Alberta capital (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
Then it’s another home game seven days later against the league-leading Montreal Alouettes (10-1).
The Stamps’ run of three tilts in 13 days is in sharp contrast to none played in 17 days, which is how it has stacked up for the Calgary club since a heartbreaking 31-29 home loss to the Ottawa Redblacks (7-2-1) on Aug. 15.
A lot has happened since dropping that one in the CFL.
But not a lot has hurt the Stamps, especially in the standings.
For one, Dedrick Mills is back in the attack for the Red and White. The ground-and-pound running back returns after missing a couple of games due to personal reasons — stuff the Stamps and Mills aren’t willing to divulge.
And away from the team, West Division rivals — both the BC Lions (5-6) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-5-1) — have been scuffling, leaving three teams — including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-6) — within touching distance of the Stampeders on just five victories through 11 games apiece.
It’s the first time since 2001, when the Stamps won the Grey Cup with an 8-10 record, that at least three teams in the West have owned a .500 record or worse this deep into a campaign.
“I mean … we can’t let other teams’ mistakes make us feel better about ourselves,” Rose said. “We need to play better. I hope they don’t play better. The goal is for us to play better and for them to keep playing like they’re playing.”
It helps in this race that the Stamps have a game in hand on every one of their division rivals.
And it helps that once the busy Labour Day two-step is over, there’s more of a flow moving forward — with Thursday tilts now all in the rear-view and just one more bye week awaiting them.
Because routine is a nice thing to have in football.
“Weather’s nice, so obviously that helps, and guys are competing hard,” said Dickenson, whose troops returned from their most recent bye for a practice Monday before taking two more days off Tuesday and Wednesday. “We definitely, I felt, had a little edge (Thursday in getting back to practise), and now we’ve got to make sure we get better and keep that edge going into Monday.
“It’s a great time of year,” continued Dickenson. “The NFL’s back up. Weather in the fall in Calgary is the prime weather. Looking forward to those (fighter) jets coming over the stadium and firing up the crowd (Monday ahead of the game). Edmonton is playing a lot better. They’re right behind us in the standings. We want to climb.
“A lot on the line — a lot on the line. It’s a great time to be alive. It’s a great time to go perform and play well on Labour Day.”
And, after two straight losses, get back into the win column and right into the thick of the West race, bringing on the age-old CFL adage …
“The season doesn’t start until Labour Day,” added Rose. “So whoever finishes strong will be the one at the end holding the Grey Cup.”
SHORT YARDAGE
The Stampeders have boosted their offence and special teams with the signing of American WR Chandler Worthy, who doubles as a dynamic and veteran kick returner in the league. In 45 regular-season CFL games with the Toronto Argonauts and the Alouettes. Worthy, 30, has 5,633 all-purpose yards and has scored seven touchdowns — four on receptions, two on kickoff returns and one on a punt return … The Red and White have also added two defensive players — Canadian DL Kail Dava and American LB Jacob Roberts. Dava was claimed off the Lions’ practice roster. The 23-year-old nose tackle was a fifth-round selection (44th overall) by BC in the 2024 CFL Draft. In the NCAA, the native of Barrie, Ont., played 48 games over five years (2019-23) with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Roberts played his senior NCAA season with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, appearing in 12 games and making nine starts. The 22-year-old recorded 83 tackles, including 10 for a loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles. Roberts transferred to Wake Forest after three all-star seasons with the North Carolina A&T Aggies … The Stamps released Canadian FB Lucas Robertson from their practice roster. The rookie from the U SPORTS’ UBC Thunderbirds was active for eight games earlier in the season and had one catch for 13 yards … In another transaction, the Stamps placed American DL Hamilcar Rashed Jr. on the suspended list.
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