Alouettes Lose To The Ticats 44-21

Ticats Defeat Als 44-21 -- Montreal Gazette

HAMILTON – Like the captain of what appears to be a sinking ship, Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman justifiably claimed he’s responsible for his team’s debilitating 44-21 defeat to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday afternoon.

“I hold myself accountable for our inability to be focused and our inability to be disciplined,” Trestman said. “It starts with me. It should.

“At the end of the day, as I told the team, I’m accountable for this. I didn’t have the team focused and we didn’t play a disciplined game. And I’m responsible for both.”

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My Comment: Yup .... the Als were destroyed.

Montreal Alouettes Defeat The Edmonton Eskimos 27 - 4

Montreal Alouettes running back Brandon Whitaker (2) and wide receiver Kerry Watkins (81) celebrate with slotback Jamel Richardson (18) after a touchdown during the first half of CFL football action against the Edmonton Eskimos in Montreal, August 11, 2011. Photograph by: REUTERS/Olivier Jean

Montreal Alouettes Win Would-Be Grey Cup Showdown -- Montreal Gazette

Anthony Calvillo throws his 400th touchdown in 27-4 win.

MONTREAL - Earlier in the day, a Montreal broadcaster had the temerity to suggest this was a potential Grey Cup preview, although it’s only August.

Here’s the problem: Hours later, the Alouettes were the only team that appeared worthy of championship consideration. The Edmonton Eskimos? Merely pretenders to the throne.

The Eskimos, missing Canadian Football League League leading receiver Fred Stamps, hardly put up any resistance, falling 27-4 to the Als Thursday night before 24,448 Molson Stadium spectators. The franchise keeps its streak alive of failing to sell-out its facility in 2011.

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My Comment: I expected a closer game.

Montreal Alouettes 36, Toronto Argos 23

Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo throws a pass against the Argonauts on Thursday night. Photograph by: Mike Cassese, Reuters

Montreal Alouettes Defeat Argonauts As Anthony Calvillo Sets Another CFL Record -- Montreal Gazette

TORONTO - Time will tell whether the Alouettes are the best team in the East Division - again. But it seems pretty safe to assume the Toronto Argonauts are the worst.

The Als ended a two-game losing streak with a convincing 36-23 victory over the hapless Argos before a disappointing crowd of 19,204 at the Rogers Centre. Montreal improved to 4-2 with the win. The Argos, meanwhile, are now 1-5, having lost five straight following a surprising season-opening win at Calgary, of all places.

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My Comment: It was a convincing win.

Regina Mayor Pays Off Grey Cup Bet

Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco wore a Montreal Alouettes jersey during a City Council meeting on Monday. He wore the jersey as part of a Grey Cup bet with Montreal's Mayor Gerald Tremblay. The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 in this year's Grey Cup. (Troy Fleece/Canadian Press)

From The CBC:

Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco says a deal is a deal — even if it means he has to trade his beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey for a Montreal Alouettes one.

Fiacco made good Monday on a Grey Cup bet he had made with Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay.

The pair agreed that the losing city's mayor would don the winning team's jersey, fly its flag at city hall and buy season tickets for the winning team to be donated to charity.

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My Comment: The sweet taste of victory. Now if the Montreal Canadiens can get their act together .... that is when we can really celebrate.

Alouette's Head Coach To Stay With The Football Team

Head coach of the the 2009 Grey Cup champion Alouettes Marc Trestman is expected to sign an extension with the team. Photograph by: Dave Sidaway, The Gazette

Alouettes Ink Coach Trestman To Extension: Report -- CBC

The Montreal Alouettes have locked up head coach Marc Trestman.

A league source requesting anonymity said Wednesday that the Alouettes have signed Trestman to a contract extension and will announce the deal Thursday at a news conference in Montreal.

Trestman, 53, had one year remaining in his original deal with the Alouettes.

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More News On Head Coach Trestman Staying With The Alouettes

Head coach Marc Trestman expected to stick with Alouettes -- Montreal Gazette
Alouettes reportedly set to sign Trestman to extension -- Globe And Mail
Montreal Alouettes sign head coach Trestman to contract extension -- Metro News/Canadian Press

Calvillo's Gift To The MUHC

The donation from Calvillo (seen here with wife Alexia) will help build a new kitchen and bathroom at the Montreal General Hospital family room.

From CTV:

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo is giving back to his community, donating the $10,000 prize money from his CFL Most Outstanding Player Award.

Calvillo, fresh off a Grey Cup win, is giving the money to the Cedars Cancer Institute at the McGill University Health Centre.

His wife, Alexia Calvillo, was treated for B-Cell lymphoma cancer at the Royal Victoria Hospital, which is part of the MUHC.

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Update: Calvillos give $10K to hospital -- CBC

My Comment: This is one of the many reasons why he is a champion.

Football Gods Owed Us One

From The Montreal Gazette:

Alouettes have been robbed of victory twice in the past.

If time and chance conspired to give the Alouettes the Grey Cup, let it be said that the gods owed Montreal for two historic and painful one-point losses in the national championship.

As in, 1954 and 1975. As in 26-25 and 9-8, scores indelibly engraved in the annals of heartbreak in Montreal.

Call it equalization. Until Sunday's shocker, Quebec had been a have-not province. Now it's Saskatchewan's turn. Thanks to a stupid Saskatchewan penalty for too many men on the field, the Alouettes rekicked a missed field goal and won the Cup 28-27 on the last play of the game.

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My Comment: I concur .... the football Gods owe Montreal a few Grey Cups.

Als Parade Their Cup For Montreal Fans

Montreal Alouettes Ben Cahoon holds the Grey Cup for fans to see as the team's victory parade makes its way down St. Catherine St. in Montreal Tuesday, December 2, 2009. Photograph by: John Mahoney, The Gazette

From Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL ­ It was a sky of blue and sea of good cheer above and along Ste. Catherine St. on Wednesday as the city of Montreal staged a upbeat Grey Cup parade for the victorious Montreal Alouettes.

Under a bright sun and amid unseasonably mild temperatures, fans lined both sides of the parade route in large numbers. It was the Als’s sixth Grey Cup, and the victorious parade took the same route that Stanley Cup parades do – “the usual route,” as former mayor Jean Drapeau used to say.

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More News On Today's Grey Cup Parade

Alouettes feted for Grey Cup victory -- CBC
Grey Cup celebration in the streets -- CTV
Tens of thousands cram downtown Montreal to fete Grey Cup champion Alouettes -- National Post
Massive crowd engulfs downtown for Montreal Alouettes victory parade -- Canadian Press

Grey Cup Parade Starts At 11 a.m.

Als quarterback Anthony Cavillo raises the Grey Cup for cheering fans as the Montreal Alouettes return with the Grey Cup in Montreal on Monday. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

Montrealers Are Into Their Cups: Alouettes Parade Grey While Habs Chase Stanley -- Montreal Gazette

MONTREAL - We can pick our friends. And those of us who bothered to vote picked our mayor.

But we can't pick which Cup to parade through the downtown core.

Grey is great, but Stanley would be stupendous.

And since the National Hockey League playoffs don't end until two months into the baseball season, we'd have nicer weather for an outdoor party if the Canadiens were to win their 25th championship.

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Update: Watch Grey Cup parade live on CTV -- CTV

Calvillo, Trestman Plan To Stay With The Als

Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman, seen here with QB Anthony Calvillo, says he wants to stay with the team. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

From CTV News:

Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman and quarterback Anthony Calvillo are planning to return to the team next season.

Calvillo confirmed his intentions Tuesday afternoon, while Trestman said he also doesn't want to leave the Als.

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Update: Trestman plans to coach Alouettes in 2010 -- CTV

My Comment: Most (if not all) of the team is coming back next year .... a possible Grey Cup repeat?

Alouette's Parade Starts At 12:00

Als Get Ready For Big Victory Party -- CTV

The Montreal Alouettes are getting ready for one huge party to cap off their Grey Cup win on the weekend.

A parade will be held downtown on Wednesday.

The Als had a team meeting on Tuesday morning in advance of a news conference to lay out the parade plans.

On Wednesday morning, the team will head to City Hall to sign the "golden book" and to receive congratulations from Mayor Gerald Tremblay.

Then they'll take to the streets for the Grey Cup parade.

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Hero's Welcome For Alouettes

Étienne Boulay allows fans to touch the Grey Cup for cheering fans as the Montreal Alouettes return with the Grey Cup at Trudeau Airport on Monday Nov. 30, 2009.
Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

From The CBC:

The Montreal Alouettes received a hero’s welcome as they arrived home Monday evening after Sunday’s last-second Grey Cup victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Fans cheered "Go Als Go" and sang We are the Champions as quarterback Anthony Calvillo hoisted the cup high above his head at Trudeau Airport.

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More News On The Montreal Alouettes

Alouettes come home with Grey Cup -- Montreal Gazette
Als fans welcome Grey Cup heroes home -- CTV
Grey Cup champs get heroes' welcome -- Toronto Sun
Even Alouettes can't really believe it -- National Post
Ripples continue long after game ends -- Globe And Mail

Als Fans Thrilled With Grey Cup victory

Montreal Alouettes fans at a downtown bar jump to their feet after the Als defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 on Sunday, November 29, 2009.

From CTV News:

It took seven years, but on Sunday night, Montreal Alouettes fans finally got what they've been waiting for.

In what was one of the most dramatic final few seconds of a Grey Cup game, the Montreal Alouettes took advantage of a penalty called on the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and kicked a 33-yard field goal to secure a 28-27 victory in front of 46,000 spectators.

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My Comment: I have a confession .... after the 3rd quarter I went to bed. I was sad and dejected that the Als had lost .... and I did not see the point of watching any further.

Words cannot describe how shocked I was to see the headlines this morning. I was bitter at myself for missing the rest of the game .... but (yes) pleasantly surprised at the same time.

97th Grey Cup Set For Kickoff

Roughriders' Darian Durant and Anthony Calvillo of the Alouettes.
Photograph by: Mark Taylor, Canwest News Service

From The Montreal Gazette:

The wait is over. After a week of interviews, festivities and parades, the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders take to the field in Calgary for the 97th Grey Cup on Sunday.

It’s the second straight Grey Cup appearance for the Alouettes, who will look to erase the memories of a loss in the 2008 Grey Cup at the hands of the Calgary Stampeders in front of their fans at Olympic Stadium.

The Roughriders, who won the Grey Cup in 2007, will be looking for the second league title in three seasons after going 10-7-1 this season and finishing atop the Western Division standings.

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My prediction for the Als: Tough game. Few breaks. Tension and stress throughout. Close moments. Pain and agony. Triumphant finish .... of which much rejoicing then follows.

Position-By-Position Report Card For Two Competing Grey Cup Teams

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo(13) tries to get away from BC Lions defensive end Ricky Foley during first quarter CFL Eastern Final football action at Olympic Stadium Sunday, November 22, 2009 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

From CTV:

The Canadian Press

CALGARY — The Montreal Alouettes were first in the East Division after compiling a league-best 15-3 record, while Saskatchewan finished atop the West Division for the first time since 1976 with a 10-7-1 mark.

Montreal advanced to its seventh Grey Cup appearance since 2000 with a 56-18 win over the B.C. Lions in the East Division final. The Roughriders are in their second CFL title game since '07 following a 27-17 win over Calgary in the West Division final.

Here's a post ion-by-position grading for both teams heading into the big game:

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My Comment: But who has the spirit to win .... one thing that I have learned is that sometimes the better team does not win.

Grey Cup More Than A Game

Saskatchewan Roughrider fans were soaking up the atmosphere in Calgary in the lead-up to the Grey Cup. (Eric Anderson/CBC)

From The CBC:

Football fans enjoy the festivities connected to the game as much as the game itself.

Athletes and fans alike are savouring the festivities leading up to the much anticipated Grey Cup game in Calgary on Sunday when the Saskatchewan Roughriders play the Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium.

Extra airline flights were added between Calgary and Regina and Saskatoon, allowing many 'Rider fans to get to the game.

Other 'Rider enthusiasts took the Trans-Canada Highway to Calgary, ensuring the city would be awash in green, the team colour.

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My Comment: I have just two things to say.... (1) I hate green. (2) Do not forget the beer.

There's No Shortage Of Things To Watch For In 2009 Grey Cup Contest

From CTV:

CALGARY — The practices are over, long film sessions complete. All that's left to do now is play the game.

The 2009 CFL season will come to an end Sunday when the Montreal Alouettes square off against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 97th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium.

The showdown features the best two teams in the CFL this season. Montreal finished atop the East Division standings with a league-best 15-3 record while Saskatchewan took first in the West Division for the first time since '76 with a 10-7-1 mark.

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My Comment: The Als should win .... I repeat .... the Als should win.

Calvillo Wins 3rd Outstanding Player Award

Anthony Calvillo poses with the CFL Most Outstanding Player Award in Calgary on Thursday. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

From CBC:

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player for a second consecutive year on Thursday night in Calgary.

It was Calvillo's third time overall winning the award, having first taken the honour in 2003. The quarterback threw 26 touchdown passes, completed 72 per cent of his passes and was intercepted just six times. He was third in passing yards (4,639).

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My Comment: It is nice to win these small awards .... but the one that counts is on Sunday.

Calvillo's Big Day Worth CFL Weekly Award

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo is enjoying what could be the finest season of his career. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

From The CBC:

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo was named CFL offensive player of the week Tuesday after leading the Alouettes to a 56-18 rout of B.C. in the East Division final.

Calvillo, a unanimous pick for the honour, threw five touchdown passes in last Sunday's victory, tying a CFL post-season record. He went 19-for-28 on the day for 312 yards.

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My Comment: He is definitely ready for this weeks Grey Cup.

Alouettes Confident Ahead Of Grey Cup

From The CBC:

After crushing the B.C. Lions in a 56-18 win in the CFL Eastern Final Sunday, the Montreal Alouettes were quick to point out that they finished the regular season with the best record in the league.

A day later, those same Alouettes assured reporters that that confidence should not be mistaken for cockiness as they prepare for Sunday's Grey Cup game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Calgary.

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More Grey Cup News

Alouettes brimming with confidence ahead of trip to Calgary for Grey Cup -- Canadian Press
Painting the town green -- Toronto Sun
A Breakdown Of This Year's Grey Cup teams -- TSN
Riders head to Grey Cup focused on task at hand -- Canada.com
Riders QB Darian Durant welcomes underdog role against Montreal in the Grey Cup -- Canadian Press
Hundreds cheer at rally for Saskatchewan Roughriders in advance of Grey Cup game -- Canadian Press