My first memorable trip to Ivor Wynne for the Labour Day Classic was in 1987. The tension was thick because just 10 months before this game, the Tiger Cats swooped into Exhibition Stadium and came back from a 32 point deficit in a two game total point playoff series to beat us 33-32. The Tiger Cats went on to win the Cup that year so they had complete confidence or I should say arrogance about them.
We weren't in the best position in the standings and we were defined as a rebuilding team. We lost games in such a manner that made it feel that way. We were 4-4 and 1 going into the classic while the Tiger Cats were 6-3. We needed a win and we hadn't won a Labour Day game in Hamilton since 1968.
As I pushed the equipment trunk across the field for the prep of the game all I could hear was "Argos Suck". I thought back to what it was like at the stadium a few hours before that. It was like any other road trip. The fans made it different.
Just 4 hours before that the stadium was a quiet place with the weather a nice warm and humid afternoon. The game was a night game so we had less heat to worry about, however you can still see the ash from the Dofasco plant slightly layered on the field. You knew you were in Hamilton and it was the calm before the storm. As players rolled into the room you could smell the coffee brewing that the offensive lineman would drink as religiously as they drank the gatorade during the game. I did my usual prep for a game and as the clock got closer to the game the stands began to fill and the players made less polite conversation. There were less hand shakes, less pats on the back and less "how are you feeling" "things good at home?" "Have a good game." Now there was glaring, trash talk and alot of shouting at teammates to "Get Hype".
Every play in the game followed alot of yelling and heckling. The bench area was so close to the stands you could hear a person sip their beer in between "Schultzie you suck!". As the game went on, it was starting to appear that the Ticats would add yet another loss to our rebuilding season but the drama would shock all the 24,770 that were there to see a back and forth battle. The Ticats were leading 19-18 with less than a minute. Gilbert Renfroe would make a number of completions to take the ball to the 1 with 1 second remaining.
A quick run down the gap by Running back Tony Johns put the winning touch down on the board and we were victorious. I ran around the bench in such a frenzy and remember getting a coke thrown on me by a fan in the front row. I didn't care and when CBC had shown high lights of the win, there I was running towards the camera. It would be another 5 Labour day games before we won one.
In my 25 Labour Day games I was part of the winner for only 8. So you can see how that game wasn't one I enjoyed being a part of, however I know that I will miss the hype and the passion that the fans brought to every game we played at Ivor Wynne, especially the game that was the last day of the summer holidays and the Labour day Classic.
I'll have to save some of the hairier stories for my book.
