Going into Ivor Wynne for a regular season game like the Labour Day Classic was exciting but imagine when a two game, home at home series would decide who will go on to play in the Grey Cup at BC Place. I knew it would be hard to beat the Ticats in Ivor Wynne but for some reason I had a great feeling. Our game earlier in October we lost in Ivor Wynne by 10 points but beat them both times at home. All the games were close so who would imagine what could happen. Under the leadership of #6 Quarterback JC Watts we managed to beat the TigerCats 31-17. A few interesting notes, it was the first playoff game for Darrell K Smith and Chris Schultz. Going back to Toronto all we really had to do is win or lose by less than two touchdowns. Very Possible.
Being a member of the equipment team thats where I realized the rivalry reached beyond the players and fans. Upon arriving at IvorWynne I was startled to see that we were given a few accessories that were supposed to be provided by visiting teams, much to be desired. I'll leave the details for my book. That angered all of us on the equipment team. I also recall that at Ivor Wynne the visiting team had to walk outside their locker room with Tiger Cat fans just above. Walking off the field after beating the TigerCats, as a 16 year old ball boy, I pushed a trunk towards the locker room pretty happy to know I will have a chance to be in my very first Grey Cup. However, my daydreaming was stopped abruptly when an empty mickey shattered just feet from me and the trunk. As it happened, I recall the person that would be fitting to come to my rescue, #2 Carl Brazely. He looked up and made sure that the fans knew they did wrong and that their actions while passionate for the team were stupid.
That's when I really knew the rivalry that stood before me.
November 23rd we made sure the TigerCats recieved exactly what they gave us. As I wheeled the shopping cart with their gameday accessories, I was given a few messages to relay back to the Equipment crew of the Argonauts. All I wanted was the game to begin and for us to win and I would see if I might be included in the trip plans to Vancouver. Before you could blink we were up by 26 points after the first quarter. Things were looking very promising. then it happened. Just as the legendary "Argo Bounce" was a story I heard about, I saw it first hand. By the end of the fourth quarter and mishaps I'd like to forget, we lost the two game total point series 59-56! and watching Mike Kerrigan and Al Bruno on the TigerCats sideline celebrate made me feel a little on the sick side.
I continued my chores as though it were another game but this time amidst the picking up of towels, laundry and jerseys I heard sobs. Players sat in front of their lockers sobbing about the fact that we were just 45 minutes away from being in the Grey Cup.
Those memories were very hard to take. If anything that two game total point series only taught me how much I detested the TigerCats in the Eastern Final. I had no idea that I wouldn't feel the rivalry 27 years later, in a domed stadium, with the very close potential of over 40,000 fans in the 101st Grey Cup Playoffs.
Right now from that 86 team, only myself and Danny are still employed with the Argos. Only he and I will remember the antics around the game. Who knows it could be another 27 years til these two teams meet in the East Final again.
