The last game of the 2024 CFL season for the Calgary Stampeders could be — and should be — the swan song for many of the team’s current contributors.
Not because they’re going out on a high note.
Far from it.
In fact, the only sweet chime coming from the final ride of the year would be a win — the first for the team in nine straight games and the first road one of what’s been an ugly campaign — or such an unbelievable personal performance that it changes the way an underachiever is viewed heading into what is expected to be an off-season shaped by major transition.
“Whatever reason you need to find to go out there and perform, you have to do that,” said Stampeders veteran linebacker Cam Judge, himself named the team’s nominee for two league awards — the Most Outstanding Defensive Player and the Most Outstanding Canadian.
“Whatever it takes to fuel yourself or get you motivated …” continued Judge. “And if you’re not, you’ve got to find it, because this is our job at the end of the day.”
At the end of the season, there will be changes with the Calgary club.
Most likely wholesale ones after what’s been a last-place 4-12-1 debacle, with one last chance to make that record — and perhaps themselves as individuals — look at least a little better Saturday night against the host Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-7-1) at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
Of course, there are no games beyond this one since playoffs fell from their hands a few weeks back, ending a 19-year post-season run for the franchise.
“Obviously, it sucks when the year ends on a short (non-playoff) note,” said Stamps QB Tommy Stevens. “But we’re approaching Saturday just like we would any other game. You want to go into it wanting to win.
“So we’re doing whatever we can throughout the week to prepare for it, and we’re going against a really good opponent.”
In doing so, the Stamps are prepared to turn back to Jake Maier at quarterback.
The veteran makes his return to the starter’s role after being benched twice earlier in the season and with the starter of the last two weeks, Matt Shiltz, sidelined by an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
“We are going there to win, and I believe Jake gives us the best chance,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “The guys rallied and had a great week of practice.”
Apparently Maier included.
“My mentality since I’ve been here is that I was going to play every football game that I was given the ability to,” Maier said. “This is no different.
“Sure, I’ve been in and out of the lineup the last month or so. But … yeah … we’ve got one more on the road, and (Regina’s) a really fun place to play.”
It won’t be much fun without a win, however.
And fun has eluded the team for months now, with no final-game win really able to change that.
Or even likely to alter Maier’s own future with the Stamps.
“I’m sure when this game ends and the few weeks or months after, we’ll have plenty to talk about,” Maier said. “But at the end of the day, I’m out there with these guys for one more game.
“I’m super grateful that I have an opportunity to do so, because I know how rare that is for someone in my situation to be thrust back into an opportunity to play.”
That said, the Stamps’ misadventures of 2024 are certainly not all on Maier.
Questionable coaching and an ineffective offence — often no-showing for quarters at a time — can share in the blame.
As can the defence, which has mysteriously gone missing for long stretches of the season.
Indeed, the team — the whole of it, beset with limited talent — has fallen flat.
“Unfortunately when you lose that many, there’s really not an isolation thing or something you can figure out,” added Dickenson. “The goal for us is to show up and play well and finish.
“It’s just like anything else … you’re trying to make sure your people know you’re a professional football player or a professional coach and that you will show up and do your job to the best of your ability with maximum effort.
“We will show up. I’m counting on the guys to give me their best, and hopefully, we’ll come out of there with a win.”
SHORT YARDAGE
QB Logan Bonner checks into the Stamps’ lineup for the first time since Shiltz’s return from an ankle injury about six weeks ago. It’s Shiltz that he replaces on the QB list of active players … Also making his way back on to the roster is RB Peyton Logan after being a healthy scratch last week … To make way for Logan, RB Kylin Hill comes out of the lineup.
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