How does a lion become king of the jungle?
Ask a few of the B.C.'s Lions after their hopeless, helpless 0-5 season led them to a Grey Cup victory Sunday night and they'll tell you it's about a scrappy feline's desire to fight for himself and his pride.
"Just keep believing. Just keep fighting," said Travis Lulay after the 34-23 victory at B.C. Place over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His wife Kim was by his side as orange and white confetti continued to flutter down from above.
All-star Canadian centre Angus Reid said the team could have easily collapsed under the weight of losing. He was proud of a team that stuck it out to see the season through an eight-game winning streak and the championship to cap it off.
"It's very easy to quit. It's very easy to turn on each other, to cannibalize, to save your own jobs and rat people out," he said. "Nobody ever did that. We stuck together. We fought back one game at a time for the person beside us and today here we are, champions."
Reid, who graduated from Vancouver College and then Simon Fraser University before joining the B.C. Lions in 2001, said this championship team was one of the best he's ever played with. "I couldn't be prouder of any group in my life."
Lions receiver Geroy Simon, another veteran who also came to the team a decade ago and who turns 37 next season, said these Leos were the best he'd ever played with. "The talent might not be as good as those past years but the team, this is a better team. I say as far as players playing together, players making sacrifices- It's a true definition of a team."
Simon credited Lulay for the team's focus and calm in the face of a losing record and the adrenaline of competing for the Grey Cup at home in front of 54,313 CFL fans.
"Travis is a true leader, man. He puts in so many hours that no body knows about," Simon said. "He puts in so much hard work and then it resonates on the field. The guy plays hurt-he's been hurt probably for the last three weeks and nobody even knew about it. He's a great player, even though he's a young player, I'm so happy to be able to play with him."
Vancouver-born Lions kicker Paul McCallum, who rang the ball off the upright on a 41-yard field goal attempt and scored on four others, said this team started weak but was never overcome.
"I haven't been on a team that has this kind of character before, this kind of work ethic and focus," he said with his two pre-teen daughters, Meghan and Paige, flanking him on either side.
"It all starts with Travis being as calm as he is."
Lulay, the Lions ginger, God-fearing quarterback, was lauded as the player of the game and earlier in the week was recognized as the most-valuable player in the Canadian Football League.
He threw for two touchdowns and 320 yards, adding to his year's total 4,815 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes. The 28-year-old from Montana State threw 11 interceptions this season and rushed for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
Even with an imperfect start to Sunday's Grey Cup game-he threw 11 for 22 in the first half-Lulay said he felt focused, calm and patient.
"Even when we had a few miscues, we had the lead the entire game. There was no sense of panic, no reason to panic. It was just a matter of keep fighting," Lulay said.
"My eyes were great, I thought the game was relatively slow. I just missed a couple throws. I got bug-eyed when I saw a guy get open and missed four or five throws that I haven't missed in a long time."
He repeated the mantra the Lions claimed Sunday night: "It's a championship game. It doesn't matter how it gets done. Keep fighting and find a way to get it done."
A rain-drenched but no less dampened Grey Cup Festival parade came and went Saturday. Now that the B.C. Lions are Grey Cup champions and the polished hardware is here to stay, the football club is inviting its fans indoors to celebrate the victory. The party is set for B.C. Place Stadium today (Nov. 30) from 6 to 8 p.m. Fans can enter through gates A or H (at Terry Fox Plaza) at 5 p.m. The event is free.
Twitter: @MHStewart
