Yesterday I was witness to probably one of the most bittersweet moments in the 2009 Canadian Football League season. I went to the 2009 Grey Cup game in Calgary because of course my team was in the final.
The Roughriders dominated the entire first half of the game, we kept up the momentum during the third quarter but unfortunately the Montreal Alouettes started to pick up their game inching closer and closer to our lead. With the seconds ticking down, we were leading by two points and Montreal decided to kick a field goal to hopefully win the game (and the Cup) by one point.
Their kicker missed the uprights, wide to the right. It was pandemonium in the crowds as our running back caught the missed field goal and started to run out of the endzone. Flags on the field. Uh oh, not good news. The Roughriders had an extra man on the field, a heavy penalty to take with 5 seconds left in the game. The penalty moved the ball 10 yards closer and another kick for Montreal. This time the kick was good.
Our Grey Cup hopes dashed in a matter of seconds, Roughrider fans were the most subdued crowd you'd ever seen filing out of McMahon Stadium. What a heartbreak.
I just wanted to share the photos I took of the weekend as I attended the game with my friend Mike, his father Ken and Mike's friend Brian. You can see that about 95% of the crowd made the trek from Saskatchewan to see this game (lots of green in the crowd). I was so amazed at the other fans that wore their team's colours just as proudly at the final, even in their team didn't make it. Events like these always unite people for that one brief weekend and that's why I love to attend. I can't wait for Grey Cup 2010 here in Edmonton! It will be a party to remember and our Roughriders will be hungry for another chance at the cup!