(Hamilton) Head coach Jason Maas felt the need to call the Montreal Alouettes players to order at the end of Thursday’s training session at Tim Hortons Field for the Gray Cup.
After a two-hour training session in absolutely glorious weather for November 16 – over 15°C and bright sunshine – Maas gathered his flock in the center of the field as he does at the end of each session.
Some players weren’t rushing enough to join the group for his liking and, already irritated by what he had just seen, he let them know with a few strong curses.
Once his players gathered, the head coach gave them a soap, in colorful language to say the least, which could not be transcribed without a warning for younger or more sensitive readers.
“I thought we had a great simulated session [Wednesday] and the team was progressing well, as we’ve seen throughout the season,” Maas noted. But after a good first half of training [Thursday], I found that we had slowed down at the end of the session. »
Maas then explained that he had reminded his players that Sunday’s match would require constant effort during the 60 minutes of play and that this had to be the case for the duration of the training sessions as well.
“The guys know that,” he added. When we start something, we must finish it with the same ardor. We liked what we saw this week so far. We knew it would be a different week, but the guys adapted well. They must not forget that they are here to work. »
Veteran guard Kristian Matte, who will play in the second Canadian Football League final of his career on Sunday, admitted as he left the field that some portions of practice had gone less well, but added that he There was no need to worry about the level of commitment of his teammates.
This is one of the rare moments of the season where the coach raised his voice in public towards his players. Maas highlighted how his team usually works very well, which explains their constant progress since the start of the calendar. He wants to see his team even better than in the Eastern final in the ultimate match.
This meeting against the winners in the West, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will get underway at 6 p.m. on Sunday. This is the fourth consecutive final contested by the Blue Bombers, who won the Gray Cup in 2019 and 2021, but lost the last edition at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts.
With the number of French speakers wearing the Alouettes uniform this season, it would have been surprising not to find any Cowboys Fringants fans among the lot. Like the rest of Quebec, they were affected by the death of singer Karl Tremblay at age 47 from prostate cancer on Wednesday.
“I have always listened to their music,” said linebacker Frédéric Chagnon. With everything that has been said in the last few months, it did something to me to know that he had given everything until his last show. I think we could take inspiration from him on Sunday and really leave everything on the pitch. You never know what will happen in the next days, the next years. »
“It’s a shock for everyone,” said defensive lineman Vincent Desjardins. I was at the Quebec Summer Festival, it was really quite a moving show. […] I think the Cowboys are ingrained in us. I hope the band continues to tour in his honor. It’s a big group. »
“I was a fan, I listened to their music,” added fullback Alexandre Gagné. With the media coverage of his illness, we were able to see how much he absolutely wanted to sing for as long as possible. It’s sad. Without ever having met him, without knowing him personally, I have a ball of emotion in my stomach. It’s sad, especially at 47. »
The CFL will also perform a Cowboys Fringants play in honor of Karl Tremblay during the Gray Cup pre-game.
