Described as "a miracle", "un-believeable" and "How the Heck Did They Do That..."
Montreal leading Winnipeg 40 - 23 with 48 seconds left in the game and this happened...
That was fun.
Tremendous night!
"The Montreal Miracle Game" (TM)
Probably the best night in IGF ever. Though that 4-5 fumble WDF was close.
The only people left in my section were me, my toddler son, and a 35yo stranger lady. At the end we all hugged and jumped up and down for 2 mins. A complete stranger.
REC Thorpe really looked like he had a future here or the CFL in general, but he disappeared real fast.
As MOS and others said many times afterwards, they never thought they weren't going to win (unlike 75% of the fans).
That span of 3 years around that game we may have had the best tempo / 2-min drill game ever seen in the CFL. We really had it down to a science. We're still good at it now, but not nearly as good as then. Maybe it was Lapo. Maybe Hogan can recapture some of that. We haven't been blowing out other teams like we used to, and many games are coming down to the last 2 mins again.
That was so much fun to watch, there was a fresh energy on that team, sadly it doesn't feel the same anymore. Maybe we've been spoiled by feasting on success the past 5 years and the bitter taste of recent defeat.....or maybe it was just Buck?
When a team takes on the persona of a head coach that never gives up and always believes can win you have a team that you can never count out of a game. The winning culture of this team is no accident.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 15, 2025, 02:58:48 PMThat was so much fun to watch, there was a fresh energy on that team, sadly it doesn't feel the same anymore. Maybe we've been spoiled by feasting on success the past 5 years and the bitter taste of recent defeat.....or maybe it was just Buck?
We have been spoiled. But the team has also gotten a bit complacent. We are no longer that good at the 2 min drill. We no longer are that bold. Everything is play it safe and play the law of large numbers hoping our pedigree is enough. But the pedigree isn't that high anymore!
Oh ya, and AH33 was the secret sauce. The dude was a magician with morale. He was never replaced in that regard.
C'mon guys. No talking about the good 'ol days until they're actually done.
The best is yet to come
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 19, 2025, 10:43:23 AMWe have been spoiled. But the team has also gotten a bit complacent. We are no longer that good at the 2 min drill. We no longer are that bold. Everything is play it safe and play the law of large numbers hoping our pedigree is enough. But the pedigree isn't that high anymore!
Oh ya, and AH33 was the secret sauce. The dude was a magician with morale. He was never replaced in that regard.
There is no doubt that AH33 was a dynamic personality. Not sure how much he was a morale booster, but he sure "led by example". Jumping on the bike after a 60 yd run showed the team-mates work ethic... I think BO20 is as much or more a morale booster, with his head slapping and such..
Quote from: theaardvark on March 19, 2025, 03:02:16 PMThere is no doubt that AH33 was a dynamic personality. Not sure how much he was a morale booster, but he sure "led by example". Jumping on the bike after a 60 yd run showed the team-mates work ethic... I think BO20 is as much or more a morale booster, with his head slapping and such..
Disagree Brady is a great running back that works super hard at his craft but he lacks authenticity, he's a me first guy team second, you can hear it come out when he talks any longer than 3 minutes, it's just who he is. Brady tries to wear those shoes but I don't think the core ingredient Harris possessed can be imitated, you have it or you don't and most don't.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 19, 2025, 03:25:42 PMDisagree Brady is a great running back that works super hard at his craft but he lacks authenticity, he's a me first guy team second, you can hear it come out when he talks any longer than 3 minutes, it's just who he is. Brady tries to wear those shoes but I don't think the core ingredient Harris possessed can be imitated, you have it or you don't and most don't.
Definitely not how I see it
Never thought I'd see anyone say Brady Oliveira lacks authenticity. Wow.
I get what TLB is saying, Brady will use some "I" language when he's speaking.
I think it's just that he's a younger player. We got Harris as a finished product. Brady hasn't been in front of the camera as long.
Two moments that standout to me beyond the leadership Harris demonstrated on the field in every single game, getting in Simoni Lawrence's face early in the 2019 GC game and leading the charge by ripping off the Rider player's helmet in the Banjo Bowl brawl a few years later, he had the dark soul of a warrior that would do whatever it took.
Like the old rhyme says, Brady is made up of snips and snails and puppy dogs' tails, he's too nice a guy to cross the line and get nasty. No shade on him, he's a great football player and an outstanding human.
Quote from: theaardvark on March 19, 2025, 03:02:16 PMThere is no doubt that AH33 was a dynamic personality. Not sure how much he was a morale booster, but he sure "led by example". Jumping on the bike after a 60 yd run showed the team-mates work ethic.
AH33 was the perennial pre-game pep talk guy. You don't remember the few ones we got to see on camera? The "Who's got my back" ones.
He was literally the team leader and heart and soul of the team.
He was always leading on the sidelines too. There were stories that came out about the '19 GC run and the WSF where they were starting to look like they weren't going to win, going into the locker room at half time. It was AH33 that led the way convincing everyone they weren't going to have a season end in CGY again like they did in '18.
AH was way more than an on-field inspiration. And we haven't seen anything like that since.
And this isn't a dis on Brady. This role doesn't have to go to the RB. It can be anyone. No one has stood up to the plate in the way AH used to. Yet.
That's why I get excited when I see a guy like DL Adams on the field pre- and in-game showing signs of that hype and attitude. You never know who will take over that role.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 19, 2025, 10:11:44 PMleading the charge by ripping off the Rider player's helmet in the Banjo Bowl brawl a few years later,
He actually threw a punch clear as day and it was a miracle he didn't get ejected. I think the refs/command were biased because they didn't want to kick out the #1 best and most popular player from the most important home game.
It's like when they didn't kick VAJ out of the game that time he swung Biggie's helmet at Biggie's face. Should have been instant ejection.
Rank has its privileges, apparently.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 21, 2025, 01:06:36 AMAH33 was the perennial pre-game pep talk guy. You don't remember the few ones we got to see on camera? The "Who's got my back" ones.
He was literally the team leader and heart and soul of the team.
He was always leading on the sidelines too. There were stories that came out about the '19 GC run and the WSF where they were starting to look like they weren't going to win, going into the locker room at half time. It was AH33 that led the way convincing everyone they weren't going to have a season end in CGY again like they did in '18.
AH was way more than an on-field inspiration. And we haven't seen anything like that since.
And this isn't a dis on Brady. This role doesn't have to go to the RB. It can be anyone. No one has stood up to the plate in the way AH used to. Yet.
That's why I get excited when I see a guy like DL Adams on the field pre- and in-game showing signs of that hype and attitude. You never know who will take over that role.
Not disputing AH33's Rah Rahs, but morale is more than just hyping up going onto the field.
Morale is about leading with character. I think of a morale guy more of the Thomas's and Wolitarski's. Guys that are big brothers, guys that you'd call to help you move. Or Jefferson...
Yes, AH33 led with intensity, but I'm not sure how many of the team would invite him over for beers and BBQ...
Quote from: theaardvark on March 21, 2025, 03:37:55 AMNot disputing AH33's Rah Rahs, but morale is more than just hyping up going onto the field.
Morale is about leading with character. I think of a morale guy more of the Thomas's and Wolitarski's. Guys that are big brothers, guys that you'd call to help you move. Or Jefferson...
Yes, AH33 led with intensity, but I'm not sure how many of the team would invite him over for beers and BBQ...
Harris bonded with and hung out with his O-line, he was the only non-member allowed to attend their BBQ's.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 21, 2025, 02:27:58 PMHarris bonded with and hung out with his O-line, he was the only non-member allowed to attend their BBQ's.
I would expect that. My point is that a team is 50+ players, not 9...
Quote from: theaardvark on March 21, 2025, 02:39:25 PMI would expect that. My point is that a team is 50+ players, not 9...
I think you're missing the point. All you have to do is listen to his "You got my back?" speech in the locker room before the 2019 Grey Cup to know the whole team galvanised at that moment and went out and absolutely kicked the crap out of a very, very good Ticat team. AH33 led by example and brought some intangibles to the Bombers that are hard, but not impossible,to replace.
Quote from: J5V on March 21, 2025, 03:30:06 PMI think you're missing the point. All you have to do is listen to his "You got my back?" speech in the locker room before the 2019 Grey Cup to know the whole team galvanised at that moment and went out and absolutely kicked the crap out of a very, very good Ticat team. AH33 led by example and brought some intangibles to the Bombers that are hard, but not impossible,to replace.
I got the point, I'm just debating the difference between morale and inspiration. Morale is a brotherhood kind of team building, whereas inspiration is more a rah rah buildup in the moment.
I do not dispute AH33 was inspirational. Pre game speeches, sideline hyping, he was a rah rah guy. I just don't see him as the typical morale booster type.
Andrew Harris led by example during his time as member of this team.
Brady Oliveira leads by example as a current member of this team.
Their methods differ. It's that simple.
Quote from: theaardvark on March 21, 2025, 03:37:55 AMMorale is about leading with character. I think of a morale guy more of the Thomas's and Wolitarski's. Guys that are big brothers, guys that you'd call to help you move. Or Jefferson...
Morale is literally the guy that keeps spirits up when you're losing or when you're down. It's the thing that keeps you going and lifts your spirits when you feel defeated.
Morale, IMHO, is up to 30% of a CFL win. If you lose morale, and your opponent gains it, getting W is much harder.
AH33 was totally the pre-game pep guy,
and the guy who would go to RECs and hoggies on the sidelines in-game and at halftime and tell them to shape up and get the W.
That's the "morale guy".
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 21, 2025, 10:12:31 PMMorale is literally the guy that keeps spirits up when you're losing or when you're down. It's the thing that keeps you going and lifts your spirits when you feel defeated.
Morale, IMHO, is up to 30% of a CFL win. If you lose morale, and your opponent gains it, getting W is much harder.
AH33 was totally the pre-game pep guy, and the guy who would go to RECs and hoggies on the sidelines in-game and at halftime and tell them to shape up and get the W.
That's the "morale guy".
A real leader gets out in front and leads his team to victory, there were very few games in AH's time with the team that they had to rally from behind. They were motivated to win and slow starts that plagued them for a few years prior were no longer an issue, it was go from the drop of the puck. He didn't do this on his own, he helped create an attitude and other players like Bailey and Yoshi supported it, as did as O'Shea.
There is only one miracle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBAB1xF_lY4
Quote from: VictorRomano on March 22, 2025, 02:36:04 PMThere is only one miracle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBAB1xF_lY4
Also one of the most memorable plays in Blue Bomber history.
I submit the case for what would be miracle #3 in this thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGdJefPDv0
Clinched us first place last season. Does this game have it's own name?
Quote from: VictorRomano on March 22, 2025, 02:36:04 PMThere is only one miracle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBAB1xF_lY4
HA HA HA HA HA .... love it! "OH NO!"
Quote from: Waffler on March 22, 2025, 05:22:50 PMI submit the case for what would be miracle #3 in this thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGdJefPDv0
Clinched us first place last season. Does this game have it's own name?
As the announcer said, God was involved, so that definitely ranks as a miracle!
Not sure what games some were watching, but Harris was the heart and soul and unquestionable leader of this team in his day. Plain and simple. Woli and Thomas, you must be joking!?!? Harris willed us to win a Grey Cup when he was MVP. A guy who talks the talk, has got to be able to walk the walk to gain credibility with their teammates. Woli was a #5 or #6 reciever, Thomas a rotational DL only because of his passport, neither of these guys could get up in front of the team and rally them into battle. It's the money guys who have to do that. Ray Lewis could do that, because he was the best at his position. So could Harris as he was the best at his position. That's why you don't get backup runningbacks or ST guys doing this role as they're just lucky to be on the team.
The Stegall miracle was probably the best miracle PLAY ever. The Montreal Miracle game had the best miracle 2-mins (over 2 series) ever.
The wind-punt in MTL should be named the Miracle In Montreal game. Unless someone has a better idea?
P.S. I think we would have won the WDF if it had been in SSK, had that wind not blown in MTL. We had SSK's number completely that weekend. Always nice to play it at home, though! Fun night.