Inside the CFL: You need a quality QB to win a Grey Cup, B.C. has two

By Lethbridge Herald on September 5, 2024.

Graham Kelly 

Inside the CFL

To quote Vancouver Canucks head coach Harry Neale who was referring to seasons, “We can’t win at home, we can’t win on the road. My failure as a coach is I can’t think of any place else to play.”

Try Victoria.

It sure worked for the Lions who trounced Ottawa 38-12. Perhaps the Redblacks were distracted by Victoria nightlife or the siren songs of Sidney.

Nathan Rourke was the star of Touchdown Pacific play in his hometown. He was 21/30 for 325 yards with two touchdowns, one interception. His first game back, Aug. 18, a 20-11 loss to the Bombers at B.C. Place, he showed signs of rust completing eight of 25 passes for 126 yards, no TDs, two interceptions. A week later he was much better, 22/31, 234 yards, one interception, no majors in a 34-27 loss at Ottawa. He finally broke through last weekend. He faces the Alouettes in Montreal tonight.It is clear he is the starter, that Vernon Adams Jr. who was having a career year has been relegated to second string status.

Pro sports is a cruel business. Adams Jr. earned the starter’s job in B.C. At this point there is no evidence that the anointed one is better.

Over the years I have bemoaned the lack of Canadian quarterbacks in the CFL and that outstanding high school and university prospects tended to shun the position because it led nowhere. Rourke – and possibly Elk Tre Ford – is a 21st Century trailblazer as a role model for Canadian kids. I know he is the future of the B.C. franchise but I feel badly for the man he is replacing, who after finally proving to the football world he is a star gets the rug pulled out from under him.

Whatever happened to the longstanding principle that you don’t lose your job because of injury? Although just about every coach sings from that song sheet, the only one I know who actually practised it was Wally Buono.

In 1995 when Doug Flutie got hurt, Buono started the unknown Jeff Garcia on Labour Day. The unheralded rookie threw six touchdown passes to lead the Stamps to a 51-26 win over Edmonton. He won five more in a row. But when Flutie’s elbow healed, he took over. In his first game back, he threw five interceptions. Didn’t matter. Garcia remained on the bench, including their Grey Cup loss to Baltimore in Regina.

In 2004, Dave Dickenson was hurt. Casey Printers started the last 10 games and did so well he won the league Most Outstanding Player Award and was the All-Canadian quarterback. But when Dickenson healed, he started the Grey Cup, Printers sat out. They lost to Toronto 27-19. The Argo QB was the 41-year-old Damon Allen coached by Pinball Clemons, 39.

B.C. boss Rick Campbell said he was keeping Adams Jr. in case of injury to Rourke. But how can they pay two quarterbacks starter money in this salary cap era? They can’t and won’t. During the off-season Adams Jr. will be gone.

Times have changed at the quarterback position. In the 50s the backup played defence. Edmonton’s Ray Jauch and Hugh Campbell believed you needed two bona fide starters, hence Bruce Lemmeron/Tom Wilkenson/Wilkie/Moon. Joe Faraghelli had the famous J.J. Barnagle duo in Saskatchewan, Joe Barnes and John Hufnagel. Sympathetic to the fact both wanted to start, Papa Joe traded Barnes to Montreal. The Riders regressed, his move was seen as weakness and he was fired.

Earlier Hufnagel had to share the duties with Ken Johnson, a role he detested. He found himself in the same boat in Winnipeg. When starter Tom Clements got hurt, Huff came in and had an All-Canadian type year. When Clements returned, Hufnagel was benched.

In 1989 Saskatchewan coach John Gregory split the duties between Tom Burgess and Kent Austin. Both hated it. But they did win only the Riders’ second Cup.

Two starters paid off for Dave Ritchie’s B.C. Lions when both Austin and Danny McManus battled through injuries all the way to a Grey Cup victory over Baltimore in 1994. The duo got along fine but they have been the exception.

Nowadays, the No. 2 guy is young, inexperienced and paid peanuts. B.C. has two genuine starters. They’re hosting the Grey Cup. They have a great chance of winning it.