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In the minds of Saskatchewan Roughriders fans and the organization, 12 years is too long between Grey Cup appearances.
That means there are a lot of Grey Cup first timers on the roster but there are a lot of Grey Cup veterans they can lean on this week in Winnipeg.
Grey Cup week is like no other in the CFL season. They don’t practise at home, everyone is packed into the same hotel, there is the media throng and players’ families are flying in from across North America to see the game.
Jermarcus Hardrick played in four straight Grey Cups with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2019 to 2023. His biggest piece of advice is to just roll with the punches.
“The best thing about it, I can just talk about the experience, the good and the bad, I’ve won some and I’ve lost some,” said Hardrick. “Just the way you are supposed to approach this week, just know it’s a football game. Just a football game. Don’t let the bells and whistles get to you.”
It’s the first time in over 10 years that the Saskatchewan Roughriders will play in the Grey Cup. CBC spoke to a few players with experience at the big game and got their message for first-timers.
Another Grey Cup veteran is defensive tackle Micah Johnson. The longtime Calgary Stampeder also played in four Grey Cups, winning two and losing two.
The last time the 37-year-old played in the big game was in 2018, so he knows you can’t take moments like this for granted.
“I was just thinking it’s been seven years since I’ve been here last, like, that’s crazy. It doesn’t feel like that, it’s been that long, but it’s that fleeting, man. You get there, and it could never come back around. So much has to go right,” said Johnson.
Other players with Grey Cup experience include defensive back Marcus Sales (Winnipeg in 2019), A.J. Ouelette (Toronto in 2022), Kerfalla Exume (Winnipeg 2019 and Toronto in 2024) and veteran quarterback Trevor Harris.
He won the Grey Cup in 2012 and 2016 as a backup quarterback with Toronto and Ottawa. The one thing he figured out is trying to balance the distraction while still having fun during Grey Cup week.
“We’ve definitely been relaying the message of trying not to get caught up in all the hoopla but soak it in as well, because, like I said, there’s a lot of people that care about what I say this week, which is not something that will always be true,” said Harris.
The one sentiment all the players echoed was the memories that will be made off the field.
During Grey Cup week, the team stays together in the same hotel, sharing stories and funny moments. They eat together and room together, getting to know players they don’t usually hang out with.
These are the memories that stay forever.
“I don’t remember plays from 2017 or plays from 2014, but I can tell you every player in the locker room from 2014, I can tell you the relationship I have with the guy still from 2014 that I talked to,” said Johnson. “So in my opinion, it’s the bonding that you do off the field that you will remember.”
Win or lose on Sunday, memories will be made that they will share forever.
