TORONTO – “What a crazy story! We could make a film about that. It’s incredible what we’ve been through and what we’re going through.”
General manager Danny Maciocia had a tremor in his voice Saturday night at BMO Field as he commented on the Alouettes’ qualification for the next Gray Cup final.
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“I have never seen a group like this before,” said the 56-year-old, who has nevertheless gotten to know many teams in his long and productive career in the world of football.
Everything is possible…
While enjoying the Alouettes’ 38-17 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern final, the general manager praised the players, but also the coaches and the rest of the organization, including the football operations department. A little further on, President Mark Weightman shed tears of joy, while owner Pierre Karl Péladeau smiled slightly.
“Anything is possible when you have a project where everyone pulls together and pushes in the same direction,” Maciocia noted emotionally. It’s a story we wanted to write. I know we were underdogs, I know there weren’t many people who believed in us, but that locker room didn’t care.
“It is a locker room made up of draft picks, talents that we have identified on the other side of the border and in the final third there are players that were left out and that no one wanted, a qualified Maciocia. “We have them brought to Montreal and formed a whole group.”
Many new things!
Last year, Maciocia even had doubts that the Alouettes could play in 2023. The sale of the team was complete, and at the end of a difficult offseason, we wanted to start the season with a new head coach, a new quarterback, a new president, a new owner, then the athletes we were able to locate after looking at the team The free agent market had its hands tied.
“I’m really happy that I wasn’t part of a soccer team a year ago,” admitted head coach Jason Maas. I was hired in December and shared a vision with Danny [Maciocia]. We worked hard to get the chance to get to the Gray Cup.”
“The offseason was extremely difficult for me and my family,” quarterback Cody Fajardo said. I didn’t know if I would give up or if a team would give me another chance. Coach Maas was hired, then Danny gave me a two-year contract and showed that he believed in me. I wanted to do everything I could to prove to these two men that they were right to trust me. Without her, I wouldn’t be playing soccer anymore or going to the Gray Cup next weekend. I really like her.”
Thanks to defensive unity
At the heart of the team’s success is obviously the defensive unit, which has carried the Alouettes since the arrival of Shawn Lemon and Darnell Sankey during the season. Another nine turnovers in the East final against the Argonauts, including interceptions by Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Kabion Ento, Sankey and Reggie Stubblefield.
After the game, defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe showed his pride and quickly called it the best performance by a defensive unit he has seen in his coaching career.
“In the front row,” he replied. In an important game like this, that comes first.”
Peter Power/LCF.ca.
The next chapter in the crazy story of the 2023 Alouettes edition will now be written next Sunday in Hamilton. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, champions in 2019 and 2021, will be making their fourth straight appearance.
“I will be playing in my fifth Gray Cup final,” Maciocia said. Honestly, I don’t know what to expect.”
What they said…
“I couldn’t be happier” – Marc-Antoine Dequoy, safety, who threw an interception for a touchdown early in the game in the Eastern final
“Defensively, our guys are monsters” – Kristian Matte, offensive lineman
“I’m so proud of these guys” – Noel Thorpe, defensive coordinator
“We believe in each other” – Cody Fajardo, quarterback