GAME DAY: B.C. AT CALGARY, 6 P.M.
The result is meaningless, so the management and performance of certain players is the storyline of today's CFL game between the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions.
The Lions (12-4) and Stampeders (10-6) secured first and second respectively in the CFL's West Division with victories last week. The Stampeders host the division semifinal Nov.
11 with the victor heading to Vancouver on Nov. 18 for the West final.
So both clubs made personnel decisions for today's game with the post-season in mind.
Stampeder quarterback Drew Tate gets back on the field for the first time since dislocating his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the second game of the regular season. When Tate underwent surgery in July, he wasn't expected to return before the playoffs.
Head coach and general manager John Hufnagel says both Tate and Kevin Glenn will play in Calgary's final home game of the regular season, which sets up a potential quarterbacking controversy en route to the playoffs. Glenn, 33, led Calgary to a playoff berth during Tate's absence.
"I'm a team guy, so I understand the bigger picture of things and why they're playing Drew and why both of us are playing," Glenn said Thursday.
"If you've got two good quarterbacks, or quarterbacks who have shown they can win, you've got to make sure both of them are ready going into the playoffs."
The Lions are handing Mike Reilly the ball for the second straight week.
Travis Lulay's shoulder is still sore and there is no urgency for B.C.'s starting quarterback to play this week in what will be a chilly game at McMahon Stadium.
"He's been trying to get loose, and yesterday the plan was to try and give it a go, but it was pretty cool back home and he couldn't get warm," Lions coach Mike Benevides explained. "Obviously we've got to get him to play as soon as we can. Certainly next week he's got to get some snaps for sure so that we gain some of the rhythm back."
Thomas DeMarco will be Reilly's backup. Also, receiver Geroy Simon comes back into B.C.'s lineup after sitting out three games with a hamstring injury. Today's game is a chance for both Tate and Simon to shake off rust in a low-stakes game.
"I haven't played in a number of weeks, so I'm just looking to get back on the field and get some timing with the quarterbacks and get back in the flow of playing," said Simon.
