Off-Season Notebook – 12.11.24
11/12/2024 10:33 AM
Walk This Way
The Stamps announced the signing of QB P.J. Walker on Monday afternoon.
Calgary initially acquired Walker's negotiation-list rights in a Sept. 26 trade with the Toronto Argonauts. The 29-year-old pivot then signed with the Red and White on Oct. 8 and spent the last three weeks of the regular season on the team's practice roster.
"Calgary is a beautiful city with a great football culture and a great fanbase," said Walker. "The opportunity to continue to grow as a player and compete helped me make my decision to sign with the Stampeders."
"We made the trade for P.J. for a reason," said Stampeders general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson. "We're doing everything we can to make our team better and that includes having a strong quarterback room. P.J. is going to be a big part of that."
Walker is now currently the only quarterback signed through the 2025 season for the Red and White, with Jake Maier, Tommy Stevens, Matt Shiltz and Logan Bonner‘s contracts all set to expire come free agency in February.
WALK THIS WAY
We’ve signed QB P.J. Walker!@AGLC | #TogetherWeRide
— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) November 11, 2024
Saddle Up For Grey Cup
Last Friday, CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced that Calgary will be hosting the 113th Grey Cup on Nov. 15, 2026, marking the sixth time the city hosts the championship contest.
In addition to Ambrosie, Stampeders President Jay McNeil, CSEC President and CEO Robert Hayes, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, and Alberta Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow teamed up in the Red and White locker room to present the special announcement to the public.
Fans can get a bite-size sampling of what's to come at the Grey Cup festival in Vancouver this week, where Stamps House presented by Coors Light will be in full swing.
Located at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, Level 1, starting in the Burrard Foyer, the party will be open Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Saturday from noon to 1 a.m.
Don't miss out on attractions such as an appearance from Tuffy the Horse (a real live horse), performances from the Outriders and other CFL cheer teams, and a cornhole tournament with Jay McNeil and Dave Dickenson!
Fast Facts – Grey Cup In Cowtown Edition
As mentioned, Calgary has previously hosted five Grey Cup championships (1975, 1993, 2000, 2009, and 2019). One of Edmonton, Winnipeg, or Montreal has always appeared in at least two of the Grey Cup games played in Calgary.
63rd Grey Cup – Nov. 23, 1975
• The 63rd Grey Cup featured the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes in one of the lowest scoring championships in league history. The Green and Gold secured the victory by a 9-8 score in a contest that saw 25-kilometre winds and a temperature of -15 degrees Celsius.
• It was the first Grey Cup appearance for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended the game at four years old with his father Pierre.
• No touchdowns were scored in this game and all points were scored by Canadians (kickers Don Sweet and Dave Cutler).
81st Grey Cup – Nov. 28, 1993
• The Edmonton Eskimos took down the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 to capture their 11th championship in franchise history.
• In honour of the CFL's first US-based team, the Sacramento Gold Miners (who began playing that season), 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was sung at the Grey Cup for the first time, before the playing of 'O Canada'. This continued for the next two Grey Cups.
• It was the first time a Grey Cup game in Calgary featured a halftime act (which didn't begin until 1990. Up until then, the halftime performance was usually a marching band). Miss Molly performed at McMahon Stadium.
88th Grey Cup – Nov. 26, 2000
• The BC Lions claimed championship victory over the Montreal Alouettes by a score of 28-26, becoming the first team to win the Grey Cup after finishing the regular season with a record below .500 (8-10).
• This marked the first Grey Cup appearance for the Alouettes since 1979.
• The Winnipeg-based rock band The Guess Who performed the halftime show.
97th Grey Cup – Nov. 29, 2009
• The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 in what became the famous "too many men" game.
• It was the first time the Als and Riders met in the Grey Cup. They would battle it out again the following year in Edmonton, with Anthony Calvillo and Co. once again taking home the coveted sterling silver trophy.
• Calgarian and 'The Girl Next Door' star Elisha Cuthbert served as Grand Marshal in the Grey Cup parade.
• Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo was the halftime act.
107th Grey Cup – Nov. 24, 2019
• The Winnipeg Blue Bombers dominated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-12 to take home their first Grey Cup victory since 1990. The game could be argued as the start of the Blue and Gold's 'dynasty' as they currently prepare for their fifth-straight Grey Cup appearance.
• Country singer Keith Urban performed at halftime.
