The Calgary Stampeders will kick off the 2008 CFL regular season at home tonight against West division rivals the B.C. Lions. Game time is 8:00PM to accommodate national TSN coverage. Looks like a sell-out as fans are excited to see the new look Stamps. Included in the new faces are head coach John Hufnagel, new DB's, a nearly new OL, and linebacking corp.
The game can be heard on the radio at AM770 CHQR77 (am770chqr.com) and it will also be broadcast on the Internet on CFL broadband at www.cfl.ca. and on TSN broadband at www.tsn.ca.
On offence QB Henry Burris returns for his fourth year as the starting quarterback for the Stamps. He will be backed up by Dave Dickenson to make the best 1-2 tandem in the CFL this year. In the back field three-time 1,000-yard rusher Joffrey Reynolds will carry the load at running back again this year with Rob Cote back as his fullback for the second straight season. The receivers are largely unchanged with Lewis, Copeland, newly signed Ken-Yon Rambo, and Canadians Brett Ralph and Ryan Thelwell returning. Calgary’s aerial attack was tops in the league in 2007 and looks to repeat that achievement in ’08.
Just like last-season, the defence will house many new faces.The Stamps have a new defensive coordinator in Chris Jones, who was in charge of Montreal’s defence from 2003 to 2007 and went to three Grey Cups during his time there. Calgary will use four Canadians up front this year; Mike Labinjo and Justin Phillips at defensive end and Miguel Robede and Randy Chevrier at play tackle. The DB's have some new faces included converted receiver to DB Markus Howell.
Special team kickers remain the same since last year with Burke Dales taking full time punting duties and Sandro on kicking. I predict a high scoring raucous affair to open the CFL season. GO STAMPS!
