Even though the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the edge in Grey Cup experience against the Toronto Argonauts, the double blue are confident that moment isn’t too big for the them.
On Tuesday, the Argonauts were the first team to arrive in Regina ahead of Sunday’s 109th Grey Cup matchup.
The Argonauts are looking for their first Grey Cup victory since 2017 when they defeated the Calgary Stampeders in the 105th Grey Cup.
Calgary’s quarterbacks coach in that contest was Ryan Dinwiddie, who now finds himself leading a Argonauts team that is looking to their CFL leading Grey Cup titles on Sunday.
Dinwiddie accepted the Toronto head coaching job in 2020, and led the Argonauts to an appearance in the Eastern Final against the Hamilton Ti-Cats last season.
With the Argos set to face a Winnipeg team that been to Grey Cup over the last seasons, Dinwiddie feels it’s important to lean on his veterans this week since the Blue Bombers outweigh their championship experience.
“It’s very important to them doing things the right way, and understand what’s at stake, behaviour we have to have this week, we all know it’s Regina, there’s still a nightlife here.”
The Grey Cup week is going to be a new experience for a lot of the players on his team says Dinwiddie.
“It’s almost like a college bowl game for some of the guys they haven’t been to a Grey Cup.”
Defensive end, Ja’Gared Davis will be expected to be one of the veterans the Argos will lean on this week, as Davis has made played in the last six Grey Cups after spending time with Calgary (2016-2018) & Hamilton (2019-2021).
“Making it to one Grey Cup is a feat in itself, being able to do it six times in a row is unimaginable.”
Playing hungry is something that the former SMU product believes will be important for Toronto.
“We’re content, but we’re not satisfied.”
One decision that Dinwiddie has already made this week is that the Argonauts will be practicing outdoors throughout the week as he believes that his squad needs to make the adjustment.
“We’ve had to weather in Toronto, two weeks ago I think it was 20 degrees right so we got to get acclimated to it a little bit. ”
The Argos head coach added that it’s vital for his team to play a physical in the cold elements.
Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson has no problem playing in the colder weather and his looking forward to practicing outside leading up to the game.
“Getting used to it, getting a feel for it, understanding what it’s going to feel like, the more throws I can get in the cold, the better.” The QB added “I love playing in the snow.”
It took his second season to reach the Grey as a head coach, but it was a lot quicker as a player for Dinwiddie.
He made his first start in the CFL back in the 2007 Grey Cup as a member of the Blue Bombers against the Saskatchewan Roughriders after starter Kevin Glenn suffered an injury in the Eastern Final before the Grey Cup.
The days leading up to his start in the Grey Cup is something the Argonauts head coach will always remember.
“Being my first and all the media attention and all that stuff, but for me I was just focusing on the game.”
The former Blue Bomber quarterback that he was confident about his team’s chances against the Roughriders and felt his team was very close to pulling off the victory against the green and white.
On Sunday, Dinwiddie will look to win his second Grey Cup as a coach, but his first, as a head coach. (Calgary 2018)
