The 2002 season began with a lot of new changes within the Montreal Alouettes organization.
We had a new coach, Don Matthews, who had arrived after being fired by the Edmonton Eskimos, some longtime players retired and a new president in Skip Prince. That season started off completely different than every other year during my time with the Als.
Matthews came in and instilled a new confidence and belief that we should win every game, no matter what. Matthews was a phenomenal coach and leader – we believed everything he said and followed his lead. He was a players’ coach; a coach who looked out for us, protected us and took the blame for anything negative that came our way. He wanted us to win, and that’s exactly what we did.
Bryan Chiu will discuss his 2009 Grey Cup championship in his blog Friday on sportsnet.ca.
We went on an amazing winning streak right out of training camp, and when he said that we would be at the Grey Cup in Edmonton we believed him without a second thought. After clinching first place and securing the Eastern final at Olympic Stadium, I found out that I was nominated for the most outstanding lineman in the East. It was an honour and privilege to be noticed for my abilities – I couldn’t believe I could possibly be associated with all the previous winners. But first we had to win the Eastern final against the Toronto Argonauts to ensure I wasn’t going alone to Edmonton.
After our win against the Argonauts we came into Edmonton as underdogs – a Grey Cup in Edmonton against the hometown Eskimos. We obviously had everyone against us.
The Thursday before the Grey Cup, the CFL awards were presented. I had won the most outstanding lineman award. What a shock and honour! Now to bring home the last and most coveted prize: the Grey Cup. Once again, I didn’t want to be the only one bringing home a trophy. I wanted two trophies and I wanted my brothers to bring one home, too.
The game began as every other, only with more nerves after realizing what we were playing for – we wanted our name on that Cup. The field was essentially an ice rink. Players were slipping and falling everywhere. In the first half of the game our kicker, Terry Baker, was trying to pin the Eskimos deep in their zone but he punted the ball too long and it resulted in a rouge. We were not happy and neither was coach Matthews. We got a point and they got some yardage. That single point, however, was what essentially gave us the win.
In the final minutes of the game we were leading 18-16 after Edmonton scored a touchdown. Because of that single point they were forced to go for a two point conversion, which would have tied the game. Fortunately, our defence came up huge and the Eskimos couldn’t capitalize and were unable to tie the game. Their last chance was to attempt an onside kick to try to get the ball back.
However, Jermaine Copeland scooped up the ball and ran it in for his second touchdown and put the nail in the coffin. We won the Grey Cup in Edmonton 25-16, my first championship, and brought the trophy home to all the supportive fans Montreal.
It was even more special because it was the 25th anniversary of the Alouettes’ last Grey Cup win (1977).