Stampeders confident but taking nothing for granted with Grey Cup days away

I jumped in a cab at 4:30 a.m. in Calgary, landed in Toronto at noon, dropped off my luggage at one downtown hotel, picked up my CFL credentials at another hotel and somehow made it to the Calgary Stampeders practice at 2 p.m.

The Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks are practicing indoors at Monarch Collegiate for the next three days because BMO Field, where the big game will be played, is unavailable.

That didn't keep Paul Smith from checking out his uncle Quinn's first practice of Grey Cup week. Seems like a reasonable excuse to skip out of school a little early.

It's old home week for Stampeders running back Jerome Messam as well. He has 20 family members and friends coming to watch him play on Sunday.

Messam told me the players get two free tickets each from the league, and then it's every man for himself. Hopefully he bought a few extras after the CFL dropped the price on some seats.

The Stampeders are feeling confident, but taking nothing for granted right now.

Calgary linebacker Alex Singleton told me the players are treating this like a business trip.

"We'll have six months to party after the game on Sunday if we win," he said.

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Thursday's practices are closed to the media so the teams can work on their special plays in private.

But we'll get a chance to grill the players again at breakfast and lunch. Glad I packed a pair of pants with an elastic waistband.

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