2016 Grey Cup Has Its Share of California Contingent
- Updated: November 23, 2016
It has been a proud Canadian tradition for over a century.
While those of us in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving with our own brand of football, those in Canada celebrate their own brand the same weekend – one that includes a field that’s both wider and longer, an endzone as far as the eye can see (figuratively), a wider ball and, the big one, three downs.
It is the Grey Cup and it is awarded annually to the last team standing in the traditionally rich Canadian Football League. Yet, while the Grey Cup is a Canadian tradition, not all of those who play in the big game are Canadian. Yes, many of them are but a large handful are products of the United States and even a select few from around the world. In this year’s installment of the Grey Cup – the 104th to be exact – there will be 14 players representing the state of California, whether they were born in the Golden State, went to school there or both.
San Diego native Trevor Van (3); Ottawa Redblacks running back
(Photo credit: Ryan Cowley)
This year’s Grey Cup, which will be played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, this coming Sunday (November 27) will feature the East Division champion Ottawa Redblacks, who, despite being in just their third of existence, will be playing in the big game for the second-straight year.
Their opponents, the winners of the West Division, will be the Calgary Stampeders, who will be looking to win their second Grey Cup in three years and their eighth overall.
Calgary’s Dave Dickenson (left) and Ottawa’s Rick Campbell shaking hands to begin Wednesday’s head coaches’ press conference
(Photo credit: Ryan Cowley)
Yet, while the Grey Cup – like any championship game – pits the league’s two best team against each other, some would suggest that the game is a mismatch on paper. This season, the Redblacks entered the playoffs with a less-than-stellar 8-9-1 record while the Stampeders roared through the regular season, finishing with a superb 15-2-1 mark.
Nevertheless, Grey Cup week kicked off on Tuesday with the arrival of the Canadian football’s most prestigious trophy and on Wednesday morning, Calgary’s Dave Dickenson and Ottawa’s Rick Campbell were available for the head coaches’ press conference. More on that later, though.
It was a great start to the week and promises to continue the same way. Be sure to stay tuned to CaliSportsNews for the 104th Grey Cup.
As for those players representing the state of California this weekend, they are as follows:
Ottawa RedBlacks:
DB Forrest Hightower, Age 24
Oakland, CA; San Jose State
2016 Stats:
48 tackles, 2 INTs
DB John Boyett, Age 26
Napa, CA
2016 Stats:
38 total tackles (28 defensive), 1 INT
RB Trevor Van, Age 25
San Diego, CA
2016 Stats:
81 carries, 422 yards 2 TDs (rushing)
19 receptions, 137 yards (receiving)
WR Khalil Paden, Age 27
Grenada Hills, CA
2016 Stats:
17 receptions, 305 yards, 2 TDs
WR Joshua Stangby, Age 26
North Hollywood, CA
2016 Stats:
2 receptions, 22 yards
OL Tommie Draheim, Age 27
San Diego State
2016 Stats:
1 defensive tackle
Calgary Stampeders:
DB Joshua Bell, Age 31
Los Angeles, CA
2016 Stats:
35 tackles
DB Osagie Odiase, Age 25
Santa Fe Springs, CA; Sacramento State
2016 Stats:
4 total tackles (2 defensive)
DB Shaquille Richardson, Age 24
Carson, CA
2016 Stats:
19 total tackles (12 defensive)
DB Brandon Smith, Age 32
Oakland, CA; Sacramento State
2016 Stats:
71 total tackles (70 defensive)
LB Glenn Love, Age 27
UCLA
2016 Stats:
32 total tackles (11 defensive; 21 special teams)
LB Alex Singleton, Age 22
Thousand Oaks, CA
2016 Stats:
74 total tackles (65 defensively)
WR Bakari Grant, Age 29
Oakland, CA; UC Davis
2016 Stats:
44 receptions, 625 yards, 4 TDs
SB Greg Wilson, Age 26
Danville, CA
2016 Stats:
10 receptions, 182 yards, 2 TDs
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things SoCal hockey and the rest of the California sports teams! All Cali, All the time!
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