“How well do the teams adjust, and that’s one thing about this year going into training camp that is different for me from previous training camps, is it’s more of a mystery because of how well and how quickly do we adapt.” That’s what Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a press conference on Thursday about the upcoming changes in the 2015 CFL season.
How well a team adapts to change defines its survival. The Stampeders are famous for their survival; they seem to adapt automatically to injury limitations with their “next man up” mentality. This year, the club’s ability to embrace change will be as important as it has in other years. One predominant theme on Thursday was the changes that the football club faces as they head into the new season.
Most notable are the new rules in place this season. Hufnagel’s biggest concern lies with the special teams and punt returns. “There’s going to be some space for the returners, and we have to do a great job,” he said. “Number one is taking advantage of that space for the return team, but do an even better job of recovering.”
Hufnagel noted in April that the new rule on the two-point covert after a touchdown starting on the three-yard line is certainly enticing. Why wouldn’t it? With the CFL’s top running back and MVP quarterback, going for two would be tempting. But in the press conference, Hufnagel remained more conservative saying it would depend on where they were in the game.
Hufnagel also sees the holes that he has to fill after losing key players to free agency and NFL pursuits. With these losses, he believes the challenge will be how the core veteran players and younger talent that are brought in work together as a team. Every team faces this challenge at the beginning of the year, and Calgary’s success will, again, be determined by how well they adapt.
What won’t change this year? Unfortunately, in the minds of some Stampeder fans, the stadium will remain mostly the same as last year. A new scoreboard, new turf, concessions and expanded washroom facilities that were put in place last year took a large portion of the budget to do much for this year.
Stampeders president Gordon Norrie explained that there isn’t much more improvement that can be done. There will be a North end zone patio at field level that can hold approximately 250 fans. Molson is introducing a couple of premium beers, and food services are always trying to bring in higher-end products. Of course, McMahon will remain home for the Stamps while we wait for plans for a new Calgary Flames stadium are revealed. Until then, fans will have to watch other teams’ stadiums be unveiled with a bit of a jealousy.
The issue of moving the CFL season was also raised. Fans have discussed on social media this week, and ever since November, moving the season start up a couple of weeks, so that it ends earlier. Last year, Edmonton noticed significant drops in playoff ticket sales due to the cold weather. Norrie explained that although an earlier season would help, it creates challenges for Western teams during training camps and pre-season, as spring weather in the prairies can be just as volatile as fall. The topic will continue to be raised in the coming years; until then, fans are stuck with what will probably be a very cold Winnipeg Grey Cup in late November this year.
Regardless of rule changes, personnel changes, and promises of warmer CFL seasons, the Calgary Stampeders’ success has always been in their ability to adapt to change. This year is no different. The CFL will always be about survival of the fittest.
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