Celebration etiquette: Calgary Stampeders' Nik Lewis and Saskatchewan Roughriders Chris Getzlaf.
Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte and Troy Fleece, Calgary Herald and Leader-Post files
Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte and Troy Fleece, Calgary Herald and Leader-Post files
REGINA — Chris Getzlaf feels there is a proper time and place for celebrations in football.
"We preach around here that it's your job to catch the ball and to get first downs,'' the Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback said after Tuesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. "But really, your job is to score. You will definitely see me celebrating if I score.''
"We preach around here that it's your job to catch the ball and to get first downs,'' the Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback said after Tuesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. "But really, your job is to score. You will definitely see me celebrating if I score.''
That means you won't see Getzlaf or any of the Riders' receivers celebrating routine plays. That reaction is in contrast to some of the Calgary Stampeders, who seem to punctuate unremarkable receptions with over-the-top histrionics.
"I'm not the type of guy to celebrate a 10-yard hitch,'' said Getzlaf. "That's their thing and it's fine. (Calgary slotback) Nik Lewis loves that first-down sign after catching an eight-yard pass. We're more about, 'If we score, let's celebrate together. If we catch the ball, let's go pick the guy up.' ''
The different personalities of each team will be on display in Sunday's West Division final at Mosaic Stadium. The winner advances to the Grey Cup in Calgary on Nov. 29, so there will be a great deal of emotion.
The Riders aren't robots when it comes to expressing themselves, but they appear to be more restrained than the Stampeders.
"We don't like that stuff, especially when it comes from their receivers,'' said Riders middle linebacker Rey Williams. "They will celebrate after a two-yard catch. They can have that.''
The Stampeders have toned down their touchdown celebrations under second-year head coach John Hufnagel. The choreographed dances in the end zones have been eliminated, but the Stampeders remain among the league's most demonstrative teams.
"If they want to do it, then let them do it,'' said the Regina-born Getzlaf. "I don't get bothered by that kind of thing. You know it's a small league and you might end up playing with them sometime.''
Riders defensive back Donovan Alexander gains some additional motivation when the Stampeders start celebrating.
"It just makes me want to stop them even more,'' said Alexander.
"Calgary seems to bring out the emotions in us and they seem to do that to every other team in the league. We feed off that, but you get the feeling that it's a heavyweight fight. It's all about taking shots at each other and you know it's going to come down to the last man standing.''
Riders head coach Ken Miller has talked to his players about their on-field celebrations, or lack thereof.
"One of our goals is to be calm, cool and collected and play with great poise and discipline,'' said Miller. "Those are things we talk about on a regular basis. That's shown by the fact we are the least-penalized team in the league. That means being a professional and really doing things the way you should do them.''
That doesn't mean Miller tells the players to curtail their celebrations after making a big play or scoring a touchdown.
"One of our goals is to be calm, cool and collected and play with great poise and discipline,'' said Miller. "Those are things we talk about on a regular basis. That's shown by the fact we are the least-penalized team in the league. That means being a professional and really doing things the way you should do them.''
That doesn't mean Miller tells the players to curtail their celebrations after making a big play or scoring a touchdown.
"I told the guys that they can celebrate,'' said Miller. "All they have to do first is congratulate the guys who helped them do whatever it was they achieved. Then they can do whatever they want to in celebration.''
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