By: Tyler Rabb – OttawaREDBLACKS.com Staff
Photo: CP Images
“Smilin’ Hank” celebrates his 40th birthday today. In honour of the REDBLACKS leader’s big 4-0, let’s take a look back at the greatest moment in his 16 year CFL career.
His victory in the 96th Grey Cup was not his only, he also won the CFL championship in his rookie season, but this win still means much more to Henry.
After losing two consecutive West Semifinals to his former team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Burris and his Calgary Stampeders finished first in the CFL’s West Division and therefore bypassed the semifinals in 2008.
That would prove beneficial as the BC Lions defeated Saskatchewan in the semis, and the Stamps avoided the Roughriders all together. Calgary would defeat BC in the West Final and were headed to the Grey Cup in Montreal.
The East Final ended with the Montreal Alouettes defeating the Edmonton Eskimos, as the Esks were the crossover team from the West.
The Alouettes were extremely excited to host the Grey Cup at home and were deemed by many as the favourites to win. The championship game was played at Olympic Stadium, in front off over 65,000 excited, and even antagonistic, Alouettes fans.
Video: CFL.ca
The Als were led by another legendary CFL QB, Anthony Calvillo. On any other team in the league, Calvillo would have been very successful. With this star-studded Alouettes team though, he challenged for the Grey Cup year after year.
In this game though, Burris would outplay Calvillo. He threw for an outstanding 328 passing yards, but it was his quick feet that turned the tide in this Grey Cup. He broke out of the pocket nine times for a total of 79 rushing yards.
The win was especially sweet for Burris, as he would officially be known as someone who can get it done in the big game.
“It’s like I’m still dreaming,” said the Calgary quarterback shortly after being named Grey Cup MVP.
”To hear that song ‘We Are the Champions,’ when we fought so hard to get here. We’ve been through big time ups and downs. I knew it would all pay off at some point, and what do you know, here I am.”
