The Classic.
It’s the one game circled on every Stamps fans calendar even before the schedule comes out because you already know what day it’s coming.
It’s one of my favourite traditions that’s so quintessentially CFL.
For me, nothing is better than coming together to watch Canadian football on a holiday Monday; the Stamps and the Elks closing out Labour Day Weekend in front of a passionate crowd at McMahon Stadium as Albertans say goodbye to the summer and hello to the impending colder months.
On Labour Day you can feel the CFL playoffs right around the corner, there’s a new intensity in the air and each game following starts to mean more and more.
Since we’re just under a couple weeks out until the Labour Day Classic, I’m listing my personal top five favourite LDC memories.
1. My First Ever Labour Day Classic (Sept. 7, 2009)
It was a sold-out out crowd at McMahon Stadium as the reigning Grey Cup champs hosted their bitter rivals from the north in front of 40,729 fans.
It was only the second game I ever attended in person and therefore my first Labour Day Classic.
From then I was hooked.
All it took was the talents of downhill rusher Joffrey Reynolds and a jaw-dropping behind-the-back one-handed touchdown reception from Jeremaine Copeland.
Add the game day cinematics that come with a flyover and the club’s sweet-looking black uniforms and the Stamps earned a fan for life.
Calgary was in control throughout the provincial battle and took home the victory 32-8, and 10-year-old me never looked back.
2. Calgary Stampede’s Edmonton (Sept. 6, 2010)
Fast-forward a year later to one of the (if not most) dominant takedowns in Labour Day Classic history.
By this time, I was an all-in fan, soaking up as much of the game as I could, learning every player on the team and watching every other CFL game to learn theirs, too.
This is a game I will always think back on fondly as the Stamps beat down the Esks in a 52-5 blowout victory.
The 2010 Classic had everything: touchdowns, interceptions, fumbles, sacks, rouges, and quarterback changes.
Edmonton got on the board first with a lone single, but from there it was all Calgary.
Offensively, Joffrey Reynolds, Romby Bryant, Ken-Yon Rambo and Deon Murphy all found paydirt, with Bryant scoring twice in the tilt.
On the other side of the ball, the defence swarmed Edmonton from start to finish, recording three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two sacks.
To this day, I can still remember Ricky Ray and Henry Burris exchanging back-to-back-to-back interceptions, first with Brandon Browner picking off Ray, then Rod Williams intercepting a Burris pass on the very next play, and immediately afterwards Ray giving it back to Calgary when a young Brandon Smith bobbled the ball off Kelly Campbell’s hands and returned it 58-yards for the major.
Drew Tate closed out the game for Calgary, sealing the win with a touchdown pass to Deon Murphy.
3. Jon Cornish Off To The Races (Sept. 1, 2014)
It was the debut of the Stampeders new ‘Outlaw” jerseys as a collaboration with Reebok had each CFL team introduce their ‘Signature Series”.
To this day, I claim the Stamps had the best of the nine with the Lions and Alouettes coming in second and third. How can you beat those beautiful matte black to shiny red helmets with the chrome horse logo? Arguably the best helmet ever made in football history, tip of the hat to you Geo.
Sorry for getting sidetracked, back to the Labour Day memory.
I still remember watching this game on my couch, and screaming for Bo Levi Mitchell to get the ball out of his hands as a swarming Esks defence collapsed the pocket. As if Mitchell could actually hear me through the TV, he got the ball out just in time, tossing it to Jon Cornish who then turned up field and avoided defenders all the way to the endzone for the 44-yard score.
It was the reigning CFL MOP’s first game back in action after returning from the six-game injured list. He put up 163 all-purpose yards in the 28-13 win.
4. Rene Walks It Off (Sept. 3, 2018)
Is there any Stampeders list out there that doesn’t mention some version of Rene Paredes game-winning heroics at least once?
This particular Labour Day Classic game down to wire as Paredes and Co. lined up with zeroes on the clock ready to send the Esks back north.
From 44-yards out, El Matador knocked the ball right through the uprights, securing the 23-20 Labour Day win.
Looking back at some of our favourite Labour Day Classic moments!
First up Rene Paredes’ game-winning walk-off field goal in 2018 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cxsFw2LFbq
— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) August 31, 2023
5. Birthday W (Sept. 5, 2022)
This was my first Labour Day Classic working for the club, and as fate would have it my favourite game of the year landed on my birthday.
The Stamps debuted the latest edition of their alternate black uniforms, exactly 28 years since they first donned the black on Sept. 5, 1994.
A couple weeks before I helped orchestrate the unveiling of the current Outlaw uniforms, organizing a photoshoot at Karen Drake’s ranch where Reggie Begelton, Mike Rose and Jameer Thurman posed alongside Quick 6.
The team came through with the birthday victory, taking down the Elks 26-18.
Honourable Mention: Hughes’ Feather (Sept. 7, 2015)
It would be remiss to not mention this Labour Day memory. Raise your hand if you remember Charleston Hughes coming out for pre-game warmups in 2015 with a feather placed in the center of his helmet.
