1999 Redux?

Are we about to experience déja vu all over again?

Looking at what could possibly be Hamilton's road to the 98th Grey Cup, one cannot help but see how striking the similarities are to their road to the 87th Grey Cup.

In 1999, Hamilton beat Toronto at Ivor Wynne Stadium in the East Division Semi-Final. In 2010, Hamilton plays Toronto at Ivor Wynne Stadium in the East Division Semi-Final.

In 1999, Hamilton beat Montreal at Olympic Stadium in the East Division Final. In 2010, Hamilton would have to beat Montreal at Olympic Stadium in the East Division Final.

In 1999, Hamilton beat Calgary to win the Grey Cup. In 2010, Hamilton might very well have to beat Calgary to win the Grey Cup. (I get that this one is far from assured, but Calgary is the favourite in the West, so it is not far fetched.)

The parallels don't end there. In 1999, the Toronto Argonauts were coached by Jim Barker (he only lasted that one season). In 2010, the Toronto Argonauts are coached by Jim Barker.

In 1999, Danny McManus and Ron Lancaster were in their second years with the Tiger-Cats. In 2010, Kevin Glenn and Marcel Bellefeuille are in their second years with the Tiger-Cats. (I know that Bellefeuille was Head Coach in 2008 as well, but he was only interim coach at that time.)

Many have claimed that the 2010 Tiger-Cats have underachieved. The same could be said about the 1999 Tiger-Cats. In 2009, the Cats finished second in the East, with a 9-9 record, so much more was expected of them in 2010. However, the Cats stumbled out of the gate, and once again finished the season second in the East, with a 9-9 record.

In 1998, the Tiger-Cats finished first in the East, with a 12-5-1 record. So, much more was expected of them the following season. In 1999, the Cats slipped to second in the East, with an 11-7 record.

In 1999, the Tiger-Cats were making their second consecutive playoff appearance after finishing in last in the CFL in 1997, with a 2-16 record. In 2010, the Tiger-Cats are making their second consecutive playoff appearance after finishing last in the CFL in 2008, with a 3-15 record.

Perhaps I am drawing comparisons between things that have nothing in common, but some of them (like the potential row the Tiger-Cats must hoe in order to win the Grey Cup) are eerily similar. I'm not saying conclusively that the 1999 and 2010 seasons are going to end the same, just that some of the parallels are striking.