The countdown ends today. I've run down the four best games of the 2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats' season. Today I unveil #1. Before I do that I'll recap the first four entries on the list:
#5 (Week 2): at BC
#4 (Week 6): vs. Edmonton
#3 (Week 10): vs. Toronto
#2 (Week 19): vs. Winnipeg
And finally, the #1 Best Ti-Cat Game of 2009 is.....
#1 (Week 18): 24-6 WIN vs. Saskatchewan
This was the best game the Cats played all year. They absolutely dominated all three phases of the game and did so for the full 60 minutes. Not only that, but they achieved this against a team that would go on to play in the Grey Cup. Never once did the team relent, or take their foot off the gas. It was full throttle for the entire game. The defense played its best game up to that point. Cobb was a beast, running wild on the Riders' defense. The wind hurt the passing game a bit, but it didn't matter. Making it even more sweet was that this was the final home game of the 2009 regular season, and everyone was sent home happy. When all was said and done on that chilly Halloween afternoon in Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats had played their best game of the 2009 season.
Showing posts with label Best Ti-Cat Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Ti-Cat Games. Show all posts
Friday, 16 April 2010
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Best Ti-Cat Game of 2009: #2
#2 (Week 19) 39-17 WIN at Winnipeg
The only game more important than Labour Day is the Grey Cup. The only way to get to the Grey Cup is to get into the playoffs. The Cats hadn't been to the playoffs since 2004. This win against Winnipeg not only secured the Cats a playoff game, but a home playoff game, which was something the Cats hadn't had since 2001. This game is also famous for the "Boat Celebration." The game started out close, but ended in a rout.
This clinched the Tabbies a playoff spot, and because of that, this game lands at #2 on my list. Only one game from 2009 do I consider better, which will be unveiled tomorrow.
PREVIOUS: #3 (Week 1) vs. Toronto
The only game more important than Labour Day is the Grey Cup. The only way to get to the Grey Cup is to get into the playoffs. The Cats hadn't been to the playoffs since 2004. This win against Winnipeg not only secured the Cats a playoff game, but a home playoff game, which was something the Cats hadn't had since 2001. This game is also famous for the "Boat Celebration." The game started out close, but ended in a rout.
This clinched the Tabbies a playoff spot, and because of that, this game lands at #2 on my list. Only one game from 2009 do I consider better, which will be unveiled tomorrow.
PREVIOUS: #3 (Week 1) vs. Toronto
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Best Ti-Cat Game of 2009: #3
#3 (Week 10): 34-15 WIN vs. Toronto
The one game that means anything to Ti-Cat fans, regardless of how bad or good the team is, is Labour Day. The team seems to recognize this, as they tend to turn up the heat during the annual September clash. In 2009, the Cats just pounded the Argos. The game wasn't pretty; it wasn't a clinic; it wasn't a back-and-forth affair. It was a beating, pure and simple. It is that beating that puts the 2009 Labour Day Classic at #3 on my list.
PREVIOUS: #4 (Week 6) vs. Edmonton
The one game that means anything to Ti-Cat fans, regardless of how bad or good the team is, is Labour Day. The team seems to recognize this, as they tend to turn up the heat during the annual September clash. In 2009, the Cats just pounded the Argos. The game wasn't pretty; it wasn't a clinic; it wasn't a back-and-forth affair. It was a beating, pure and simple. It is that beating that puts the 2009 Labour Day Classic at #3 on my list.
PREVIOUS: #4 (Week 6) vs. Edmonton
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Best Ti-Cat Game of 2009: #4
#4 (Week 6): 28-21 WIN vs. Edmonton
This game had everything that makes football great. Inclement weather? Check! It was pouring rain the entire game. It was coming down like Cats and Eskim-- I mean, dogs. Back-and-forth action? Check! The Esks ran out to a 12-point first-quarter lead, and the Cats stormed back. Fantastic plays? Check! The Chris Thompson-Geoff Tisdale interception-lateral TD return was one of the wildest plays I saw all season. Great ending? CHECK! With 46 seconds left Quinton Porter scored on a QB sneak to take the lead for good. All of that adds up to one helluva game.
Also, and not so inconsequentially, was the feeling this win, which took the Cats to 4-2, gave to the fans. This was the game, I believe, that made the fans actually think that this season would be different. This was the true beginning of the great 2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats campaign.
It is for those reasons that this game lands at #4 on my list.
PREVIOUS: #5 (Week 2) at BC
This game had everything that makes football great. Inclement weather? Check! It was pouring rain the entire game. It was coming down like Cats and Eskim-- I mean, dogs. Back-and-forth action? Check! The Esks ran out to a 12-point first-quarter lead, and the Cats stormed back. Fantastic plays? Check! The Chris Thompson-Geoff Tisdale interception-lateral TD return was one of the wildest plays I saw all season. Great ending? CHECK! With 46 seconds left Quinton Porter scored on a QB sneak to take the lead for good. All of that adds up to one helluva game.
Also, and not so inconsequentially, was the feeling this win, which took the Cats to 4-2, gave to the fans. This was the game, I believe, that made the fans actually think that this season would be different. This was the true beginning of the great 2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats campaign.
It is for those reasons that this game lands at #4 on my list.
PREVIOUS: #5 (Week 2) at BC
Monday, 12 April 2010
Best Ti-Cat Game of 2009: #5
#5 (Week 2): 31-28 WIN at BC
This was the game that started it all. After a Week 1 loss to the Argonauts that made many fans go, "Well, looks like another long season," the Cats went to BC, a place they hadn't won at in five years, starting a fourth-string Running Back named DeAndra' Cobb, and proceeded to shock the CFL. At the time this was an upset. Cobb accumulated 175 total yards and a TD, and it was long-time-Lion-turned-Tiger-Cat Otis Floyd who sealed the game with an interception. The Cats won the game and started turning the 2009 season into one I will never forget. Since this was the game that began the Cats' return to prominence, it ranks as the 5th Best Game of 2009.
PREVIOUS: The 5 Best Ti-Cat Games of 2009 (Intro, Criteria and Honourable Mentions)
This was the game that started it all. After a Week 1 loss to the Argonauts that made many fans go, "Well, looks like another long season," the Cats went to BC, a place they hadn't won at in five years, starting a fourth-string Running Back named DeAndra' Cobb, and proceeded to shock the CFL. At the time this was an upset. Cobb accumulated 175 total yards and a TD, and it was long-time-Lion-turned-Tiger-Cat Otis Floyd who sealed the game with an interception. The Cats won the game and started turning the 2009 season into one I will never forget. Since this was the game that began the Cats' return to prominence, it ranks as the 5th Best Game of 2009.
PREVIOUS: The 5 Best Ti-Cat Games of 2009 (Intro, Criteria and Honourable Mentions)
Sunday, 11 April 2010
The 5 Best Ti-Cat Games of 2009
The list thing seems to be a big hit, with both the Top 10 Greatest and Top 5 Most Hated being very popular amongst the readership. With that said, I've decided to tackle a new, more recent list. This one will be about the 5 Best Ti-Cat games of the 2009 season.
2009 was a rebirth year in Steeltown. After nearly a decade of futility, the Tabbies were able to rekindle the passion of Hamiltonians everywhere with a season for the ages. While the year ended in bitter defeat at the hands of the BC Lions, the season, for all intents and purposes, was a huge success. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect 2009 to go down the way it did. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it had more than its fair share of spectacular moments.
It is those moments that I will rank. Unlike the previous two lists, I won't need to go into detail about why certain games were chosen. There is no long list of criteria. The games took place in 2009, and the Ti-Cats played in them. That's all.
At 12PM every day this week I will unveil a new game, culminating with the #1 game being posted on Friday.
Before that, and like the other lists, I have some Honourable Mentions that need to be given attention.
Week 9: 31-30 LOSS at Edmonton
Yes, a loss. Just because the Cats didn't win doesn't mean the game wasn't great. The Tabbies came flying out of the gate. After that it was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a Noel Prefontaine FG with less than a minute remaining. Even in defeat the Tabbies looked strong and very well could have won this contest. Sometimes you can find victory in defeat.
Week 16: 41-38 LOSS at Montreal
Yes, another loss. This was probably the only time I will ever use the term "moral victory." The Cats could've, and maybe should've, won this game. Just like the Edmonton game, this was a back-and-forth contest that went down to the very end. A couple of bounces go the Cats' way and Kevin Glenn's 500-yard game doesn't go to waste. This was just a damn entertaining game.
East Division Semi-Final: 34-27 LOSS vs. BC
Third entry, third defeat. This was a great game which saw a great comeback from the Tabbies and, let's face it, was just awesome because of the atmosphere. This was the first time in EIGHT YEARS that a playoff game was played in Hamilton. The loss ended the Cats' season, but it ended a ride that I wouldn't give up for the world. While the season continuing wasn't meant to be, the journey the Cats took everyone on in 2009 was still fantastic.
2009 was a rebirth year in Steeltown. After nearly a decade of futility, the Tabbies were able to rekindle the passion of Hamiltonians everywhere with a season for the ages. While the year ended in bitter defeat at the hands of the BC Lions, the season, for all intents and purposes, was a huge success. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect 2009 to go down the way it did. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it had more than its fair share of spectacular moments.
It is those moments that I will rank. Unlike the previous two lists, I won't need to go into detail about why certain games were chosen. There is no long list of criteria. The games took place in 2009, and the Ti-Cats played in them. That's all.
At 12PM every day this week I will unveil a new game, culminating with the #1 game being posted on Friday.
Before that, and like the other lists, I have some Honourable Mentions that need to be given attention.
Week 9: 31-30 LOSS at Edmonton
Yes, a loss. Just because the Cats didn't win doesn't mean the game wasn't great. The Tabbies came flying out of the gate. After that it was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a Noel Prefontaine FG with less than a minute remaining. Even in defeat the Tabbies looked strong and very well could have won this contest. Sometimes you can find victory in defeat.
Week 16: 41-38 LOSS at Montreal
Yes, another loss. This was probably the only time I will ever use the term "moral victory." The Cats could've, and maybe should've, won this game. Just like the Edmonton game, this was a back-and-forth contest that went down to the very end. A couple of bounces go the Cats' way and Kevin Glenn's 500-yard game doesn't go to waste. This was just a damn entertaining game.
East Division Semi-Final: 34-27 LOSS vs. BC
Third entry, third defeat. This was a great game which saw a great comeback from the Tabbies and, let's face it, was just awesome because of the atmosphere. This was the first time in EIGHT YEARS that a playoff game was played in Hamilton. The loss ended the Cats' season, but it ended a ride that I wouldn't give up for the world. While the season continuing wasn't meant to be, the journey the Cats took everyone on in 2009 was still fantastic.
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