Stamps fans saddened by Grey Cup loss, happy to see Henry Burris succeed
'That was a tough-fought game but hats off to Burris, he played a hell of a game'
The only thing that made the Grey Cup loss sting less for Calgary Stampeders fans watching at Nick's Steakhouse was the fact their team fell to former all-star quarterback Henry Burris.
Burris, who led the Stampeders to two Grey Cups in 1998 and 2008, was the difference Sunday, leading the Ottawa Redblacks to a 39-33 overtime victory.
"That was a tough-fought game but hats off to Burris, he played a hell of a game," said Bruce Bumstead, one of several dozen fans who packed into the popular restaurant near McMahon Stadium.
"He deserved it. He got 'er and there's just nothing else you can do."
Karon Wilson rode a rollercoaster of emotions along with the rest of the Stampeders faithful as her team tied the game in the final seconds only to fall in overtime.
"Oh my God, I can't believe it, Calgary should have won," she said.
Some fans felt Stamps quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell didn't play well enough for them to have a shot.
"Mitchell just wasn't on," said Sharon Baker.
"I think he was the key to them winning or losing and he had a bad game. A bad, bad game."
Despite the result, Nick's Steakhouse owner Mark Petros — who covered an autographed Burris jersey hanging on the wall — called it the most exciting Grey Cup he's seen.
"It was a great game, they sure came back, I'm proud of the boys," he said.
"I wanted to see a great game, I wanted the Stamps to win but it wasn't meant to be and they sure made it exciting. I'm happy for Henry ... he didn't get the respect he really deserved throughout the year so I'm happy for him, I wanted him to have a great game, but lose."
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With files from Terri Trembath