Hero's welcome for Alouettes
Fans cheered "Go Als Go" and sang We are the Champions as quarterback Anthony Calvillo hoisted the cup high above his head at Trudeau Airport.
"It must be part of a destiny because it was something that was very special," Calvillo told reporters.
The Alouettes have won the Grey Cup twice in the past decade on eight trips to the CFL championship final.
"I remember the one back in 2002 and how the city was," Calvillo said. "And then we disappointed them, and we disappointed ourselves for so many years, that to come back and to get that same experience once again — it is something I’ll always remember."
Calvillo said he feels for the Roughriders players who lost on a 33-yard Damon Duval field goal on the final play of the game as the Alouettes came back for a 28-27 victory in Calgary.
"I’m just glad the guys didn’t quit. … None of us wanted to say. 'OK, we’re just gonna lay down,'" Calvillo said. "We fought and we won."
Asked about his plans for next year, Calvillo dodged the question of possible retirement.
'We were all, I think, stunned — exhilarated! What a comeback, and I'm very proud of the team.' —Alouettes president Larry Smith
"Right now I’m going to rest and relax, and enjoy the time right now," said Calvillo.
Alouettes fullback Martin Bédard said reality was still sinking in for the team.
"It is the best feeling in the world… it is actually [indescribable]," he said.
The team’s president, Larry Smith, called the victory "a dream come true."
"We were all, I think, stunned — exhilarated! What a comeback, and I'm very proud of the team," Smith said.
Alouettes fan Sylvie Foisy took the day off work to cheer the team’s arrival at the airport.
Foisy said at halftime Sunday she was a bit disappointed and worried.
"But I just knew in my heart they were going to make it," she said. "It is the teamwork. … They play to win and there is no other team that deserves the Grey Cup more than the Alouettes."
The team will be honoured with a parade along Montreal ’s Ste-Catherine Street on Wednesday.
"We’re hoping as many fans come out as possible— to celebrate really Montreal being a sports city and to celebrate that we have success," Smith said. "After the recession that we’ve all lived through, I think it’s important that we have some good news."
Mayor honours wager
Meanwhile, Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay shipped off a package to Saskatchewan — containing an Alouettes jersey and flag.
While he’s still licking his wounds after losing his wager on Sunday’s game, Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said he’ll wear the jersey at the next public council meeting.
"Congratulations to the Alouettes," Fiacco said. "I guess I better congratulate Mayor Tremblay because, of course, he won the bet."
Fiacco also promised to honour the second part of the wager. He’ll be buying two pairs of Alouettes tickets that will be given to a charity of Tremblay’s choice.
The Alouettes parade starts at 11:40 Wednesday at the corner of Ste-Catherine and Crescent streets.