Grey Cup: Eskimos motivated by frustrating past

J.C. Sherritt can't forget how tough it was to be an Edmonton Eskimo two years ago — and neither does he want to.

The fifth-year linebacker said remembering the CFL club's miserable 4-14 record in 2013 makes this year's trip to the Grey Cup against the Ottawa Redblacks that much sweeter.

"From an athletic standpoint, it's the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life," Sherritt said Wednesday after Edmonton's first practice at Investors Group Field. "To go through that adversity, to lose like we were losing — just that whole situation made you really grateful for what you are involved in now.

"To be a part of that change and to watch the culture shift, all these things take place, you've just got to be grateful."

The Eskimos lost six games by five or less points (five of those in a row) in 2013. Third-year head coach Kavis Reed was fired and replaced by Chris Jones.

The new blood, on and off the field, propelled Edmonton to a 12-6 record last season, but a loss in the West Division final against the eventual Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders.

After this year's 14-4 mark and the dispatching of those Stampeders in the division final, the Eskimos are playing against another rebounding club. The Redblacks flipped from 2-16 last year to 12-6 this season.

Sixth-year quarterback Mike Reilly had a baptism by fire when he was traded to the Eskimos from the B.C. Lions in January 2013.

"That was my first chance to finally be the starter on a football team," recalled Reilly, who started all 18 games that year. "Winning four games, you're wondering if you're going to get another opportunity to continue to be the starter."

As each loss mounted, and with the added sting of losing the close ones, the players forged a bond, Reilly said.

That was especially true with Reilly and defensive end Odell Willis, who was also in his inaugural season wearing green and gold after signing as a free agent.

After every tight loss, Reilly would seek out Willis.

"I would find him and I would just say, 'Remember this, man. Like remember this because we're going to talk about this at some point in time and we're going to laugh about it. And we're going to say, man, that sucked, but we had to go through that to find success,"' Reilly said.

"This year has been the year where I've found him and said, 'Remember those games, man? You remember those? Remember how bad that was? It was all worth it to feel this.'

"So, yeah, it wasn't fun, but I do think that part of that made us into the team that we are today."

The Eskimos last played in the Grey Cup in 2005, a 38-35 overtime victory against Montreal.