On a perfect autumn afternoon, all sun-drenched and half decently warm for a Toronto November, Henry Burris strode in from the tarmac to face the media, all dressed in black. Head Coach Rick Campbell, meanwhile, was rocking a red and black plaid scarf with a matching collared shirt under a dark coat, which he graciously showed off at the podium inside a small, private terminal building at Pearson International Airport.

If Burris and Campbell had different ideas on how to dress up their Grey Cup entrance, they shared the same mindset; This time, the Ottawa REDBLACKS are ready.

“This year, we expect to be here,” said Burris.

If his wardrobe didn’t match the day in spirit, his demeanor did; Hank may not have been smilin’ with full wattage but he was in a good mood, holding court with the media as most of his mates were heading to the hotel on the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ bus.

The team’s arrival – with the Calgary Stampeders scheduled in a few hours later – signaled the start of a hectic week, on the way to the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

“This is a much different team than last year where we were happy just to be here,” Burris said after first talking about his wardrobe, leather jacket and dark Stetson setting his sartorial tone.

That’s a revelation of sorts but not a surprising one. At about this time last year, in Winnipeg, the REDBLACKS said all the right things about being all business and not being taken aback by the whirlwind of a Grey Cup Week. Turns out they were, at least to a point, coming off a last second win over Hamilton in the East Final, one of the highlights of a breakthrough 2015 season. The REDBLACKS had a huge celebration after that game and although they played well in the championship a week later, they admittedly carried some level of self-satisfaction into their loss to Edmonton.

IMAGES: REDBLACKS Touch Down in Toronto for 104GC

“We’re seasoned,” Burris said, peeking out from under that black cowboy hat. “A lot of the guys are real excited to get down here and get the activities started but more importantly, guys are ready to get to practice. We’ve already started looking into our game plan.”

Campbell, who admitted that the stench of last year’s Grey Cup loss is one that still hangs in the air for his football team, was sounding calm, confident and poised. He’s a man who insists this year’s REDBLACKS squad is better for the experience of  2015. “We have a good idea how the week goes and what it’s like,” he said.

“We want to make sure we’re as efficient as we can be,” Campbell said, when asked if he’ll do anything differently this time around when it comes to handling his club. “We (the coaches) want to be as organized as we can so they can focus on football. We did a good job of that last year but, obviously, when you go through something once, the next time through you wanna make sure you can fix whatever it is.”

Whatever “it” is, Campbell wasn’t saying, but he insists he will not being taking all the joy out of a cup appearance from his players. He sees the pageantry and excitement of Grey Cup Week as something players should be able to bathe themselves in, to a certain point. “They will have time to see friends and family – as they should – but we’re gonna make sure we have all the time we need to make sure we get prepared to go.”

Sophomore running back Kienan LaFrance, who wowed the football world with an incredible performance in Ottawa’s Eastern Final win over Edmonton, was looking a little bit intimidated by the gathered media throng as he took the podium after Burris. “It’s the first time I’m in this scenario, so, I’m excited for this opportunity and, you know, I’m just happy to be here,” he said in a rapid fire sentence, it’s speed matching one of his dashes through the snow on Sunday. He, too, has been through this rodeo before, although in 2015 he slipped in under the radar as a rookie back-up. No such luck this year.

“I’m not too worried about being nervous,” LaFrance said, adding that he won’t change much when it comes to his game prep. He listed Eskimos’

defensive lineman Eddie Steele and former Blue Bomber Doug Brown as friendly influences and steadying forces. Perhaps they’ll be getting calls this in the days ahead.

Campbell and Burris will be among the most important leaders the REDBLACKS have this week, as they try to take the step they were denied in 2015. “I thought I did a decent job last year,” Campbell said of his Grey Cup Week management. “But I’m hoping I do an even better job this year.”

Last year was about emerging as East champions. This year, the REDBLACKS don’t figure that’s good enough.

Henry Burris’ black hat said as much.