Rob Vanstone
Leader Post

REGINA -- Travis Lulay received the Lions' share of the CFL's major accolades in 2011.

The B.C. Lions quarterback was decorated as the league's most outstanding player on Thursday - three days before being named the most valuable player in the 99th Grey Cup.

The word "outstanding'' did not apply to Lulay's performance throughout Sunday's game. He overcame a shaky start, and some jitters, en route to piloting B.C. to a 34-23 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium.

Lulay ended up completing 21 of 37 passes for 320 yards, plus two second-half touchdown passes, as the Lions became the first home team to win a Grey Cup since 1994. B.C. was also victorious on that occasion.

"You are looking at the brightest young star in the Canadian Football League,'' TSN's Glen Suitor said Sunday night.

Suitor went on to point out that Lulay had just completed his 34th game as the Lions' starting quarterback. In the process, he also helped the Lions punctuate a rally from an 0-5 start.

At that point, the Lions were actually beneath the Saskatchewan Roughriders (who were then 1-4) in the West Division standings. However, the Lions and Roughriders were at opposite poles by season's end. The Lions were revelling in a championship-game victory, whereas the Roughriders - whose 5-13 record was the league's worst - spent part of Grey Cup week looking for a head coach, again.

If nothing else, the Roughriders now know where the bar is set. The Lions, and Lulay, made that clear in the 99th Grey Cup.

A horrid start does not have to render a team hapless for the remainder of the season. The Lions proved that from August onward, and especially on Sunday.

Whereas the Roughriders changed head coaches - sacking Greg Marshall when their record dipped to 1-7 - the Lions exhibited patience at 0-5 and 1-6. Of course, it helped that the Lions were led by Wally Buono, who acknowledged during Grey Cup week that a less-accomplished coach might have walked the plank during the summer.

The Lions felt all along that they were a good team performing poorly. That assessment was validated, time and time again, as the Lions won games of everincreasing magnitude.

The Roughriders, by contrast, imploded after a three game spasm of success under Ken Miller, who preceded and succeeded Marshall as the field boss.

It helped that the Lions were structurally sound. In Saskatchewan, the GM reported to the head coach. The same arrangement existed in B.C., in a sense, but only because Buono was the GM and head coach.

The Lions also employed an offensive co-ordinator and a quarterbacks coach - Jacques Chapedelaine worked in a dual capacity - whereas both positions were vacant in Saskatchewan during the stretch run.

None of this was beneficial to Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant, who did not help his own cause with an ordinary season.

While Durant spun his wheels, Lulay left him in the dust. A year ago, Durant was the CFL's "brightest young star.'' He had twice been on the precipice of a championship, having led Saskatchewan to the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup games before suffering heartbreaking losses to the Montreal Alouettes.

Time is still an ally for Durant. He does not turn 30 until Aug. 19. That said, Lulay has just won a Grey Cup, and so on, at age 28.

Being that Lulay has started 26 fewer CFL games than Durant, for how much longer can the "developing quarterback'' label apply to the Roughriders' pivot?

Like Lulay, Ron Lancaster was 28 when he won his first Grey Cup as a starter - also in Vancouver, coincidentally enough. The Little General's three touchdown passes led the Roughriders to a 2914 victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders on Nov. 26, 1966 at Empire Stadium.

Precisely 23 years later, 26-year-old Kent Austin threw for 474 yards and three TDs as Saskatchewan beat the Hamilton TigerCats 43-40 in the Grey Cup.

As Durant nears 30, the time has arrived for him to emulate Lancaster, Austin and Lulay. It is also worth noting that Lulay has won a Grey Cup at home, considering that Saskatchewan is to play host to the championship game in 2013.

The 2011 Lions were thoughtful enough to provide a blueprint.