Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
The first thing Clarence Denmark remembers about the last time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers hosted a playoff game was the weather. It was cold. Very cold.
Denmark also recalls the attitude he took into that 2011 Eastern Final game and how his mindset has changed heading into Sunday’s Western Semi-Final against the Edmonton Eskimos.
First the weather. The temperature was -13 with a 19-kilometre wind back on Nov. 20, 2011. Denmark, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., had never played in temperatures like that.
“It was very cold,” chuckled the 32-year-old wide receiver. “You kind of put it out of your head.
“You have to do it. You put it in your mind you still have to go make plays.”
RELATED:
» Darvin Adams ruled out of Western Semi-Final
» Nichols limited at Bombers’ Wednesday practice
» Buy Playoff Tickets: Edmonton at Winnipeg
The Bombers, who finished first in the East Division that season with a 10-8 record, beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-3. Denmark had four catches for 30 yards. Running back Chris Garrett collected 190 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
“Our attitude was to establish that we were going to come out and be the more physical team,” said Denmark. “I think we did that.”
Winnipeg would go on to lose the Grey Cup game 34-23 to the BC Lions in Vancouver.
Denmark had 65 catches for 818 yards and five touchdowns during his rookie season. Like many fans, he believed the Bombers were on the brink of something good.
Instead Winnipeg would miss the playoffs the next four years. Denmark couldn’t have predicted he would be the only member of the 2011 team left when the Bombers finally hosted another playoff game.
“I thought it’s going to be like this every year, playoffs, getting into the big game,” he said. “I thought we’d get another shot, we’d win it the next time.
“It didn’t come like that. It’s been a long, long road just to get back to this spot. Me, being the only one having played in that game, I keep telling the guys don’t take this for granted. You never know when you are going to get another opportunity.”
Clarence Denmark remembers the last time the Bombers hosted a playoff game – it was very cold (The Canadian Press)
Having a better understanding of what it takes it takes to win a championship has changed how Denmark approaches the game. As a younger player he focused on his statistics. Now, he’s more interested in what he can do to help his team win.
“That’s totally the difference,” he said. “Then I was just trying to fit in and prove to everyone I deserved to be here, try to make a name for myself. Now it’s all about winning.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m the guy, if I’m not the guy. If I don’t catch a pass or if I catch 10 passes, it really doesn’t matter to me this year.”
A receiver can make a difference even on plays he doesn’t get the ball, Denmark said. Run a route properly, make a defender focus on you, and it opens up space for someone else.
Darvin Adams led the Bombers with over 1,100 receiving yards this season. Running back Andrew Harris had a league-high 105 catches for 857 yards.
Denmark admits he personally wasn’t satisfied with 58 catches for 608 yards and seven touchdowns. He was happy to do his part to make the Bombers a success on the field.
“I just wanted to focus on how can we win, how can we be great as a team,” he said. “I’m so proud of that.
“I’m just glad we are winning as team. It’s not about one guy in the locker room. It’s about everyone.”
The Bombers and Eskimos both finished with 12-6 records this year but Winnipeg won both games the teams played in the regular season.
The Eskimos come into the playoffs on a roll, having won their last five games. Edmonton’s last loss was to Winnipeg on Sept. 30.
Winnipeg is 2-3 in their last five games. Twice Winnipeg had a chance to wrap up second place but lost to Toronto and BC.
The Bombers will have quarterback Matt Nichols back for the playoffs after missing the final game of the regular season with a lower body injury.
Denmark knows nothing will come easy against the Eskimo defence.
“They do some good things,” he said. “I think we have been able to make some plays against them.
“It’s about being in the right spot versus a defence like that. They drop into interior zones. They are always pretty much in the right spot. If we can just make our plays, and be in the right spot for the quarterback, I think we will be fine.”
Denmark will hope to help lead his team to a win over Edmonton at Investors Group Field this weekend (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
Denmark also likes the edge of playing at home, in the first playoff game at Investors Group Field.
“It’s huge,” he said. “We make a play and the crowd is into it. That’s energy right there. One play is all it takes to get that momentum.
“You are comfortable. You’re not flying. You’re not staying in hotels. You can be home and get that extra work in at the stadium.”
The weather forecast for Sunday in Winnipeg is partly cloudy, -2 and an eight kilometre wind.
The cold won’t bother Denmark. He’s warmed by the thought of having another chance to win a playoff game.
“I’ve been through the ups and downs with Winnipeg,” he said. “It’s been a long road of getting to this point.
“It means a lot. Your mindset is just going in focused and winning this football game.”
